old yamaha guitars

[tworth]

I own a Yamaha Fg-75 Yellow (tan) label, Taiwan, parlor guitar from the 70's. It came in used to the music shop I worked at. I tried selling it to a customer. I was raving about how wonderful it was. But, it wasn't quite what he was looking for. Thank goodness!!! Because then I turned around and bought it. I love the guitar. It is my absolute favorite. I also love EClapton Martins. Maybe someday. Anyways, later, in a 1999(?) Acoustic Guitar Magazine, Ian Anderson said that he once owned a small Yamaha parlor guitar in which he used on Stand Up and maybe Benefit. He switched to a Martin after that. This Fg-75 has what I would call a very "golden" sound. Sturdy, light weight, attractive shape.
The red label Japanese Fg-75s have a narrow neck like most steel strings.
The yellow label FG-75s have a wider thicker neck like a classical guitar.
The red label ones are supposedly more sought after, though I don't know why. I really don't like to popularize these guitars because I desire to buy them all up. LOL.

tworth

[retrosurfer 195]

there not a bad guitar for a bad guitar I was given one (red label) by a friend who found one in a house they bought and they new I had allot of guitars ... same old story I actually kept it for camping and the beach and it's held up well for more years than I like to admit can't destroy it if you try would be my guess

[woodruff]

so these pop up all the time on craigs list, the FG series dreads.

so the 335 would be a great get?

i am somehow gassing for one badly....

[plaintop]

I seem to score these red label yamahas pretty often. I've had the 75 and 110, they are cool for the money. I've found that the higher the number, the more I like the guitar. I found this 180 last week, and have not put it down. What a fantastic sounding guitar. If tone were money, these guitars would be a grand, easy!

[woodruff]

Originally Posted by plaintop

I seem to score these red label yamahas pretty often. I've had the 75 and 110, they are cool for the money. I've found that the higher the number, the more I like the guitar. I found this 180 last week, and have not put it down. What a fantastic sounding guitar. If tone were money, these guitars would be a grand, easy!

i love that one. what a great gem and pic. i will wait patiently for the red labels, and hold out for a 180 or 335, as i hear a lot of love here for the 335 as being a workhorse etc...thanks PT

[woodruff]

this is the one i am gassing over:

http://dallas.craigslist.org/ndf/msg/1253329101.html

[rwrrwr]

Originally Posted by woodruff

i will wait patiently for the red labels, and hold out for a 180 or 335, as i hear a lot of love here for the 335 as being a workhorse etc...thanks PT

Just a note, the FG335 was a tan label, It wasn't produced until after the red label era.

As for lefties, the 335 also came in a left handed setup.
They can often be found on ebay for peanuts.

[woodruff]

Originally Posted by rwrrwr

Just a note, the FG335 was a tan label, It wasn't produced until after the red label era.

As for lefties, the 335 also came in a left handed setup.
They can aften be found on ebay for peanuts, like this one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Yamaha-acoustic-guitar-70s-FG335-left-set-up-right_W0QQitemZ330343784881QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuit ar?hash=item4cea0621b1&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkpa rms=65%3A1|66%3A4|39%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A200

thanks Rex! how you like yours? you got two?

[rwrrwr]

Originally Posted by dmb_guitar_play

I found a vintage looking Yamaha FG-160 in the back corner of a closet in my music teachers room. i typed in the #s and its either a '72 or '82 model....is there a difference in the label colorings from these 2 years?

It's from 1972, the FG160 was only produced from 1972 to 1974.

Information from the Yamaha archive.

SPECIFICATIONS:
FG160

Year(s) Sold: 1972-1974
Original MSRP(US$): $166.00
Top: Spruce
Back / Sides: Mahogany
Neck: Nato
Fingerboard: Indian Rosewood

Lucky man.

[rwrrwr]

Originally Posted by woodruff

thanks Rex! how you like yours? you got two?

Seems like I've been doing nothing but talk about how great I think the 335's are for the last couple days.
IMHO, dollar for dollar there isn't a better guitar on the planet. They have great tone and playability and are very durable. I bought my first one in 1979 and bought the second one a couple years ago to use as a test mule for learning about adjustments and to put a pick up in. Too much sentimental value in my 79 to take a chance on damaging her. I still play my 79 almost every day. I have guitars that sound better and I have guitars that play better but the 335 is still my favorite.

Here's a couple of 335 sound samples.*

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/defa...?bandID=970856

*not for entertainment purposes, as shown by demonstrator's ability.

[RandyMolson]

Originally Posted by dmb_guitar_play

wow....ive been meaning to post about this for a while but last year (when I was still in high school) I found a vintage looking Yamaha FG-160 in the back corner of a closet in my music teachers room. my teacher just let me have it (she said it was in that closet for a looooong time). all it needs is a new nut and tuners....the label on the inside is cream with black lettering....i typed in the #s and its either a '72 or '82 model....is there a difference in the label colorings from these 2 years?

Yeah, what rwrrwr says. I recently scored a 73 FG-160, and it is a nice sounding guitar. Per specs, it was originally a green label. I have a feeling all the green labels have faded to blonde/creme over the years.

[Kitchen Guitars]

I have never had a FG160. It is the same size as a FG180 with less protective binding, less substantial of a rosette, right? Or please what is the difference in the two?

[plaintop]

I've had a 160 and I think you are right. It's more like the 140 than the 180.

[yairiluvr]

I found an old Yamaha catalog, it lists the black label models and dated 1974. However, if yours was made in China, I would guess that it isn't the same black label?

Can you post photo's, then I can compare the two.

yl

[ewalling]

Originally Posted by bobbyg67

here's a link you can type your serial number into. have fun guessing which decade it is. i think it can be done with some sharp detective work.

http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/...%253DY,00.html

I have red label FG-180, which I've been playing for these two weeks that I've been back in the UK. I bought this well used back in 1983; using the link above, it appears that this guitar was made in 1972. It has some dings and scatches but is othwerwise in excellent condition. This was "my guitar" throughout the mid 1980s.