Playing the guitar is a cool skill to have. Learning how to play it largely depends on the type of guitar you use.
Factors like size, design, and tone are things to consider when choosing a guitar as a beginner since they influence your learning curve. You can choose between Seagull S6 and Yamaha FG800 acoustic guitars since they’re so beginner-friendly.
What are the key differences between Seagull S6 and Yamaha FG800?
Model |
Seagull S6 |
Yamaha FG800 |
Body length |
19.8 inches |
19.9 inches |
Scale length |
24.84 inches |
25.6 inches |
Body style |
Dreadnought |
Dreadnought |
Top |
Solid cedar |
Sitka Spruce |
Back & sides |
Rosewood |
Nato/Okume |
Sound |
Warmer |
Bass and sustain |
Availability |
Seagull S6 vs Yamaha FG800 – How do they compare?
Size
The Seagull S6 is slim and has a 19.8-inch body length, 24.84-inch scale length, 1.72-inch nut size, and a western-style body shape while Yamaha FG800 comes with a body length of 19.9 inches, 25.6-inch scale length, and a dreadnought body shape.
These guitars don’t differ much in size.
However, Seagull S6 has a smaller, beginner-friendly size than Yamaha FG800.
Design
Seagull S6 has great craftsmanship making it durable and sturdy while Yamaha FG800 with its solid spruce top and rosewood fingerboard make it kind on your fingers, more appealing, and a joy to play.
Seagull S6 has a top made of solid cedar tonewood and the back & sides made of rosewood.
Yamaha FG800 on the other side has its top made of Sitka Spruce and the back and sides made of Nato/Okume.
The Seagull S6 has a silver leaf maple neck and uses a snake-hipped headstock.
Both guitars are similar in design.
Sound
Due to the tonewood differences, the cedar tonewood delivers sound faster and with less playing compared to Sitka Spruce that needs more playing to achieve dramatic improvement.
The Seagull S6 produces a sweet, rich, warmer sound that is a little mellow while FG800 has more bass and sustain.
Yamaha produces rich overtones while Seagull S6 has a gorgeous tone.
Seagull S6 has a better overall sound quality than Yamaha FG800.
Seagull S6 vs Yamaha FG800 acoustic guitar – A Comparison Overview
Seagull S6 Overview
This acoustic guitar comes with the dreadnought body shape, a 19.8-inch body size, 25.5-inch scale length, and 1.8-inch nut width.
Its top, back & sides are made of solid cedar and rosewood respectively to give you a warmer tone with a good fingerpicking response.
The guitar gives you versatility when it comes to strumming with a 25.5-inch scale length.
With some extra cash, you get components like a volume knob, a cable jack, bass & treble controls, and a tuner.
Pros
- Great for fingerpicking
- Lasts beyond beginner-period
- Kind on fingers
- Great sound
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Yamaha FG800 Overview
It has a scale length of 25.6 inches, a 19.8-inch body length, a dreadnought body shape, and steel strings.
The top is a solid Sitka Spruce and the back & sides are of Nato/Okume.
This makes it slightly bigger and heavier than the Seagull S6.
Its tonewood is a mark of quality in most guitars and the guitar has a scalloped bracing that enhances low to mid-range responses that create warmer bases.
Pros
- Its tune-holding capability is particularly good for beginners
- Its small body is ideal for younger/smaller players
- Produces louder and bolder sound
Cons
- Maybe be uncomfortable while playing/holding
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Final verdict: So, which is better, Seagull S6 or Yamaha FG800?
The Seagull S6 tops this review.
It’s slightly smaller and lighter, delivers tone faster with less playing, and can last beyond the training phase.
As a beginner, you would want a guitar of this kind to not only encourage you but to hide your flaws.
Despite this, ensure you try the guitars out before settling on one as this may be a preferential choice.
FAQs
What strings does the Seagull S6 come with?
It comes with A6 Lite strings that are also recommended for continued use. However, you can also use the medium or the extra lite strings to fit your desired functionality and tone.
Does the Seagull S6 have bolt-on-necks?
The Seagull S6 comes with bolt-on-necks