Yamaha FG-75 Nippon Gakki (red label) Larynx Suit

Here is my album link: larynxsuit.ban...
Tuning is dropped 2 whole steps and that's where she will stay. Bought for $35 and will act as my baritone. Not bad considering its a late 60's Japanese make. Its name will be Amy until I am able to steam the carved name out of the top wood, along with 4 smiley faces and a heart LOL! First instrumental is original.
Comments on guitar:
-Neck is very narrow for my giant hands, feels like Im playing a broomstick
-Instrument is very resonant as you can hear the strings ring on and on and on...
-It has a tinny characteristic that actually accentuates the guitar when tuned down but sounds harsh in standard
-Instrument is very loud as you can hear my shouting voice is almost drowned out by strong strumming
-There is a bit of bridge left to file down but on verge of needing a neck reset, however, the soundboard is flat as can be, no bulge, neck is super straight

[@earlraney8071]

Really beautiful song and I really dig your pipes man! Double great that it is worship

[@munkeatphotography]

Love your singing , playing and the sound of your guitar ! Thanks for sharing

[@Bigsbeee]

Gorgeous soulful instrument that could tell a thousand tale's. It amazes me human's are capable of such evil yet can create such beauty as this. Wonderful video, thank you.

[@bantriky]

I was looking for the sound of Yamaha FG75 and pleasantly surprised to find this video. Wow ! what a great voice and beautiful guitar sound. Nice job !

[@lisadewey511]

Beautiful voice-- and nice sounding Yamaha!

[@petermccavana5205]

To "Larynx Suit": This is simply beautiful! I say "simply", but I realize that, behind the apparent simplicity, there is a lot of hardwork, practice & technique. At the same time, you don't let technicality get in the way of MUSICALITY (which many technically excellent guitarists often do...)! The music in this video is technically excellent, but not at all flashy! The instrumental & the song are both "lyrical", lovely and moving. Thank you for posting this! I look forward to checking out more of your music!

[@noiseintheoffice]

My dad bought me one of these in 1970 for $75. I still have it and it still sounds and plays great. Red label Nippon Gakki, no serial number.

[@rosegeaber7533]

Dude you got it. Keep going. You are a rare find. Stay strong.

[@lionhead7497]

Rose Geaber thanks Rose, that's real sweet of you, God bless!

[@rosegeaber7533]

@@lionhead7497 Trust me. I don't know a whole lot but I know beauty when I hear it. Please understand I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it. You are a musical poet. We all need to hear more. Please keep going.

[@lionhead7497]

@@rosegeaber7533 thanks again! May I ask how you found my channel?

[@rosegeaber7533]

@@lionhead7497 Sure! I was looking up my old guitar which I had since I was a kid. Yamaha fg 75. Got it brand new from my parents after learning to play a C and D and G chord!!! Lessons after school where a dollar 25 in the early 70s!!! I Still have my first guitar and was looking to fix it up for my niece. I checked your video and was impressed with the sound of the guitar and your playing. When you started to sing I was floored at your sound, articulation and delivery. Like I said, you got it! Keep going. ☮️

[@troleary]

Beautiful playing and singing. I have just acquired an FG 75! Am thinking that 2 step drop works very well. Will try it! Thanks so much for the inspiration.

[@TNTTruth1]

I have one just like yours. It's a little more dinged up, but I've had mine for 43 yrs, I bought mine for $25 dollars from a friend who needed gas money. Anyway I have, played the heck out of it! I did a little work on the action when I first got it, never had a fret job or a neck adjustment. So I'm not a serious player, just like to pick around on it for my enjoyment. I have a few other electric guitars. One is a real nice American Strat That I hardly play. To much hassle to hook it up and it hurts my old shoulder. Anyway, I have been thinking about buying a new Taylor with the cut away, on board pickups etc. so I played my friends Taylor today and I told him that I thought my cheap Yamaha sounded better than his expensive Taylor. He got a little miffed and said I was crazy! Lol. Only thing I thought that was better were the tuners and the thickness of his neck felt a little better than my FG-75. Mind you I'm old and have pretty bad thumb joints and some carpal tunnel syndrome which makes it difficult to bar chord or play more than a 1/2 hr, with frequent stops to shake the numbness out. I don't know if I'm nuts like he says, but to my old ears mine sounds better. I wouldn't give up that old guitar for his! My fear is I will go by an expensive one and then try to explain to my wife why I always pick up the Yamaha!:-)

[@rogerd9150]

Very VERY nice! Beautiful song and playing! I wish I could play so well.

[@LeeLucas]

Well as much as I love your album Garrett I honesty cannot stop watching this truly superb live performance. You put everything into it and it's so enjoyable to watch. The acoustic instrumental ditty you open with is fabulous and the song "Let Your Kingdom Come" is the icing on the cake. Is the material your doing here your own cause if it is, I certainly think you should be sticking this on another album my friend. I absoloutly love it...

[@lionhead7497]

+Lee Lucas There is an old Vineyard church guy who wrote the song, David Ruis. His worship writing is amazing. The ditty is mine. Thanks for all your support! You might like Scott Underwood to. He's a fave of mine. Let me know what you think if you check them out.

[@gcso177]

Found your record on Amazon Prime, really unique and so nice to listen to on this lazy Sunday. Cheers and thanks for the music!

[@lionhead7497]

Thanks for listening! If you go to soundcloud.com/larynxsuit,com you will get my most recent projects. They are well made!

[@johnfrickinsmith8675]

Nice, nice, nice! Really enjoy that, and great info on the guitar. Thanks.

[@taxisteve929]

Nice piece you wrote and wonderful playing!!

[@duskyhamm3008]

Nice man, enjoyed the song and great demo/recording of the guitar. Keep it up.

[@marshallmandell4440]

Great performance and sound. Nice guitar as well. Just ordered one.

[@dpearson9239]

Awesome job man! Sounds great!

[@LeeLucas]

That was superb and love the recording you got out of the use of those mics too. What a Gem of a guitar for $35 I have to say and very well enjoyed...

[@Rontazzy]

Great song Garrett, and really great guitar work. Cheers

[@lionhead7497]

Ron Tazzy thanks!

[@lionhead7497]

Ron Tazzy I am offering my album for free right now at the following link. If you like it please share it with others! Thanks! noisetrade.com/larynxsuit/carry-me-home

[@jodyhendrix5876]

Very cool!

[@lionhead7497]

Jody Hendrix I am offering my album for free right now at the following link. If you like it please share it with others! Thanks! noisetrade.com/larynxsuit/carry-me-home

[@akkiakki79]

Guitar vintage made 1974 .I love it.

[@mdhonze]

Hey Garrett - Thanks so much for your insight. I just bought a FG75 Red Gakki from a Goodwill Store on ebay for $91. I am hoping that a set-up is all it will need to sing sweetly.......thanks again. MD

[@lionhead7497]

+MD Honze so how is it playing?

[@mdhonze]

+Larynx Suit ell the truth is that it has been passed on to someone else. i ended up with an Alvarez parlour which i am very happy with. be well

[@mrgitarman]

I have one of these...... red label. Got at thrift store for about $75. Yours sounds good. I am having to refinish top of my guitar due to someone glued on a name plate. Once I get it together now I have an idea of how it may sound thanks to you!

[@TheJoshSchneider]

DUDE that's freakin BADD!!! ( As in awesome !!!)

[@lionhead7497]

+josh schneider Haha, thanks man!

[@soulvaccination8679]

Beautiful..Sure hope to get as good as that someday

[@donaldmusic6274]

Beautiful music brother

[@KraftedRiddims]

Your original...Lovely piece of music.

[@ProgRockDan1]

Fine tribute, nice description of the guitar

[@dontober7568]

Nice sound. Still looking for this little gem..

[@lionhead7497]

Don Tober I am offering my album for free right now at the following link. If you like it please share it with others! Thanks! noisetrade.com/larynxsuit/carry-me-home

[@DeepFriedHallelujah]

What microphone is this? Looks to be a u47 style. Tone is very balanced and not harsh. A long shot but hopefully you see this, great performance!

[@rodp7803]

amazing!

[@WEMunson]

My first guitar! I bought mine after hearing Jorma Kaukonnen's Hot Tuna show at New Orleans House album in 1970. I paid $75 (1970 dollars!) for it. How was I to know that I would be on Jorma's tour bus 40 years later talking about that little guitar and the inspriation that he gave me to pursue learning to play guitar?

[@jesseliderc5199]

My "Red Label" Yam(my) FG-75 is in C-Standard for similar reasons and has good intonation. Should I file the bottom of the saddle or lower the individual slots? It does have a slight convex dome under the bridge. I'm not too mad at the action actually like this solid guitar for playing two note chords or dyads that skip strings up higher on the neck. Cool guitar I will keep over the other acoustic my fg 300.

[@aljohnson3010]

thats really nice

[@lionhead7497]

preciate it

[@Siimeon98]

Hey thank you for sharing this ❤️ If you see this could you give me any tips on about singing? (where to start etc) is it as simple as "just start singing"? 😃 God bless you.

[@leviridge3307]

great

[@stevewiggins1971]

Such large hands! I wish my fingers could reach like yours.

[@lionhead7497]

***** I am offering my album for free right now at the following link. If you like it please share it with others! Thanks! noisetrade.com/larynxsuit/carry-me-home

[@walterwhitebear]

Nice tune!!

[@walterwhitebear]

Very nice song.. excellent chord progression and execution..keep playing bro!!

[@lionhead7497]

Rainsky44 Thank you Rainsky....much respect to you!

[@lionhead7497]

Rainsky44 I am offering my album for free right now at the following link. If you like it please share it with others! Thanks! noisetrade.com/larynxsuit/carry-me-home

[@BackyardSwingset]

I have one of these I'm trying to date. The only marking is a K in a circle above the red label. Might you know how to find the manufacturers date? It is marked made in Japan. Yours sounds great!

[@rhart1238]

yamahavintagefg.com/yamaha-fg-serial-numbers-interior-markings-and-labels-1966-to-1981/

[@chango7776]

What kind of strings are suitable for this guitar? I have an same one and I need a string , someone knows?

[@bojackson2073]

D’addario xt

[@lionhead7497]

I've read about people who have used sand paper to scallop their braces to yield better bass response. I am considering doing this to get more warmth..

[@peeldumpz26]

Fr, I might try as well.

[@bobbyb7127]

What's the width of the fret board at the nut on this guitar? I'm wanting to learn finger style. You play very well and this is very nice sounding guitar, seems to have soul. Thanks.

[@lionhead7497]

This is not a finger style guitar in dimension, I don't know the length but am sure you could find that info somewhere else. The reason why one might consider it as a finger style instrument is because of its sensitivity and tone. It projects very well without a plectrum.

[@bobbyb7127]

Thanks, I did see on youtube someone replacing the nut on their FG-75 and he ordered a 1 11/16". There's one on craigslist in my area for $250 but I only want to pay $150 tops. I am disappointed that the FG only has a 1 11/16 fret board width.

[@rasm0225]

This is interesting. I bought the same guitar this year (for $150) and it is exactly as you describe yours. However, instead of tuning down, I capo up 3 and keep it super bright. Funny that we reached opposite conclusions. That gauge strings? I tried tuning down and it got too saggy using 12s.

[@lionhead7497]

Even at $150 I'd say you got a great deal, the gauge is 12, I think my action facilitates this as it is pretty high. It's the only guitar I've ever experienced that could handle this so I figure it's meant to be.

[@lionhead7497]

rasm0225 I am offering my album for free right now at the following link. If you like it please share it with others! Thanks! noisetrade.com/larynxsuit/carry-me-home

[@5onCover]

Beautiful instrumental! How do you steam carved letters out of a guitar? I have a vintage parlor guitar with carving on the soundboard and back. I almost got it all out with cleaning and polish but it's still there. I think it's a shellac finish -1920's.

[@lionhead7497]

+5onCover well you have to remove the finish down to the raw wood. Then with a soaked wet cloth or towel you wet the area. Soak it until wood has absorbed water. Final step is taking an clothes iron and press with high heat over clothe. I saw a guy do it on you tube but don't remember where. Good luck, blessings!

[@5onCover]

Wow that is very clever. My guitar has a colored varnish finish so no can do but that is a good tip all the same. Thank you.

[@taxisteve929]

+Larynx Suit Did you do that? I would be so worried it would screw up the tone or something.....just leave the old nicks and names and digs....gives the guitar character. Only thing I ever touch are the frets, tuners, nut and saddle on these. If possible. If the neck has a really bad angle, the most I have done is sand the bridge down a little, but can't do a neck reset without going through hell on these. They epoxied them on. Man....listening as you play, and what a beautiful voice you have too!! These old 75's were great....they have a deep body which gives them a good bass tone, but if you want more response, maybe try a tusq saddle. I prefer bone saddle and tusq nut...tusq for the volume and bone for the tone. Good luck!!!!

[@lionhead7497]

+taxisteve929 no, I probably won't. I didn't know they were epoxied. That doesn't sound like it would be fun to deal with, thanks for your knowledge. Thanks for your kind words. I have since bartered the guitar for some car work I had done. I may see it again one day, maybe not.

[@taxisteve929]

I know the feeling. I had to sell a bunch 2 years ago for same reason. If it was up to me I would have walked from then on, but had to have a car. I hope you are still playing. Check out a Gibson LG2 or Epiphone FT45 made in Kalamazoo for a great fingerstyle guitar. Of course, Martin 00 or even 000. Great sound.

[@lorenzoparedes2306]

Nice music. What tuning are you using? Thanks.

[@lionhead7497]

standard

[@kevtop351]

If only my fingers were a little longer.

[@shelleypetricca1550]

What strings are you using?

[@lionhead7497]

12 gauge daddario phosphorus bronze

[@paxon8538]

what is the song?

[@lionhead7497]

+PAXON 85 its by David Ruis, called Faithful. He is an amazing person and lives an amazing life.

[@cosmicslider1307]

Excellent!

[@theelectrodefunhouse4651]

What gauges are you using?

[@lionhead7497]

13's if I remember correctly.