The core acoustic response driving this Japanese-crafted Red Label model delivers an exceptionally mature, woody voice that completely punches above its compact weight class. Yamaha anchored this FS concert body around a solid Sitka spruce top treated with their proprietary A.R.E. (Acoustic Resonance Enhancement) thermal aging process, pairing it with solid mahogany back and sides and custom scalloped bracing. This specialized combination bakes out internal moisture to mirror the open, cellular structure of a vintage artifact, giving you an immediate, touch-sensitive midrange punch, crisp treble articulation, and a dry, fundamental bass. The compact concert proportions prevent any low-end clutter, making it an ideal choice for articulate fingerpicking, intimate vocal backing, and tight studio microphone setups.

Visually, this gloss variation on the iconic Red Label design brings a polished, high-end shine to a historic 1960s aesthetic. The body is finished in a brilliant high gloss that accentuates the tight grain of the spruce and rich, dark mahogany, while the African mahogany neck features a fast, smooth satin finish for drag-free fretting. Black and white multi-ply binding cleanly outlines the top, back, and soundhole, framing a distinctive wooden pickguard that adds a subtle touch of organic character. Up on the classic V-shaped headstock, open-gear chrome Y1D tuners deliver precise tuning stability while honoring Yamaha's golden era of folk guitar design.

In the hands, it behaves with total, frictionless stability thanks to its slightly shorter 25-inch scale length and player-friendly neck geometry. The African mahogany neck profile sits naturally in the palm, leading up to an elite ebony fingerboard with a comfortable 15 3/4-inch radius and a 1 3/4-inch bone nut that provides ideal string spacing for fingerstyle isolation and clean chord shapes. Bone nut and saddle appointments pair with ebony bridge pins to ensure every ounce of string vibration transfers cleanly into the soundboard. Shipped safely in a custom hardshell case, the FS5 GL is a lifetime, all-solid workhorse built in Japan for musicians seeking vintage acoustic authority and modern Japanese precision.

Serial #IMM379A — this listing is for the exact instrument shown in the photos above.