For quite some time now, Yamaha's acoustic guitars have been synonymous with great performance and excellent build quality, with a model to suit most wallets.

The Yamaha FG series has been upgraded with design features inherited from the L-Series. The FG730S's yellowish cream binding extends to the headstock and the central portion of the rosette is neatly inlaid with abalone.

The two-tone tobacco brown sunburst is well applied, most pleasant and lends the guitar a hint of that classic Gibson J45 vibe – as does the vintage cherry sunburst, one of the other finishes available.

The main structural departure can be found in the instrument's back and sides, which are rosewood laminates rather than nato. Indeed, this is the only model in the new FG range to feature rosewood back and sides.

Sounds

Not possessing as much of a strident bottom end as the predominantly nato models, the guitar has a zingy tonality.

However, despite the more expensive guitar's extra accoutrements and rosewood back and sides, in all honesty it doesn't have the edgy appeal of the stripped-down model, or indeed the solid balance or warmth of the FG720S.

Its performance is a little lightweight, although in recent years, more and more players have opted for manufacturers such as Taylor and Takamine, who excel at producing acoustics with that signature top-end vitality. So if you are seeking an acoustic to really cut through, then perhaps this is the one for you.

When it comes to consistent production of quality entry-level acoustics, Yamaha appears to be in an enviable position. We would confidently recommend the new FG series models to any player looking for a great-value acoustic guitar, although we might wish for slightly more memorable model names.