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Yamaha Red Label FGX5 - Natural

6-string Acoustic-electric Guitar with a Solid Sitka Spruce Top, Solid Mahogany Back and Sides, African Mahogany Neck, Ebony Fingerboard - Natural
$1,649.99

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Yamaha Red Label FGX5 - Natural
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Yamaha’s Red Label Folk Guitars Return!

The Yamaha Red Label FGX5 recalls the company’s now-legendary 1960s-era Nippon Gakki Red Label acoustic guitars. That said, it’s been retooled to meet the demands of modern guitarists. A solid Sitka spruce top and solid mahogany body yield maximum resonance and tone, which are further enhanced by Yamaha’s A.R.E. wood torrefication process. Updated scalloped bracing ensures a louder, more balanced tone. What’s more, a bone nut and saddle augment the guitar’s tone, giving it a loud, clear voice. You’ll also benefit from stellar plugged-in tone, courtesy of Atmosfeel electronics. A classic V-shaped headstock and eye-catching semi-gloss finish complete the Red Label FGX5.

Captures the essence of Yamaha’s iconic Red Label guitars

Inspired by Yamaha’s iconic Nippon Gakki Red Label guitars from the 1960s, FG Red Label instruments call to mind the look and feel of the company’s very first steel-string acoustic guitars. These sought-after instruments are cherished for their one-of-a-kind sound and high-end Japanese craftsmanship. Teeming with beautiful vintage aesthetics, the FG Red Label series enables you to experience the very essence of these legendary instruments, thanks to Yamaha’s state-of-the-art wood conditioning techniques and true-to-life vintage sound. All FG Red Label guitars feature classic V-shaped headstocks with Yamaha’s tuning fork logos, solid tonewoods, updated scalloped bracing, and eye-catching semi-gloss finishes. The guitarists at Sweetwater are excited about the FG Red Label series — it more than lives up to the legendary instruments that inspired it.

Innovative construction yields a better guitar

The great tone and smooth playability of the Red Label FGX5 are enhanced by Yamaha's A.R.E. (Acoustic Resonance Enhancement) wood torrefaction, which gives your guitar a broken-in and aged tone. By controlling the atmospheric pressure, temperature, and humidity, the molecular properties of the wood are manipulated to mirror those of a guitar that has been played for years. Each FG Red Label series guitar also features a modified and updated scalloped bracing pattern that exhibits a louder, more balanced tone.

Solid spruce top for great tone

The choice of top wood can powerfully affect the sound of an acoustic guitar. For the Red Label FGX5, Yamaha chose a premium solid Sitka spruce top. Chosen as much for its look as its tone, the top has a well-rounded, articulate sound with excellent projection — and its tone is only made better by Yamaha's A.R.E. wood torrefaction process. The guitar's solid mahogany back and sides provide exceptional bass and powerful punch, and they simply look great.

Atmosfeel electronics ensure first-rate plugged-in tone

The Red Label FGX5 is equipped with Yamaha’s Atmosfeel pickup and preamp system. This innovative system lends a natural, three-dimensional sound to your guitar via a 3-way sensor setup. A piezo under-saddle sensor picks up sound where the strings meet the bridge, while an internal microphone captures the guitar’s internal resonance and a sheet sensor picks up vibrations from its soundboard. A Mic Blend knob enables you to blend the mic signal with the piezo. A Bass EQ knob controls a peaking EQ — the center frequency raises when boosting and lowers when attenuating. You also get a Master Volume control.

Yamaha Red Label FGX5 Features:

  • Solid Sitka spruce top and solid mahogany back and sides provide rich tone and projection
  • Solid mahogany back and sides provide exceptional bass and powerful punch
  • Traditional Western body style provides fantastic projection
  • A.R.E. process "ages" the wood molecules to match the tone of naturally aged guitars
  • Atmosfeel electronics lend a natural, three-dimensional sound via a 3-way sensor setup
  • Updated scalloped bracing pattern exhibits a louder, more balanced tone
  • Bone nut and saddle supply a loud, clear voice
  • Classic V-shaped headstock with Yamaha’s tuning fork logo
  • Eye-catching semi-gloss finish

Why Buy Your Guitar from Sweetwater?

See how Sweetwater goes to great lengths to give you the very best online guitar buying experience. From our online Guitar Gallery that allows you to see and select the exact instrument you want to our 55-point Inspection process and our in-house guitar techs, we take the guesswork out of buying your next guitar online.

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Tech Specs

  • String Type: Steel
  • Number of Strings: 6
  • Left-/Right-handed: Right-handed
  • Body Shape: Dreadnought
  • Back & Sides Wood: Solid Mahogany
  • Top Wood: Sitka Spruce
  • Finish: Semi-Gloss
  • Color: Natural
  • Body Bracing: Modified Scalloped
  • Neck Wood: African Mahogany
  • Radius: 15.75"
  • Fingerboard Material: Ebony
  • Fingerboard Inlay: Dots
  • Number of Frets: 20
  • Scale Length: 25"
  • Nut Width: 1.75"
  • Nut/Saddle Material: Bone/Bone
  • Bridge Material: Ebony
  • Tuning Machines: Gotoh Open-gear
  • Electronics: Atmosfeel
  • Strings: Elixir Nanoweb 80/20
  • Case Included: Hardshell Case
  • Manufacturer Part Number: FGX5

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Customer Reviews

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Rated 5/5

Yamaha’s FGX5 stands on its own

My first guitar was a Yamaha FGX800C (great guitar). As I progressed as a player I move to a Taylor 224dlx (another great guitar). I found myself gigging and playing my Yamaha more because of the feel. Well, I decided to use Gear Exchange (the best way to trade your gear in my opinion) and put that credit toward an FGX5 Red Label. I was a little worried if I made the right move until FedEx dropped off this baby. From the first strum I knew I made the right decision. I did have a setup done so I cannot say what it's like out of the box but let me tell you, this is a high end guitar! The neck is so fast and comfortable and the sounds that come from this guitar puts it in a class all its own. Of course people will compare the FGX5 to Martin's D-18 or Gibson's J-45 Think about it, if this is where the conversation gravitates toward what does that say about this guitar? However, I believe this guitar stands on its own. It's not a copy in any way and in some ways, outshines the competition especially in value. Boomy lows, bright where it needs to be, resonant and responsive. If you're reading this trying to decide - Do It! You will not be disappointed!
Rated 5/5

Yamaha knocks it outta the park

Yamaha FGX5 with Atmosfeel electronics. This guitar is incredible. Fit and finish are stellar. The set up out of the box is ideal for me. The tone is throaty and sonorous, but with more focus than my D18. Plenty of volume, but there is a sweetness in the mids and highs that surprised me. The short scale is so helpful for 63 year old arthritic hands. The satin finish is just perfect, and the understated elegance is simply right up my alley. For crying out loud, even the case is awesome. This is my 2nd Yamaha, my first being the FSX3. Once I played that, I knew I'd end up with a Japanese made Yamaha guitar and I am so glad I did. The electronics were just amazing through a church open mic Bose system, and I had several folks ask me about the FGX5. Another gent at the open mic has been a Yamaha fan and owns several of the original red label guitars. He played this one, shook his head and stated " they simply know what they are doing".
Thank you folks! Fine, fine work
Rick Benjamin
Music background: Playing for over 50 years, and fairly accomplished.
Rated 5/5

Perfect guitar

This guitar is unbelievable! Plays so smooth up and down the fretboard. It sounds amazing. I don't really know the words to say that would describe how great it sounds. The case is spectacular! It even comes with a "feedback" sound hole cover with the Yamaha logo. The atmosfeel pickup is the best sounding amplified acoustic sound I've heard. From what I understand there is a microphone inside the guitar, then it has the usual piezoelectric pickup under the saddle (which specifically picks up the lower frequency tones), and a transducer sheet under the top for picking up the higher frequencies. Amazing!
Music background: Playing guitar for about 12 years. I play mostly in our church’s music ministry.
Rated 5/5

Better than my Taylor 314 CE

This is a awesome guitar!!! Makes my Taylor 314 CE sound like a beginner's guitar! Not that the Taylor is bad it's just that the Yamaha FGX is that good. The pick up in this guitar is fantastic!! Not to mention paying more for my Taylor. If you are looking for a fantastic acoustic with a pickup buy this one. It's well worth the wait! I waited 6 months for mine and my worship leader in my church when he first Heard the guitar said that guitar is off the hook. He said he could not believe how good it sounds in his in ear monitors. Those guys in Japan make some of the best guitars. You would pay twice that much for a guitar in the USA.
Music background: 34 year
Rated 5/5

Would buy it again over other more expensive guitars

Every time I find myself playing a more expensive guitar in a store, I think boy did I get lucky, and I would buy it again.
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