- The perfect guitar for beginners
- Legendary Yamaha build quality
- Spruce Top
- Rosewood Fretboard
- Chrome Tuners
Music is a precise art, and as such, there’s a fine line between good music and bad music. The musician’s proficiency plays an essential role in the quality of music produced, but the musical instrument’s standard is an equally vital determinant.
The selection of a particular brand or product in terms of musical instruments is essential. This review explores the unique characteristics of the Yamaha F325D acoustic guitar, studying how it fares compared to other related instruments.
Overview
Most low-cost beginner guitars are instruments of low-quality craftsmanship and can be pretty challenging to play. The Yamaha F325D is an acoustic guitar belonging to the “F” series known for exceptional value. It is widely regarded as an excellent starter guitar for beginners.
Specifications
The F325D has a total length of 1032mm, a scale length of 648mm, and a body width of 400mm. The fingerboard material is either walnut or laurel, and the body is made of Meranti. The Yamaha F325D is on the larger side as its body shape is a dreadnought design that physically smaller players may find quite uncomfortable.
The back of the Yamaha 325 is made of laminated Meranti/ Nato. The top has a laminated spruce, and the bridge is made of rosewood dyed black.
It has plastic bridge pins, a plastic saddle, and the spring is made of bronze. The body finish is glossy, which can further cause handling issues if handled without a strap. The neck finish is matte, and the turners are chrome plated, which can be an alluring sight if you get the tobacco sunset-themed F325D.
How it sounds
The dreadnought design increases the sound projection of the F325D, which means that sounds are often more warm and loud, making it the perfect guitar for rock, pop, and folk artists. The 20-fret fingerboard’s unique conjunction with the body also makes it require tuning less frequently.
Here is a good demonstration of how the Yamaha F325D sounds:
Playability
It has relatively high action meaning more effort will be expended in fretting the strings. However, an adjustment can be made to the bridge to make the action lower. The bulky nature of the neck makes sitting very inconvenient for children and people with smaller hands, especially when they have to play for more extended periods. It also doesn’t help that it’s a dreadnought guitar known for larger base bodies.
Quality
Despite the low cost, durability and stability are guaranteed. Compromise in quality is not characteristic of Yamaha’s line of affordable acoustic guitars. However, the use of laminated tonewoods means that these guitars may not age well.
The matte finish of the neck guarantees a smoother playing experience than a glossy finish would. This makes sense when one considers that lengthy playing would likely result in slipperiness due to sweat. A matte finish compensates for this more than a glossy one would.
What Others are Saying
Most people seem to find the dreadnought shape of the F325D appealing enough. The sturdy pickguard is also a positive as most guitars within the same price range cut flimsier plastic pickguards.
A major complaint about the F325D is the neck size, and this is more pronounced among users with smaller hands. It is, however, considered to be quite a versatile instrument. Also, the use of laminated wood means it doesn’t have to be treated in a particularly fragile manner and can be carted around on trips and such.
It is considered very budget-friendly for the quality of sound it produces. It is easy to play, making it a favorite with beginners.
Pros and Cons
PROS 👍
- It is an absolute bargain when you compare the price to the quality it guarantees
- It is ideal for beginners
- It doesn’t require frequent tuning
- It is considerably durable/sturdy
CONS 👎
- It comes only in right-handed versions
- The bulky head causes discomfort and is unsuitable for players with smaller hands
- There is some sound distortion due to understandable structural deficiencies
- The electric tuner is inaccurate
- It doesn’t have an electric output option
- It is far from ideal as a gig guitar
Yamaha F325D vs FG800
While the F325D consists of Meranti sides and back, and rosewood fingerboards, the FG800 is predominantly Nato or Okoume with a solid Sitka spruce giving it toughness and density.
Both versions are similar in terms of cost. However, the F325D has tones that tend to be bright and resonant, a quality made possible by the layers of spruce wood it comprises.
The bracing of the FG800 (scalloped bracing and fretboard bracing), a feature more common with more high-end guitars, makes it more capable of handling more nuanced playing styles such as vibrato and bending.
The lack of bracing means the F325D is more susceptible to some levels of sound distortion than the FG800, which gives heavier treble sounds and generally more precise sounds than the F325D.
The projections by the FG800 are also more sustained. The fret length of the FG800 is more suitable than the wider one of the F325D, which may cause discomfort during elongated playing periods.
The F325D is more suited to beginners with more prominent physical features, while the FG800 will benefit professionals and those with experience in handling acoustic guitars.
Yamaha F325D vs F335
One of the easily identifiable differences between these two acoustic guitars is the narrower neck of the F335, making it more suitable for players with smaller hands.
The pickguard of the F325D is a black tortoiseshell, while that of the F335 is red of the same material.
F335 tuners have a gold die-cast giving the guitar a more elegant look, while the F325D tuners are made of chrome die-cast. Both guitars have very similar performances in terms of sound quality.
Yamaha F325D vs F310
The Yamaha F310 costs about the same as the F325D. The significant structural differences are the back and sides material and neck size. The back and sides of the F310 are made of locally sourced tonewood, while the F325D is made of laminated Meranti.
In terms of playability, they are similar.
Conclusion
The F325D has the unique quality of being an ideal beginner’s guitar. It also costs less than guitars of similar quality which means potential guitarists can get a standard instrument without breaking the bank.
Users with smaller hands should steer clear of this gem, except if they do not intend to play for prolonged periods. The ease of play and sound quality disqualify it from passing as a gig guitar.
Alexandra loves playing the piano and guitar. She has always been a music lover, but it wasn’t until she was in high school that she realized how much she loved to play. It allowed her to express herself without having to be verbally expressive, which is something she found very empowering.