Ever played a Yamaha guitar?

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: GUEST,Sean Moore
Date: 13 Apr 07 - 08:26 AM

does anyone know how much a CG-70 goes for these days? one just came to me, and i was wondering how much it was worth.

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 24 Apr 06 - 03:31 AM

There was a Guitarist magazine aricle on old Yamahas, about a year back. worth checking out.

tell us about it. I am always interested to hear about Yamahas. At the moment I am playing the CPX8, as I said earlier in this thread and just before Xmas I got the Yamahacpx15cm. The 15 , I use for open tunings. I have contemplated getting a cpx8m to complete the trio - as I am into the cedar tops at the moment.

they both play okay, but I have booked them both in to see Steve Clark next week, to make what improvements he can.

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: GUEST,Dg
Date: 23 Apr 06 - 05:02 AM

I play a Yamaha FG180 - which my Dad gave to me when he bought a Martin. I think he got the Yamaha sometime in the 70's... It still plays really well and has a much nicer sound & action than a lot of more expensive guitars I've played.

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: GUEST,mediumgauge
Date: 23 Apr 06 - 01:50 AM

Does anyone own , have owned, or have any info or feedback on the Yamaha FG165-1?

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: C-flat
Date: 21 Oct 05 - 10:55 AM

Like Clinton I've also been looking at the Yamaha "silent" guitar, mainly due to feed-back issues on stage.
They sound and feel good to play and I like the idea of just connecting ear-phones for a little home practise without worrying about disturbing anyone.
I'm sure I've seen Brian May using one of these.

For now I'll content myself with a "feed-back buster" for £5 but I suspect I'll be back to the guitar shop in the near future.

C-flat.

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: Nick
Date: 21 Oct 05 - 07:43 AM

... so much sound from a small body!

Now who does that remind me of?

Still play my old red label FG180 which I bought in about 1972 which usually lives in an alternative tuning. Necks nice and straight and generally sounds and plays ok still.

They seem to go for a surprising amount of money on ebay which seems out of line with prices for new ones which is odd

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: 12string growler
Date: 20 Oct 05 - 03:27 PM

I use a FG412 12 string, that I've had since 1978. I recently had a Headman pick up fitted. It sounds great natural or plugged in. I bought a Freshman 12 st earlier this year as a back up cos I get through strings at an alarming rate. Freshman seems better built and it has built in electrics AND Tuner, but it'll be a long time before it sounds as good as the Yam. I also have an Ozark 12st, thin body, cutaway, pickup, crap sound, crap action, CHEAP and Gorgeous as an ORNAMENT. It's a stunner to look at.
Chris

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: Briagha
Date: 12 Oct 05 - 10:43 PM

My first guitar was an FG-180, back in the late 60's... kept it for about 10 years, and then let it go. Even though I love my current stage guitar (a Taylor 614), I've been feeling the itch to find that Yamaha again, so last week I got a red-label FG-150 on ebay. It arrived yesterday, and I can't put it down... so much sound from a small body! It's like reuniting with an old love and finding out that the flame is still there.

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 12 Oct 05 - 03:20 PM

I recently find myself thinking after a Steel Stringed Silent Guitar from Yamaha as well...

The Aux In and Phones out feature sounds very useful around the house late at night when everyone else is sleepin... I've also heard them played plugged in, and they sound pretty cool.... I also like the idea of having a guitar to hump to gigs that fits in a small backpack....

Picked on up a few days ago at my local music shop, and I gotta say, I even liked the way it felt...

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: Hand-Pulled Boy
Date: 12 Oct 05 - 03:12 PM

What sort of cheese?

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Oct 05 - 04:58 AM

I found an old APX 10 hanging up in a store for $300. Tried it out and wow - nice balanced tone, a dream to play, too. I keep going in the store to play it, bt can't afford to buy it. I already have an APX6, which is fine, but the solid wood top and playing feel of the 10 makes my 6 feel a bit cheesy.

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: Beer
Date: 03 Oct 05 - 09:15 PM

This is the only place I know where you can actually go back in time (April 17th 02) and answer in the present. Kind of fun.
I think I'll ask my sister for my Yamaha back.
Beer

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: GUEST,Cobell
Date: 03 Oct 05 - 04:22 PM

Yep,,I just played an LL6 Yamaha Acustic the other day,,,Brilliant!!! absolutly bloody Brilliant!!!,,The Build quality is amazing, and it looks the dogs!!. The sound was deep and rich in the bass, the treble was bright and lively. I don't think you will get a guitar as good as this for the price (£324.00)in the Guitar shop but I've seen it slightly cheaper on the web.

I also tried out the NEW Silent yamaha guitar,,I didn't think I was going to like these, but the moment you pick one up and start to play it you will fall in love with it,and it really Does sound like an acoustic guitar when you plug it in an amp or the supplied headphones. Build quality is again top notch,expect to pay around £350.00 for one. I'm really spoiled for choice between the two!

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 14 Sep 05 - 03:03 PM

There has been quite a spate of FG360s on ebay lately - mostly not the original and best, the Nippon Gakki one, but some surprisingly reasonably priced.

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: GUEST,Farseeingart
Date: 13 Sep 05 - 10:41 PM

I first learned on a no name piece of wood that made a Stella look good. Frustrating. I finally bought a CG130A (on sale, $93, 1972). The wide neck fit my fat fingers. I taught myself to fingerpick with all five fingers. I played several Yamahas that were absolute junk. Next I found a FG 512 12 string with a hard shell case for $125, 1991. This has become one of my favorite guitars: very playable, large sound. Impresses everyone who plays it. I then found a G255S for $125. It needed cleaning. I put adamas gut strings on it and have been impressed with it. I later put Shaller tuners on it. I bought a G50 for the kids to play. $50. Now it has been passed to nephews. It is a beginner's guitar, but is tuneable and playable. I bought a Martin D28 that I don't seem to play very much. I found a Yamaha 280? 12 string, $80, that I gave to my younger son. It does not have the sound of the 512, but is still very good. Somewhere along the way I bought a used FG400 that I play for a steel string six string. It is as good as most guitars I have ever played. I have been selective in the guitars I have purchased used. I have had very good luck with Yamahas. I am not a professional player, but I am quite competent. The quality of the guitars seems to vary greatly. One must pick and choose.

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: ElwynnMaxon
Date: 16 Apr 05 - 07:58 AM

There is an FG-180, probably early 70's model, up on EBay at the moment that has sometime left to go. It is at $212.00 and climbing.


E.M.

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: Hand-Pulled Boy
Date: 16 Apr 05 - 05:06 AM

I can recommend either of the two Yamahas that I own. An APX9NA used for a latin feel to the music. It's designed to be plugged-in although acousticaly it's not bad. D'Addario nylon strings used. Also an AES1500 for electric sets. A beautiful orange semi-acoustic with the flexible choice of single coil or humbucker combinations. Elixier, nanowebs used. Both guitars are really well made using good quality materials.

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: C-flat
Date: 15 Apr 05 - 01:13 PM

I've been using a Yamaha APX6N (Nylon srung) to gig with for a few years now and I'm delighted with the amplified tone of this "budget" guitar.
Unplugged it doesn't compare to a real classical guitar but it's still nice to play, well balanced, with a manageable neck width for us psuedo-classical players!
I've pointed a few begginers to Yamaha "entry level" guitars, they seem to be good, straight-from-the-box instruments.

C-flat.

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: GUEST,Bruce Baillie
Date: 14 Apr 05 - 05:01 PM

...I bought a second hand Yamaha FG160 back in 1976 for £40, played it till 1997 and sold it for £150, a very good instrument it was, loads of people I knew played them back in the '70's and I'm sure that old one is still making a good sound even now, it's in Ireland now as far as I know!

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: Paco Rabanne
Date: 14 Apr 05 - 12:19 PM

I own a rather delightful Yamaha CG171SF flamenco guitar.

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 14 Apr 05 - 03:42 AM

and Ralph McTell

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: GUEST,The Thing
Date: 13 Apr 05 - 11:44 PM

Significant Yamaha users - Bert Jansch, Bert Weedon and Carlo Santana

If it says made in Japan it's betterer than made in Korea usually so there.

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 13 Apr 05 - 12:03 AM

Yes - I like their key-boards (manual and digital) they are currently some of the world's greatest.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 13 Apr 05 - 12:00 AM

You are VERY behind times.

A saxophone - can be played through a synsthz.....and provide the "modoline quality of strings voiced with a gem plucturn"

Not to mention...the aucoustic environment can range from a criket filled open meadow - to the cough embellished Carageigh Hall.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: vectis
Date: 12 Apr 05 - 06:44 PM

I spent the whole of a summer holiday working to pay £25 for a second hand red label Yamaha FG140 way back in 1971. I have had many offers for it but won't part with it. It still sounds as sweet as a nut. When amplified it sounds bloody great!
I've tried Taks, Martins, Gibsons and hand built jobs but I still prefer my old beauty. The sound suits me and that's all that matters.
The original Martin copies (mine is one of them) were made from well seasoned wood and should last virtually forever unlike more modern guitars.

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: Once Famous
Date: 12 Apr 05 - 12:53 PM

I have played some Yamahas and find that they make good servers for sushi.

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: fair maiden of nottingham
Date: 12 Apr 05 - 07:17 AM

My yamaha 1972 FG360 is a delight to play and the number of Martin owners that have commented on its sound and playability has stopped my desire to own a Martin. I now use a fishman pickup, and the electronic responce is superb.

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: belfast
Date: 04 Apr 05 - 05:51 PM

Bought an FG-110 way back when. It's worn and scratched but it's the one I keep returning to. I prefer it to any Takamine I've ever borrowed.

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 04 Apr 05 - 05:50 PM

I've had three. Like seemingly everybody else who learned to play in the '70s, a Yamaha (FG 160) was my first decent guitar. I gave it to my then wife's younger brother when I got my first Martin.

Also had some Super-Jumbo sized thing for a while. One of those paid-more-for-the-case-than-the-guitar deals. It was primarilly a backup axe in case I broke a string on my good guitar at a gig. But as soon as I got a second higher-end guitar I gave it to my son.

I also have an ES-335 copy that's on loan to my best friend 'cause he likes to play electric more than I do.

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: shepherdlass
Date: 04 Apr 05 - 04:25 PM

I have one of the electro-acoustic Yamahas APX-something-or-other - lovely bright ringing sound and cheap as chips. Probably has weaknesses compared to, say a Takamine, but at my level of playing I'd not notice. The Yamaha's easy to play (action, tone,etc), amplifies nicely, and I'm not terrified to get it out of the box without a watertight insurance policy. Maybe a really good spare for "proper" guitarists?

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: Dave Wynn
Date: 04 Apr 05 - 11:53 AM

I have had four. Still have two. A 345 for accoustic work and the APX-5 for amplified work. Like them both although I feel sure I have heard better Taylors, until I got £3K that I don't need I will stick to my Yamaha's.

Spot

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 04 Apr 05 - 11:00 AM

I have a FG512 (dread.12) that I bought new in the early 1980's. I wanted a 12 string party guitar that I could tune at 440 without being afraid of popping the top or warping the neck. This one had a good sound, although it is laminated, and a lifetime warrenty. Built like a tank and weighs almost as much, but it sings like a bird. I got arms like an ape so the size dosen't bother me. This thing was never babied and went through a lot of parties, but still it looks almost like new. I never yet needed to use that warrenty. I suppose that the sound of the laminate top dosen't improve with age, but it is indestructable , and as I said the sound was good from the start. For me she's a keeper!
            Sandy

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: GUEST,Raggytash
Date: 04 Apr 05 - 10:57 AM

I have a 1978 Yamaha FG335 which I bought new for £93, the sound is excellent, a lovely bass tone if a little light on the top end. I wouldn't sell it basically because I would not get what I think it is worth, a guitar of this quality today would cost upwards of £700 and the second hand value is probably closer to £100 besides which my girlfriend of the time gave me her tax rebate to buy it and now she is my wife she'd probably kill me if I sold it

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: GUEST,The Beast of Farlington
Date: 04 Apr 05 - 09:11 AM

I have a Yamaha FG365SE (electro-acoustic) which I bought in 1984. It has a sweet tone though not much volume. Most people I play to think it sonds good and so do I.

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: Terry K
Date: 04 Apr 05 - 07:32 AM

Agreed gargoyle, Yamaha (proper) pianos are terrific, I have a really nice one and both the sound and the finish are to die for.

Can't play that either.

cheers, Terry

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: GUEST,Richard
Date: 04 Apr 05 - 06:59 AM

I think the point about the neck width/string spacing is that on the Yamaha FGs, and possibly other models, the spacing is more or less constant, instead of the more usual increase as you go up the neck. Anyway, that's my excuse. Decent sound, but I could never get on with them.

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: GUEST,Richard
Date: 04 Apr 05 - 06:53 AM

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: GUEST,.gargoyle
Date: 03 Apr 05 - 11:48 PM

They manufactor top-of-the-line accoustic pianos (notorious for their "fall into infinity" finish)

Their electronic keyboards are outstanding - responsive to speed, pressure duration - virutally an electronin clone of one expects in a manual - and yet offering everything available (plugs/patches/studio) from the digital world.

In KEYBOARDS - manual and electronic - Yamaha of the world's five GREATS!! And held the position for over 40 years.

Sincerely,
Gargoyle

(small>Personally, I use a Roland electric - but would switch to Yamaha in a heart-beat.

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: GUEST,DavidfromSydney
Date: 03 Apr 05 - 10:23 PM

Bought a Yamaha L8-12A twelve-string in 1991. It's got a solid top - I think the rest is probably laminate. It's got a great ringing sound - very full with heaps of response and sustain. I keep it tuned down a tone. I love it, and feel that it was a really good buy. As I recall at the time the choice was between the Yamaha or Takamine - and I felt the Yamaha had a fuller tone.

When I went guitar shopping recently I tried several Yamahas first, thinking that I would probably choose one of them, but wasn't overly impressed. Eventually my choice came down to Maton or Seagull and I finally bought a Seagull Artist mahogany/cedar model.

I think Yamaha make good guitars - but in the end you pick the guitar you like best (and can afford) at the time.

David

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: mandoleer
Date: 03 Apr 05 - 07:28 PM

Actually, breezy has a very good point there (no pun intended!), about plecks. On the mandolin, the pleck makes a hell of a lot of difference, which is why I usually carry a selection ranging from hard to flexy, and have even used gem stone on occasion. I suppose it could be the same on the guitar, although the tremelo effect on the mandolin is more subject to the pleck (I don't do chords).

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: breezy
Date: 03 Apr 05 - 07:10 PM

yamahas are fine when your starting out, I owned FG 140 when I really wanted an FG 180 then bought what was top of the range FG 300 for £79, that was 1970 ish, did great till 1988, but once I wondered into Martin D28 and Chris Crosses realised I'ld been missing out, now into Brook.
Once you move up a class or two!! you realise why the Yamahas are at the economical end of the market and I'm not convinced they are for the officianadoes, dodos yes.

Sadly the pocket may dictate, but play lots before you buy any, listen for the sound and playability, be prepared to compare one with the other.

Sometimes the thumb pick may influence the sound, have progressed onto Fred Kelly Speed picks from all sorts of others over 40 years.

If your very successful you tend to stand still and are happy with what you do. this goes for the top drawers in the U K.!!!


OOO

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: mandoleer
Date: 03 Apr 05 - 06:55 PM

I was shopping for a new mandolin about 20 years ago, and the fellow in the shop handed me one and said to try it. I did, and handed it back, saying I couldn't afford it. He protested that he hadn't told me the price. I said that if it played like that, I definitely couldn't affoed it.. I couldn't, either. It was £110. I bought an Antoria instead (£65) and still use it. Like it, but that Yamaha was the sweetest mandolin I've ever handled. Can't play guitar (well, OK, I managed Annie's Song at a guitar class on my Kimbara classical which I then sold to a friend - three chords, G, D and another one) but the original post didn't SAY guitar. Yamaha recorders are crap, though, in my opinion at least. I prefer Rahma.

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: Beer
Date: 03 Apr 05 - 06:02 PM

That's interesting to hear Van Lingle. I played at a house party one evening and there were some great guitars there including a Martin and Gibson. We had a little contest on sound and all agreed that my Yamaha 180 had a better sound. However a choice being given I would have liked to own the other instruments.

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: GUEST,van lingle
Date: 03 Apr 05 - 10:52 AM

I played a 180 that was owned by a friend and liked it but not as much as my Lowden. Two different animals.
Paul Brady did his recording of Arthur McBride on the Irvine/Brady record using an FG 180 and we all know how that came out.
You know Rick Fielding informed us on these pages a few years ago about a blind fold test he and some other professional players did for a music store in New York, I think it was, where a Yamaha was chosen over some other high end instruments, including old Martins.Maybe someone can pull that thread up. vl

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: Mark Dowding
Date: 03 Apr 05 - 05:13 AM

I've got an FG335 that I bought in 1981. Went into the shop for some strings and came out with the guitar after picking it up and having a play on it. There were other Yamahas in the shop - more expensive and they didn't sound half as good. Best £95 I've ever spent!

Cheers
Mark

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: Terry K
Date: 03 Apr 05 - 04:57 AM

I started out on my DW5S (solid spruce & rosewood dreadnought) which I bought on the basis of the sound it made when the salesman guy played it, as I couldn't play a note then. (I now can play a note, but not much more). I subsequently found myself in a position where I needed to buy another guitar, tried a few and absolutely fell for an OM with the wider neck and 4 inch deep body.

What a revelation in terms of playing comfort - the extra body depth of the dread pushes the soundboard so far away (oh alright, years of overindulgence help a little too), whereas the OM sits so close which makes it much easier to play. The Yamaha is a great guitar but I hardly play it at all now and am contemplating a further small bodied job. I'd put the Yammy on ebay except that most Yammys go for really low money and I'd rather probably keep it just for friends to borrow.

cheers, Terry

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: jimmyt
Date: 02 Apr 05 - 07:38 PM

I have a G 231 Classic that I love but I am not much of a guitar player

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: kendall
Date: 02 Apr 05 - 07:33 PM

I've played many very good Yamahas. When I was in Scotland, Gordon Menzies loaned me a nice Yamaha. Many years ago I had a 12 string Yamaha; it was loud but didn't have much bass.

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 02 Apr 05 - 06:47 PM

My only problem with Yamahas is that when I was biking they only made Two Strokes and I thought Four Strokes were better engines !

Subject: RE: Ever played a Yamaha ?
From: Peace
Date: 02 Apr 05 - 05:09 PM

I learned on a Stella. Yamaha's are jus' fine.