• Yamaha Fg 75 Guitar
• Yamaha Fg 75 Guitar Value

After doing extensive reading here on the forum, I decided to look for some vintage Yamaha guitars to use for slide blues. I wanted one to tune in Open D, and another to tune in Open G.If you have read any of my other threads, you may have noticed that I have a preference for smaller bodied guitars. I did not know that these older Yamaha guitars were smaller bodies. After doing some research, I discovered that the FG-75 was considered a 'folk' guitar, so I started to look for one.I found and FG-75, and an FG-110 that both are small enough for me to play.I got the FG-110 first off of Craig's List. I called the seller and asked him to measure across the lower bout, and what he told me was close enough to go try it out.Here are the specs on the FG-110:Upper Bout - 10-7/8'Waist - 9-18'Lower Bout - 14-7/8'Depth at tail - 4'Depth at neck - 3-3/8'Frets to the body - 14Body Length - 19-1/2'Total Length - 39-1/2'From Yamahas database:Year(s) Sold: 1967-1974Original MSRP(US$):$99.50Top: SpruceBack / Sides: AgathisNeck: NatoFingerboard: BubingaBridge: BubingaEDIT: The FG-110 uses a form of X-bracing.The serial number on this one wouldn't match the online wizard, so I contacted Yamaha.

They said that it was unavailable to them as well, but was likely to have been made in 1970 - 72 range.It is a Red Label, Nippon Gakki, 'Made in Japan' model. I was blown away by it. Tons of volume, sustain, and good rich sound. I was very pleasantly surprised.I'll post the pictures of the FG-110 here, and will follow with the FG-75 in the second post.

The second picture of the label below is really of the mark over the label and off to the side. From my research, I believe that is a Japanese signature of the luthier. If anyone can read Japanese, they can verify that for me. The second guitar I bought also off Craig's List is an FG-75. It too is a Red Label, Nippon Gakki, Made in Japan guitar.It took me a week to arrange a time to meet with the seller after confirming the width measurement of the lower bout.

I had the same reaction from this guitar. Tons of volume, sustain, and good rich sound.I couldn't believe that I had found 2 of these guitars that had straight necks, and no need for a reset, with very low action. I also have a 'vintage' FG-110 Red Label, identical to the OP's. I bought it new in Okinawa, in 1970, for $45 case included. It has a serial # 1093389. It has been a closet queen for the past 40 years, has great sound and I am going to spend the $ to have the neck reset.I have not researched the serial #, but it may give someone else an indication of when their git was produced.BwanaBy all means, get that thing fixed and play it again!The serial number on my FG-110 is # 1139028, so if the sequence holds true, mine was built some time after yours was, which would fit within the Yamaha CSR's time table of 1970 - 72.

I understand from research that the serial numbers were used in sequence for every stringed instrument Yamaha made, not just guitars. That would put mine at 45,639 instruments later than yours.

Axeman, the 'signature' on your 75 maybe the maker or just a QC guy. Cannot tell without a closer and full look. And that 'signature' looks like what the Japanese call a 'hanko'.

In Japan, hand signatures are not considered to be legally binding. Registered hand made stamps (hanko) are legally binding signatures. Hanko's are usually circular or square - mostly red but sometimes black colored. I have my dad's hanko (used for legal stuff).I have a FG-110 that i bought in Japan back in the 60's. Tonight i will take a look and see if that has a 'hanko' and possibly what it says.Ken (Jpn American who lived in Japan 18 yrs). Axeman, the 'signature' on your 75 maybe the maker or just a QC guy. Cannot tell without a closer and full look.

And that 'signature' looks like what the Japanese call a 'hanko'. In Japan, hand signatures are not considered to be legally binding. Registered hand made stamps (hanko) are legally binding signatures. Hanko's are usually circular or square - mostly red but sometimes black colored. I have my dad's hanko (used for legal stuff).I have a FG-110 that i bought in Japan back in the 60's.

Tonight i will take a look and see if that has a 'hanko' and possibly what it says.Ken (Jpn American who lived in Japan 18 yrs)Thanks so much for the information Ken. I have read books, that talked about these types of signatures, but wasn't aware of what the Japanese called them. I'll try to remember what a 'hanko' is from now on.The 'signature' on the 110 still has me puzzled. Not terribly important, but it has my curiosity peaked.It is a deliberate mark of some kind, I just don't know what, and may never know. Sorry for the delay. I looked at my red label FG-110. It has a serial number of 644042 or 644942 (6 digits).I used a mirror to look inside but found no marks, signatures or 'hanko'.

To be honest i was a little surprised to see the 'hanko' on the brace of your FG-75. Because one puts the 'honko' on the label and not on the wood. This is because a 'hanko' on the wood might bleed and make it hard to read (remember a handmade hanko needs to show distinctive marks for authentication). If i had to guess someone put that 'hanko' after they purchased it so they could identify this guitar.As to the 'mark' on your FG-110, that does not look like a signature to me. That 'mark' does not look like any Japanese hiragana, katakana, romaji or kanji. It sort of looks like a 'T' but it is not good. All Japanese are taught English (6 yrs - Junior Hi to High School) so anyone would have known how to make a proper 'T'.

It vaguely looks like the Japanese character for 'person' (hitoh) but again it does not look correct (angle and lengths). If i had to guess someone spilled something but what do i know. I suppose someone who is not Japanese made the 'mark' but again the 'mark' does not make any sense.Sorry i could not be more of a help.Ken.

If you play it and like it and can get it cheap, buy it. If the action is high and the saddle is low, pass it. Neck resets are pretty much out of the question, as the glue they used is extremely difficult to soften, and few luthiers want to try it even if you want to pay the price. Good news is it is probably playable. Mine is a tad high but not all that bad at about 3/32.WRT the top, Yamaha customer service, in response to my inquiry about my '67 said '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.'

Hard as I've tried, I can't see the laminations in the top, though.Joe. I bought an fg-180 red label, nippon gakki recently and have done a lot of reasearch trying to learn about these guitars. Some of the details are sketchy and conflicting. One thing i do know for sure is, it sounds great for a fraction of what you'd pay for a martin or taylor.i did read one article that stated there was short, early period of production, i believe it was prior to 1968 that the red label guitars were solid tops, and after that all were laminated. Mine's a 72 and i can't tell what it is, but i figure laminated.

Sounds better than many solid tops i've owned or played. I believe that the old FG's have laminate tops. This is not necessarily a bad thing. IMHO Yamaha produced the finest spruce laminates outside of a handfull of custom classical builders. It is almost impossible to tell that they are laminates from a visual standpoint without taking a slice with a saw. They produce good tone and incredible volume. They are a great way to add to the collection without breaking the bank - very good values.

And yes, the LS and LL series of handcrafted Yamaha'a are sleepers, everyone should have a pair. Martin 000-15S / Dobro F-60 / Yairi WY-1K / Yamaha LS 500Yamaha LL 500 / Yamaha FG 150 / Godin Flat 5X. I found this yamaha site for some basic specs. Does this mean the top is solid, or is it possible they just left the laminate detail out.

Yamaha Fg 75 Guitar

I've heard rumors yamahas' records can be sketchy on the older models. I know one thing, if mine has a 3 piece back, all the pieces are exactly the same color and they grafted them togeether super good.       Enter in a model number and click Submit to view key information and specifications on the instrument.

In the mid '70s I was shown a red-label Nippon-Gakki FG-180 in a now long-gone shop in LA. To 'facilitate' comparison with Martins the owner had squared the headstock, removed the Yamaha logo, and added Rotomatics, though he freely revealed what the guitar actually was.I didn't buy that one, but shortly acquired a used stock one from a friend, whose attic I rescued it from.

Yamaha Fg 75 Guitar Value

The dealer's 'faux-Martin' conversion is a chuckle now, but is how I 1st learned of these great 'bang-for-the-buck' guitars, as we've mentioned above.