Yamaha FG-331 from 1979. Wow. - Page 3

mstuartev · #31 02-23-2012, 10:30 AM

GAAaah! That black guitar is way cool. With a huge sound hole. I'm guessing it's a photo-optical illusion... but the neck looks all twisted. Still pretty cool.

naolslager · #32 05-06-2012, 03:09 PM

After patiently waiting for months, finally another FG-331 has appeared on Craig's List not far from me. I've sent an email to the seller (no phone number given) and I eagerly await his or her reply. With HSC.

Dallon426 · #33 06-27-2012, 12:24 PM

Hi, are there any solid 000 size Yamahas out there?

I just read about the FG1500 but those are really expensive

Any help is appreciated, thanks

OnTheLedge · #34 06-27-2012, 01:28 PM

I was looking for cheap guitars for my middle school students to play when I stumbled upon an FG-331 for sale on CL by a guy right in my town. I got it for 80 bucks! I soon realized that the guitar is way too nice to be abused by my students. It lives at my house now and it feels and sounds great!

TwoMartinMan · #35 06-27-2012, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OnTheLedge

I was looking for cheap guitars for my middle school students to play when I stumbled upon an FG-331 for sale on CL by a guy right in my town. I got it for 80 bucks! I soon realized that the guitar is way too nice to be abused by my students. It lives at my house now and it feels and sounds great!

Great buy. But I can't resist sharing....I got mine for $50. The guy I got it from had bought it new in Kansas when he was in the military. He brought it home to Maryland in its case where it sat, unused, for 30 years until he was clearing out his house of unused stuff to make room. It's one of the best CL deals I've even gotten. See my photos on the first page of this thread.
Congrats.
I see you have a Martin MMV, too. Great guitar.

bluesfreek · #36 06-27-2012, 03:07 PM

I had one about 5 years ago. I had it setup nicely and a bone nut and saddle installed on it. After about a year I decided to upgrade to something new and I sold it to a teenage girl who when she came with her mom to look at it fell in love with it immediately and the look on her face was priceless. She said to her mom..."this is the one".

brian9955 · #37 07-04-2012, 08:56 PM

I just bought a FG-331 for $10 at a garage sale the other day. I figured it was a gamble cause the guitar was missing strings and missing four tuning keys, but again, it was $10. After I got it, I bought a some used yamaha tuning keys from someone on ebay for $15. Not sure if it was a good idea to get them, but it was more of a quick decision cause I didn't want to lose the opportunity with someone else buying them. Do you think it will make a difference if the keys I got on ebay aren't from the same model?

Do you think it's worth trying to get it fixed? Not sure how to tell if it's warped, but the girl I got it from said the last time the guitar had strings was two years ago. I'll have to get a professional at guitar center to take a look. Also, I cannot find the serial number. I looked in the sound hole, close to the neck and nothing.

TwoMartinMan · #38 07-04-2012, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brian9955

I just bought a FG-331 for $10 at a garage sale the other day. I figured it was a gamble cause the guitar was missing strings and missing four tuning keys, but again, it was $10. After I got it, I bought a some used yamaha tuning keys from someone on ebay for $15. Not sure if it was a good idea to get them, but it was more of a quick decision cause I didn't want to lose the opportunity with someone else buying them. Do you think it will make a difference if the keys I got on ebay aren't from the same model?

Do you think it's worth trying to get it fixed? Not sure how to tell if it's warped, but the girl I got it from said the last time the guitar had strings was two years ago. I'll have to get a professional at guitar center to take a look. Also, I cannot find the serial number. I looked in the sound hole, close to the neck and nothing.

Welcome to the Forum and congrats on the $10 bargain. For $10, it's worth it to put a few dollars into the project to try and make a worthy player out of it, barring any serious structural issues or abuse. A good guitar tech can tell you if it's worth the investment. You have the potential to end up with a nice guitar.
The serial number on mine is printed on the brace on the underside of the top, just inside the soundhole toward the neck.

brian9955 · #39 07-04-2012, 10:27 PM

Thanks. Unfortunately the serial number is no where to be found. I am wondering if there were some parts replaced or simply someone scratched off the serial number for some reason. The guitar appears to be in decent shape other than what I have already pointed out. Either way, I'm excited to see how it it will turn out.

stardot · #40 07-05-2012, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brian9955

Thanks. Unfortunately the serial number is no where to be found. I am wondering if there were some parts replaced or simply someone scratched off the serial number for some reason. The guitar appears to be in decent shape other than what I have already pointed out. Either way, I'm excited to see how it it will turn out.

That guitar was made for 4 years from 1977 thru 1981, and likely in Taiwan. The tuners would have been tm15 or tm30. I wouldn't be too freaked out by the used tuners as long as the mounting screws line up. the serial number should be just inside the sound hole right at the end of the neck, stamped in ink.

brian9955 · #41 07-05-2012, 05:31 PM

I went to guitar center and spoke with one of the guys there. He said that he wouldn't be able to tell if it is completely damaged until he fixes it up and puts some strings. He said that he will need to build a bridge for it, which would cost me $65. It sounds a little steep. Anyone know where I can get a bridge for cheap?

Anyways, here are a few pictures of the guitar.

TwoMartinMan · #42 07-05-2012, 05:43 PM

Can you provide a close up photo or two of the bridge? I can't see why that guy told you it needed a new bridge. I'd like to see a close up. I would also seek a second opinion. I don't know about your local Guitar Center, but the guys at my local GCs have proven time and time again that they dont know squat about the details of guitars. Find a real luthier in your area and get another opinion before you spend any money.

TwoMartinMan · #43 07-05-2012, 05:49 PM

From what I can see in the photo, the saddle seems to be missing, so you need a new saddle for the bridge slot, but the bridge itself appears to be fine. A closer photo will help confirm that.

brian9955 · #44 07-05-2012, 06:14 PM

TwoMartinMan · #45 07-05-2012, 06:35 PM

That bridge looks fine to me. Sometimes people who don't know what they are talking about use the term "bridge" when they mean the "saddle". The saddle is the bone insert that goes into the slot in the wooden bridge. The strings then pass over the saddle and are secured into the bridge with the bridge pins, which look fine, too. A new compensated saddle for that bridge should only cost about $20 tops...and that's for a nice bone saddle. A plastic one is cheaper, but will not sound as good. It will drop right into the slot, but it will need adjusting for height to make the action right. A good guitar tech can do that. Not expensive.
The larger question is, "Is the neck angle OK, or does the guitar require a neck reset?" A neck reset would cost between $300-$500. You don't want to have to get into that. The guitar is not worth that.