Any of you tried one of the new solid FG's? FG3, FG5

I haven't tried any of the new models. the guitar stores in my area are just opening up after being closed for nearly 3 months. I stay away from them anyway, it's too tempting. I did bring my FG-180 to a Yamaha "Dare To Compare" event 3-4 years ago and my FG-180 beat everything in the building, including all the dead Taylors & Martins. Months old plain strings don't do much to sell $2000 to $5000 guitars. The Yamaha FG-850 (all mahogany) did sound pretty close to the FG-180. An old Harmony Sovereign H1260 was also very close, but it had action a mile high and they wanted $900 for it!!

Yea, this is my insanity!

The FG-180 & 140 are very close to being the same guitar, the FG-140 is the "bargain" version. The FG-110 is the bargain version of the FG-150. I prefer the 000 size models, they are more balanced, less boomy. They're great for fingerstyle.

You aren't going to get a deep, clear Martin bottom end from a plywood guitar. I find that's the one thing they lack, the clarity of the bottom end. But the mid & highs are very clear and full of overtones. Very pleasant. But the FG's will give you 80-90% of the sound for 10-20% of the price. And they're nearly bombproof. I don't know why someone would pay $1000 for a vintage FG-180 when for a little more you could get a used Martin D18. But there are bargain FG's out there. I got a FG-180 for $20. The action was so high you could pass a pencil under the strings at the last fret!! I've gotten a few under $100, that of course needed neck resets. That's why I learned to do neck resets, to save more FG's.

I found the same thing with the Martins at Guitar Center & Sam Ash. The vintage Yamaha's sounded more open, the new guitars were almost dead in comparison. I guess that's why people chase the vintage FG's, but most will bite you with the high action.

Part of the prom is the old strings. We went to a Sam Ash on Long Island NY that has a great humidified room with many great guitars!! Nearly every one had high action and the strings looked like a bunch of kids played them after eating peanut butter & jelly!! The string were horribly gooey and dead!! Would it kill them to change the strings once per month on the models they'd like to move?? I realize they can't change the strings on 100 guitars every month, but at least make an attempt to sell them!

The old FG's used lacquer. The new FG's are build with PVA (Titebond). I got an email from someone last week who asked Yamaha.