A Guitar That Punches Well Above Its Price Tag
Some guitars make you feel like you need to earn them first. The Yamaha FS800T is not one of those guitars. Pick it up and it just feels right — compact enough to play comfortably for hours, balanced enough to keep things interesting, and genuinely good-looking with that warm tinted gloss top that gives it a bit more character than the plain natural version.
The FS800 series has been one of Yamaha's most consistently recommended acoustic lines for decades, and the FS800T carries that same DNA with a tinted finish that lends the top a vintage-adjacent warmth without going full sunburst. It's a solid Sitka spruce top at a price where most guitars are using laminate — that alone makes it worth a closer look.
Whether you're just starting out or you've been playing for years and want a compact workhorse you're not afraid to take anywhere, the FS800T fits the bill without a lot of compromise.
A Top That Does the Heavy Lifting
The solid Sitka spruce top is the centerpiece of what makes the FS800T sound the way it does. Sitka is the industry standard for a reason — it's stiff, light, and responsive across a wide dynamic range. Strum it gently and you get clarity; dig in and it opens up. And unlike a laminate top, solid wood develops its voice over time, meaning this guitar will sound better in five years than it does on day one.
Yamaha engineered a scalloped bracing pattern for this series — a design that maximizes resonance by allowing the top to vibrate more freely while maintaining structural integrity. The result is a guitar that projects well and sustains longer than you might expect from something this compact and affordable.
Small Body, Full Personality
The FS800T uses Yamaha's Concert (Small) body shape — narrower and thinner than a dreadnought, with a 25" scale length and a 1-11/16" nut width. That combination translates to a guitar that sits comfortably whether you're seated with it on your knee or standing at a mic. The slim, tapered neck with a matte finish makes position shifts feel smooth rather than sticky — a small detail that matters a lot over a long practice session.
The Nato/Okoume back and sides deliver a bright, balanced tonal character. Nato is a tonewood in the same family as mahogany — warm with decent sustain — and the Okoume component keeps things light. Paired with the Sitka spruce top, the overall voice leans clear and articulate, which players often find especially rewarding for fingerpicking and singer-songwriter work where note separation matters.
Built to Play, Not Just to Look At
The FS800T's hardware is sensible and dependable: die-cast chrome tuners, a rosewood fretboard and bridge, a tortoiseshell-pattern pickguard, and black body binding that gives the whole package a clean, classic look. The gloss body finish and matte neck finish strike a nice contrast — the neck feels fast under your hand, while the body has a polished, presentable appearance.
With 20 frets, a 15-3/4" fingerboard radius, and urea nut and saddle, the setup specs are in line with what you'd expect from a well-made acoustic in this class. Electronics are not included — this is a straight acoustic, so if you need to plug in, you'll want to mic it or look at the FSX800C. But for unplugged practice, songwriting, and recording with a mic, the FS800T holds its own without complaint.
Product Features:
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Top: Solid Sitka spruce with newly developed scalloped X-bracing
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Back & Sides: Nato/Okoume
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Body Shape: Concert (Small) — 25" scale length, 1-11/16" nut width
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Neck: Nato with matte finish; slim, tapered profile
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Fretboard & Bridge: Rosewood; 15-3/4" radius; 20 frets
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Finish: Gloss tinted body; matte neck
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Tuners: Die-cast chrome
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Electronics: None — acoustic only
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Pickguard: Tortoiseshell pattern
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Binding: Black body binding with black + white soundhole inlay
Brand: Yamaha
Model: FS800T
SKU: FS800T
Condition: New
Since 1872, C.A. House Music has been helping musicians across the Ohio Valley find the right gear -- with real advice from a team that actually plays. We're your authorized dealer of all the big names in guitars, keyboards, band instruments, drums, pro audio, and more. With four family-owned and operated locations in Ohio and West Virginia (plus a full online store), you don't have to go far for instruments, lessons, rentals, and repairs. No matter your musical needs, our team of musicians wants to help you Play Music for Life.
