Yamaha FG180 Red Label Nippon Gakki sound demo for eBay

Samson C01 mic, Zoom R8 recorder.
I cut out the talking bits and the YT editor cut the audio but not the video so the whole thing is out of sync, apologies.

[@RRStout]

I have three old Yamaha FGs. All from the 70s. In my experience, I've found that they respond best to standard tuning done a full step down. Makes them sound sweet and warm. When tuned that way, I think there's no better sounding acoustic out there. So if you can find an old 70s Yamaha, in good condition, grab it! Have it tweaked with a bone saddle and nut, then get a nice set-up done. Preferably 2.5 mm - 3 mm at the 12th fret. You won't be sorry !!!

[@youtubecommenter2380]

I picked up the less desirable one for 50 bucks from a offer up purchase. A bit beat up but it definitely has mojo and sounds great and the neck is awesome. The pegs are made of wood too which I thought was awesome everything seems original

[@louieo.blevinsmusic4197]

Tuned down a full step to D standard and played without a pick. The Elliott Smith way. If you didn’t know who Elliott Smith was than you just have a rlly good ear.

[@jimmyw3670]

Hi, I recently bought a Yamaha f310, suntanning it in indirect sunlight daytime n using UV lamp on it at night. It's darkening nicely. Then I recreated the fg180 red label exactly using PowerPoint n Microsoft paint to lift the logo from scanned copy of the red labels on the net. I printed the fg180 red label Nippon gakki labels n stuck it inside my Yamaha f310. The original label I tore it off. Next I bought butter bean tuning pegs n change it and I also bought a truss rod cover n drill holes over the headstock. Now I own a remodeled fg180. I own an original fg200 circa 1970 and decided to make myself an fg180 Yamaha. It's great, using a real Yamaha all laminate f310 and making it into a fg180 red label yammie. Just sharing. Cheers man :)

[@maovslandlords9244]

I have two Yamaha FG-180's. One from 1969 and one from 1972. Amazing guitars!

[@podfuk]

I bought new Yamaha FGX5 Red Label three months ago. I was really happy with sound, but it was still lacking a bit in direct comparsion with your FG180. Last week I changed bridge sadle and pins for TUSQ and guitar sounds absolutly fantastic now, loud, percussive, tons of overtones. Im so happy ;)

[@robinabobbin]

Hi Ondrej. Tried the FG5 in a shop and really liked it. Bear in mind the the recorded sound here was with decent quality mics and also that the characteristics of the room play a big part in the tone you hear. Plus I'm quite an aggressive picker so my playing is quite loud! Congrats on the FG5, I'd get one if I could afford it but since lockdown I've had no work!🤣

[@robinabobbin]

PS Check this out if you want to hear how great the 180 sounds in the hands of a really great player! kzbin.info/www/bejne/mXOqnJuGrZplb8k

[@louieo.blevinsmusic4197]

@@robinabobbin as well as Elliott Smith. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fnTSi4WjprCgh5o

[@jimmyw3670]

i have a Yamaha FG200 circa 1973, its 47 years old. the label is worn off. I scanned some internet FG180 labels. did some pixel editing to get the color right - I printed it on matte stickers. Stuck one of the Nippon Gakki FG180 red label on to my guitar soundhole and voila, I have a Yamaha FG180 red label... now all i gotta do is change to butter beans tuners, lol!!!

[@podfuk]

Incredible sounding guitar :O

[@zorzum]

it's mine !!! nice fg180 ... I've got a fg300 , 140,150,200 ... very good sound thank you and Good job

[@louieo.blevinsmusic4197]

When you did that walk to the G, it sounded just like Elliott Smith. I’d only get one if I didn’t use a pick…. And I don’t! Saw one for 200$ def gonna get. I need a second guitar for gigs. Love my Martin and wouldn’t trade for anything but this would be a good alt tune guitar so I wouldn’t have to keep tuning during sets.

[@martymcfly2572]

It’s real rich of Martin sound!

[@louieo.blevinsmusic4197]

@spirit of freedom horsemanship 100%

[@micpep]

Well played, well recorded!

[@robinabobbin]

Thanks!!

[@212demon]

I love Yamaha's FG model's

[@212demon]

very nice sound

[@paulm8395]

Do you remember if the nut , saddle and bridge pins were changed....

[@robinabobbin]

Yes, saddle and nut changed, not the pins.

[@martymcfly2572]

I wanna ask once again. In this video sound your guitar is incredible. Very surround. And I think, it’s comes out because you recording by two channel mic. It’s my thoughts and opinion. What you can say, is the sound on video similar with real sound guitar?

[@robinabobbin]

The sound you hear is the closest I could get to capturing the real sound of the guitar, basically this is how the guitar really sounds. Mic in front, stereo ambience mics about 6 feet away. I'm no sound engineer but I try to record dry and don't use reverb - it's possible the sound is a tiny bit compressed because of the YT sound format (ie compressed to mp3). The mics were inexpensive home studio mics - In a real studio with professional mics it would probably sound better...

[@TheGravygun]

Dog should have a video.

[@mrdaniel511]

You got this on ebay? I really want one of these guitars but scared of malfunctions or damages because of the distance they travel, is there a way to get them in some store? Amazing guitar, you're lucky!

[@Jawnjawn4949]

look on reverb.com . I just found a decent one with good action for $599 shipped (via fedex, would have been cheaper, but I don't trust USPS with shipping guitars well). Ebay has way too many people who just want to make a quick buck.

[@mrdaniel511]

Thanks dude. Say, if I get a right handed one is it a hassle to change it to left handed? I mean I just need to switch the strings but also the pick guard... is it hard to change its place?

[@Jawnjawn4949]

No problem. I might put mine up on there soon. I have the 50th anniversary model of the fg-180 coming soon too and may keep that and sell the vintage one, or keep the vintage one and sell the 50th anniversary model.. depending on which feels and sounds better. I'll send you a post with the link to the reverb when I do if you wanna take a look at it.

[@mrdaniel511]

I'd love to buy one of them from you if you do, I don't live in America and they don't sell the 50th anniversary model or the vintage one anywhere here so I'm really grasping for straws here, lol. Thanks!

[@Jawnjawn4949]

I'm not so sure about swapping it to left hand. I'm actually left handed, but learned right handed (lucky, I know!). I'll have to ask my dad, hes done a few swaps for himself as hes left handed and plays left handed, as the selection is crappy compared to what they offer right handed players. If you have an email I can contact you at let me know and we can discuss more.

[@lucasvidal2060]

great playing and sound! do you remember what strings you were using in that video? I had the chance to get myself a fg 180 and it does sound amazing

[@robinabobbin]

Hi Lucas, Thanks! As I remember the strings were D'Addario EJ16 12-153.

[@tozguitar]

Great sound man. So you basically had a mono waveform from the samson and then a stereo wav file from the zoom and mixed both ?

[@robinabobbin]

Thanks! Yes that's pretty much it - the Samson in front and the Zoom about 8 feet away just to get some room ambience.

[@samanderson9198]

I know.spencer the rover when I hear.it!

[@robinabobbin]

Yep! Love John Martyn's arrangement.

[@James-ke4gq]

hey was that a famous piece you were playing (fingerpicking) at 2:40 looking into getting one of these and thats exactly the kind of stuff i want to start playing cheers!

[@FloydPink23]

Make Me a Pallet on Your Floor

[@robinabobbin]

As correctly noted by Axxon, it's Mississippi John Hurt ' Make me a Pallet on Your Floor'. Check out his 'Last Sessions' album, great place to start.

[@Joobjoobz]

Nice sound . What use string number and brand ?

[@robinabobbin]

D'addario EJ16 12-53

[@peeldumpz26]

robinabobbin ima keep this in mind I have this exact guitar lol

[@peeldumpz26]

robinabobbin I still play in on my channel

[@kenshitakemoto3097]

Sounds a great.your playing is great too. Is it 60’s fg-180 with yamaha logo?or round logo? or 70’s? This is the best video i’ve found since i’m looking for vintage fg-180 demo sound. and i really want to know what fg-180 exactly you are playing,ebays page is already gone so.

[@PinetopJackson]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qZi0o4CHgNRnsKc here's an exploratory video on my 1969 FG-180...not much playing, I should make a video just jamming on it

[@robinabobbin]

Hi k t. Thanks for your comments! This is a 1969 red label with the YAMAHA logo. This recording is around 2 years ago so this guitar no longer available. Good luck finding a nice one.

[@blastofo]

They’re good guitars, but a little over priced and over hyped now. You can get a nice used Martin for what many are asking for a good example.

[@martymcfly2572]

Hi! Did you used some reverb effects while recording guitar or it’s clear sound of guitar?

[@robinabobbin]

Hi, this was more than 3 years ago so can't exactly remember but usually I wouldn't use reverb as I prefer a clean, unfiltered sound. I used a condenser mic in front of the guitar and a Zoom R8 recorder (just the on board mics) about 6 feet away and mixed the signals so you get some room ambience. Cheers

[@martymcfly2572]

@@robinabobbin Ok! I got it! The sound is so perfect! I want it too. Already started listing on Ebay. Thanks!

[@robinabobbin]

@@martymcfly2572 😎

[@ricklanders5645]

Uh, Nick Drake much?

[@robinabobbin]

First one is Spencer the Rover, John Martyn's arrangement. But yes, Nick Drake-esque - and Bert Jansch.

[@ricklanders5645]

Yeah, the three of them noodled around with similar chords...check out Roy Harper - I was with him at Abbey Road when he recorded HQ....amazing artists - hey, nice job!

[@robinabobbin]

Haha Yes Roy Harper great too, met him too in 1984 at a charity cricket match hosted by Jake Thackray who was a good friend of our family, in the evening there was a big shindig ain the pavillion where Roy performed 'The Old Cricketer' as you would expect.! Ralph McTell, Mike Harding, Robert Plant and others played too, I was 15 at the time and totally star-struck - I thinks thats why I'm into this kind of playing now. Good times:-)

[@sarikkumar8419]

Have there been any upgrades to this FG180?

[@robinabobbin]

Hi Sarik, I reset the neck and refretted it, also added bone nut and saddle . Otherwise all original. I sold the guitar around 3 years ago, the buyer was very happy!

[@sarikkumar8419]

@@robinabobbin sounds killer! Great playing too.

[@robinabobbin]

@@sarikkumar8419 Thanks!

[@Rgdonaire_07]

@@robinabobbin why did you sell it? Seems like a great guitar

[@robinabobbin]

@@Rgdonaire_07 Good question! I was broke and needed the money!😐 But I have another one now 😁

[@msinger5340]

Video way out of sync with the audio :-(

[@robinabobbin]

I know - I re-edited and YT botched the sync. I'll try again and re-up soon.

[@richardlucascronley5128]

What strings on this

[@robinabobbin]

D'Addario EJ16 12-53

[@จงรักษ์บุญเลิศ-ฒ2ข]

Fg345 better fg180.