There’s something very special about these old Yamahas. I recently bought a 1973 FG-160 and it has more character and tone than any acoustic I’ve owned or played before. I only bought it to clean up and resell but enjoyed playing it so much that I decided to keep it and now it’s my favorite. It responds as well to a light touch as a hard strum and sounds like a concert hall inside. That’s what 49 years of maturing will do to a well built guitar.
The FG-110 delivers a distinctive sound. Bright and sweet And focus sound I've got a lot of hand-picked vintage Yamaha guitars and typical high-end and boutique guitars. The main thing is sound uniqueness. I love that the fg-110 and fg-140 uniqueness, the latter have a very high fidelity, the wood tone is full and is especially pleasing to me.
At some point recently, I fell down the Vintage Yamaha rabbit hole. Found an FG-75 (Taiwan) on Craigslist that needed some love. Had it set up w .011’s and took the action down a bit, and I am in love with playing it; such a fun little guitar with a ton of character. Now I have a 110 (Red Label) on the way that I plan on using for alternately tuned fingerpicking material (DADGAD, open G, etc). Can’t wait - thanks for demo’ing all these, it helped me decide on the 110.
Thank you for your postings. I also like old Yamaha acoustic guitars. I like Epihones also, but I have found that Epiphones are more of a crap shoot than the Yamahas. I know how to make bone nuts and bridge saddles, and although sometimes it feels tedious, taking the time is truly worth the while. A few moments ago, I ordered an FG75-1 (Taiwanese) that will require some attention, and I am looking forward to receiving it. Thanks again. Update, December 2021. I did receive the aforementioned FG75, and it did require some work. After a good cleaning and polshing of the finish, I oiled the fretboard and polished the frets. I also made a bone nut and bridge saddle. The action was high, so I adjusted the truss rod, but the neck was so bowed, probably from using excessively thick gauge strings over many years, that I had to add a spacer or two between the truss rod adjustment nut and the wood of the neck. Ultimately, I gave the guitar away to someone who plays it in blues open tunings.
Great video demonstration. I am fixing up my old FG-75 (black label Taiwan '74). It was my first acoustic, can't remember how I got it but most likely from a pawn shop. It got a golf ball sized hole in the soundboard below the bridge. I have custom fit a spruce piece (Stewmac) and fixed the soundboard. I'm now slowly refinishing the guitar, just taking my time for the best result. I'm already getting excited as the guitar starts to look better and better! (it was down to bare wood when my dad pulled it out of a closet, forgot we still had it). When I was sanding the top and sides, it vibrated loudly and you can tell it just wants to sing. I'm looking forward to finishing the refinishing and stringing it up again.
Amazing playing....amazing sound. I guess I am too invested in my multitude of high dollar Martin's, Furch, and Collings.... when one of these older Yamahas would be just perfect.
One of the performers at Woodstock played an FG150 with a piece of rope for the strap. Sweet sounding guitar! I have a Japanese 1974 Morris W-18 (Which is a dead nock off of a Martin D28, Rosewood with Spruce top, picked it up at a flea market in Japan for 5,000 yen (About $50 U.S.]. It sounds amazing.
@wisesatyr72 Hi, sorry for the late reply, missed your comment somehow. Yes, the Taiwanese ones are great buys. The 1972 - 1975 ones I've seen are just as good as the 72-75 Nippon Gakki equivalents. The Taiwan factory was Taiwanese craftsmen trained by Japanese luthiers, using Japanese imported woods. The Taiwanese craftsmen did a great job. So, yes, they're essentially the same as the Nippon Gakki ones but without the hype/ inflated price tag! All the best.
@dqami Hi, thanks for your comment. It depends on the individual guitar of course, but in general, the 150 sounds warmer/sweeter. Mahogany produces a warmer/sweeter sound than nato for sure. The 110 is still sweet sounding though, just not as warm as the 150, a blues player may like the dryer sound of the 110. Both are great :) Hope this helps.
Thanks for the comparison. I always wondered how each one compared. I have the 110 NG red label and really like it but always wondered how it compared to a 150. How would you compare your 150 to the 110?
great video these old yamahas are great,its true what you say about the tiawan guitars ,i have owned japanese red label fg 300 and fg 140 1972 ,i now have an fg 160 1972 tiawan and a fg 200 1974 tiawan and they are every bit as good .worth saving a few quid for what are still beautiful vintage yammies.
Got 110 as a gift when I was in my teens, now am going 50. Still have them and play them. Maybe I am used to 110, the comparisons I’ve seen elsewhere and here, I still prefer the sound from 110. I knew Yamaha is a reputable brand but did not know how good the guitar was when I got them. Well it stood till now and still sounds great. A little issue with wear but 40 years on and it still rocking.
I had the FG180, FG335, still have the FG336SB. None are as good as the Yamaki laminated top I have of the same period and that is not in the class as my Morris MD520 early 80's, but they are very nice - the best of my yams was the FG180, Taiwan, laminated top - loud!, 335 was a dud, 336 lovely, but quiet. Its all about the woods - no two will be the same- some 75s will be better than 150's
@ColeCashBand Thanks. I had just started playing again after years of laziness. Yeah, the 150 is warmer and deeper sounding than the 110. For that boxy blues sound, the 75 can be superb. I think the 110 gets eclipsed by the 150, whereas the 75 stands apart in sound. I ended up selling my 150 (another one, even better than this) because it was getting eclipsed by the serious depth and warmth of my 140! Same sound just more of it. All the best.
UPDATE: New string preference: not using 13-56 anymore, the tension was too high and after a while tops started bellying. I now use D'Addario EJ15 (10-47) phosphor bronze on my FGs (they are ex-light but feel/sound bigger and even are ok for DADGAD, great stings), and use D'Addario EXP13 (11-52 coated bronze) on my dreads. They last for ages and sound amazing... for ages! Happy playing people :)
Thank you for a very well done and informative presentation! I have been into Yamaha FG series guitars since my first one (FG200 given to me for Christmas in '71 or '72. It was stolen out of my place NY Eve around 2003. Broke my heart. Since then I have been buying other models from that era, including another FG200 (but the magic was gone) I much prefer the 00 bodies. I own 2 FG110s, neither are Japanese made but they are nice. One is Red label Taiwan. Great tone and easy to play. I too use it for open tunings. I found two different FG75s in pawn shops dirt cheap. These are best kept secret guitars! I confess I would like to try and maybe buy one of the legendary Nippon Gakki FG180s that people rate so highly. Are they all that special? My dreadnaught is a Takamine.
@peacepedaler Why do you choose to use gauge 11-52? I use to use 11-52 and found they were very playable, but when I went to 12s they just stood out so much better. Or do you use 11s on some guitars and 12s on some? I would've thought 12s definitely better for DADGAD. How would you compare teh ROS 626 and teh FG-150 or FG-140? You must be getting tired of, "how do you compare sucha nd such..." haha. Really dig all these clips though, thanks so much! Brad (NZ)
hi there, great video! Thanks for sharing. I have a clean FG-180 Red Label Nippon Gakki, but am interested in an FG-150. Any ideas on what to expect in difference between 180 and 150? Also, what did you make the nut and saddle from, bone? Thanks!!
@neoionunder56 Hi Brad, you are totally right. At that time I'd only bought one type of string repeatedly, the Martin 11s. Now I've experimented a bit with string thickness and material, I choose phoshor bronze 13s for all the dreads. DADGAD is so much better with 13s. They're a bit too high tension for my 'bellied' FG140 though at D, so tend to tune that one to CGCFGC, seems happy. The ROS 626 = different animal, small/slim, big sound, easy to play, mega tone, short scale, 12 fret. Love it!
Wow. That was magical listening to what my FG75-1 could do if I could play it that well. I was thinking of selling it because I thought I should move up from my "starter" guitar, and it has one string that won't tune perfectly, but now I think I'll keep it. There is just so much character in the tone. I like how comfortable it is to play too at 39" long. Anybody know why one string, the second thinnest, would go just a titch high or low but never perfect?
Janet M W check the thread on the tuning key..Sometimes if they are loose they wont hold very long.Also the string your talking about is the B string..So its E A D G B E...Eddie.Ate.Dynomite.Good By Eddie..Thats how you can remember the strings.
@wisesatyr72 Hi, both are great :) People say the Japanese ones are better, but those who know save £100 and buy the Taiwan made ones! They're identical instruments made from the same wood stock shipped over to Japan. Something happened around 1975 though, seems like Yamaha started using cheaper materials in the TW laminates, from my observations anyway. Pre 1974 ones I've seen all have a spruce laminate tops made from three layers of good spruce, not a cheaper wood in the middle layer.
hi , i enjoyed this clip loads , like others i am well into yamahas of this era , my wife is from japan every time when we are there , i am always looking for any good yamah from that era ......
@chad174670 Yes, identical. All the FG75, 110, 140, 150, and FG500, whether Taiwan and Nippon Gakki built, that have come through my hands have had the same neck profile/ thickness, so I presume all the 60s/early70s FGs have the same neck.
I played my fg75 for yrs in small bars and even smaller coffee shops and it had a wonderful sound without amp. In 1985 I accidentally sat on it. No obvious damage but it no longer stayed in tune. Looking for another one.
Peace... That was a great side by side comparison. We have red label 110 and 75 and the bass on the 110 is noticeably deeper and responsive. My 75 is a real beater and the sound is just below the 110 in quality in my opinion. I also have a 1977 Fg 375s and that is a dreadnaught size and just barely better in quality over the 110. But I'll say that the smaller size of the 110 and 150's have me looking for one of those. Thanks again!
@machinsky108 Hi, sorry for my very late reply. Thanks for your kind words. I learn tunes I like by listening and learning each stage, then improvise with it. Good books that have helped me with finger style: 'Beyond Basics Fingerstyle Guitar' by Mark Hanson, and 'Understanding DADGAD for Fingerstyle Guitar' by Doug Young. I'm sure there're many more. I'm very much a beginner but one tip I found helpful: think about picking hand running like an engine, while fret hand steers. Hope this helps!
Hiya, Great video showing the comparisons! I have a FG75,FG110,FG180. Don't know why, but I am always drawn to my FG110. The 180 clearly has more bass and output ,arguably the sweetest tone, loud without being overly bassy, FG75 is great size, great for clear, middy fingerpicking, but the 110 just seems to be so versatile, it can do everything the 75 can,( is about as small w/ 000 size), but has greater bass and output than fg75, and can do almost everything(75% of bass) the 180 can! My 2 cents!
This is informative- I just played a 160 (tawainn) and keep finding some 110s and 150s, but wondering how they compare in size, I really like the size of the 160, reminds me of my Dads old Martin M38- the Yammie had such a resonant tone it was so warm! it was pretty dinked up tho- modded with a bone saddle, and the frets seems super low/worn but i think thats just the way they were
I got a fg 110 in the shop getting adjusted. I guess in theory it will sound like that. I mean I'm not as good at playing it but yea man thanks great video.
@peacepedaler I am wrong, bigger soundboard doesn't = better tone, it may mean 'louder' tone. I just recently got a Recording Kind ROS 626 which is a smaller instrument but the tone and balance is outstanding!
nice yamahas ive got a fg350 my guitar should be on the side of this video, name vintage 1971 yamaha fg-3g0 red label by nippon gakki its the best acoustic ive ever owned the sound is so rich..
@12Radius Hi, sorry late reply again, missed your comment. Ummm, best one. Well I sold all three of these! My only FG keepers now are a Nippon Gakki FG140 which has got such a vintage woody tone, and an FG500 which is mega rare and sounds majestic. Of these three, the FG150 was the best in my opinion, though all have attractive individuality. All the best.
I bought an FG 150 yesterday at a pawn shop. It had aged nicely and was priced at $69. Couldn't pass it up even though the action is high. The bridge saddle has been filed down about as low as it can go and action still high. I see no signs of neck coming loose. I adjusted the truss rod but still strings too high. Any suggestions?
Hi, you can lower the string height by filing off the surface of the bridge until you leave a minimum slot depth, (the standard slot is about 5mm deep). I've made saddles abut 2mm high which sit in a 1mm slot before - the sound is great with less saddle to obstruct string vibrations. You also then need to ramp the peg hole slots to get a good break angle. Before you start, mask the top with cardboard to stop any accidents! Good luck.
peacepedaler Before trying that, tune to pitch and push one string down at the front of the bridge till it's about 5mm above the guitar top (that's about the minimum height you'll get with the above method), look at the 14th fret, if the actions is still more than 3mm forget it because the guitar needs a neck reset.
hi. u could try the jld bridge doctor (breedlove guitars has them installed in most if not all their guitars to prevent bellying). or u could try the braceade. they both do the same thing, but use different methods. hope this helps.
@samuelthulin Hi, I may be wrong, but I think the red label made in Taiwan ones were the first ones they made there. I assume they used the same red labels (without the 'Nippon Gakki' text) for a while, then switched to the green. Japanese made ones also switched to green labels around 1972. I can't paste the link here, youtube won't let me but search wikipedia for 'List of Yamaha Products' and at the bottom of the page see 'acoustic guitar catalogs'. 1969, labels are red, 1972, they're green!
I came across a 160 in a guitar store, they wanted $450, I found a 150 online, about $200, but nowhere near the mint condition these are in.. I'm curious about the differences between 150 and 160? I'm not super attached to it being red label.. though the 150 is a red label
I think he said he did. I have a 110 in the shop the man said I was in good condition but still needed the adjustment. I'm saying I think all 70s Yamaha's need a neck adjustment by now no matter what.
@daybreyker Hi, thanks, I did this video ages ago - my playing was pretty basic then, but thanks for your encouragement. The song is just made up, but influenced by Bon Iver 'Skinny Love' I seem to remember :) Good luck with your playing, all the best.
@neoionunder56 Hi, I have a sweet sounding FG140 (virtually identical to a 180), so I can compare fairly well. I tell you what, I'll do a video and post it in a day or two. Basically, the 150 I have sounds very alike the 140, but has about 3/4 of it's output. If I had to keep one, it would be the 140 which just has a little more tone, bass and volume than the 150 (I think because its a dread: bigger soundboard = better tone).
It's the way they are made. Very solid construction. They sound good & are very playable, with nice necks. Good guitars @ good prices. I like th e older models . All just IMHO.Cheers from John in Brisbane Australia.
@wisesatyr72 Hi, sorry for the late reply, missed your comment somehow. Yes, the Taiwanese ones are great buys. The 1972 - 1975 ones I've seen are just as good as the 72-75 Nippon Gakki equivalents. The Taiwan factory was Taiwanese craftsmen trained by Japanese luthiers, using Japanese imported woods. The Taiwanese craftsmen did a great job. So, yes, they're essentially the same as the Nippon Gakki ones but without the hype/ inflated price tag! All the best.
![[Full Episode] The Restaurant War Thailand ศึกพ่อค้าซ่าแม่ค้าแซ่บ Episode 4 | 13 ต.ค. 67](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/h8N9tY46P-M/mqdefault.jpg)
There’s something very special about these old Yamahas. I recently bought a 1973 FG-160 and it has more character and tone than any acoustic I’ve owned or played before. I only bought it to clean up and resell but enjoyed playing it so much that I decided to keep it and now it’s my favorite. It responds as well to a light touch as a hard strum and sounds like a concert hall inside. That’s what 49 years of maturing will do to a well built guitar.
Same here!
I own fs311, fg75, fg313, fg303 and fg345, i collect all of them because i love the sound produce !!
Do you wanna sell fg-160? 🤣🤣
I have an FG-160 that my father bought used for my mother back in the late 70’s. I also have a red label FG-230 12-string that I love!
The FG-110 delivers a distinctive sound. Bright and sweet And focus sound I've got a lot of hand-picked vintage Yamaha guitars and typical high-end and boutique guitars. The main thing is sound uniqueness. I love that the fg-110 and fg-140 uniqueness, the latter have a very high fidelity, the wood tone is full and is especially pleasing to me.
Love these old red lable Yamaha guitars. They still sound incredible.
That 110 sounds gorgeous. thanks for the great review.
At some point recently, I fell down the Vintage Yamaha rabbit hole. Found an FG-75 (Taiwan) on Craigslist that needed some love. Had it set up w .011’s and took the action down a bit, and I am in love with playing it; such a fun little guitar with a ton of character.
Now I have a 110 (Red Label) on the way that I plan on using for alternately tuned fingerpicking material (DADGAD, open G, etc). Can’t wait - thanks for demo’ing all these, it helped me decide on the 110.
this guy is an amazingly gifted composer. his music ranges from good to incredible. he deserves more subscribers.
The 110 sounds the best sweet tone, highs sparkling and nice and warm mids perfect.
Thank you for your postings. I also like old Yamaha acoustic guitars. I like Epihones also, but I have found that Epiphones are more of a crap shoot than the Yamahas. I know how to make bone nuts and bridge saddles, and although sometimes it feels tedious, taking the time is truly worth the while. A few moments ago, I ordered an FG75-1 (Taiwanese) that will require some attention, and I am looking forward to receiving it.
Thanks again. Update, December 2021.
I did receive the aforementioned FG75, and it did require some work. After a good cleaning and polshing of the finish, I oiled the fretboard and polished the frets. I also made a bone nut and bridge saddle. The action was high, so I adjusted the truss rod, but the neck was so bowed, probably from using excessively thick gauge strings over many years, that I had to add a spacer or two between the truss rod adjustment nut and the wood of the neck. Ultimately, I gave the guitar away to someone who plays it in blues open tunings.
Great video demonstration. I am fixing up my old FG-75 (black label Taiwan '74). It was my first acoustic, can't remember how I got it but most likely from a pawn shop. It got a golf ball sized hole in the soundboard below the bridge. I have custom fit a spruce piece (Stewmac) and fixed the soundboard. I'm now slowly refinishing the guitar, just taking my time for the best result. I'm already getting excited as the guitar starts to look better and better! (it was down to bare wood when my dad pulled it out of a closet, forgot we still had it). When I was sanding the top and sides, it vibrated loudly and you can tell it just wants to sing. I'm looking forward to finishing the refinishing and stringing it up again.
I learned to play on a Red Label 75, ca. 1973. Took it everywhere with me. Wish I still had it.
GREAT playing too! You really made some of the sounds I would be hoping to hear out of these instruments.
Amazing playing....amazing sound. I guess I am too invested in my multitude of high dollar Martin's, Furch, and Collings.... when one of these older Yamahas would be just perfect.
The FS830 I have has the same dimensional shape and sizing. I love my FS830. It sounds so good, look into that people. A great value.
i was lucky to find a fg 110 in San Diego for $80 with original case had it fixed up sounds like a martin till death do us part sounds amazing
One of the performers at Woodstock played an FG150 with a piece of rope for the strap. Sweet sounding guitar! I have a Japanese 1974 Morris W-18 (Which is a dead nock off of a Martin D28, Rosewood with Spruce top, picked it up at a flea market in Japan for 5,000 yen (About $50 U.S.]. It sounds amazing.
At Woodstock, it was Country Joe Mc Donald (And Fish) who played on a Yamaha Fg 150 the song I Feel Like l'm Fixin' To Die .
@wisesatyr72 Hi, sorry for the late reply, missed your comment somehow. Yes, the Taiwanese ones are great buys. The 1972 - 1975 ones I've seen are just as good as the 72-75 Nippon Gakki equivalents. The Taiwan factory was Taiwanese craftsmen trained by Japanese luthiers, using Japanese imported woods. The Taiwanese craftsmen did a great job. So, yes, they're essentially the same as the Nippon Gakki ones but without the hype/ inflated price tag! All the best.
@dqami Hi, thanks for your comment. It depends on the individual guitar of course, but in general, the 150 sounds warmer/sweeter. Mahogany produces a warmer/sweeter sound than nato for sure. The 110 is still sweet sounding though, just not as warm as the 150, a blues player may like the dryer sound of the 110. Both are great :) Hope this helps.
How can I get in contact! Looking for a clean early seventies red label FG 110? Gary (near Ely)
Thanks for the comparison. I always wondered how each one compared. I have the 110 NG red label and really like it but always wondered how it compared to a 150. How would you compare your 150 to the 110?
great video these old yamahas are great,its true what you say about the tiawan guitars ,i have owned japanese red label fg 300 and fg 140 1972 ,i now have an fg 160 1972 tiawan and a fg 200 1974 tiawan and they are every bit as good .worth saving a few quid for what are still beautiful vintage yammies.
Got 110 as a gift when I was in my teens, now am going 50. Still have them and play them. Maybe I am used to 110, the comparisons I’ve seen elsewhere and here, I still prefer the sound from 110. I knew Yamaha is a reputable brand but did not know how good the guitar was when I got them. Well it stood till now and still sounds great. A little issue with wear but 40 years on and it still rocking.
Jay Orange yes
I had the FG180, FG335, still have the FG336SB. None are as good as the Yamaki laminated top I have of the same period and that is not in the class as my Morris MD520 early 80's, but they are very nice - the best of my yams was the FG180, Taiwan, laminated top - loud!, 335 was a dud, 336 lovely, but quiet. Its all about the woods - no two will be the same- some 75s will be better than 150's
@ColeCashBand Thanks. I had just started playing again after years of laziness. Yeah, the 150 is warmer and deeper sounding than the 110. For that boxy blues sound, the 75 can be superb. I think the 110 gets eclipsed by the 150, whereas the 75 stands apart in sound. I ended up selling my 150 (another one, even better than this) because it was getting eclipsed by the serious depth and warmth of my 140! Same sound just more of it. All the best.
I have a FG140, an FG110, (both Red Labels MIJ) and going for the FG75 :) (saw one listing, cross your fingers so I can get it) cheers~~
UPDATE: New string preference: not using 13-56 anymore, the tension was too high and after a while tops started bellying. I now use D'Addario EJ15 (10-47) phosphor bronze on my FGs (they are ex-light but feel/sound bigger and even are ok for DADGAD, great stings), and use D'Addario EXP13 (11-52 coated bronze) on my dreads. They last for ages and sound amazing... for ages! Happy playing people :)
Thanks I need new strings for mine I will take your advice
Thank you for a very well done and informative presentation!
I have been into Yamaha FG series guitars since my first one (FG200 given to me for Christmas in '71 or '72. It was stolen out of my place NY Eve around 2003. Broke my heart.
Since then I have been buying other models from that era, including another FG200 (but the magic was gone) I much prefer the 00 bodies. I own 2 FG110s, neither are Japanese made but they are nice. One is Red label Taiwan. Great tone and easy to play. I too use it for open tunings.
I found two different FG75s in pawn shops dirt cheap. These are best kept secret guitars!
I confess I would like to try and maybe buy one of the legendary Nippon Gakki FG180s that people rate so highly. Are they all that special?
My dreadnaught is a Takamine.
Greg Waits Yes they are really that special. I sold my Takamine EG-523SC days after I got my 180, because I knew I'd never play it again.
Damn! I had my early 70s FG-180 stolen in the early 80s in Southern California....we need to team up and catch these FG thieves!
THEY MAY NOT SOUND LIKE A MARTIN, BUT SOME CERTAINLY PLAY AS GOOD AS ONE
Great video. Fantastic playing.
Just got a Fg110 it is very cool I am going to fix it up bone saddle and strings. Lower that action a bit.
@peacepedaler Why do you choose to use gauge 11-52? I use to use 11-52 and found they were very playable, but when I went to 12s they just stood out so much better. Or do you use 11s on some guitars and 12s on some? I would've thought 12s definitely better for DADGAD. How would you compare teh ROS 626 and teh FG-150 or FG-140? You must be getting tired of, "how do you compare sucha nd such..." haha. Really dig all these clips though, thanks so much! Brad (NZ)
I love the 150 sound! It's great!
hi there, great video! Thanks for sharing. I have a clean FG-180 Red Label Nippon Gakki, but am interested in an FG-150. Any ideas on what to expect in difference between 180 and 150? Also, what did you make the nut and saddle from, bone? Thanks!!
You brought those guitars to life.
@neoionunder56 Hi Brad, you are totally right. At that time I'd only bought one type of string repeatedly, the Martin 11s. Now I've experimented a bit with string thickness and material, I choose phoshor bronze 13s for all the dreads. DADGAD is so much better with 13s. They're a bit too high tension for my 'bellied' FG140 though at D, so tend to tune that one to CGCFGC, seems happy. The ROS 626 = different animal, small/slim, big sound, easy to play, mega tone, short scale, 12 fret. Love it!
Wow. That was magical listening to what my FG75-1 could do if I could play it that well. I was thinking of selling it because I thought I should move up from my "starter" guitar, and it has one string that won't tune perfectly, but now I think I'll keep it. There is just so much character in the tone. I like how comfortable it is to play too at 39" long.
Anybody know why one string, the second thinnest, would go just a titch high or low but never perfect?
Janet M W check the thread on the tuning key..Sometimes if they are loose they wont hold very long.Also the string your talking about is the B string..So its E A D G B E...Eddie.Ate.Dynomite.Good By Eddie..Thats how you can remember the strings.
@wisesatyr72 Hi, both are great :) People say the Japanese ones are better, but those who know save £100 and buy the Taiwan made ones! They're identical instruments made from the same wood stock shipped over to Japan. Something happened around 1975 though, seems like Yamaha started using cheaper materials in the TW laminates, from my observations anyway. Pre 1974 ones I've seen all have a spruce laminate tops made from three layers of good spruce, not a cheaper wood in the middle layer.
hi , i enjoyed this clip loads , like others i am well into yamahas of this era , my wife is from japan every time when we are there , i am always looking for any good yamah from that era ......
@chad174670 Yes, identical. All the FG75, 110, 140, 150, and FG500, whether Taiwan and Nippon Gakki built, that have come through my hands have had the same neck profile/ thickness, so I presume all the 60s/early70s FGs have the same neck.
I got a FG-75 from the 70's w/ bone nut/saddle sweet guitars.
I played my fg75 for yrs in small bars and even smaller coffee shops and it had a wonderful sound without amp. In 1985 I accidentally sat on it. No obvious damage but it no longer stayed in tune. Looking for another one.
@@terrysaling3673 They are fun 00 size the FG-75. Got my 1st one in the 70's used $50
Looking for solid top 1970s Yamaha. Which models have solid tops?
Peace...
That was a great side by side comparison. We have red label 110 and 75 and the bass on the 110 is noticeably deeper and responsive. My 75 is a real beater and the sound is just below the 110 in quality in my opinion. I also have a 1977 Fg 375s and that is a dreadnaught size and just barely better in quality over the 110. But I'll say that the smaller size of the 110 and 150's have me looking for one of those. Thanks again!
The 150 really does blow the others out of the water in my mind... and you said the strings are older too!
I actually preferred the 110 maybe it's my headphones but for me it was the more balanced of the 3, the bass got a bit out of control on the150 imo!
Great ! With older strings you will have the Nick Drake's sound 👌.
@machinsky108 Hi, sorry for my very late reply. Thanks for your kind words. I learn tunes I like by listening and learning each stage, then improvise with it. Good books that have helped me with finger style: 'Beyond Basics Fingerstyle Guitar' by Mark Hanson, and 'Understanding DADGAD for Fingerstyle Guitar' by Doug Young. I'm sure there're many more. I'm very much a beginner but one tip I found helpful: think about picking hand running like an engine, while fret hand steers. Hope this helps!
All three sound great. Are you playing on Drop D or double drop D? I have the FG180 red label Yamaha
Great comparison. I love the FG's!
Hiya, Great video showing the comparisons! I have a FG75,FG110,FG180. Don't know why, but I am always drawn to my FG110. The 180 clearly has more bass and output ,arguably the sweetest tone, loud without being overly bassy, FG75 is great size, great for clear, middy fingerpicking, but the 110 just seems to be so versatile, it can do everything the 75 can,( is about as small w/ 000 size), but has greater bass and output than fg75, and can do almost everything(75% of bass) the 180 can! My 2 cents!
This is informative- I just played a 160 (tawainn) and keep finding some 110s and 150s, but wondering how they compare in size, I really like the size of the 160, reminds me of my Dads old Martin M38- the Yammie had such a resonant tone it was so warm! it was pretty dinked up tho- modded with a bone saddle, and the frets seems super low/worn but i think thats just the way they were
I got a fg 110 in the shop getting adjusted. I guess in theory it will sound like that. I mean I'm not as good at playing it but yea man thanks great video.
@peacepedaler I am wrong, bigger soundboard doesn't = better tone, it may mean 'louder' tone. I just recently got a Recording Kind ROS 626 which is a smaller instrument but the tone and balance is outstanding!
I got a Taiwan 75. Tone is great but it lacks volume. Does not quite fill my room like a 330 or other 000 size.
nice yamahas ive got a fg350 my guitar should be on the side of this video, name vintage 1971 yamaha fg-3g0 red label by nippon gakki its the best acoustic ive ever owned the sound is so rich..
@12Radius Hi, sorry late reply again, missed your comment. Ummm, best one. Well I sold all three of these! My only FG keepers now are a Nippon Gakki FG140 which has got such a vintage woody tone, and an FG500 which is mega rare and sounds majestic. Of these three, the FG150 was the best in my opinion, though all have attractive individuality. All the best.
I bought an FG 150 yesterday at a pawn shop. It had aged nicely and was priced at $69. Couldn't pass it up even though the action is high. The bridge saddle has been filed down about as low as it can go and action still high. I see no signs of neck coming loose. I adjusted the truss rod but still strings too high. Any suggestions?
Hi, you can lower the string height by filing off the surface of the bridge until you leave a minimum slot depth, (the standard slot is about 5mm deep). I've made saddles abut 2mm high which sit in a 1mm slot before - the sound is great with less saddle to obstruct string vibrations. You also then need to ramp the peg hole slots to get a good break angle. Before you start, mask the top with cardboard to stop any accidents! Good luck.
peacepedaler Before trying that, tune to pitch and push one string down at the front of the bridge till it's about 5mm above the guitar top (that's about the minimum height you'll get with the above method), look at the 14th fret, if the actions is still more than 3mm forget it because the guitar needs a neck reset.
hi. u could try the jld bridge doctor (breedlove guitars has them installed in most if not all their guitars to prevent bellying). or u could try the braceade. they both do the same thing, but use different methods. hope this helps.
@samuelthulin Hi, I may be wrong, but I think the red label made in Taiwan ones were the first ones they made there. I assume they used the same red labels (without the 'Nippon Gakki' text) for a while, then switched to the green. Japanese made ones also switched to green labels around 1972. I can't paste the link here, youtube won't let me but search wikipedia for 'List of Yamaha Products' and at the bottom of the page see 'acoustic guitar catalogs'. 1969, labels are red, 1972, they're green!
I came across a 160 in a guitar store, they wanted $450, I found a 150 online, about $200, but nowhere near the mint condition these are in.. I'm curious about the differences between 150 and 160? I'm not super attached to it being red label.. though the 150 is a red label
Will the black label 110 sound as good as the red label 110? What year is yours
Did you have to do a neck reset on any of these???
I think he said he did. I have a 110 in the shop the man said I was in good condition but still needed the adjustment. I'm saying I think all 70s Yamaha's need a neck adjustment by now no matter what.
what the hell man, i have the same FG-110 and mine has never been so shiny, did someone refinish it or someone actually took care of it for 40+ years?
Thats what I was curious about.... I've never seen a vintage guitar 40+ years old shiny??
What strings are on them
@daybreyker Hi, thanks, I did this video ages ago - my playing was pretty basic then, but thanks for your encouragement. The song is just made up, but influenced by Bon Iver 'Skinny Love' I seem to remember :) Good luck with your playing, all the best.
Do you know which ones have all solid wood out of the 3?
none, all guitars are laminate
@@family4742 They did a good job on laminate in these days.
@@family4742 I also have small FG-45 strange guitar.
How can I get in contact? Gary (Ely)
Probably best to go with extra lights, or lights and tune a step down.
Amazing. Thanks Reuben.
What are the nut sizes on these guitars.I need something wider than 1.69 or 1. 11/16?
Which is your best one? hard one.
Do these all have bone nuts / saddle?
Very nice and well done my friend!
so the Taiwan made Red Label is great buy ??
what about doing bends on the 110???
Japan or Taiwan , which is Better ??
What body size is the FG 75?
nice playing!
Nice!
what size strings should the 75 handle without damage? lights or xtra lights?
I have .011’s on mine to play old blues stuff; feels great
Fg345 made in t.w. the best guitar.
@neoionunder56 Hi, I have a sweet sounding FG140 (virtually identical to a 180), so I can compare fairly well. I tell you what, I'll do a video and post it in a day or two. Basically, the 150 I have sounds very alike the 140, but has about 3/4 of it's output. If I had to keep one, it would be the 140 which just has a little more tone, bass and volume than the 150 (I think because its a dread: bigger soundboard = better tone).
Why do you like Yamaha ?
It's the way they are made. Very solid construction. They sound good & are very playable, with nice necks. Good guitars @ good prices. I like th e older models . All just IMHO.Cheers from John in Brisbane Australia.
Red label rules.
The 110 wins
Tuning on the FG75 tune is (I think)
C G C G C E
Good guitar but😅😅😅
i would never buy another laminated guitar ever, i have 4 and i wish i knew then what i know now, lamianted is cheap sounding
@wisesatyr72 Hi, sorry for the late reply, missed your comment somehow. Yes, the Taiwanese ones are great buys. The 1972 - 1975 ones I've seen are just as good as the 72-75 Nippon Gakki equivalents. The Taiwan factory was Taiwanese craftsmen trained by Japanese luthiers, using Japanese imported woods. The Taiwanese craftsmen did a great job. So, yes, they're essentially the same as the Nippon Gakki ones but without the hype/ inflated price tag! All the best.