Members newpicker Posted November 28, 2007 Members Share Posted November 28, 2007 Hi Folks. Really need some advice here.I want to buy a Fg-200,was the switch to Taiwan a bad thing any difference to the guitars sound?. When it gets to labels,red blue tan,round square,my head is beginning to hurt. So bottom line.what year,what label do I look for. In your opinion which circa would be the best. I have a Resonator,57 sivertone archtop,so the yamaha will be the straight ahead strumming and picking guitar.A tad dropped D work. Better still Know anybody who wants to cut a good example loose. Kind regards newpicker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members OldGuitarPlayer Posted November 28, 2007 Members Share Posted November 28, 2007 For straight ahead "strumming and picking" an FG series Yamaha of any era can't be beat. If you like it's sound and how it plays and it's a good deal don't hesitate to get it. You will find quite a few Yamaha FG users here and they will more than likely advise you the same way Regards, OGP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members garthman Posted November 28, 2007 Members Share Posted November 28, 2007 Hello & welcome to the AG forum. Like OGP says, Yamahas are always good. Hope to hear from you again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members daklander Posted November 28, 2007 Members Share Posted November 28, 2007 If the FG200 is in any kind of good or better playing condition it's a keeper unless it needs neck reset, then I'm not so sure, but then it wouldn't be in any kind of good or better playing condition. Use this wizard to id the year. Input the serial number which should be on a brace inside and just to the front of the sound hole. Your guitar was built between '72 and '76 according to the Yamaha Guitar Archive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted November 28, 2007 Members Share Posted November 28, 2007 Both OGP and Dak have very good points. The most desirable Yamies are the red label (there were also yellow and green, I don't know anything about them). Like any old guitars the thing to look for is overall structural condition - even more so with these because a neck reset is very problematic. So when you go shopping take a 24" straightedge with you and carefully measure the neck angle - if it is not acceptable pass on the git. (You can do a quick and dirty check if the action is acceptable AND you have at least 1/8 inch of saddle sticking out you are probably OK). Some other minor points - the tuners on my FG-150 were junk, I replaced them with some nice vintage Grovers (T.B. on the forum turned me on to them), mine had a pickguard coming loose which buzzed badly (took a while to figure that out). I still have the original plastic nut and saddle in mine, but it is a wonderful sounding old guitar that just seems to keep getting better. I also had an FG-230 12 string that was everything that could be bad about a guitar - the action was so high it was like trying to fret the Golden Gate Bridge. Wish I had known how to measure neck angle when I bought it. Good luck with your shopping - these are incredible little gits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarist21 Posted November 28, 2007 Members Share Posted November 28, 2007 Like any old guitars the thing to look for is overall structural condition - even more so with these because a neck reset is very problematic. When buying guitars from this era, considering its condition is more important than the labels and stuff. And also, like folks have been saying, if you love the guitar then you should get it, regardless of the label or where it came from. If, however, you're buying off eBay or Craigslist for instance and you're faced with a choice of what Yamaha to buy, ask the seller to run through the measurements on Freeman's "Is My Guitar Sick?" sticky. This will help you approximate the condition of the guitar and determine whether or not it needs a reset or something. Ellen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted November 28, 2007 Members Share Posted November 28, 2007 If, however, you're buying off eBay or Craigslist for instance and you're faced with a choice of what Yamaha to buy, ask the seller to run through the measurements on Freeman's "Is My Guitar Sick?" sticky. This will help you approximate the condition of the guitar and determine whether or not it needs a reset or something.Ellen It is no longer a sticky but is permently enshrined in the Tech section of the Annex. And since Newpicker is new here, the Annex can be reached by clicking on the pink thingie in my sig or a sticky at the top of the main acoustic page. Enjoy some music by Ellen, Dak, Garthman and others, and find some great links to references, including the one by Bryan Kimsey on buy an older Martin (pertains to any guitar). And, oh yes, the "Is My Guitar Sick" classic LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members guitarist21 Posted November 28, 2007 Members Share Posted November 28, 2007 It is no longer a sticky.. Oof! I forgot. Thanks Freeman. Ellen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members newpicker Posted November 28, 2007 Author Members Share Posted November 28, 2007 For straight ahead "strumming and picking" an FG series Yamaha of any era can't be beat. If you like it's sound and how it plays and it's a good deal don't hesitate to get it. You will find quite a few Yamaha FG users here and they will more than likely advise you the same way Regards, OGP Thanks for that OGP,already made contact waiting for a reply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members newpicker Posted November 28, 2007 Author Members Share Posted November 28, 2007 Both OGP and Dak have very good points. The most desirable Yamies are the red label (there were also yellow and green, I don't know anything about them). Like any old guitars the thing to look for is overall structural condition - even more so with these because a neck reset is very problematic. So when you go shopping take a 24" straightedge with you and carefully measure the neck angle - if it is not acceptable pass on the git. (You can do a quick and dirty check if the action is acceptable AND you have at least 1/8 inch of saddle sticking out you are probably OK).Some other minor points - the tuners on my FG-150 were junk, I replaced them with some nice vintage Grovers (T.B. on the forum turned me on to them), mine had a pickguard coming loose which buzzed badly (took a while to figure that out). I still have the original plastic nut and saddle in mine, but it is a wonderful sounding old guitar that just seems to keep getting better.I also had an FG-230 12 string that was everything that could be bad about a guitar - the action was so high it was like trying to fret the Golden Gate Bridge. Wish I had known how to measure neck angle when I bought it.Good luck with your shopping - these are incredible little gits. Thanks, Looking forward to meeting one in the flesh,they have a great reputation theres alot of em out there.Including one for me.Ready to play the blues Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted November 28, 2007 Members Share Posted November 28, 2007 Thanks, Looking forward to meeting one in the flesh,they have a great reputation theres alot of em out there.Including one for me.Ready to play the blues Daklander, Babablowfish, and T.B. on this forum all play one form or another. If you go to the Annex and listen to the String and Pin tests in the Tech section there are a few clips of mine (no songs tho). And if you really want a laugh, there is a picture of mine when new and 35 years later (I think it is on the second page) http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1800240 Because the action is starting to creep up on mine I normally keep it in open C with a special mixed set of strings - one of these days I will have to deal with the neck angle (they can be fixed but it would not be worth paying someone to do it). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members babablowfish Posted November 28, 2007 Members Share Posted November 28, 2007 Hi and Welcome! The whole Red Label thing is more of a collector's issue than an indicator of quality. The guitars that came out of Taiwan were great as well. I have had Red Label Nippon Gakki Yamahas and Taiwaniese Yamahas and they were/are all great. My FG-340 is made in Taiwan and it is my favorite (not best) guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members T.B. Posted November 28, 2007 Members Share Posted November 28, 2007 Hi and Welcome! The whole Red Label thing is more of a collector's issue than an indicator of quality. The guitars that came out of Taiwan were great as well. I have had Red Label Nippon Gakki Yamahas and Taiwaniese Yamahas and they were/are all great. My FG-340 is made in Taiwan and it is my favorite (not best) guitar. +1 Hey welcome newpicker. Please let us know if you get the FG-200 and pics are mandatory. Trina Here's some pics of my beloved FG-150 http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j220/gowes/Trina%20Guitars/011.jpg http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j220/gowes/Trina%20Guitars/Groverbacka.jpg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members daklander Posted November 29, 2007 Members Share Posted November 29, 2007 +1 Hey welcome newpicker. Please let us know if you get the FG-200 and pics are mandatory. Trina Here's some pics of my beloved FG-150 http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j220/gowes/Trina%20Guitars/011.jpghttp://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j220/gowes/Trina%20Guitars/Groverbacka.jpg Yours is pretty. Here's mine. It's been around the block a time or two. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Freeman Keller Posted November 29, 2007 Members Share Posted November 29, 2007 Nice tuners, Trina. Here is mine before the Grovers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Samilyn Posted November 29, 2007 Members Share Posted November 29, 2007 For straight ahead "strumming and picking" an FG series Yamaha of any era can't be beat. If you like it's sound and how it plays and it's a good deal don't hesitate to get it. You will find quite a few Yamaha FG users here and they will more than likely advise you the same way Regards, OGP +1 The FG series Yammies are pretty good gits. They sound very nice and are affordable. Lots of bang for the buck. Welcome to HCAG. Glad to have you here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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