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Yamaha Red Label FS3 Acoustic Guitar - Natural

6-string Acoustic Guitar with a Solid Sitka Spruce Top, Solid Mahogany Back and Sides, African Mahogany Neck, and Ebony Fingerboard - Natural
$879.99

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Yamaha Red Label FS3 Acoustic Guitar - Natural
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Expect Big Tone from This Comfortable Concert Style

With its sleek and comfortable Concert body style, the Yamaha Red Label FS3 artfully balances warmth and clarity, comfort and output. Don't let its size or price deceive you — the FS3 delivers a playing experience that holds its own against some industry heavyweights. Its body is built from a choice cocktail of solid tonewoods — dynamic Sitka spruce on warm, rich mahogany — with a top that has been visually and tonally optimized using Yamaha's A.R.E wood torrefaction process and Modified Scalloped bracing. Together, these yield a developed and mature tone that is sure to put a smile on any seasoned fingerstylist or flatpicker's face. A "V" headstock and eye-catching semi-gloss finish round out this price-defying package. Step into a new era of Yamaha's celebrated FS guitars — experience for yourself the Red Label FS3 acoustic guitar from Sweetwater.

Captures the essence of Yamaha’s iconic Red Label guitars

Inspired by Yamaha’s iconic Nippon Gakki Red Label guitars from the 1960s, FS 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 FS 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 FS 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 FS 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 FS3 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 FS 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 FS3, 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.

Yamaha Red Label FS3 Acoustic Guitar Features:

  • Captures the essence of Yamaha’s iconic Nippon Gakki Red Label guitars from the 1960s
  • 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
  • Sleek Concert body style balances warmth and clarity, comfort and output
  • A.R.E. process "ages" the wood molecules to match the tone of naturally aged guitars
  • Updated scalloped bracing pattern exhibits a louder, more balanced tone
  • 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: Concert
  • Back & Sides Wood: Solid Mahogany
  • Top Wood: Solid Sitka Spruce
  • Finish: Semi-gloss
  • Color: Natural
  • Body Bracing: Modified Scalloping
  • 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: Urea/Urea
  • Bridge Material: Ebony
  • Tuning Machines: Gotoh Open-gear
  • Strings: Elixir Nanoweb 80/20
  • Case Included: Softshell Case
  • Manufacturer Part Number: FS3

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Customer Reviews

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Rated 5/5

Red Label FS3

The FS3 Yamaha Red Label is an excellent choice for a great price. It has a booming sound for the size. Quality build from Yamaha just like many of their products. I am extremely satisfied with the FS3 knowing I will not have to upgrade from this acoustic. As for Sweetwater, they WILL be my go to for any future musical purchases. They have been superior in shipping their products and have IMPECCABLE customer care! Thank you Sweetwater & Charlie Kim for your professional experience!
Rated 5/5

Yamaha Red Label FS3 Acoustic Guitar - Natural

I waited to write this review because it was important to me to do this guitar justice. It is a superb guitar. I had mentioned to the luthier, aka 'miracle worker' that fixed an almost severed neck on one of my other guitars (LG2 Gibson) that my first guitar was a Yamaha from 1975. I kept it because the tone was so beautiful. He asked me if I heard of the "Red Label" series. I hadn't, but I knew if this guy said they were good, then they were probably great.

I'm more a family guitar player, and have played acoustic guitar for nearly 50 years. I've had fun playing with friends, but have only been praised four times in all these years. Once by my mother, who said I was good only after nearly selling my first guitar, the Yamaha. Second by a fellow music student, who said I should go pro, I didn't. Third by my daughter, who said I "kicked ass", which really shocked me 'cause she was a teen at the time. Lastly by my husband, who is a long suffering non instrumentalist who has heard me play the same song probably ad nauseum for years on end and he never praised me. He heard me play this FS3 Yamaha and actually said "so beautiful". The reason isn't because of my skill, though after all these years, it's nice to hear you're not terrible. The reason I sounded well was this guitar. It has deep bass sound, it is wonderfully balanced, light as a feather, easy to play and stays in tune. The neck is not as wide as a classical, but there is room across E to e. It's finish is not shiny, which I love personally, especially for this guitar. The action is low and perfect. Sweetwater set it up and did a splendid job at a reasonable price. I got this model because the materials are good and after owning probably more than 30 guitars through the years, I've seen & heard some good guitars made from China. This is absolutely one of their finest. Plus, it's a Yamaha. I also very much appreciated the option of no electronics. Thank you Yamaha!. I love no electronics and especially love not having to pay through the nose to have none. This is a fantastic, sweet sounding, easy breezy finger picking light as a feather touch of a guitar. It also has the solid feel of a guitar that can be played hard with a pick. If and when people catch on to the primo quality, there will waiting lists into the next year. Many thanks to Yamaha for a stellar instrument. Also many thanks to Sweetwater, a great company, for helping one more guitar player find a better piece of themselves and without breaking the bank.
Rated 5/5

BEST STEEL STRING ACOUSTIC Guitar I ever have

I have Taylor 410CE, 114, and 114CE.
Comparing with those Taylor 114 and 114CE made of laminated back and sides, when I play Yamaha FS3,I got to know what a real guitar is supposed to sound. Loud, sweet, round, balanced, crispy, sustained...just guitar sound. I will use this guitar to worship God and write more songs for Him. However, in the past ten years, I used the laminated 114CE in service heavily and it helped me to have developed a heavy strumming style to break out the supressed laminatedly yet sweet sound, even I changed frets twice due to being grinded down. Now, with this new supreb guitar (FS3), I start to play in more gentle styles. My mom like the sound of FS3 very much too. Thank God!
Music background: Playing hymns, flute, cello and violin for Him
Rated 5/5

Didn't crack in winter weather...

This is a great little guitar... Does it bother me that it's made in China? Yes and no! I hope the Chinese person that built this wonderful guitar isn't starving and is able to support their family on whatever Yamaha is paying them. This guitar, if made in America, with a Made in America storied name would be out of my reach financially.

Thank you Yamaha for producing a spectacular guitar that sounds like or better that an American made guitar.

And thank you Sweetwater for not being the center that sells guitars, they're really, really annoying to deal with.
Rated 5/5

Yamaha Red Label FS3

Awesome guitar! Plays and sounds fantastic! I had been eyeing this guitar most of the year and went to Sweetwater to see if it lived up to the reviews. Had no intention to buy during that visit, but... couldn't leave without it. The Sweetwater Sales Engineer (Greg Baum) was very attentive and let me play several guitars. He did a great job! I would highly recommend the FS3 and Greg Baum.
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