Under A$400, two solid-top acoustics come up again and again: the Yamaha FG800 and the Caraya Noblewood. Both are excellent value, and neither is a wrong choice. They just suit different players.
The FG800 is the long-standing benchmark: a classic, purely acoustic dreadnought. The Noblewood takes a more modern approach, with a warmer mahogany top, a comfort armrest and onboard electronics that let you plug in and record. Below we compare build, sound and value to help you work out which fits the way you play.
Meet the guitars
Caraya A2016ARSMT "Noblewood". A jumbo acoustic-electric with a solid mahogany top, a bevelled armrest and a Mings MG-10 system that combines a preamp, tuner, MP3 player and recorder. It comes in 40" and 41" sizes and is available from Haze Guitar Australia.
Yamaha FG800. The entry point to Yamaha's FG line, which dates back to the FG180 of 1966. It's a traditional dreadnought with a solid spruce top and scalloped bracing, now sold as the FG800J. It has no electronics, and it has earned its reputation as one of the most reliable starter acoustics around.
Specs side by side
The two share a 43 mm nut and a similar price. The main differences are the top wood, the body shape, the hardware and what's included in the box.
|
Spec |
Caraya Noblewood (A2016ARSMT) |
Yamaha FG800 (FG800J) |
|---|---|---|
|
Body shape |
Jumbo with bevelled armrest |
Dreadnought |
|
Sizes |
40" or 41" |
One size |
|
Top |
Solid mahogany |
Solid spruce |
|
Back & sides |
Mahogany |
Nato / mahogany (laminate) |
|
Neck |
Mahogany, bolt-on |
Nato, set neck |
|
Fingerboard |
Ebonised rosewood, bound |
Rosewood |
|
Scale length (mm) |
648 |
634 |
|
Nut width (mm) |
43 |
43 |
|
Nut & saddle |
Nu-Bone |
Urea |
|
Tuners |
Mini Gotoh sealed |
Yamaha die-cast chrome (TM29T) |
|
Electronics |
Mings MG-10: 4-band EQ, tuner, MP3 player, recorder, USB, 2GB SD card |
None |
|
Finish |
Gloss natural, satin neck |
Gloss body, matte neck |
|
In the box |
Gig bag, cable, truss rod key |
Hex wrench (no case) |
|
Warranty & returns |
3-year warranty, 100-day free returns |
Varies by retailer |
|
Price (AUD) |
$369 (RRP $389) |
From about $339 |
Build, tonewoods and playability
Both guitars are well made for the money. The FG800 keeps things traditional, while the Noblewood adds comfort and hardware touches you don't often see at this price.
Comfort. The Noblewood's bevelled armrest rounds off the edge where your strumming forearm rests. It's a feature usually found on much pricier guitars, and it makes a noticeable difference on a large body over long sessions. The FG800 has a standard dreadnought body, a familiar shape most players settle into quickly.
Size options. The Noblewood comes in 40" and 41" versions, which helps smaller players find a comfortable fit. The FG800 comes in one full-size dreadnought.
Hardware. The FG800 uses Yamaha's own die-cast tuners and a urea nut and saddle, simple parts that do their job well. The Noblewood steps up to a Nu-Bone nut and saddle and sealed Mini Gotoh tuners, plus a bound fingerboard and abalone rosette for a more decorative look.
Neck. Both have a 43 mm nut, so chord shapes feel the same width. The FG800's slightly shorter 634 mm scale gives a little less string tension, which some beginners find easier. The Noblewood's 648 mm scale is closer to a traditional long-scale acoustic, with a firmer feel under the fingers. The FG800 has a glued-in neck, the traditional approach; the Noblewood's bolt-on neck makes future adjustments simpler for a technician.
Sound
The biggest difference is the top wood: spruce on the Yamaha, mahogany on the Noblewood. Neither is better, but they suit different styles.
Yamaha FG800: bright and open. Spruce gives a crisp, lively sound with clear highs and good note separation, and Yamaha's scalloped bracing adds a fuller low end than you might expect at this price. It's a great match for bright strumming and flatpicking.
Noblewood: warm and full. Mahogany has a rounder, more focused voice with a strong midrange and smoother highs. That warmth sits nicely under a singing voice and suits blues, folk and fingerstyle. The jumbo body adds volume and low-end depth.
Plugging in. If you plan to play live or record, the Noblewood has a clear advantage. Its 4-band EQ shapes your tone through an amp or PA, and the built-in recorder lets you capture ideas straight from the guitar. The FG800 is acoustic-only, so playing it amplified means fitting a pickup or using a microphone.
Price and value
The two are close in price. What tips the value one way or the other is whether you need electronics.
- Caraya Noblewood: A$369 (RRP A$389) from Haze Guitar Australia, including a gig bag and cable, a 3-year warranty and 100-day free returns. Bundles with a strap, spare strings and picks, or a 10 W amp are also available.
- Yamaha FG800: from about A$339 at Australian retailers (BuyWisely, May 2026). The guitar comes on its own, without a case or bag.
If you'll only ever play unplugged, the FG800 is a very good use of A$339. If you want to plug in, compare like with like: Yamaha's acoustic-electric version, the FGX800C, sells for around A$489 new (Music Junction). Against that, the Noblewood's onboard preamp, tuner and recorder at A$369 represent strong value.
Which should you choose?
The Yamaha FG800 is a great fit if you'll play purely acoustic, you love a bright spruce tone, or you want a classic, proven design.
The Caraya Noblewood is a great fit if you'd like the option to plug in, record or practise along to backing tracks; you prefer a warm voice to sing over; or you value comfort features like the armrest and a choice of sizes.
Both are guitars you can grow with. If your playing is likely to take you beyond the living room, to open mics, jams or recording your own songs, the Noblewood gives you everything you need from day one.
Ready to hear the difference? See the Caraya Noblewood in 40" and 41" sizes, with free shipping to most of Australia and 100-day free returns.
