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Yamaha FG's
Posted: Fri May 12, 2023 6:58 pm
by Velo
Hi all,
Newbie here to find out as much as pos about FG's.
I have 3 now but two sold off in the past cause I was niave and young, be worth big bux now.
Which is the best of them regardless of year, number or factory ?
For what it's worth, I don't think money comes into their value as an instrument per se.
It's all about the sound.
Velo.
Re: Yamaha FG's
Posted: Sat May 13, 2023 1:10 am
by kdawg2a
Hey there Velo. As far as I know the FG that commands the big bucks is the 68-74 red label, made in Japan FG-180. All because of the Elliot Smith connection.
They're OK guitars but their value used to be they were a good guitar for very little money. They're not very little money anymore. I've had a few early 70s FGs. I got them for cheap, had fun playing them, sold them for a nice profit.
Lots of them were imported into NZ back in the day so if you can find any of the earlier ones in playable condition for $200 or less, grab them! Its still possible (even at pawn shops) to find them cheap making them one of the last good value vintage guitars.
Look out for red label MIJ (export models) or white label MIJ (domestic models). There's still lots out there!
Re: Yamaha FG's
Posted: Sat May 13, 2023 9:01 am
by Jay
Re: Yamaha FG's
Posted: Sat May 13, 2023 9:45 am
by Slowy
kdawg2a wrote: ↑Sat May 13, 2023 1:10 am
Hey there Velo. As far as I know the FG that commands the big bucks is the 68-74 red label, made in Japan FG-180. All because of the Elliot Smith connection.
They're OK guitars but their value used to be they were a good guitar for very little money. They're not very little money anymore. I've had a few early 70s FGs. I got them for cheap, had fun playing them, sold them for a nice profit.
Lots of them were imported into NZ back in the day so if you can find any of the earlier ones in playable condition for $200 or less, grab them! Its still possible (even at pawn shops) to find them cheap making them one of the last good value vintage guitars.
Look out for red label MIJ (export models) or white label MIJ (domestic models). There's still lots out there!
Very much this. The 180's best trick was it stood up well to heavy handed players and gave lots of thump. Paul Urbana Jones used one for years until he got his first D28 and that man could hit a guitar!
Back in the 70's the FG-180 was the guitar you bought if you couldn't manage a Guild, Gibson or Martin. Haven't played one in years but I doubt it would be much better today than a newer instrument for the same money; bang for buck has increased considerably over the years.
Re: Yamaha FG's
Posted: Sat May 13, 2023 10:48 am
by Danger Mouse
Slowy wrote: ↑Sat May 13, 2023 9:45 am
Paul Urbana Jones used one for years until he got his first D28 and that man could hit a guitar!
My brother had guitar lessons from Paul, he was as intense with his teaching as he is with his playing, my brother had a few absolute bollockings off him for not practicing. Nothing physical, bar a few coatings of spit from the rants.
Re: Yamaha FG's
Posted: Sat May 13, 2023 12:00 pm
by olegmcnoleg
Slowy wrote: ↑Sat May 13, 2023 9:45 am
kdawg2a wrote: ↑Sat May 13, 2023 1:10 am
Hey there Velo. As far as I know the FG that commands the big bucks is the 68-74 red label, made in Japan FG-180. All because of the Elliot Smith connection.
They're OK guitars but their value used to be they were a good guitar for very little money. They're not very little money anymore. I've had a few early 70s FGs. I got them for cheap, had fun playing them, sold them for a nice profit.
Lots of them were imported into NZ back in the day so if you can find any of the earlier ones in playable condition for $200 or less, grab them! Its still possible (even at pawn shops) to find them cheap making them one of the last good value vintage guitars.
Look out for red label MIJ (export models) or white label MIJ (domestic models). There's still lots out there!
Very much this. The 180's best trick was it stood up well to heavy handed players and gave lots of thump. Paul Urbana Jones used one for years until he got his first D28 and that man could hit a guitar!
Back in the 70's the FG-180 was the guitar you bought if you couldn't manage a Guild, Gibson or Martin. Haven't played one in years but I doubt it would be much better today than a newer instrument for the same money; bang for buck has increased considerably over the years.
Agreed here. These were the best used guitars around for much of the 70s - 90s that did not cost a lot.
But these days there are so many really good options for less money.
Those older Yamaha guitars will always have their fans though.