Yamaha FG150

[cjgraham96]

i saw some other threads regarding the yamaha fg150. i am about to purchase one on reverb, thought i could get some info on how they feel. i've got one fg 700s so i am familiar with the yamaha fg family. how do these guitars compare to ooo martins or om's?

[DeepEnd]

I'd be very leery of buying one because it's at least 43 years old. The FG150 was made from 1966-72 (http://marksearcy.com/yamaha-guide). A 40+ year old guitar will likely have issues and old Yamahas are a bear to fix due to the epoxy used in their construction. You can buy a brand new FS700S for $200 or so: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guita...coustic-guitar. Here's an FS720S, the next model up, on Reverb for $200+shipping used: https://reverb.com/item/758560-yamaha-fs720s-natural. If you can afford $400 or so, or you can find a used one, the Blueridge BR43 will get you close to a Martin on a budget: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guita...coustic-guitar. Here's one on Reverb for $320 used with a hard case: https://reverb.com/item/761425-bluer...hardshell-case.

[FretFiend.]

^ Yeah. What he said.

[Freeman Keller]

CJ, welcome to the forum and read very carefully what DeepEnd says. I happen to own an FG-150, bought it new in 1969 and dearly love the old guitar - there is a reason that they have almost a cult following. However, almost all of them will require a neck reset (I assume you know how to judge that when you go shopping for this one) and it is much harder to do than a normal dovetail with hide or AR glue (its a dovetail but a glue that doesn't come off with heat). Its possible to fix but probably not worth paying someone to do it - here is a thread I did when I reset mine.

 

http://www.harmonycentral.com/forum/...la-42/1313642-

 

So, my humble advice, if the neck angle is perfect, the bridge is nice and tight (and no one has shaved it), the frets are good and there aren't any other structural issues then buy it (a hundred bucks is probably fair, two for a perfect one). If one of those things isn't right, run as fast as you can to your music store and buy one of the suggestions in DE's post.

 

. how do these guitars compare to ooo martins or om's?

 

As far as how they compare to an OM or 000 Martin - they are no where close in quality, the body is kinda similar in size - remember that OM's are wider fretboards and 000's are short scale. Martins are all solid wood (Yamies are plywood), Martins have dovetail joints that can be reset, Martins will cost you about ten times as much. (Along with the FG I own a couple of Martins and build guitars in that style)

 

Report back, we would like to have you as a member of the forum.

[DeepEnd]

. . . So' date=' my humble advice, if the neck angle is perfect, the bridge is nice and tight (and no one has shaved it), the frets are good and there aren't any other structural issues then buy it (a hundred bucks is probably fair, two for a perfect one). . . .[/quote']

Freeman, the OP is buying the guitar online with no way to check the neck angle in advance. It's on Reverb.com so I suspect it's this one: https://reverb.com/item/697224-yamaha-fg-150-nippon-gakki-red-label-1960-s-natural. I'm at work so I can't see if there are pics but here's the description:

Just needs saddle pins and strings and a pickguard and you're good to go!

 

Comes with the original hardshell Case!

 

 

No cracks or breaks, just has some dings and dents along the body!

MEDIUM neck profile.

VINTAGE RED LABEL.

It needs strings and bridge pins? It's at least 46 years old (60's)? They want $199+$35 shipping? There's a 24 hour return policy with a 9% restocking fee? Wow. IMHO, this is a guitar that's best avoided.

 

[Freeman Keller]

From the pictures there is a moderate amount of saddle sticking out of the bridge (less than 1/8 I would guess) but of course, without strings we don't have any idea of what the action is. Crack in the neck heel, finish is pretty badly checked. Original tuners (Gotoh has nice replacements for less than a hundred bucks). One blurry picture of the frets - they need dressing at least, maybe replacement. Appears to be moderate divots in the fretboard but pictures aren't good. The pick guard on FG-150 is not the usual OM shape, the buyer will need to custom make one (some years ago I made a tracing of mine for a HG forumite who needed to make one)

 

Interesting that the seller seems to be some sort of guitar store - why wouldn't they put a p/g, some strings and pins in so it could be sold as a player?

 

Also, if the seller would have just posted one picture with a straightedge on the fretboard (or with strings on it showing the action) we would know a lot more about the neck angle. Otherwise I would have to assume the worse.

[t_e_l_e]

^if thats the guitar, no strings on it is an absolute deal breaker. string pins and a set of strings are $5 each

and for that asking price the seller should have put some on the guitar himself before selling....

 

so i assume, the strings are off on purpose to hide some problems, i would not touch this guitar

[DeepEnd]

Okay, I'm at home so I can see the pics. Freeman has already said everything that needs to be said. Stay away from this one. FWIW, the Blueridge is down to $310+$35 shipping and appears to be a nice little guitar but unfortunately there's no indication of the state of the neck angle: https://reverb.com/item/761425-blueridge-br-43-solid-spruce-top-000-w-hardshell-case.