Of all the string instruments known to the world, guitars are probably the most famous and easiest to play. It’s a very versatile and flexible instrument that you can bring everywhere to pump up the place with a pleasant atmosphere that you wish to set.
Contrary to popular belief, guitars have different types, and an acoustic guitar is just one of its variants. Moreover, acoustic guitars have different brands, and one can function better than the other depending on the user. In the spotlight today is the FG-331 acoustic guitar. What should we expect when of its strings?
Quick Yamaha FG-331 History
You probably have heard of the FG-331 guitar once if you are a guitar-head. It’s a masterpiece in the form of a string instrument, which is sadly discontinued to this date.
The Yamaha FG-3 series, the family line of the FG-331, was first introduced in the year 1977. The FG-331 was just a part of the other models from the flagship line featuring a white oval label as a trademark.
Along with the FG-330, it is under the Folk Guitar Series. 1978 and 1980 were the years of transitioning for the truss rod adjustment’s placement. Its location is from the headstock to the inside of the body. Most likely, this was the cause of the discontinuation and replacement of the said series.
A variant soon replaced it at the end of the FG-331 guitar production. It almost has the same name: the FG-331 II (yes, just the II at the end), which lasted until 1985. It was then replaced for the second time.
Expert Tip: Currently, to this date, the closest you can get to the FG-331 is its latest replacement, the FG-4 series.
Those who are still heavily interested in purchasing a Yamaha FG-331 for themselves may not find it easy to locate this product, especially since it is prone to overpricing due to its vintage nature. As a general tip for those who want to buy it, try sourcing around first. These Yamaha guitars are probably around 200 to 250 dollars (or more, since this is just a rough calculation!) to this date.
Yamaha FG-331 Features
There’s probably something about the Yamaha FG-331 that makes this century’s guitar players still intrigued. It was only exposed from 1978 to 1982, but it’s still relevant today.
Starting with its looks: this acoustic guitar looks sleek with a combination of mahogany and spruce for the body, a nato neck, and a fingerboard in rosewood.
The Martin C/V back features a 25 inches scale. The full gloss finish and the D-28 style along the back made the look of the FG-331 unbeatably gorgeous but straightforward and sophisticated.
As for the sounds, of course, it would not disappoint at all! Most users found the Yamaha FG-331 to sound like a copy of the Martin 000 from the 1970s (still, some regarded the FG-331 as something better than it). It has beautiful sounds paired with high resonance. To top it all off, it has perfect tuning, thanks to the Yamaha Made in Japan tuners.
Detailed Review from its Players
Many guitarists expressed their love for the sound that the FG-331 produces with each strum. Here are just some of the hundreds of positive reviews we found about it. To be honest with you, there were no bad reviews for this product at all! What got the guitarist’s head over heels for the FG-331? Let’s read about it here.
A review from a user, TwoMartinMan, said that it exceeds the quality of topped, solid dreadnoughts for bass projection. “It really sings,” they say, which might be the best review ever written for the FG-331. Furthermore, the note separation and the sustain for this guitar are well-made, which is what they meant when they say it can sing.
Some have expressed favoritism towards the guitar as it holds the tunes well. We all know that finger-style playing can be tricky depending on the guitar, but this one has some excellent non-buzz pick strumming.
From these reviews, you can see that they love the Yamaha FG-331 for its capability to sound excellent no matter the circumstance. Do you want to bring it for a jamming session at the campfire? Sure! Do you want to be a prominent worldwide known artist? Indeed, it still works as well! The FG-331 would never be the tone-deaf one if it were a singer!
Final Verdict: Should You Buy Yamaha FG-331?
If you can get your hands on it and you desperately want one, then why not?! As long as you have the bucks and the time off from work, this one is a recommendable guitar to have.
No matter how long the Yamaha FG-331 was last touched or last seen from the previous owner that you’re planning to buy it from, rest assured that it probably would still sound like how a top-notch guitar should be. It will always play and say good (that’s unless you’re an untrained guitarist).
Furthermore, even if they are great acoustic, they are unreasonably underrated for their quality. As for whether you are interested in this guitar, even if it is not readily available in the market anymore, you wouldn’t need to battle over a dozen other people trying to get their hands on it.
Indeed, it sounds better than solid tops for a laminated guitar, which breaks the general rule!
Conclusion
Some who don’t play the guitar might think that every other guitar on the market is the same. As long as it has the strings, then it’s good to go. Make the guitarists different from these regular consumers, though, as they know what sounds they’d like to hear!
The Yamaha FG-331 is a one-of-a-kind acoustic guitar. It’s just sad that it’s not continued, and it’s hard to find something that can match its sound quality. Nevertheless, with a little more digging in the marketplace, you might find one for your own!
Is the Yamaha FG-331 worth the money and the time, even if it’s kind of a rare piece to this day? The answer is a definite yes! Just go and get that string, player!