Yamaha fg-200

[DutchSatriani]

Sup dudes

 

Is the Yamaha fg-200 a decent guitar? It will be a temporary solution. Untill I got more cash to buy a taylor or something:rolleyes: . I can buy it for 100 euro's.

 

The stuff I like to play is accoustic blues ala SRV, a little bit of tommy emmanuel.

 

When I play accoustic I currently play on a ibanez aw40-nt which is decent for the money.

Help me out

[Freeman Keller]

Here is the review from our own little HC archive.

 

http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/Data4/Yamaha/FG_200-1.html

 

I have an FG-150 and it has mellowed into a really nice little finger picker. As with any older guitar check for structural issues including the neck angle very carefully - it would not be worth fixing one of these. I think the current exchange is about 1:1.2 so a hundred euros should be fair for a structurally sound guitar.

[DutchSatriani]

Yeah the reviews are pretty good . I'm just wondering if it'l be worth the drive. I just want a decent tone for t.e type stuff and srv type blues. Any more people who've actually played one of these?

I know most of you guys are into more high-end gear but any feedback is highly appreciated

[Freeman Keller]

It is worth the drive. Take along a straightedge (and if you don't know what to do with it, print out my sticky "Is My Guitar Sick"). If the straightedge doesn't just kiss the top of the bridge, get back in your car and drive away.

 

Mine is the one on the right. I'm not sure what SRV did on acoustic besides Life By the Drop, but it is a great fingerpicker in the Tommy Emmanuel vein. Mine pretty much stays in open C any more and I play a lot of John Fahey and early Kottke, including slide. Very big little guitar

 

 

btw - red label is best

[suprswd]

Originally posted by Freeman Keller It is worth the drive. Take along a straightedge (and if you don't know what to do with it, print out my sticky "Is My Guitar Sick"). If the straightedge doesn't just kiss the top of the bridge, get back in your car and drive away. Mine is the one on the right. I'm not sure what SRV did on acoustic besides Life By the Drop, but it is a great fingerpicker in the Tommy Emmanuel vein. Mine pretty much stays in open C any more and I play a lot of John Fahey and early Kottke, including slide. Very big little guitar btw - red label is best

 

 

freeman, why is the top of your taylor different colors?

 

it looks like the bass side is cedar, and the top is spruce

 

~Logan

[daklander]

Originally posted by Freeman Keller I have an FG-150 and it has mellowed into a really nice little finger picker.

 

I love my FG-150.

I bought it new in the Orient in '70 or '71. In '78 or'79 I turned down $750.00 for it and don't regret it.

Fantastic sounding guitar miked.

I changed the pegs to brass probably 20 years ago and the tuners were also changed out, though more recently.

I did two things wrong on the guitar.

1) The first heel strap button was put on the bottom of the heel. (Recommended by a luthier and since moved)

2) Installed a Dean Markley Sweet Spot pickup. (The first one failed and the second one is inconsistent in tone)

 

It's my opinion that if you can find a Red Label FG series of any number with a straight neck and decent neck angle you won't find a better acoustic guitar for the money. If the bridge or nut is too high, or low, it's an easy and relatively in-expensive fix. I particularly like the 150s and 180s.

[T.B.]

I just returned from Holland two days ago. I've had chance to play all of the Yam's FG series guitars from the late 60's to mid 70's at one time or other. The FG-200 is one of the nicest sounding guitars among the Yam FG series. You couldn't go wrong and it would be a perfect choice for the type of music you play. As others have forwarned, make sure you look out for neck angel, high action, shaved bridge, and worn frets. I have a Yam FG-75 and Yam FG-150 red label. The thing is Dutch, when you do get your dream guitar, your FG-200 can then become your "beater" and what a wonderful guitar to have as such.

 

Here's a pic of my FG-150

[Freeman Keller]

 

Originally posted by suprswd freeman, why is the top of your taylor different colors? it looks like the bass side is cedar, and the top is spruce ~Logan

 

 

No, it is spruce. That is what happens when the wood isn't perfectly quartersawn (which means the grain runs exactly up and down thru the top wood). It is still book matched (which means they took a piece of wood that was too thick and basically split it like you would open a book - the grain pattern should be a mirror image), but it wasn't perfectly quartersawn. It is interesting that you can check this by turning the guitar upside down - the dark/light pattern will not flip over like you think it should.

 

One of the things I've never been happy with. You would think that a $1500 (list) git would have better wood but this is one of Taylor's little compromises. Compared to the top on the $100 (new in 1969) Yamie the Taylor comes up pretty short.

[T.B.]

Keller, I've been looking for some bridge pins to gussey up my Yam FG-150. I haven't been able to find any bridge pins to fit? Thanks.

 

T.B.

[Freeman Keller]

 

Originally posted by T.B. Keller, I've been looking for some bridge pins to gussey up my Yam FG-150. I haven't been able to find any bridge pins to fit? Thanks. T.B.

 

 

T.B. - those are the originals I think. Want me to take one out and mic' it for you?

FK

[daklander]

Freeman, the original pins were plain black with no white dot. I can't tell from the picture if yours are black with glare or have a white insert.

 

I believe this pin measurement is from one of the original pins from my FG150.

.20" at the widest point, just under the head, tapering to .12" over the length of .88" with an overall length of 1.12".

 

Another pin I have is .20" at same point under the head, tapering to .135" over .93" with an overall length of 1.21".

[Freeman Keller]

 

Originally posted by daklander Freeman , the original pins were plain black with no white dot. I can't tell from the picture if yours are black with glare or have a white insert. I believe this pin measurement is from one of the original pins from my FG150. .20" at the widest point, just under the head, tapering to .12" over the length of .88" with an overall length of 1.12". Another pin I have is .20" at same point under the head, tapering to .135" over .93" with an overall length of 1.21".

 

 

I'll check mine tonight and PM you tomorrow. I'll also check the taper of the hole with a pin reamer. Time to restring that old Yamie anyway.

[sufidancer]

 

Originally posted by Freeman Keller I have an FG-150 and it has mellowed into a really nice little finger picker.

 

 

This is true of mine as well. I learned to play on it. Sold it. Went through several acoustics of various makes and price.

 

Then one day I saw the guy I sold it to and bought it back from him. I could not believe I had ever parted with it.

 

What a nice piece of wood.

[Freeman Keller]

 

Originally posted by daklander Freeman , the original pins were plain black with no white dot. I can't tell from the picture if yours are black with glare or have a white insert. I believe this pin measurement is from one of the original pins from my FG150. .20" at the widest point, just under the head, tapering to .12" over the length of .88" with an overall length of 1.12". Another pin I have is .20" at same point under the head, tapering to .135" over .93" with an overall length of 1.21".

 

 

I get 0.206 just under the rib at the top (the highest point of the cone), 0.120 at the tip, 0.845 overall length of the cone - which I think would be the important dimentions for getting new ones. Seems to be right on your numbers. Mine stand about 1/8 out of the hole - I measured one at 0.175. I tried some Martin pins and they are way too big - would only go about half way in. You are also right - mine are black with no dots (must be the flash in the picture).

[knockwood]

 

Originally posted by Freeman Keller I'm not sure what SRV did on acoustic besides Life By the Drop

 

 

Slightly left field here... I am a massive SRV fan, and that happens to be my favorite of his songs. I actually wrote most of a screenplay inspired completely by that song... it is an awful screenplay and has justly been sitting in a closet for the better part of a decade, but that is neither here nor there. Man, what a great song. There's nothing much to it, lyrically. It was his delivery, spiced with my own background, that made me listen to it 40 or 50 times the first time I heard it...

[T.B.]

Originally posted by Freeman Keller T.B. - those are the originals I think. Want me to take one out and mic' it for you? FK

 

 

Thank you for your help Keller. So it was your camara flash that gave the impression you had pearl dotted bridge pins. Boy, I thought you had found the illusive holy grail of bridge pins. I plan to contact TUSQ to see what they have in bridge pins. Thanks again.

 

Regards,

Trina

[Freeman Keller]

Originally posted by T.B. Thank you for your help Keller. So it was your camara flash that gave the impression you had pearl dotted bridge pins. Boy, I thought you had found the illusive holy grail of bridge pins. I plan to contact TUSQ to see what they have in bridge pins. Thanks again. Regards, Trina

 

Looks like Bob Colosi has pins in several sizes - give him a call. He is extremely helpful with these kinds of things

 

http://www.guitarsaddles.com/products.htm

 

If you want to see the holy grail of flash pictures you should see the one I took of my chrome resonator when I was trying to sell it. The whole thing looked like one big pearl dot

[daklander]

it's been many years since I replaced the stock pins on my FG150 with the brass ones. Why I kept the originals I'll never know. Anyway, when I swapped them out it was no problem to find the right size.

Did the pin dimensions change in the last twenty or so years?

 

The one I'm having problems finding pins for is my Ventura. It's just about due for a string change so I'll mic them and start looking.

Thanks for that link Freeman.

 

By the way, it was T.B. looking for the pins, I hope my butting in here didn't get you going the wrong way but I had those old pins handy so measured them.

[JasmineTea]

Originally posted by daklander It's my opinion that if you can find a Red Label FG series of any number with a straight neck and decent neck angle you won't find a better acoustic guitar for the money.

Yeah man. I had a FG-200, 180, 150.

 

My sister still plays a FG-300 from early '70s. She actualy prefers it over her Martin HD-28.

 

Notice the tune-o-matic bridge.

[Roll Them Bones]

OK, so I'm new here and a hack, so in deference to those whose fretjam I'm not worthy to clean, I should keep this short ... but what the hell ... I've had an fg-180 (Taiwan tan label) for 30 years since it was new. Wonderful sound that has grown over the years in spite of being plywood topped which I think all these early Yamaha's were (please feel free to correct me (like there was any doubt about that!)).

 

Bitchfully hard and tiring to play though, (especially post hockey injury broken left thumb) in spite of numerous git shops tinkering Maybe Freeman's sticky (I've been lofting) will help me out with that.

 

My sister bought an fg-160 shortly afterwards which actually while cosmetically drearier, played easier and sounded richer...mine brighter. I've always felt she had the better guitar.

 

Another friend had an fg-200 tan label and there seemed to be an appreciable improvement in sound ... but that was 30 years ago and while our ears were better, our discernment wasn't as developed.

 

Red label Nippon-Gakki (Made in Japan up to about 1974/75 methinks) Yami's have a devout following and if you can pick up any red label at a decent price, you shouldn't be disappointed...if it passes Freeman's ruler test. Late 70's guitars have less of a following and should be less expensive to buy. All are bulletproof.

 

From my experience, these Yamaha's (mine included) have a thick, deep V-shaped neck and narrow fretboard... great it you have big hands with slender fingers.

 

PS. I recently sent a new Washburn WD 54 RareWood Flint Hills edition (Solid spruce top, solid rosewood soundbox) purchased on ebay back, cuz the sound was dwarfed by my Yamaha (please flame the Washburns not me!). I thought I was upgrading but it would have been a backslide, which is fodder for starting another thread.

 

Cheers,

Bones

[T.B.]

Originally posted by daklander By the way, it was T.B. looking for the pins, I hope my butting in here didn't get you going the wrong way but I had those old pins handy so measured them.

 

 

Are you kidding? Thanks to you too daklander. I had planned to thank both of you gentlemen, but sometimes what I'm thinking verses what keys I strike don't come together. My wanting to change bridge pins is purely cosmetic. Yes, --I think-- Pearse makes brass pins that would fit my FG-150, but I would prefer rosewood or ebony pearl dotted bridge pins. So far, I've had no luck in finding any with the dimensions of my stock pins.

 

 

I want to say to Dutch, please let use know if you bought the FG-200.

[Freeman Keller]

Originally posted by T.B. Are you kidding? Thanks to you too daklander. I had planned to thank both of you gentlemen, but sometimes what I'm thinking verses what keys I strike don't come together. My wanting to change bridge pins is purely cosmetic. Yes, --I think-- Pearse makes brass pins that would fit my FG-150, but I would prefer rosewood or ebony pearl dotted bridge pins. So far, I've had no luck in finding any with the dimensions of my stock pins.

 

T.B. - Colosi has instructions on sanding his to fit, but it might be easier to take it to a luthier or repair shop and just have the pin holes reamed with a 5 degree reamer to Martin specs. Then you can choose anything. The shop may have to slightly ramp the string slots after reaming - they will know how.