Members Joe-TN Posted December 20, 2005 Members Share Posted December 20, 2005 I purchased this guitar in Japan in 1972, picked it because it was prettier than my 1967 FG-180 (still have that one, too). I recently pulled them both out of the closet, and started to play again. Apparently there aren't many of this model around. With a bunch of internet searching I haven't been able to find another FG-450 that looks just like this one, particularly the peghead. In fact, I've only found one or two references to the FG-450 at all. I e-mailed Yamaha to see if they can provide any info, but nothing heard yet. Is there anyone here who has seen one just like this or knows any details about it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JasmineTea Posted December 20, 2005 Members Share Posted December 20, 2005 Sorry, don't have any info. But I do know that those were great guitars. If they were mine I'd hang on to them. I had a 180 years ago. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Joe-TN Posted December 20, 2005 Author Members Share Posted December 20, 2005 Thanks for responding. I do plan to keep them both. Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RainsongDR1000 Posted December 20, 2005 Members Share Posted December 20, 2005 I have an FG345 circa 1979. Great guitar for the money. Solid spruce top and laminate rosewood back and sides. Sounds great after 25 years. I still use it for the "loaner" guitar at the open mics I host. Things built like a tank, I'll never part with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members daklander Posted December 20, 2005 Members Share Posted December 20, 2005 The fg-180 is more likely a '68. If you can read the serial numbers try this serial number locator and you can get some model info here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hockey_musician Posted December 21, 2005 Members Share Posted December 21, 2005 yamahas.....especially the early fg series are wicked.... ive played a few and they sond superb....ive got an fg 413s currently.... thems awesome guitars.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Joe-TN Posted December 21, 2005 Author Members Share Posted December 21, 2005 FWIW, I did get a response from Yamaha on the 450: "The FG450 would have been made in the early 70's and not available in the United States. The serial # indicates that it was made 05/10/1972 and was the 198th one made that day. It has a solid Spruce top, Ovangkol back and sides, a Nato neck, and a Rosewood fingerboard." Going on 34 years old and nearly spotless, it's definitely a keeper. The 180 is definitely a 67, as I bought it new in Nashville in 1967, and the serial nr is 700xxx - the last three digits are handwritten in either pencil or black ink. For anyone who's never seen the 180, here are links to pix of a good (but not spotless -- two years of college and several deployments on this one) example http://www.pbase.com/joe_tn/image/53686049 http://www.pbase.com/joe_tn/image/53686050 Yamaha says (as does everything else I've read) that the 180 spruce top is not solid -- but I'm darned if I can see laminations around the sound hole. Wonder how many plies in a guitar top? I'm enjoying this board...learning a lot. Now if I can just get the fingers back in shape Merry Christmas to all, Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members daklander Posted December 22, 2005 Members Share Posted December 22, 2005 Originally posted by Joe-TN Yamaha says (as does everything else I've read) that the 180 spruce top is not solid -- but I'm darned if I can see laminations around the sound hole. Wonder how many plies in a guitar top? I'm enjoying this board...learning a lot. Now if I can just get the fingers back in shape Merry Christmas to all, Joe First off, glad you like the board. There is lots of information here. As to the top, don't be surprised if that's not a solid top. Don't just look around the sound hole but check the grain on the underside too. I'm betting you'll find it's consistent with the grain on the top. I have an early fg150 I bought new in Japan and it not only has no laminate type grain around the sound hole but the grain on the underside looks to be in line with the grain on the top side of the soundboard. As to the year, the Yamaha info tool shows the fg180 being built in 1968 only and that's what I was going by. Pull the serial number off that and see what the serial number tool shows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Joe-TN Posted December 22, 2005 Author Members Share Posted December 22, 2005 For Daklander, Thanks for all your help. The serial number comes back invalid on the Yamaha serial number tool; Maybe it's one of those they lost track of. In any case, the results with the tool and the response from Yamaha support don't perfectly match. Their e-mail says "The FG180 guitars were made from 1966-1973. They have a Spruce top (not solid), Agathis back and sides, a Nato neck, and a Rosewood fingerboard." I'm curious about your comments on the FG180 top. I would have thought that matching grain on top and bottom of the wood would seem to indicate a solid piece rather than plywood. From the outside, the top has a definite center seam, and appears to be bookmatched. I've got a lot to learn! Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members daklander Posted December 22, 2005 Members Share Posted December 22, 2005 Originally posted by Joe-TN I've got a lot to learn! Joe Heh, don't we all??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 39gordo Posted July 2, 2013 Members Share Posted July 2, 2013 Hi, I want it. How Much? Gordo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FretFiend. Posted July 2, 2013 Members Share Posted July 2, 2013 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members invirginia Posted November 24, 2020 Members Share Posted November 24, 2020 I own a fg 450 that I also bought in Japan when in the Army. Original cost around $150. Have original guitar and original case. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tony wall Posted August 16, 2021 Members Share Posted August 16, 2021 Hi guys I recently bought a fg450as 1990 in mint unused condition 1 owner from new all perfect brought the action down a tad new 12 gauge medium strings wow this guitar is great Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Keith Bomphray Posted December 26, 2023 Members Share Posted December 26, 2023 I was just gifted an FG 450. Put new strings on it and it plays beautifully and sounds wonderful. Does anyone have info about its possible manufacturing date and the value today. It came with a fine hardshell case too. Thanks Keith Bomphray Canada Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted December 27, 2023 Moderators Share Posted December 27, 2023 21 hours ago, Keith Bomphray said: I was just gifted an FG 450. Put new strings on it and it plays beautifully and sounds wonderful. Does anyone have info about its possible manufacturing date and the value today. It came with a fine hardshell case too. Thanks Keith Bomphray Canada The FG 450 was manufactured for a very long period, from the early 1970s well into the 1990s serial number lookup: https://www.yamaha.com/yamahaguitars/AcousticGuitarSerialNumberSystems.pdf Value is based on condition, so no one can tell you what is worth without a thorough examination. You can see that the prices are pretty varied here Those examples range pretty wide from over $600 to under $300...and most of them claim to be 'good' condition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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