I want to leave a tip for anyone looking to buy either of these guitars or any guitar and may be a beginner. Despite what every guitar buying guide video says, no two guitars will ever sound the same. I.E (today were looking at "x" brand or model and here is what it sounds like...) Its possible to sound close but not the same. I own a very nice sounding Taylor 210e dlx that was relatively cheap and I have played other Taylor guitars of the same model and absolutely hated the sound they made. I have also played very expensive guitars (of all brands, Taylor, Martin, Gibson, Breedlove, Guild, Paul Reed Smith) that sounded bad to MY ear or were just not inspiring to play. I have played cheap guitars that sounded great and were made by no name company's (that happens less in my experience). I tell you all this because I recently purchased the fender that is shown in this video and I pit it against many other guitars in the store (including the Yamaha shown here) and I bought the fender. I didn't buy it for the brand or the model but for the tone it produced. While these two models of guitars may have many great sounding guitars in there perspective lines, they have just as many muddy and twangy sounding ones. Lesson for today, buy in person! listen to the tone!! despite what all these brand fan boys say every guitar maker sells lemons some times. So don't be brand myopic. Hope this helps someone on their guitar journey.

The Yamaha of course...I'm not biased at all...I only own mostly Yamaha guitars and amps...completely impartial, you can trust me, I'm a politician...

I'm a Fender fan and own several of their products. But when I was looking for a new acoustic I bought the Yamaha FGX830C. I just love the sound it makes.

Yamahoolie for me. So nice, clear and crisp with clear tone separation. The Fender sounds warmer but a bit more muddled.

Thank you kind gentleman for all your various detailed reviews! It really helped me a lot on my journey to buying my first guitar. You also play like a real champ! Cheers!

Where I live (Serbia, Southeastern Europe), these guitars belong with the different price ranges: Fender is selling for a bit over 200$, whereas Yamaha goes for (almost) 300.

Just want to say 'thank you' for making all these wonderful acoustic guitar videos. You're a great player and I appreciate all the helpful knowledge!

Because of Guitar Center’s awesome 45-day Return Policy, I’ve had the pleasure of bringing home and taking time to really test these awesome guitars: first i tried the FS800 (small-body concert/no preamp/beautiful bell-like overtones), then the FG800 (dreadnaught/no preamp,louder deeper bass mid)for $200 range; well, because of their great tones, I was inspired to plug-in for live sound, so I bought a Fishman Loudbox Mini. I then raised my guitar budget to $300 and exchanged them for a preamp’d guitar, starting with Yamaha FGX800CE (dread/cutaway/under-the-saddle piezo), and later the Fender CD60SCE(dread/cutaway/behind-the-saddle pickup). Hands-down, FGX800CE rings out BETTER tones than the CD60SCE UNPLUGGED, but really not by a longshot. Depending on your string attack, the Fender can also ring out well too. Plugged in however, the Yamaha sounded thin, almost electric guitar-like (defeats the purpose of live acoustic playing for me) through the Fishman amplifier, whereas the Fender had more of a real amplified acoustic guitar sound. Matching electronics perhaps? I kept the Fender to meet my goals, but in the future I will still pickup that Yamaha,but without the preamp since that’s where I found it sounded best: unplugged. Please note: this (rather lengthy...sorry!) comment/review I share is based on my own personal experience and isn’t typical of anyone else’s. Also note that before i took any of these awesome guitars home, I had tested and picked out the best sounding ones from off the wall (and from in the boxes) in the store. I had literally tried all guitars within the $200 (and later $300) range and below. Took me weeks, but I narrowed down the tone I was looking for to these two brands. Hope you found this helpful. Nice playing by-the-ways Chris, I occasionally come back here to listen to the playing and get lost. Good comparison! Thank you!

Fender, modern sound. Yamaha vintage sound. Bright fender sound, great volume, decent mids great highs. Low end lacks that thump. Yamaha has a mellow even tone, with gobs of mids and bass tone with less pronounced highs which is not a bad thing. In my opinion an overall balanced tone without those tinny high notes that normally cut through the mix. Although the highs are still there. Along with the entire spectrum of frequentcy. I've played for 20 years, pro fender man through and through. Grandma had an old Yamaha ( hummingbird copy)that I played an and had that bassy warm tone and played very easily. After 20 years, I purchased the Yamaha fg 800 and wonder why I played fenders so long. Barre chords were always hell for me to play on my fenders. This fg 800 on the other hand with its flat radius and thin vintage style frets make it effortless to play Barre and more complex minor chords as well. Thanks for making this but video.

I bought the fender in left handed version and i love it

Both are great Guitars! I would personally pick the Fender myself. I have played Fender guitars since i was about 12 yrs old and i am now in my mid 40's. I must say the Yamaha brand has a very good and solid reputation with quality and sound but Fender is still for me hands down! Thanks for the awesome review Alamo music center!

he said it all in the beginning. the fact that the fender is easier on the fingers for chords is important. most guitarists that have played for years want an acoustic to feel like their electric as far as ease of playing.

Love these video comparisons when about to buy! I just played both these guitars back to back to back to back for about 25 min. I went in looking for the Yamaha but left with the fender. Both sounded great for the price but the playability of the fender surprised me, Plus the darker finish of mine was to beautiful too pass. I will say this. You can tell fender just popped 1 million of these out on the line. Sloppy glueing all over! But hey 200$ and a punchy sound to go with it. Love it.

Adding to this: you can buy the best guitar there is but if it doesn't feel comfortable, that will affect your playing and overall sound. That's why I will always chose Fender above Yamaha because it feels great for me. For you it can be different. Conclusion: always play irl on the guitars before chosing one

Thanks for the comparison. I am in the market for a new acoustic. Fender would have been my go to choice for brand of guitar, but the Yammy is a warmer and fuller tone. Nice review Chris. Thanks.

Chris, fantastic review! 👍

You should make a channel where you do different videos every week saying the different sizes of guitars, dreadnought vs concert vs auditorium vs grand auditorium jumbo ect, new stuff coming in, the level of player it's designed for, and if it comes with a gig bag or case....you know, stuff like that

My wife brought a CD-60S into the marriage and recently started playing. Having lots fun! Great guitar.

I really enjoy your comparison videos. Have you done a video looking at 12-string acoustics in the $200-$500 range?

I’ve had the fender for over a year and am vary satisfied. I’m more of a bluesy player though but it doesn’t come alive until it’s plugged in

Hello there! The two guitars sounded really really good. The YAMAHA FG 800 has a good thick and rich sound, were As the FENDER CD 60s has a good thin sound, I like the YAMAHA FG 800, I would like to buy it

I bought this Fender model yesterday after I heard the different sounds between Yamaha and Fender. But both are good guitars! I owned an washburn 12-strings guitar before and it sounds like an hole orchestra. Beauty sound! 😍😍😍😍 I am very carefully and don’t buy a guitar for how it looks. 😂 I choose a Fender DC-60s pack this time. (+And I got free guitar lesson) Thank you for show us this guitars!

Fender sounded fuller to me. Yamaha sounded clean. Overall I'd probably pick the Yamaha just based on their brand recognition...or maybe I'd take the fender...ah hell, buy them both!

Yamaha FG800 gets my vote. Those who are starting out may try out the Yamaha FS series. It has a slightly smaller body which makes easier for people smaller frames and for beginners. So for a beginner I would tell them to get a Yamaha FS over a FG. It could make the difference between someone giving up due it being uncomfortable to hold or continuing on.

I have an FG800, bought 2 years ago. I have (although being a beginner), acute sensitivity to tone and sound generally. I was knocked out by the Yamahas range overall, and the sound volume, without loosing subtlety. Some say, a bit bright, but hey, I like bright and if you want something different we’ll buy it. Here is an important point, I think, many people have mentioned the “high action” and I agree, this makes playing, especially for a beginner, quite hard. See James Taylor here on KZfaq, saying about his guitar setup, I like the action on my guitar low to almost buzzy. So I had no guilt over lowering the Yamahas action. Firstly, I sanded the bridge, then very slowly, adjusted the neck, in the tensioning lowering direction( clockwise). I finally have the action about a stiff plectrum distance at the second fret between fret and string. The press down when fretting is now great, for me, light press means easier finger movement and comfort. The sound, well, it sounds resonantly longer sustaining and yet giving brightness and great low tones. It seems the wood of the guitar top has suddenly “seasoned” and releasing sound wonderfully. I’m now looking to fit a bone bridge and nut, with some new strings to see where that takes me, but cautiously keeping the Yamaha originals in case as the guitar already sounds fabulous to me. There is a good reason I think why so many swear by Yamaha even the starter 310 range.

Wow, I hope and pray one day to be able to play as good as this gentleman.

I have a *Fender CD 100CE* . I bought it in 2012. Price wise it was a mid-range guitar in 2012, today it costs higher. Very Nice Guitar with warm and clean sound.

I own the Fender CD 60S and in my opinion is the best entry level guitar. The " easy to play " neck ... worth every penny, it makes a huge difference for a beginner.

On this video, the differences are very subtle. The Yamaha had a tad more clarity on the higher frequecys. I have never played the Fender, but got to try the Yamaha at your store. Love It! It's common I guess to call any acoustic guitar an entry level guitar if it costs under $300, lol. The Yamaha I think is great for any level player, even professional. There's a reason it the number one seller. After playing it I understand why. A great guitar at an affordable price.

Really nice playing, I forgot why I was watching.

Love the Yamaha. I have the FS 800 great sound for an acoustic guitar for all level of playing.

After looking at these two lines. i went with the Fender CD60SCE Mahogany. These two are very close

I like the Yamaha’s vintage tone. Will buy one, soon.

have no regret w/ yamaha. mine is FG720s. Clarity is what i love about yamaha aside from being a cheap guitar, BUT quality sound wise? --its Awsome! That Crisp sound is amazing

Both sounded rather boomy or muddy to me..but the Yamaha showed a little more mid to high frequencies..thanks for the demo compare...

I'm always love Yamaha's Bass response ❤️

For decent priced hobby playing when on vacation or what ever. I think they both sound great. I would buy them both because they both got good sound and play key parts in different styles of playing.

i just bought a Yamaha FG800 and it blows my mind how good it sounds...I did a shootout with my friends Rosewood/Spruce top custom 1600$ guitar and my awesome vintage red label FG300...The FG 800 won. Loud, resonant, responsive...Only 250$? I'm ordering a 2nd one to turn into a baritone

i have that fender and love it, but i like that yamaha too. fenders more acousticy and sharper, more traditional to me. but the yamaha sounds deeper. its like theres some spices has been added to the sound.

I played both of these guitars today along with a few more in the $150 to $250 price range and ended up with the Yamaha F335 for a sweet $169. I wasn't trying to be cheap, it just played and sounded as good as the others in that price range. The Fender played and sounded great but the price was $219. While I was there I played a couple of Martins in the $1500 range and they will spoil you. I also played a Baby Taylor but I wasn't impressed.

Great video! How loud is Yamaha FG800? At this moment I'm playing classical guitar, but I want to switch to acoustic one, however I'm worried that I will disturb other people with my guitar practice. I find classical guitar pretty quiet and I'm not sure how much louder acoustic guitar is compared to classical. I heard about feedback busters, but I don't know if they would solve my issue. Are there any other methods to make acoustic guitar quieter? To what degree do you think that feedback buster would solve my issue? Also, would you please tell me, how much louder acoustic guitar is compared to classical? Thank you in advance for your answer and please stay safe during this difficult time.

I'm gonna go for the fender, but the all mahogany version. I like those deep round sounds it makes. I hope I can get those sounds once I learn to play a bit.

The Fender sounds full. The Yamaha sounds clean. I don't know what a classic sound, sounds like, but if I were 3 months in the future with my guitar playing, I think I'd choose the Fender. If I were 1 year in the future, I'd choose the Yamaha.

The Yomaha sounds of better quality then the fender. Thank you for reviewing them! cheers!

i've bought yamaha fg800. sounds great the only problem i have is its action which 3.5mm from factory setup. its not too high but its not ideal too.

hell, I still love the sound of FG700s. I always thought they sounded better than most guitars costing hundreds more, and freakin spot on going with a satin neck even though the body is gloss. In my opinion that's such a fine detail. I think gloss necks feel cold and clammy and disgusting (why, why do manufacturers ever do that?). In this price range, if I could find a used FG700S I'd go with that....just my preference

love the way you play man you sound great

I'm going to a local music store today to try both the Yamaha FG800 and the Fender CD-60s. I'm a beginner, so my choice will probably be made based on whichever is more comfortable for me to play. Thanks for this video :)

I'm curious which you personally thought sounded better? I have my own thoughts but was wondering what a seasoned guitar player such as yourself thought? Thanks for the video!

Hi Chris just wondering if you could do the comparison of fender CD 60M with yamaha fg 850....Mahogany from diffrent makes?Since this is a solid spruce top vids.....

I like fender neck and bright sound .

I've always been a fan of narrow necks from playing an electric 63 fender all these years. but I also have a 57 Martin d28 that I don't like nearly as much .but there entirely different guitars.

They both sound very good. Great budget guitars. I'm going to buy one and i think I'm going with the Yamaha. The differences are so small, the Yamaha is cheaper and I think it sounds just a smidgen better than the fender.

Best to go to a store, hold them in your arms, play, listen and feel.

What are your thoughts on Yamaha FGX800c? Are you going to do a reivew on that one? Do you recommend the FGX800c for a beginner?

If your hands sweat your fretting hand will stick to the gloss neck. Just my experience.

Hello i want a guitar to play at home. What do you reccomend the yamaha fg 800 or the yamaha apx 500iii?

I have the cc60s and my mate has the fender, I prefer my Fender it sounds brighter, they are both nice to play though. My Fender has a lower action which I prefer but I did replace the saddle with a tusq saddle which lowered the action. They are both good guitars.

IMO Fender bright. Yamaha smooth and clean. Both great. might just come down to ease of play when choosing between them.

I had a chance to compare a Yamaha FG800 and a Fender CD140SCE in a shop. When I went there, my mind was set on the Fender, but honestly, if I had taken it home, I would regret it. Its sound was metallic and somehow unpleasant, the frets were sharp, and the guitar's details looked as if they hadn't been finished. However, I have to admit that the Fender's design looked amazing. Then I tried playing the Yamaha and the difference between the two guitars was enormous. I especially valued the Yamaha's neck which was extremely comfortable and more solid. The guitar's only drawback was that it had only one button strap. In the end, the choice wasn't diffucult and I chose the Yamaha. I put the sound and the quality over the well-known brand and I do not regret it at all. Still, the truth is that you shouldn't buy guitars without playing them first. Do not settle for the first thing you get into your hands.

The Fender is easy for a beginner like me to form clean sounding chords on, but I just wish the neck wasn’t glossed. It feels sticky somehow. The Yamaha sounds more dynamic and the satin neck feels ‘faster’, but it was slightly more difficult for me to get clean chord sounds from it.

Ive been playing guitars for 70 years. Just about every brand. I chose the FG800. 1st thing I did was put Martin 80/20 mediym gauge strings. Checked string action. It met my desired string height which is 2mm above the fretboard at the 12th fret. I 've used this height for 40 years. Or 80,000ths if you prefer. Sounds good. Not as good as my Martin but good enuff for a backup guitar. I've had people cram their number 10 brogans thru the front of my guitars. before. So it's nice to have a lower end guitar in some venues. Jus sayin!

Both are good guitars for beginners! For that price you can't ask for more. If i had to choose i'd go for the yamaha, i think it would cut better through a mix.

I think these guitars sounded pretty similar. remember, they have been around a bit, the Yamaha FG800, was the Yam FG700 a year ago. The Fender CD-60S has been around a bit,but it now has a solid wood top, big step up. I think he said the Fender had the longer guitar neck Like 25.55 and the Yamaha had a 23. something neck length. I don't know the price difference, but to me,, loved the review, and how it was done. I loved both of these brands for a while. I had a Yamaha 12 string, turned 6 string for almost 25 years. I had a Fender Dg-20s for about 6 years, the neck on that guitar looked too big and I still loved it, beautiful grained solid spruce top with lam mahogany sides and back. I would take this Fender with longer, thinner neck, more radius on fretboard. They both sounded great.

The Yamaha FG800 has the classic (vintage) dreadnought sound, and would be my first choice. The Fender wasn't bad either. They each definitely had their own voice.

I actually found the Fender to be a bit muddy in the bass and a bit too brassy in the treble. The Yamaha is more balanced with better clarity, to this piano tuner's ear.

Hii... please tell are all the yamaha FG820 and FG800 has a slight bulged belly ???..... i recently got a FG820 and its got slight belly .. Is this normal or it should be totally flat...

Which had better intonation? Better tuning pegs?

I'm kinda partial to the fender. Thank you for your help

I need to have both of them.

I am torn but leaning toward the fender. I am a beginner just getting ready to purchase my first guitar and l love the sound of the Fender.

The fender sounds better on this end. The yammy seemed like it could be improved with heavier strings. It sound slappy...

Just Got The Fender CD 60 From Andy Owens In Myrtle Beach SC

I have the Fender CD 100 dreadnought great guitar , i have tried the cd60s last month compared to Yamaha FG800 Plus guitars . They are good the FG820 only do the left handed version a really good guitar for a backup . Creates better tone from the FG800.

I think that the Yamaha has a more brilliant tone the low ends are more obvious I believe. I got lucky and stumbled upon one this holiday season had no idea how good of a guitar I was buying

Yamaha's sounded so smooth and melodic

I was thinking obn a Fender but the Yamaha had a nicer sound for sure, fuller. Thanks!

How does this Fender compare to the Alvarez artist series AD30? Anyone?

Is there any trust rod in both of the guitar ?

4:10 6:00 Just needed the timestamps for myself :D

I definitely liked the Fender better overall. I thought it had a deeper, richer sound.

Both are very good-sounding guitars for the price. Personally I would go for the Yamaha. It sounds like it gives a little more projection to the sound.

I think you should move the mic back a bit and try it again.

I have fg800 and I love it

which one is better? yamaha apx600 or Takamine GD-11MCE NS?

For that price ? Both sound fantastic ! (imho)

My opinion..fender sound balanced and clear.

I'm sure both are excellent, and there are others just as good, but I went with the Yamaha FG800, and haven't regretted it. It may be aimed at beginners, but I've played a lot of guitars since 1970 (including a run as a regular performer in Detroit-area coffee houses back in the day.) This is the first one I've "fallen in love with" in a long time.

Please someone tell me which one should i get? Im a beginner and have an unknown brand guitar which just sucks. Soo which one do you recommend?

I thought the yamaha had the more vintage sound, but also better articulation from lows to highs. Note: the FG800 has notably better (redesigned) bracing than the earlier 700 series. Resulting in greater resonance and sustain.

Does yamaha come with a high action straight out of the box? Can it be easily fixed without any ill effects to the guitar?

Howdy @Alamomusic. I’ve hear about this lesser known brand called CORT. Can you guys do a review of their MR710F & MR730? They’re both with solid Sitka spruce top and mahogany back & sides (the MR730 being solid & the MR710 laminated) on specs they both seem awesome. Yet there aren’t any super helpful reviews on them. Thx Btw last I checked the MR710F retails for just about the same price as Fender CD-60 I believe. Kind regards Skywalker1000

Which of them had more louder tone!? Please answer

I'm going to be completely biased here and say the Yamaha sounded better with a more vintage sound. That's why I bought the FG730s which was the last model. I compared it to many others in the same range and some that were quite a bit more expensive and it looked, felt and sounded much more than its price tag. I can't imagine anyone being disappointed with it no matter their previous experience with acoustic guitars.

plz tell us ur opinion about the sound of them

In your opinion Cort CEC1 or Cort Ac100 or Cort Ac120Dx for beginners please reply

I have Fender and am very happy with it

The yamaha is a good warm sound

thank you Looking for new guitar within the next month

You should do a Fender CD-60 ce vs Yamaha FGX-800ce comparison