When I think of affordable guitars, one of the first words that come to mind is Yamaha. The Yamaha F325 is very popular among new guitarists. In typical Yamaha fashion, the price is hard to beat, yet it doesn’t seem like a dirt cheap guitar.
Whether you’re a beginner or someone looking for a cheap backup guitar for campfire nights, finding something affordable that plays well is a challenge. This Yamaha F325 review will help you make the right choice.
Table of Contents
Yamaha F325 Physical Features
- Top: Laminated Spruce
- Back and Sides: Meranti
- Neck: Mahogany neck
- Nut Width: 1 11/16″
- Nut & Saddle: Urea
- Body Shape: Dreadnought
- Electronics: None
The Yamaha F325 is a traditional dreadnought guitar, 40.5 inches long and 16.2 inches wide. It consists of a meranti body with a laminated spruce top. Unlike older models, it has a mahogany neck which improves strength and overall quality. It has a 25-inch scale length and 20 frets, 14 of which are accessible.
Compared to most cheap acoustics, the Yamaha F325 has a slightly narrower neck with a string spacing of 10mm. You’ll love it if you’re transitioning from an electric guitar, or if you have small hands. In my experience, narrow necks are more comfortable and allow for faster chord changes, but finger play becomes hard.
- The perfect guitar for beginners
- Legendary Yamaha build quality
- Spruce Top
Finish
The Yamaha F325 has a glossy finish. Regardless of preferences for matte or glossy looks, this type of laminate finish helps strengthen the construction and extend the guitar’s lifespan.
You can get the Yamaha F325 in three different colors. Natural wood, solid black, and Tobacco Brown Sunburst. The black one has a black pickguard, while the others both have an auburn tortoiseshell one.
How the Yamaha F325 Plays
Budget-friendly guitars tend to come with action height issues. The Yamaha F325 is no exception in general. Its action is often quite high. This means you have to press harder, which can slow down beginners who lack the necessary finger strength. Since the Yamaha F325 has an adjustable truss rod, it’s a quick fix that you can even do yourself. This video shows how.
Other than that, it plays like any steel-string acoustic. The narrow neck makes it ideal for young guitarists.
Tone Quality
The tone is full and resonant for the price range. Its sustain is in the shorter medium range. It lends itself better to fast strumming and hard strokes than mellow, held-out notes. While it doesn’t have the rich tone of a solid wood guitar, it’s good for a laminate build.
It has that bright spruce tone and decent clarity. There’s a nice bite to it, almost like a slight overdrive. There’s nothing to complain about in the strumming department.
The Yamaha F325 makes a good companion if you want to knock out some pop, rock, or blues. If you’re all about complex fingerpicking and fast runs, it’s better to look at a higher price range.
What’s to Love
I love the rich tone and the great value. My only complaint is about the high action.
Yamaha F335 VS Fender FA125
A Yamaha F335 review wouldn’t say much without a comparison against a key rival. The FA125 is one of Fender’s cheapest option and one of the most popular cheap guitars. The two guitars are very similar in looks, action, and pricing. However, there are vital differences in build quality.
The Fender FA125 uses laminated agathis instead of meranti wood. Certain details, like the bridge, consist of cheap synthetic materials rather than rosewood. Other than that, they’re comparable.
However, the full laminate body produces a cheaper sound, and the plastic parts may wear out faster. Chords get somewhat messy, and the sustain is short. Big name brands often lean on their fame and get away with lesser products in the affordable range.
While it doesn’t stand up to the Yamaha F335, it’s not a bad guitar. The guitar can be purchased by itself to save a little bit but it usually comes in a starter pack with a case and some accessories.
- One right-handed Fender FA-125 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar
- Dreadnought Body: This guitar’s dreadnought body shape resonates with a bold and rich bass tone,...
- Durable Materials: All-Laminate construction allows this guitar to last long and sound as great as...
Pros & Cons
With all that information out of the way, let’s round things up. These are the strengths and drawbacks of the Yamaha F325.
Pros
- Durable build
- Stays in tune
- Excellent price
If you’re looking for a basic strummer for intermediate guitar playing, you’ve found a great candidate. The Yamaha F335 delivers solid performance at a budget-friendly price.
Cons
- Not very versatile
- No cutaway
While it’s not a bad guitar by any means, the budget build comes with limitations. And the lack of cutaway makes the high frets hard to play.
- The perfect guitar for beginners
- Legendary Yamaha build quality
- Spruce Top
Is Yamaha F325 Right for You?
All in all, the Yamaha F325 is a dependable guitar for amateurs and intermediate players. I consider it an excellent guitar for campfires, traveling, and practicing at home. It’s sturdy and sounds pretty good. A Yamaha F325 would make a nice gift for a new guitarist. It may be a bit hard out of the box for a beginner, but adjusting the neck is quick and easy.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Last update on 2024-10-14 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
