With so many great guitar manufacturers out there, it can be difficult for many people to choose which brand to go with when they want to buy an acoustic guitar. Obviously, one of the brands you will hear the most about is Fender, a company that has been a leader in the industry for several decades. On the other hand, there are other brands out there that are less expensive, and offer products that are just as high in quality. One such brand is Yamaha.
Today we are going to take a look at Fender vs Yamaha acoustic guitars, and then compare a popular model from each brand. Let’s get started.
Yamaha History
It doesn’t matter what level of a musician you are, if you are interested in a Yamaha guitar, you really can’t go wrong. You will get plenty of value for your money, and Yamaha is well-known as being a top choice for guitar players of all levels.
In the early 1940s, Yamaha created their first guitars, which were classical guitars with nylon strings. It didn’t long before they introduced the G series of acoustic guitars. Initially, all of the guitars in this series were classical guitars, including the G50, G60, G80, G100, G120, and G150. These guitars were so popular that the company chose to expand into other types of acoustic and electric guitars.
One of the reasons why Yamaha has been so popular for all of these years is because it is a company that focuses on quality and affordability. These days, when you hear the name Yamaha in association with music, you know that you are going to get a quality instrument that you can actually afford.
Materials Used to Create Yamaha Acoustic Guitars
For the most part, Yamaha tends to use mahogany for the necks of their acoustic guitars. This is because it is a wood that is easy to work with, soft, yet strong enough for the tension from the guitar strings.
The bridge is generally made from ebony wood, an the body, side, and back are made from spruce and rosewood. These are all high quality woods that are going to give you an amazing tone from your acoustic guitar. When it comes to guitars in this price range, you won’t find much out there that is any better.
Pros
- Affordability
- Long and favorable history
- High quality materials
- Plenty of models for musicians of all levels
- Great tone
Cons
- Not as aesthetically pleasing as guitars from other brands
- Problems with tuning
Fender History
When we think about Fender guitars, the first thing that often comes to mind is the Stratocaster. But, Fender also makes some pretty awesome acoustic guitars. In fact, in recent years, Fender acoustic guitars have really grown in popularity. It is a favorite brand for beginners, because there are affordable models that have all of the qualities Fender guitars are known for.
Fender began as a company in 1938, and by the 1950’s the company was a leader in the manufacturing of electric guitars. During this time period, Fender was the biggest rival of Gibson, and both companies are making amazing instruments today.
Unfortunately, there is one big problem when it comes to Fender acoustic guitars, and that is the pricing. Yes, there are many that are affordable.
That being said, because Fender is a high-end brand, many of the more affordable products from this company don’t have that same high quality as the more expensive instruments they offer. On the other hand, if you have a big budget, Fender is going to give you the best quality instrument.
Materials Used to Make Fender Acoustic Guitars
When it comes to lower priced acoustic guitars, Fender is known to use swamp ash.
They also use laminated woods, which keep production costs down. This doesn’t mean that you will be getting a low quality guitar. It’s a Fender, so it’s going to be pretty good. But, the lower the price, the lower quality of materials that are used.
Pros
- Affordability for low-end models
- Great beginner models
- Rich, deep tone
- Nice designs
Cons
- Affordable models sacrifice a bit on quality
What’s the Best Deal?
If you are looking for an acoustic guitar that is good quality and affordable, the best option between Yamaha and Fender is likely going to be Yamaha.
Yes, Fender produces some of the best guitars in the world, but when it comes to affordability and quality, you are going to get more bang for your buck if you go with a Yamaha acoustic guitar.
Yes, if you want to save money, you are going to have to sacrifice a bit on quality of building and sound quality. But, with Fender, there seem to be many more sacrifices. If you are looking at a budget of $300 to $500, you will find that Yamaha guitars will be of higher quality than Fender.
Finding the Best Deal
If you are purchasing a guitar for someone who is just learning, it isn’t always the best idea to go right out and buy the most expensive guitar. This is particularly true if the student is a young child. The student may be interested in playing the guitar right now, but this doesn’t mean that they are going to stick with it.
But, this doesn’t mean that you need to buy a cheap, low-end guitar. In fact, you really should get something that is at least middle-of-the-road. If it doesn’t sound good or have good playability, the student is going to eventually become frustrated because it will seem as if though they aren’t progressing at all.
You don’t actually have to spend a lot of money in order to get a good quality guitar, including a Fender or a Yamaha acoustic guitar. There are several ways to save money and still be able to have a quality instrument.
Online Shopping
Some people will tell you that you should never shop online for musical instruments. While this is true to a point, there is something to be said about the great deals you can find online. The trick is to know exactly what you want to buy before shopping online. In order to know, you will need to visit music stores and have the student try out several different guitars.
Once the student chooses the guitar that best suits them, then you can go online to see if there are any better deals available. Amazon and e-Bay are great places to look for deals on new and used guitars, and chances are, they will have exactly what you are looking for, at a much lower price than what you would find in a music store.
Second-Hand Stores
Another option is to visit some second-hand stores and pawn shops. You really never know what kind of gems you will find in these places. For example, a Martin acoustic guitar was found in a pawn shop in Maine, USA for $90 just a few short years ago.
You can often find some pretty amazing guitars from Fender, Yamaha, and other high-end brands at a fraction of what they would cost brand new. As long as it is in good condition, it doesn’t really matter if an instrument is new or used.
Always remember that a pawn shop owner isn’t looking to help you get the best deal. They are in it for the money, and they will often try to sell you something that isn’t any good. This is another good reason to make sure that you bring along someone who is knowledgeable about guitars if you don’t know much about them yourself.
Believe it or not, you can find some pretty awesome deals on musical instruments on Facebook buy and sell pages. Again, it is important that you already know what you are looking for, because many people aren’t going to want someone to come into their home and play their guitars, only to decide that they don’t want any of them.
If you are looking for something very specific, chances are you won’t find it on one of these pages. But then again, you just never know.
On the other hand, if you have a few different models from Fender or Yamaha in mind, there is a chance that you will find it here if you look hard enough and if you are willing to wait until the right guitar comes along. Of course, this will only work if the student already has something they can practice on for the time being.
Conclusion
Whether you choose to go with Fender or Yamaha, in the end, know that you are going to be getting a quality instrument. Fender guitars are always going to be a bit pricier, just because of the Fender name.
If you are looking for quality and affordability, the best bet is to go with a Yamaha acoustic guitar, and put your pennies away to save up to buy a Fender at a later date.
