I play a very old FG180 - I've had it for 25 years and it was quite long in the tooth when I aquired it - I think it was made about 1970. Because I do quite a lot of unamplified pub gigs and have a strong voice, I use Martin heavy gauge strings on it which gives it excellent power especially on the bass end. In music sessions it's quite capable of holding it's own over several melodeons and the usual complement of bodrhans.

On the back it has an extra piece in the middle which I've never seen in other FG180s which gives slightly more curve. Does anyone else have a similiar model ?

In spite of the heavy strings, the action is still one of the best I've ever played.