Ngd Yamaha FG 180 50th Anniversary - Page 3

buddyholly713 · #31 04-16-2016, 05:56 PM

I've had mine for a week or so now and am very pleased. I think it's a very handsome guitar. The neck is amazingly low profile. My spruce top is probably bookmatched--it's so close it looks like one piece of wood--no difference in shade from side to side. And quite lovely. The guitar overall to me is a real looker.

I purchased an FG180 Nippon Gakki in 1972 in Oakland (for $80, including a deluxe chipboard case) on my way home from Vietnam and have owned several used ones over the years. To me, this re-issue has some of that original tone but really stands on its own as a very nice dreadnought regardless of the heritage.

I'm curious if Yamaha is going to stand by its promise in the print ads I saw in Acoustic Guitar magazine to produce only 180 of these. I called Musicians Friend to check on my order and they said their website went crazy the first day it was offered. But they and Guitar Center are still taking orders. And they've been for sale on eBay from Japan dealers for more than a month. Sounds like 180 would not satisfy that demand. I wrote to Yamaha corporate to ask about this, and about how to interpret my serial number -- HMH120625. I'll repost here when, and if, I get an answer.

Drive914 · #32 04-16-2016, 09:34 PM

My guess: HMH120625
H=1 M=6
HM=16 (2016) H=1 (January) 12= (12thday) and 625= (unit#)
So that means your guitar was made on Jan. 12, 2016 and is #625
But I could be wrong.
By the way, mine is #659

fastestlouigie · #33 04-16-2016, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drive914

My guess: HMH120625
H=1 M=6
HM=16 (2016) H=1 (January) 12= (12thday) and 625= (unit#)
So that means your guitar was made on Jan. 12, 2016 and is #625
But I could be wrong.
By the way, mine is #659

My guitar is HLZ170516. I'm in the Uk btw. Maybe the first part's an area code?

Sijos1 · #34 04-17-2016, 02:19 AM

Hi

I am from uk and mine is HLZ160713??

buddyholly713 · #35 04-17-2016, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drive914

My guess: HMH120625
H=1 M=6
HM=16 (2016) H=1 (January) 12= (12thday) and 625= (unit#)
So that means your guitar was made on Jan. 12, 2016 and is #625
But I could be wrong.
By the way, mine is #659

If what you're saying about the unit number 625 turns out to be true, then it's hard to see how that would square with what Yamaha is saying in its print ads. This excerpt is from their recent full-page ad in Acoustic Guitar magazine:

"Now, Yamaha proudly introduces the FG180-50. With a limited run of just 180 guitars, this 50th Anniversary re-issue becomes a true collector's edition that will take you back to where your passion for music began."

Maybe there's another explanation for the serial number that Yamaha will give me in response to my letter.

Drive914 · #36 04-17-2016, 06:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buddyholly713

If what you're saying about the unit number 625 turns out to be true, then it's hard to see how that would square with what Yamaha is saying in its print ads. This excerpt is from their recent full-page ad in Acoustic Guitar magazine:

"Now, Yamaha proudly introduces the FG180-50. With a limited run of just 180 guitars, this 50th Anniversary re-issue becomes a true collector's edition that will take you back to where your passion for music began."

Maybe there's another explanation for the serial number that Yamaha will give me in response to my letter.

You certainly make a good point. It would have been nice if the US allotment were numbered 1 through 180 but it doesn't look like they did that. Like you said, maybe Yamaha will shine some light on the subject.

Drive914 · #37 04-17-2016, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sijos1

Hi

I am from uk and mine is HLZ160713??

Using my theory:

HLZ170516
H=1 L=5
HL=15 (2015) Z=12 (December) 17=(17th day) and 516=(unit#)
So that means your guitar was made on December 17, 2015 and is #516

HLZ160713
H=1 L=5
HL=15 (2015) Z=12 (December) 16=(16th day) and 713=(unit#)
So that means your guitar was made on Decenber 16, 2015 and is #713

But remember, I could be wrong. Especially seeing that #713 was made the day before #516. Unless the unit numbers are pre assigned and not built in numerical order. Same issue with vintage Porsche's, in many cases they were not produced in serial number numerical order. It's also possible that the first FG-180-50th made did not begin with unit # 0001.

Drive914 · #38 04-20-2016, 09:22 PM

I've been playing my new FG180-50th for 2 weeks now and I have to admit, I don't want to put it down. The beautiful sound this instrument makes is nothing short of addicting. I bought this guitar for a couple of reasons; one which was the hope that it would sound different then my other guitars. Today I got both Martin's out and the FG300 and rotated the 4 guitars. I highly recommended this guitar. Oh and there's a bonus; It's beautiful! Get one while you still can.

gbaron · #39 04-22-2016, 06:49 PM

I just got one of these- I will post pics when I get a chance, but mine sounds a lot like buddyholly713 the top is gorgeous, and very happy with the rest of it too. My husband bought one in '70 from Giant Music, still has it and recently just took it to a luthier for adjustment. It had been well let's say played hard for a long time.....(abused and neglected but still sang) luthier got action to a reasonable level, all we could do to improve further would be reset the neck, and it's really OK at this point without doing that- but so cool to have this anniversary edition of the same guitar, and it really is something special!! Interested in hearing any additional info on the serialization of these, and like I said, I'll post some fun pics on this thread when I get a little time!

G7th-nick · #40 04-23-2016, 12:50 AM

I so nearly bought a 180 back in '70 when I wanted to escape my classical guitar teacher and get into some Bert Jansch... but bought a crappy Framus which a friend then whacked and split right around the side. Darn! Might need to at least have a looksee at the new one just for nostalgia you understand...

JIMBO53 · #41 04-23-2016, 04:55 AM

Any idea what this 50th anniversary model will do to the value or collectability of an original Nippon Gakki Red Label FG-180?

buddyholly713 · #42 04-23-2016, 06:24 AM

I'm a relative newcomer to this very interesting forum and it's nice to see -- judging by a few recent posts here -- that I'm not the only participant "of a certain age," as the saying goes. And that some of you, like me, purchased one of the original FG180s back in the halcyon days of our youth.

I agree with gbaron -- it's just cool to have one of these re-issues, especially if you owned an original.

The story from G7th-nick about his damaged Framus reminded me of what happened to my 1972 FG180. It was laying on the floor next to our couch. My former wife rolled off the couch -- I won't tell you what we were doing, but we were newly wed -- and fell right on the nut area of the neck. It snapped, pulling apart just behind the nut, so that the peghead was approaching level with the fretboard. But it still held. I had it repaired, but was always afraid it would just snap apart someday and fly in my face while I was playing. It traveled to my brother-in-law, his brother, and eventually back to me. It was beyond hopeless by that time -- you could see where it was gradually pulling back apart -- so I cut it apart to learn about guitar construction. Probably sacrilegious, but there you go.

Moral -- never leave your guitar on the floor when you have other activities in mind.

But even in its repaired and barely hanging on state, it was by far the best sounding $80 guitar I ever saw.

gbaron · #43 04-24-2016, 04:06 PM

Musicians Friend has sold out. I'd left a review on mine, and was checking to see if it got posted- it did not, and they list this guitar as No Longer Available.

buddyholly713 · #44 04-25-2016, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gbaron

Musicians Friend has sold out. I'd left a review on mine, and was checking to see if it got posted- it did not, and they list this guitar as No Longer Available.

Interesting. I just checked Guitar Center, where I purchased mine, and they're saying "In stock and ready to ship," even though the heading on the listing says "Preorder."

I haven't had a reply yet to my letter to Yamaha corporate asking questions about the limited production run and our serial numbers. Will post here when that happens. If I don't hear from them soon, I may call. I called once already asking about warranty and was told it's generic -- you just print it off of their website and it applies to your guitar.

gbaron · #45 04-29-2016, 06:41 PM

i was not successful taking decent pics of this guitar- who knew photographing guitars was so difficult! reflections off of everything. not posting until i have something that looks like what i see... need to try some different lighting scenarios... got them both out tonight, playing together the '69 and the 50th- i am not a player but can hack at least, but husband playing on that 50th holy crap does it sound amazing. if i can ever figure out the best way to record you know i will be here. hearing the two together, wow. the original (after significant work by an excellent luthier) is of course amazing, but the 50th- well, it is astounding...