What Do You Think Of The Japanese Made Yamaha's?

[Daza152]

Hi all me again, I have been toying with idea to get a used Yamaha as my beginner/intermediate level I'm at and after a couple of years then maybe look at high end gear. It is buy a Yamaha now or wait a few more months of saving to get the Taylor 110 or something else that comes along, I havn't heard any bad comments about Yamaha's so you see my problem? what to do, what to do, isn't life great if this is your biggest concern.. LOL.

Daza.

[willow13]

well I own a 12strg yamaha (which is being used as a 6strg) and it is awesome for what it is....great feeling neck, nice even sound that isn't to bass heavy....no it doesn't have the character that a high end guitar "should" have but it also didn't take an arm or a leg when I got it

[Daza152]

Very highly. Some of the lower models from the red label days can be kind of shitty, but a friend has an fg300 that will blow anything out of the water. It's basically in the realm of perfection.

what do you think about the red label FG215B or the FG150? thanks.

[Gatdan777]

Ten-Fifteen year old Yamaha's are some of the best in the world. Newer ones are average. Or atleast thats what I've been told...

[telefiend]

Yeah, people jump on them crazy on both ebay and tardme. Even the lower model numbers that were sold as beginner models. Haven't played one, but I guess there must be a reason people rave about them. That FG150 on there at the moment interests me but I'm sure it'll get driven up a bit. Dude has nylon strings on it

[Daza152]

Yeah, people jump on them crazy on both ebay and tardme. Even the lower model numbers that were sold as beginner models. Haven't played one, but I guess there must be a reason people rave about them. That FG150 on there at the moment interests me but I'm sure it'll get driven up a bit. Dude has nylon strings on it

what do you think it will go for? and I have been harassing him about the strings LOL. meant to have steel eh I mean it isn't a clasical.....

Daza.

[capt abaham]

If you can find an S50c or S50 from the late 60`s kind of rare compared to the F series but worth a look

[holelottaluv]

this little yamaha is a real gem, it has great tone, its great to play, dont be put off by made in taiwan, its really well made. when i brought it, had super high action and a neck like john holmes shlong. i've shaved the neck down and tapered the fingerboard down, new dot markers and refretted it

[holelottaluv]

john holmes

[jimi]

this little yamaha is a real gem, it has great tone, its great to play, dont be put off by made in taiwan, its really well made. when i brought it, had super high action and a neck like john holmes shlong. i've shaved the neck down and tapered the fingerboard down, new dot markers and refretted it

Sounds like you're saying it was rubbish, but after several hrs work by someone who knows what hes doing its now a great guitar, and unless you've got that know how or are willing to pay a luthier to reshape the neck and fix the action / fretboard, or you just want to handle "John Holmes shlong"(sic) then you should probably give this guitar a miss.

[telefiend]

Nice. Almost bought a Japanese one of those a while ago. Price went a bit silly though.

[holelottaluv]

Nice. Almost bought a Japanese one of those a while ago. Price went a bit silly though.

Can you remember what it went for, i think i paid $320 with a case second hand, it was probably made in the 70's i brought it in about 1998 it sounded so good [only on the open chords due yo high action] the high action was because the truss rod had probably never been adjusted and had way to much up bend causing intonation problems because of the high action around the 6th 7th 8th frets , after adjusting the truss rod and getting the correct amount of relief then lowering the saddle it became very playable, these sort of adjustments are not expensive, the other work refret, neck shave abalone dot makers and fingerboard work were just my personal preferences to make it just that much slicker to play .anyway you can check out the reviews of these little gems FG180 on harmony centeral happy huntig

[telefiend]

Was on ebay. Went for $150US or nearabouts in the end. Not overly ridiculous, but I couldn't be bothered since it might show up with whatever amount of issues. That FG150 that went on tardme recently would have been the business. Went for $420 though - a bit much for me since it'd just be a stop gap until I can swing the money for a Martin

Yeah the 180s have a good rep - possibly mainly because Elliott Smith used one (playing the same guitar as him = indie cred, or something)

[Slowy]

Very highly. Some of the lower models from the red label days can be kind of shitty, but a friend has an fg300 that will blow anything out of the water. It's basically in the realm of perfection.

what do you think about the red label FG215B or the FG150? thanks.

Back in the last century, there used to be a lot of red label FG180's around. They were excellent guitars; especially if you played hard. I remember Paul Urbana Jones getting a great sound from his and that Boy knows a thing or two about thumpin' an axe!
My concern would be how well they have aged. Despite what Rog would say, older isn't always better. I have 2 mates with well used FG300's. They're not bad, but either of them would swap in a flash for my Tama of similar vintage.
Moreso than electrics, old acoustics need maintainence; sometimes very expensive maintainence. Buying any old acoustic unseen can get you something that has a whiff of lemon and goes Woof.

[holelottaluv]

check out the reviews of these little gems FG180 on harmony centeral happy huntig ]
sorry that was suppose to be FG110 not FG180