Post by CTGull on Nov 25, 2016 10:22:30 GMT -5
I should update this thread.
In October 2016 I found a FG-345 for a good price. It sounds a lot like the FG-300 and the FG-350W because they all have rosewood back and sides. This model just has less bling.
I also found a modern FG-730S, also rosewood, for $100 on OfferUp. I've been curious about this model. They sold for $300 new and usually go for $150+ used, so this is a great price. But I didn't want to spend that much money (my wife had just gone out of work). The next week it went down to $80. I bit my tongue and ignored it. The next week it went down to $60 and I couldn't hold back any longer!!! So I put in the $60 offer and waited, expecting that some one else had already gotten it. Nope! It was mine!! And it came with a stand! It was only played a few times by her daughter, then it sat in a closet for the last 10 years. The action was a bit high, nothing a saddle sanding couldn't fix. In the end I didn't like the sound. It's thin in comparison to the vintage Yamaha's, and even to the Seagulls.
In November 2016 I finally found a red label FG-180 I could afford!!! Especially with my wife being out of work. I found it on Craigslist, my old friend. FOR $20!!! Yes, $20! He's a college kid and he found it in a closet. He knew it wasn't playable and just wanted it gone. Now the bad news. It has nylon strings on it because the action is so horribly high. Yes, another neck reset candidate. So to the pile it goes!
Since my wife is out of work for an unknown amount of time I figured it's time to sell some guitars to make some extra money. At the same time I'm comparing the sound on my new FG-345 to the FG-300, FG-350W and the Seagull Maritime dread. I suddenly realize I'm no longer a big fan of the vintage Yamaha booming midbass. I prefer the balanced Seagull sound, especially for fingerpicking. So many of my vintage Yamaha's went up for sale.
I started with the FG-730S, FG-340II, and the SJ-180 on my old friend CraigsList. A guy was initially interested in the FG-730S but quickly changed to asking if I had more vintage Yamaha's. Since then he's bought 7 of them. All I have left is the FG-300, the FG-350W and 6 waiting for neck resets.
I'll keep looking for cheap vintage Yamaha's in need of repair. It's what I do! And there's still a market for them. I can make some money on the side while learning or bettering my skills.
In October 2016 I found a FG-345 for a good price. It sounds a lot like the FG-300 and the FG-350W because they all have rosewood back and sides. This model just has less bling.
I also found a modern FG-730S, also rosewood, for $100 on OfferUp. I've been curious about this model. They sold for $300 new and usually go for $150+ used, so this is a great price. But I didn't want to spend that much money (my wife had just gone out of work). The next week it went down to $80. I bit my tongue and ignored it. The next week it went down to $60 and I couldn't hold back any longer!!! So I put in the $60 offer and waited, expecting that some one else had already gotten it. Nope! It was mine!! And it came with a stand! It was only played a few times by her daughter, then it sat in a closet for the last 10 years. The action was a bit high, nothing a saddle sanding couldn't fix. In the end I didn't like the sound. It's thin in comparison to the vintage Yamaha's, and even to the Seagulls.
In November 2016 I finally found a red label FG-180 I could afford!!! Especially with my wife being out of work. I found it on Craigslist, my old friend. FOR $20!!! Yes, $20! He's a college kid and he found it in a closet. He knew it wasn't playable and just wanted it gone. Now the bad news. It has nylon strings on it because the action is so horribly high. Yes, another neck reset candidate. So to the pile it goes!
Since my wife is out of work for an unknown amount of time I figured it's time to sell some guitars to make some extra money. At the same time I'm comparing the sound on my new FG-345 to the FG-300, FG-350W and the Seagull Maritime dread. I suddenly realize I'm no longer a big fan of the vintage Yamaha booming midbass. I prefer the balanced Seagull sound, especially for fingerpicking. So many of my vintage Yamaha's went up for sale.
I started with the FG-730S, FG-340II, and the SJ-180 on my old friend CraigsList. A guy was initially interested in the FG-730S but quickly changed to asking if I had more vintage Yamaha's. Since then he's bought 7 of them. All I have left is the FG-300, the FG-350W and 6 waiting for neck resets.
I'll keep looking for cheap vintage Yamaha's in need of repair. It's what I do! And there's still a market for them. I can make some money on the side while learning or bettering my skills.