Yamaha entered the guitar market in 1966, and their early made-in-Japan axes packed serious tone and value that rivaled their American-made competitors. The early Yamaha guitars were made by Nippon Gakki, and players knew them by their distinctive red label in the soundhole. With the modern Red Label series, Yamaha celebrates their guitar-making roots with high-spec, all-solid-wood instruments that are once again proudly made in Japan.
The FSX5 is the concert-size body of the Red Label Series. The body is 19-5/8" long, and the lower bout measures 15" across. With a 25" scale length, the FSX5 feels comfortable in your lap, but it still produces lively, well-balanced sound. It features a solid Sitka Spruce top, solid Mahogany back and sides, and a factory-installed pickup. The early Red Label Yamahas borrowed the scalloped bracing design from classic American guitars, so the FSX5 sports the same scalloped X bracing for warm, powerful tone with deep lows, and rich harmonics. The smaller body is a natural choice for fingerpicking, but it still sounds nice with a pick.
This 2022 Red Label FSX5 shows some minor wear and use, but it is an excellent all-around guitar that brings a lot to the table. There is a strap button on the heel, and it looks like someone put a little graphite in the nut slots to reduce friction. There is some play wear around the pickguard area, but no dings scratches or signs of mishandling (see photos). A clean used guitar! This FSX5 has a very fine grain Spruce top, and perhaps that—along with the scalloped bracing—helps give it the open and responsive feel. The years probably help, too. A common complaint with Yamahas is that they feel tight and overbuilt, but that's not the case with this FSX5!
This 2022 Yamaha Red Label FSX5 plays nicely with manageable low action. This model comes from Yamaha ready to rock—bone saddle, bone nut, genuine Ebony fingerboard, and open back tuners that feel sensitive but also stable. It has a 1-3/4" nut width and a medium-feeling neck carve. A great guitar at this price point! It includes its original hardshell case.