Do you like this guitar and is it worth $900?

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fanuvbrak

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ca. '69 Yamaha SA-50 Archtop, (front), (front/back), (headstock), (closed f-holes), (features), (tuners/pickguard), (case). A fantastic player in nice vintage condition. If you're a fan of low action, like the 60's Gibson archtops, you'll love this guitar. Action is cut very low at the nut and stays parallel with the fretboard all the way to the top fret. Appears to be loosely based on an ES-335, although perhaps an inch smaller in the lower bout. Features include: semi-hollow slim body, double cutaway, double f-holes with factory "dampers" installed; multi-ply body binding; bound neck; bound f-holes; bound headstock; real mother of pearl fretboard inlays; Yamaha proprietary tremolo with a fully-adjustable roller bridge; two small humbuckers; three-way switch; volume-tone-balance pots; mono output; zero fret, 22-fret set-in neck; single truss rod; thin profile neck shape; rosewood fretboard; bone nut; Yamaha non-locking tuners (replaced with Kluson style); and 24 3/4" scale. The way the balancer control seems to be designed to blend in the bridge pickup, effective with the 3-way in the middle position, which lets you balance the neck pickup with any amount of the bridge. Depending on where you have the 3-way set, it can zero the output so I've found it best to simply keep it set in the middle which allows the 3-way to act as a normal 3-way. This guitar has a nice mellow tone which would lend itself especially to jazz players. The f-hole covers are recessed and I'm assuming were designed to cut back on feedback that many hollow or semi-hollow body guitars are prone to. Yamaha archive pages have production of this guitar from '67 to 72 and from others that I've seen, I'm guessing it's serial, 1561, places it around '69. Japan-made Yamaha's are among the best imports made and Nippon Gakki was a premier builder during this era. For a guitar of this obvious quality and superb playability, a nice buy at $899. Includes heavy-duty original case in nice shape.
 
Dexter Inferno said:
I've never seen a Yamaha that plays like crap. :embarrassed:

Not my style this guitar, but it's probably worth it.
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Almost all of the Yamaha's I've played have been fantastic and while I'd certainly expect that one to kick ass I'd def. want to try it first.
 
Kerouac said:
Almost all of the Yamaha's I've played have been fantastic and while I'd certainly expect that one to kick ass I'd def. want to try it first.
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Both my acoustic and bass are Yamahas (as well as my drum kit), and were setup perfectly when I got them. From what I've heard/tried, their electrics are just as good.
I've always loved that companys price/quality ratio. :)
 
Dexter Inferno said:
Both my acoustic and bass are Yamahas (as well as my drum kit), and were setup perfectly when I got them. From what I've heard/tried, their electrics are just as good.
I've always loved that companys price/quality ratio. :)
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I love my old Yamaha acoustic. It's not 40 years old though, only 26. :embarrassed:
 
Like: Yes, even though the horns on these are a little kooky
$900....maybe. Far cry from their original retail, which was prob in the 250-300 range.
 
I kinda like it. Bridge is sorta ugly, though. I don't think I'd pay more than $400.
 
I've played a Yamaha SG something or other from the same period. Kind of an SG profile, but the thickness of a Les Paul. 2 humbuckers electric guitar.

It was really nice, so I'm guessing that this one would be too. Having said that, tho, $900 seems a little salty. I'd hit it for $600 or $700.
 
yes - and maybe. I really like the older Yamaha semis. Great guitars on the whole. Not really crazy about that bridge though.....

Here is a video of Phil Keaggy playing his old Yamaha SA (demonstrating an E-Bow).....with a bit of pedal help.....

 
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I like it alot, and I would probably go $700 for that guitar as long as it plays well. I really wish more guitars included a balancer... whatever that is.
 
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