#1
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Yamaha FG300 Price Question
I recently found a good condition Red Label FG300 at a shop near me going for $699... It says it's been set-up professionally. Wondering if anyone has any thoughts on the price... I've heard great things about it and i'm sure you guys have some opinions either way. it seems a little steep to me but the guitar has been speaking to me in a certain way...
Thoughts? |
#2
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I dunno. My opinion is that would be the limit for that model in absolute, drop-dead mint condition WITH the OHSC. Check the nut, tuners, neck, frets, neck joint, TRUSS ROD FUNCTIONALITY, bridge, saddle height, maybe even take it to another pro for a second opinion. Look for cracks or repairs, replaced parts, filled drill holes, make sure that saddle contraption is original and works properly.
Then, if you drop-dead love how it sounds and plays, offer $450. If you can't work out a deal for under $600, I'd walk. You can get a heck of a nice new Yamaha for less than that. And by the way - that's not a vintage guitar by any stretch, so value cannot be based upon that.
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Disclaimer: All my statements are my opinion. I know nothing about everything. |
#3
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Did you play it? I think the 300 was a top of the line model back in the late 60s / early 70s. I think it has a solid top. Looks like it has an adjustable saddle. I would be interested in the sound and how far away it is from a neck reset. And if I did decide I wanted it I would ask for less than 699.
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Gibson J45tv / LG2 AE / Dove Ltd. Trans Ebony / AJ Martin D18 (custom shop) / HD35 / 00-16DBM Taylor DN3 / Baby Guild GAD25 Yamaha FG413S / FG200 / FG800 |
#4
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I've researched these and my opinion is that if it plays as good as it looks, it's worth about $500 tops...but of course if you really have to have it, what's a few bux more? Make sure the neck is straight.
And I believe anything as old as 40 years or so is considered vintage in the guitar world. |
#5
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"Vintage", where guitars are concerned, generally applies to quality and age rather than just age alone. Mostly American guitars are "allowed" to be in the vintage category, to the exclusion of foreign "piggy backers". A 40 year old Yamaha is a 40 year old Yamaha, but not something to be entered into any true vintage market. Aside from Stradivarius violins (the real impetus behind vintage guitar collecting), it is the high quality American names that are truely of vintage class today. Brands like Martin, Gibson, Fender, D'Angelico and a handful of others are obvious includes, but only up to about 1964/65. "Vintage", in the guitar marketing sense, in no way applies to an instrument that's merely old or one that's not made in the USA. There's an awful lot of mysticism and mythology placed on anything that's simply "old" these days. But when people speak about old instruments, more accurate labels would be "classic" or "antique". Most true vintage guitars have all been accounted for today. That said, would I personally favor a 40 Yr. old Yamaha at twice the price of a new one today? Well, that antique guitar would need to be a much better guitar than what I can buy new. Old guitars can be worth more because lets' face it - older instruments in excellent condition should be loved and played, and they do retain value. But this business of labeling everything that's over 30 as "vintage" is merely a matter of false perception. Why? Because everyone thinks they're sitting on a gold mine. Even when they aren't. And most never will. Buy what you love. Enjoy it. Cherish it. But be soberly honest about what you have and what you're really buying.
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Disclaimer: All my statements are my opinion. I know nothing about everything. |
#6
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Fg300
Well, it's always good to find a good one of these. Good news bad news. It doesn't have the original pick guard, but many don't. As far as the setup, it couldn't be easier, since the bridge is adjustable. Once the truss rod is set, a screwdriver can set the bridge height in seconds.
Now, I have 3 of these, and would never part with any of them. For the record, they are all laminate, BUT constructed of amazing laminate materials and with superior workmanship. The sound and playability is outstanding, far beyond any reasonable expectation. The price of a decent one will seldom drop below $500 and I would think the asking price on this one is not crazy, but I would certainly think $600 is about what I'd expect to pay. Double the price of a new FG730? Yeah, I'd pay that without hesitation. I have owned 100 or more yamahas and have 40 or more at present. The FG300 stands alone as a top quality laminate.
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TOO Stinkin' MANY GITS! Buncha Les Pauls Buncha Strats Martin HD-28, 2012-000CNylon Taylor 310K Taylor 214CE Taylor 110 Larrivee D-05 FG-375S FG-180 (5) FG-300 (5) FG-360 FG-350W APX-10 FG160E Woodsong K100,SW400 Paul Beard GRE Many other Yamahas (25 others- Garrison, Seagull, PRS, Squier 51, Dynamic) BigMike sez: I tried to be good, but there were just too many options. Last edited by stardot; 11-21-2014 at 04:20 PM. |
#7
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The term "vintage" is a matter of opinion and certainly arguable. Also, just because an old guitar has a highly regarded American name, that doesn't automatically make it good or collectable. For instance, it's widely known that Nolin era Gibson guitars of the late 70's were junk. The Japanese were making better copies of Gibson guitars than Gibson itself. But that's just one example.
Anyway, I was a hard core Yamaha acoustic guy for the first 30 years of my 40 years of playing. So, I know the old Yammies pretty well. That being said, I wouldn't pay more than $550 (max) for that FG-300... and ONLY if it was far removed from needing a re-fret or neck reset. .
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'Common-sewer' of unrefined guitars. |
#8
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Quote:
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Disclaimer: All my statements are my opinion. I know nothing about everything. |
#9
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Either way, the word gets tossed around quite often and there's still grey areas and varying opinions of "vintage" anything. .
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'Common-sewer' of unrefined guitars. Last edited by Buck62; 11-21-2014 at 07:07 PM. |
#10
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It doesn't mean old, good or valuable - it just means "of that ...... time." |
#11
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That's my guitar! I bought it.
I was not the one who posted the original thread, but I was the one who ended up buying it! Not for that price, but no regrets in buying it....this dealer sets their instruments up right.
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Tags |
fg300, yamaha, yamaha fg 300 |
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