UsedGuitars Yamaha FG180

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[@petebeauds7181]

I lived in Japan for nearly 22 years and they pronounce Gakki as Ga with a soft A sound and ki, as in what we use to unlock a door. When I bought my FG-170 I would have sworn it was a solid top in the shop, then I got it home, took out my watchmakers loupe and saw the top had a very thin top layer, a thicker mid layer with an equally thin lower layer as the top. I bet what you hear rolling around inside is dust, I bought a bunch of old Yamahas in Japan only they were pre FG, Dynamic nylon string guitars and some were so dirty I had to throw out the rags I used to clean them with, and I found my share of dust bunnies inside some. Lots of people are after the old red labels these days, but there was a time when players were embarrassed to own a Yamaha, however, I am extremely happy with my old Yamaha Dynamics and brought some home with me when we moved back to Canada...I don't play classical either but I play the same things on my Dynamics as I do on my steel strings.

[@PinetopJackson]

Yamaha's technique for manufacturing laminated tops was superb! Better quality than the solid tops on the Harmonys being made in Chicago at the time. Great story Pete, thank you for sharing! I'd love to own an old Dynamic some day!

[@sarahgracebrooks2629]

I have my Dads S-70 DYNAMIC Ssigned by Johnny Cash, June Carter and her Sisters Helen and Anita Carter. Also Emilou Harris and a few other Country Stars. Its filled with a lot of GREAT HAS BEEN GUITARIST of the past my Dad and I played with......Probably going to take it to the Chattanooga Guitar Museum and let it rest in peace. Playing my 1969 FG-180 BELL COVER as I type, well, its hard to type and play lead at the same time....I was told some of the Dynamics were solid....I'm not sure but, they really, really have a GREAT TONE & VOLUMN !!

[@pinheadjohnny5190]

I have a Yamaha FG335 that I bought 32 years ago when it was still like brand new. I've worn it to where it looks almost exactly like yours. The pick guard is still on it but it's worn with love. Glad to see your guitar got the love just like mine does every day.

[@PinetopJackson]

Ah I just saw it in your channel Johnny, singing about Rocky Top Tennessee! Remarkable how similar the wear pattern is to mine

[@Smokey4462]

I still have a Yamaha FG 180 I bought new around 1971 for $99 at Guitar City in San Francisco. Mine is a red label inside but the label on the back of the neck shows it was made in Taiwan. The condition is still not that far from what it was when it was new. Great guitar!

[@PinetopJackson]

That's interesting! I thought they weren't made in Taiwan until 1972...but then all these dates are approximate! I assume the red label does not say "Nippon Gakki?"

[@Smokey4462]

You most likely are right - it's been a long time and 1972 is probably more accurate. All I recall is that they sold a ton of them, supposed to be with a case that I never was able to get. Good guitar players are surprised at how good it is for the cost. I've heard that Country Joe ended up playing one at Woodstock after not being able to find his guitar. The red label inside only says Yamaha Guitar / FG-180. Made in Taiwan is the gum label on the back of the head.

[@PinetopJackson]

My friend Dave has a forum on old Yamahas yamahavintagefg.boards.net/board/4/yamaha-fg-info He's collecting data from as many guitars as he can to build a huge database that can pinpoint when the guitars were made. I'll cut & paste some text from his posts here...it looks like YOUR Taiwan FG180 may be one he's been searching for information on! If you contact him, tell him PinetopJackson sent ya! "A summary for the Taiwan made FG's, approx 1972 to 1976: Like the NIPPON GAKKI FG’s, they have an 8 digit serial number on the brace under the end of the fretboard. Y.MM.DD.UUU. The 7 digit numbers on the neck block look to be sequential. The Taiwan Red Labels only have the serial number on the neck block beginning with "T". They look to be consecutive numbers. In the 3 I have/had, no internal date code was found. I've gotten MANY Taiwan serial number sets to be able to figure out when the different labels changed. The is one rare label that only shows the model number, no mention of Taiwan, that looks like it was only used for 2, possibly 3, months. Amazingly I've found 4 pictures of that label and 3 of them had the serial numbers. I found another on a country wide search of CraigsList but in 2 attempts they haven't replied."

[@seththomas2194]

It’s awesome how much you love this guitar

[@PinetopJackson]

Thanks man! It is my #1 guitar now

[@seththomas2194]

PinetopJackson that’s sick!! Those guitars are work forces, my brother in law just a a FG140 and it’s really sick

[@sarahgracebrooks2629]

Dude, Its all plywood! in the best way! it look to be around 1970. I have a 1969 FG-180 with the Bell cover over the truss rod. by the way....DON'T TRY TO TURN IT!! Its 2021 probably to late. Mine is one of the best guitars I have. I have 25 or 30 guitars and Really need to sell about 50% of the 60's and 70's guitars!! Have fun playing that jewell!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@Tbone1952]

great guitar, I still have mine, I bought it in 1970 while I was stationed in Japan, I also have an Fg300 I bought in 1972 also in Japan. Also just purchased an Fs3 red label and Fg5 red label. Love my Yammies! That guitar has had some beach jams in its history, great find for sure.

[@TheDesertwalker]

I had a 1972 FG180 stolen in 1974. I want it back. I looked at replacing it, but I have seen several where the neck is separating from the body. Is this a common problem in aged FG180s?

[@philholzbauer2937]

It is a common problem when people leave the strings tight, and put the guitars away.

[@gibby6904]

That looked like a green label? Which would be fortunate as it would be the first ones made in Japan and only available in Japan.

[@PinetopJackson]

Hi Gibby, it is a red label, my wife just didn't get a good view in the sound hole. You can see it more clearly in this video I made later while trying to determine the date of manufacture kzbin.info/www/bejne/fWjZep2Nf7OIgKM

[@sarahgracebrooks2629]

All of the first Yammies had a BELL TRUSS ROD COVER, KIND OF LIKE A GIBSON

[@papawrichard3553]

I have a 68-69 FG-300 red label a di wouldn’t sell it.

[@Jd-ex1id]

Does he mention the price payed for “Wallis”?

[@PinetopJackson]

Hey Josh, he was asking $100, which is a fair price but I still talked him down to $75 due to the condition. I'm pretty sure he had paid something like $30.00

[@Jd-ex1id]

PinetopJackson what a great find! I came across your video because I’m in the market for a Yamaha FG180. I’ve been viewing some decent ones online selling for between $600 and $800. After viewing your video I’m inspired to keep searching for a gem, a beat up dusty old gem.

[@PinetopJackson]

@@Jd-ex1id awesome! Please let me know what you find, I'd love to see a pic...keep in touch!

[@Jd-ex1id]

PinetopJackson So far the least expensive FG180 I have found is for 295 it has a small, poorly repaired defect on the lower part of the face. I am concerned that it my bestructural damage. I’m not very knowledgeable on guitars, only an enthusiast. I have owned several crappie acoustics, and with my future fg180 I want to make more intelligent choices as to the guitar I buy. Here’s a link reverb.com/item/25285052-yamaha-fg-180-nippon-gakki?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI16WomvTv5gIVUvDACh11BAOyEAQYByABEgIKY_D_BwE&merchant_id=114500731&pla=1&

[@PinetopJackson]

@@Jd-ex1id I'm not very knowledgeable about Reverb! I've never bought or sold a guitar online, its always been local face-to-face. That is a cool looking old guitar in the link you sent...the damage to the top doesn't look bad to me...the price however! It says the seller will take offers, and I see it has 6 offers already...I wonder if the site will let you see what the offers were? Personally, the most I'd pay for that guitar would be $150, plus shipping

[@baileyerickson717]

How did you get e dust out I had the same problem

[@PinetopJackson]

Here's the video showing how we cleaned out the inside kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZi0o4CHgNRnsKc but basically we just wiped it out with a series of damp cloths

[@philholzbauer2937]

The Best Trick I have found is to spray air in it, while holding a vacuum hose near to opening. The dust/dirt gets suspended and sucked out.

[@PinetopJackson]

@@philholzbauer2937 thanks Phil that's a great trick!

[@sharaku129]

I believe that ugly guitars sometimes play good sounds。Thanks!