Overview
The perfect combination of modern inspiration and timeless design
Inspired by our iconic 'red label' guitars of the 1960s, our new FG Red Label folk models blend modern inspiration with a timeless design. Featuring a classic semi-gloss finish and high-quality components, FG Red Label guitars capture an authentic vintage aesthetic.
The mahogany back and sides are paired with a premium Sitka spruce top which has been treated with our Acoustic Resonance Enhancement ('ARE') process for genuine aged-wood tone and sustain. A new scalloped-bracing design delivers plenty of volume, while the groundbreaking Atmosfeel three-way pickup system provides a natural acoustic sound when amplified.
The new FG Red Label guitars sound and feel like you've been playing them for years - right from the very first note.
- 1960s aesthetics and modern craft, refined over 50+ years of Yamaha guitar development
- Atmosfeel pickup and preamp system provides uniquely natural plugged-in sound
- New scalloped bracing patterns provide a warm, powerful tone with deep lows and rich harmonics
- ARE treatment imparts the sound and sustain of aged wood
- All-solid construction with a Sitka spruce top and mahogany back & sides
- Ebony fingerboard & bridge
Finance
Bring the dream within easier reach by spreading the cost with V12 Retail Finance. With a range of different finance schemes available, use the Finance Calculator below to choose a deposit amount and find out possible monthly payments.
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Finance agreements are available to UK residents aged 18 or over, subject to status.
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Yamaha Music Europe GmbH (UK) trading as Yamaha Music London is registered in England and Wales BRO14498 at Sherbourne Drive, Tilbrook MK7 8BL. Yamaha Music Europe GmbH (UK) trading as Yamaha Music London acts as a credit broker and offers credit products from Secure Trust Bank PLC trading as V12 Retail Finance. Yamaha Music Europe GmbH (UK) trading as Yamaha Music London is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Yamaha Music Europe GmbH (UK) FCA registration number is FRN688040. Credit provided subject to age and status.
V12 Retail Finance is registered in England and Wales with company number 4585692. Registered office: Yorke House, Arleston Way, Solihull, B90 4LH. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). V12 Retail Finance's FCA reference number is 679653.
Features
Heritage
The Return of the Red Label
At our founding in 1887, our founder Torakusu Yamaha gave the company the name Nippon Gakki Co., Ltd ('Musical Instruments of Japan') - only later did we legally bear his name. Hence 'Nippon Gakki' was the name shown on the red labels most famously associated with our original Folk Guitar series.
The Nippon Gakki Red Label FG acoustic guitar is one of our most iconic instruments. The reintroduction of the Red Label today invokes our history of over fifty years of guitar making. The result is a modern Folk Guitar with a clear heritage of our Japanese craftsmanship and innovation.
Classic Headstock
The guitar retains the original FG headstock shape, adorned with our iconic Tuning Fork logo. The traditional truss rod cover is emblazoned with "Since 1966" to mark the launch of the first FG models.
Design
Solid Sitka Spruce Top
Commonly sourced from Canada and Alaska, solid Sitka spruce offers a rich midrange and low-frequency response. The sound is tight and focused, working particularly well for chordal strumming or rhythmic finger-style performance.
Solid Mahogany Back & Sides
Mahogany has a slower transient response than many other tonewoods, contributing to a warm and woody tone with strong midrange.
Ebony Fingerboard & Bridge; Bone Nut & Saddle
Ebony is a stronger and more durable material than rosewood. Our Japanese-made FG5/FGX5 and FS5/FSX5 models also feature ebony bridge pins and a bone nut and saddle. Bone is a harder material than urea, providing a more efficient transfer of energy from the strings to the neck and body. The result is a louder and clearer sound.
ARE: Acoustic Resonance Enhancement
Our proprietary and exclusive Acoustic Resonance Enhancement ('ARE') treatment uses a carefully-controlled environment where heat, humidity and atmospheric pressure are altered to accelerate the natural ageing of the tonewood, removing imperfections and unwanted moisture in a process which would literally take years otherwise. ARE gives an instrument a rich, vintage-quality tone, producing a sound as if you've been playing it for years.
Classic FG Body
We were the first Japanese guitar maker to develop an original body shape instead of simply copying previous designs. The differences are subtle (measured with millimetre precision) but the slightly wider body contributes to the warm FG sound that players have loved for generations. A semi-gloss finish application further evokes a vintage look and feel.
New Bracing Patterns
In defining the sound of FG Red Label, our intention was to offer a warm tone which would be perfect for modern folk music and singer-songwriters. We started with the scalloped bracing design from the FG-180 50th anniversary reissue. With careful measurement and experimentation, we made several refinements that would enhance low-frequency response without compromising durability.
These changes are optimised for the natural characteristics of the tonewoods, and for each body silhouette. The resulting tone is full and powerful, both acoustically and through the Atmosfeel pickup & preamp system.
Atmosfeel Pickup System
The Atmosfeel 3-way pickup & preamp system uses a piezo sensor in the bridge to capture low frequencies, a microphone for low and mid range and our proprietary contact sensor pickup for high frequencies. The result is a full, natural sound with simple controls which make it easy to get a great plugged-in tone.
With the Microphone Blend control fully clockwise, the signal is approximately 50% mic and 50% the combination of the piezo and contact sensor. When fully counterclockwise, the mic is removed from the signal.
The microphone sound particularly compliments solo performers and chordal players, while a lower blend may be preferred by finger-style players and guitarists who need to cut through the sound of a full band.
The Bass knob controls a peaking EQ. The centre frequency raises when boosting and lowers when attenuating, so that low frequencies which could be problematic on stage can be removed but never added.
Specs
- Body Shape: Traditional Western
- Scale Length: 634mm (25”)
- Body Length: 505mm (19 7/8")
- Total Length: 1029mm (40 1/2")
- Body Width: 412mm (16 1/4")
- Body Depth: 100-118mm (3 15/16”- 4 5/8”)
- Nut Width: 44mm (1 3/4”)
- String Spacing: 11.0mm
- Top Material: Solid Sitka Spruce
- Back Material: Solid Mahogany
- Side Material: Solid Mahogany
- Neck Material: African Mahogany
- Fingerboard Material: Ebony
- Fingerboard Radius: R400mm (15 3/4")
- Bridge Material: Ebony
- Nut Material: Bone
- Saddle Material: Bone
- Bridge Pins: Ebony
- Tuners: Open Gear Chrome(Y1D)
- Body Binding: Black + White
- Soundhole Inlay: Black + White
- Pickguard: Wooden type
- Body Finish: Semi-Gloss
- Neck Finish: Matt
- Electronics: Atmosfeel(Undersaddle Pickup + Contact Sensor + Mic)
- Controls: Master Volume, Mic Blend, Bass EQ
- Connections: LINE OUT
- Strings: Elixir NANOWEB 80/20 Bronze Light
- Accessories: Soundhole Cover, Hex Wrench
- Case: Hardshell Case
