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-   -   Vintage Yamaha Help (https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=240674)

bigD77 02-01-2012 11:27 PM

Vintage Yamaha Help
 
After recently adding a 1980 Yamaha jumbo to my collection, I've been bitten by the vintage Yamaha bug (i read about this disease in other threads).

Im looking to add a smaller bodied older yamaha to the collection, however, when i search I primarily get threads and pages about FG180's.

Any insight into which models I should be keeping an eye out for would be very helpful...and those who own, please chime in with your thoughts of yours.

As a specific side note, I did run across a FG152, that I can find very little info about.

Any and all help would be much appreciated!

-Shawn

naolslager 02-02-2012 04:26 AM

My favorite (older) Yamaha is the SJ-400S. It is the solid-top version of the SJ-180. Both are approximately a 000-size guitar with a 1.75" nut, etc. While the SJ-180s are readily available via Craig's List and eBay, the SJ-400S is somewhat difficult to find. An SJ-180 can be bought for less than $150 typically. The SJ-400S (S = Solid Top) usually go for $400-500.

One more cool option is the FG-331. This is the predecessor to the SJ-180. The 331 has the truss rod adjustment at the headstock and some ornamentation running down the middle of the back at the seam. The 331s are usually less than $200.

Google search "yamaha archive" and this will help you determine dates of manufacture, material, etc. All of the above were made between approximately 1977-1985.

Good luck.

thedarkestnight 02-02-2012 04:34 AM

My dad gave me his CJ-818 and I think it sounds great. I played a FG-410 that was one of the best sounding Yamaha's I have ever played. I think the FG-180 is a little over hyped these days. There are many great Yamaha's out there with out the red label.

Weird Snake Joe 02-02-2012 08:10 AM

The "S" in "SJ" isn't for "solid," but "small," as in "small jumbo." The SJ-180 is all lammie, and a pretty darn good one, too. Probably one of the last "true" FG150-like Yamaha made, with the mahogany neck and back and sides pairing. A Taiwanese model to boot, IIRC. All bargain if you can find one that didn't get a lot of mileage or suffer from the neck issue.

The FGs weren't all dreads, though they started becoming that way some point in the late 70's/early 80's. There are some models that are in between the full-body (think FG-300) to 000-like shape are deceptively small for that moniker. The FG-180, FG-335 come to mind as examples...

steveyam 02-02-2012 08:38 AM

Here's a timeline of many (not all) early models:

http://i144.photobucket.com/albums/r...elinechart.png

If you want to know more, insert the model number into this identifier page: http://www.yamaha.com/apps/guitararc...hive2.asp?t=ac

naolslager 02-02-2012 08:42 AM

actually the "S" in SJ-180 is for semi-jumbo.

The suffix "S" in SJ-400S is for solid top. The SJ-180 is all-laminate.

There is also the aforementioned "CJ" which is for country jumbo.

bigD77 02-02-2012 10:44 AM

Any Personal favorites?
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by naolslager (Post 2920949)
actually the "S" in SJ-180 is for semi-jumbo.

The suffix "S" in SJ-400S is for solid top. The SJ-180 is all-laminate.

There is also the aforementioned "CJ" which is for country jumbo.


I'd love to find a SJ-400s, but as mentioned, theyre super hard to find! It would be the perfect compliment to my CJ-838s.

The FG331's look like theyre the logical option because of decent reviews and relatively low prices.

Im really looking for something with a shorter scale and it looks like even the dreads have that.

Im a bit intrigued by the fg-152...any info on the "Ezo Spruce" top?

Thanks for all the replies so far!

naolslager 02-02-2012 01:49 PM

There's an FG-331 on eBay right now.

pg60 02-02-2012 02:07 PM

I bought an FG-336SB brand-new in 1979. Makes me feel awful old to hear that described as 'vintage' but it is what it is. Not a red-sticker model but a very sweet guitar that kept me happy for 25 years until I found this forum ;-)

kjcole 02-02-2012 02:43 PM

Steveyam,

Where does the green label FG-360 fit into your chart? Early 70's? Yamaha's app lists it as 72-74 (built in Japan) but with rosewood fingerboard and bridge. I've seen more that were ebony fretboard (bound) and ebony bridge. Truss rod as well. All laminate D-28ish dreadnaught. Also, any clue if Yamaha used epoxy in the neck dovetail on these???

bananas 02-02-2012 07:15 PM

Ezo spruce...used on all the Yamaha Dynamics I have and seen listed in their old catalogues. All I know is it comes from Hokkaido.

GHS 02-02-2012 07:27 PM

I agree the older Yamahas were real good guitars at any price. To find one today that does not need a neck reset could be a problem. This could add quite a bit to the total price ( guitar,fretboard work, finish work, reset), that you would be right in the new L series range or used Martin,Taylor zone. I have two from the seventies that I keep because I had them when I was young, but they are wall art now.

xntric 02-02-2012 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pg60 (Post 2921354)
. . . kept me happy for 25 years until I found this forum ;-)

That's me and my 1979 FG-331 . . . still think it's pretty amazing, for what it is.

bananas 02-02-2012 07:50 PM

Yeah older Yamahas means the steel string models? I have a bunch of real old Yamaha nylon strings that have no neck problems at all...and mine go back to the early `50s.

naolslager 02-02-2012 08:19 PM

The only older Yamaha I had any issues with was a 12-string. It was still playable but the action was high enough to drive a Yugo under.


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