NGD: Vintage Yamaha CJ818

thechariot1x · #1 03-28-2019, 08:24 PM

So my new Yamaha CJ818 that I got off of eBay arrived today! My first impressions are very favorable it has a really nice sound I wouldn't have even known it was laminate. I was also doing some strumming and fingerstyle blues (Sligo River Blues) and picked blues and felt that it really shined here. It is apparently from the early 80s but I haven't figured out an exact year. So the previous seller sent along a box of extra lights and imirrationally guessing that's what's on their now, will I hurt anything to change it to lights? It plays smoothly in fsct the action may be just a hair too low.

thechariot1x · #2 03-28-2019, 08:25 PM

Trying to figure out how to upload images currently
Edit: I figured out how to do it through tapatalk

bedu · #3 03-29-2019, 02:14 AM

Changing up or down one gauge usually won’t affect your setup.

Brucebubs · #4 03-29-2019, 04:51 AM

Good to see you got the pictures up - great looking guitar too.

jwhelan56 · #5 03-29-2019, 05:07 AM

Congrats on that new beauty. I recently became the proud owner of a CJ-838S built in 1979. Main difference about the 838S is that it's solid wood construction.

Since this is a jumbo bodied guitar, and if your fingers can tolerate it, a set of mediums might bring out the full bodied sound that jumbo's tend to deliver. Light gauge are fine too though........

Enjoy your new one!!

thechariot1x · #6 03-31-2019, 08:28 PM

Thanks all! I changed to lights and it sounds even better I may eventually try mediums again but last time i changed them I found them a little hard to play, but granted back then I was a beginner. So far I am incredibly impressed with this guitar, it has an unbelievable tone for a laminate imo, but maybe I have been coming down too hard on laminate. My only concern is that it seems to lose tune fairly quickly. Is their anything I can do about this or does it come with the territory of an older Yamaha guitar?

CASD57 · #7 03-31-2019, 09:18 PM

I've a Shadow Burst 1983 CJ818 and yup it has changed my mind about all Laminate guitars...

My tuners were loose so when I had it setup he tightened them...A screw is under each cover on the tuners

Steadfastly · #8 03-31-2019, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thechariot1x

Thanks all! I changed to lights and it sounds even better I may eventually try mediums again but last time i changed them I found them a little hard to play, but granted back then I was a beginner. So far I am incredibly impressed with this guitar, it has an unbelievable tone for a laminate imo, but maybe I have been coming down too hard on laminate. My only concern is that it seems to lose tune fairly quickly. Is their anything I can do about this or does it come with the territory of an older Yamaha guitar?

If you just changed the strings, that is normal. It takes a few days before they get stretched out and become more stable.

thechariot1x · #9 03-31-2019, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steadfastly

If you just changed the strings, that is normal. It takes a few days before they get stretched out and become more stable.

Yeah it was doing that before I changed the strings too unfortunately, but those seemed fairly old so hopefully it goes away as the new strings settle.

Brucebubs · #10 04-01-2019, 06:59 PM

Don't get stuck thinking you need .013's the get the most out of your guitar.

I have an Epiphone EJ-200 jumbo and thought that way until recently when I tried a set of DR Sunbeam Medium 13-56 and just found them too uncomfortable.

By sheer chance I happened to have a set of DR Sunbeam Light 12-54 and the difference is unbelievable - easy to play and fantastic volume and tone.

You just might like them too - but be aware .. they are round core strings and need a little care when installing. (don't cut them until they are up to tension)

CASD57 · #11 04-02-2019, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brucebubs

Don't get stuck thinking you need .013's the get the most out of your guitar.

I have an Epiphone EJ-200 jumbo and thought that way until recently when I tried a set of DR Sunbeam Medium 13-56 and just found them too uncomfortable.

By sheer chance I happened to have a set of DR Sunbeam Light 12-54 and the difference is unbelievable - easy to play and fantastic volume and tone.

You just might like them too - but be aware .. they are round core strings and need a little care when installing. (don't cut them until they are up to tension)

I put Elixer polyweb 12-54 and im very happy with these, keeps the twanging brightness down with a full body bass