@jncruz90 Thanks mate, I hope I can do it justice by learning to play really well. Yes, that faded trace of a number on the neck block inside the soundhole will be the Japanese serial number. Well, the date has got to be somewhere between 1969 and 1972! Enjoy your FG140, they are one of the nicest FGs I've ever heard/played.
Hi Brad, nearly all the 70s FGs I've bought/ sold needed big action adjustment. They tend to belly around the bridge (understandable considering 40 yrs under tension!). I've adjusted mine by sanding down the bridge, ramping the string slots, and reducing the saddle height. Truss rod usually needs a tweek. Never needed to reset a neck yet. U can usually reduce the action 5-8mm (ish) before u run out of saddle slot depth. I make new bone nuts for them, improves the tone a LOT. Hope this helps :)
Thanks for this info. I acquired an FG 750S from 1978 or 1979 and went ahead and got a pro luthier to set it up. He maxed the truss rod adjust and it plays well but there is a noticeable bulge in the neck lower down where it arrives to the body. It is not big but with time I imagine it will increase. At this time the action is still slightly high but is acceptable
I've got a 140 and I love it. I just played some taylors and martins at the store today and I like my yamahammer better! Granted, the new guitars play easier, but still, they don't sound as good. Not nearly as 'alive'. Sweet guitars and nice playing man.
Great little video of theses fabulous japanese guitars. I had a FG-140 which I sold to one of my students and I'm waiting to receive two FG-150 and a FG-180 and now I'm playing a FG-200. I found the FG-140 great for a "pure" strumming acoustic style. Lot of bass, big projection but not enought mids and clarity for a fingerstyle playing. But still a great acoustic guitar.
Thanks for that Reuben. Both guitars sound great to me and you are right the 140 has more bass. The 150 does have a fabulous tone though to my ears more balanced. Do any of the newer Yamaha guitars get anywhere near or do we have to wait forty years to find out?
I picked up a 150 yesterday in a pawn shop. It has aged nicely but strings are a little high at 12th fret and bridge saddle has been lowered about as low as it can go. Any tips on getting action lower. I did adjust truss rod.
you have to take it to a specialist luthier . . . . i did and i was seriously chuffed with the result and even my bro (who has a 70s hummingbird) was impressed.
@jncruz90 Hi, I have no idea whether logo 'Yamaha' in letters or just the tuning fork, means anything. My FG140 has a tuning fork, my 75, 150 and 500 had 'Yamaha'. All bought in UK/USA! About the dating, I got this from a forum: 'Serial system A7, used from 1969 to 1984 for guitars from the Tenryu/Wada factory used a 6 digit system = YYMMXX where XX is the unit number. Serial system A9, used from 1971-2001 for guitars from Taiwan used an 8 digit system = YMMDDXXX where XXX is the unit number.
@peacepedaler 13's! Ouch!! Yeah,I wouldn't do that again,either. I've tried or by accident,put on those gauge and the same thing happened. I learned my lesson to sacrifice the tone than the neck of a good,vintage guitar.
Marvelous picking on some wonderful guitars. I have owned several Yamaha acoustic guitars, and some have great tone, but I must admit, these two, and FG 180s posted elsewhere just take me to another dimension with their sweetness. Thanks for posting. By the way, are you pkaying these in standard tuning?
Hi Nathan, thanks for the kind words, I think in that video I was playing in DADF#AD (a la Paul Brady - 'Lakes of Pontchatrain'). I'm sure your FG402ms can sound really good with a good set up. Yes, the 140 are good. The 180 is just as nice, plus the neck on the 180 I had was shallower and easier to play than my 140 which has a baseball bat thick neck. I have a cheap/repaired FG110 red label I will sell if you want it, all set up with bone nut and saddle. Just message me for details.
@caintapi Yes, same strings, old Martin bronze 52-11. I've since changed to D'Addario EJ15 (10-47s) on the 140 (sold the 150). Phosphor bronze strings have slightly higher tension than bronze so they don't feel too light. The lower tension is kinder to the lightly built FG. I put 56-13s on once and the action raised about 5mm! Not good :)
What strings are you using here? I have an FG-160 that had unchanged strings since possibly the 70's/80's that I fell in love with & wrote on for many years until I finally broke a string. I never found anything that returned it to its original glory. It sounded like an old Nick Drake album. If you have recommendations love to hear.
Thank you so much for posting this video! (I'm sure glad I asked the difference between these two models in your other video!). I am interested to know more about neck condition your Yamahas. Have any had the neck reset? Any need the neck reset? Do they play similar, or is there significant variance in action between the each? Mine is playable, but really needs a neck reset (and fretjob for that matter) to be comparable to any decent newer guitar. Cheers, Brad (NZ)
@jncruz90 Sorry, just read you can't see a serial number... oh dear. It may have faded. Get a mirror inside and a bright torch and have a look around inside. Sometimes they stamped a date on the inside of the sides. If your guitar is a Nippon Gakki built FG, it may be a Japanese date , for example 46.5.12. (46 being the 46th year of their emperor) = = 1971, May, 12th western calendar. Hope you find something!
Hi there, love these guitars and love your playing, what tunings do you use the most? I really I hope I can get myself a few of these FG's myself, they really are something. I myself have an FG though it doesn't have anywhere near the same allure and value as these models, it is a much later model, FG402ms, made in year 2000, so 12 years old, what I like about it is that it has a solid top. I REALLY hope I can get my hands on an FG140 or 150 though!!! What do you think of the 180's?
Hey, great playing and guitars man. I was wondering, I wanna get an fg150, but I want an acoustic that's strings are easier to bend, because one of the songs I like to play is Patience by Guns N' Roses. Could you possibly tell me how these are for bending, and possibly post a video of playing parts of Patience and Broken by Seether? I just really want to hear how this guitar sounds for those songs. it would be much appreciated man.
My FG140 has the serial numbet T0078629. I'm thinking it's a made in Taiwan model. It looks like it had a sticker on the back of the headstock but it has been removed. The Taiwan sticker most likely.
I have an FG-150 and the strings are a bit high off the neck (needs adjusting and a new set of strings). It kills me to play it and want to have it fixed. Can you recommend anyone in New York City?
The FG150 sounds more alive and has a more pronounced sound, or timbre, to my ears. It's a more pleasing sound. The FG140 sounds brighter and clearer. Having said that, my choice is the 150! Both have excellent tone. Same strings and gauge on both guitars?
@slashfan47 Hi, the old FG guitars have a short scale length, so the strings are easier to bend than a longer / standard dreadnoughts. D'Addario strings are very flexible strings + lighter stings are easier to bend, so maybe try the EJ15 or EJ10 x.lights. Sorry, don't know how to play Patience, can't promise anything but I will try and learn it/post a vid if I have time. Whichever guitar you choose, tuning it down a step or using drop tunings, will help make bending notes easier. Best of luck!
I don't think I've heard a guitar "ring" like this. Fabulous!
@smp22 Thanks man, yeah I agree - the old Yamies have a whole character of their own.
@jncruz90 Thanks mate, I hope I can do it justice by learning to play really well. Yes, that faded trace of a number on the neck block inside the soundhole will be the Japanese serial number. Well, the date has got to be somewhere between 1969 and 1972! Enjoy your FG140, they are one of the nicest FGs I've ever heard/played.
Hi Brad, nearly all the 70s FGs I've bought/ sold needed big action adjustment. They tend to belly around the bridge (understandable considering 40 yrs under tension!). I've adjusted mine by sanding down the bridge, ramping the string slots, and reducing the saddle height. Truss rod usually needs a tweek. Never needed to reset a neck yet. U can usually reduce the action 5-8mm (ish) before u run out of saddle slot depth. I make new bone nuts for them, improves the tone a LOT. Hope this helps :)
Thanks for this info. I acquired an FG 750S from 1978 or 1979 and went ahead and got a pro luthier to set it up. He maxed the truss rod adjust and it plays well but there is a noticeable bulge in the neck lower down where it arrives to the body. It is not big but with time I imagine it will increase. At this time the action is still slightly high but is acceptable
I like the reflection oh houses in the pickguard
Wonderful playing Reuben. Hope all is well. Going to send you a message about an fg140 soon.
Take care Michael
Incroyable yamaha fg140❤
I've got a 140 and I love it. I just played some taylors and martins at the store today and I like my yamahammer better! Granted, the new guitars play easier, but still, they don't sound as good. Not nearly as 'alive'. Sweet guitars and nice playing man.
I love my FG 150 red label. Sounds great.
Great little video of theses fabulous japanese guitars. I had a FG-140 which I sold to one of my students and I'm waiting to receive two FG-150 and a FG-180 and now I'm playing a FG-200. I found the FG-140 great for a "pure" strumming acoustic style. Lot of bass, big projection but not enought mids and clarity for a fingerstyle playing. But still a great acoustic guitar.
Thanks for that Reuben. Both guitars sound great to me and you are right the 140 has more bass. The 150 does have a fabulous tone though to my ears more balanced. Do any of the newer Yamaha guitars get anywhere near or do we have to wait forty years to find out?
I picked up a 150 yesterday in a pawn shop. It has aged nicely but strings are a little high at 12th fret and bridge saddle has been lowered about as low as it can go. Any tips on getting action lower. I did adjust truss rod.
you have to take it to a specialist luthier . . . . i did and i was seriously chuffed with the result and even my bro (who has a 70s hummingbird) was impressed.
@jncruz90 Hi, I have no idea whether logo 'Yamaha' in letters or just the tuning fork, means anything. My FG140 has a tuning fork, my 75, 150 and 500 had 'Yamaha'. All bought in UK/USA! About the dating, I got this from a forum: 'Serial system A7, used from 1969 to 1984 for guitars from the Tenryu/Wada factory used a 6 digit system = YYMMXX where XX is the unit number. Serial system A9, used from 1971-2001 for guitars from Taiwan used an 8 digit system = YMMDDXXX where XXX is the unit number.
@peacepedaler 13's! Ouch!! Yeah,I wouldn't do that again,either. I've tried or by accident,put on those gauge and the same thing happened. I learned my lesson to sacrifice the tone than the neck of a good,vintage guitar.
Marvelous picking on some wonderful guitars. I have owned several Yamaha acoustic guitars, and some have great tone, but I must admit, these two, and FG 180s posted elsewhere just take me to another dimension with their sweetness. Thanks for posting. By the way, are you pkaying these in standard tuning?
Hi Nathan, thanks for the kind words, I think in that video I was playing in DADF#AD (a la Paul Brady - 'Lakes of Pontchatrain'). I'm sure your FG402ms can sound really good with a good set up. Yes, the 140 are good. The 180 is just as nice, plus the neck on the 180 I had was shallower and easier to play than my 140 which has a baseball bat thick neck. I have a cheap/repaired FG110 red label I will sell if you want it, all set up with bone nut and saddle. Just message me for details.
@caintapi Yes, same strings, old Martin bronze 52-11. I've since changed to D'Addario EJ15 (10-47s) on the 140 (sold the 150). Phosphor bronze strings have slightly higher tension than bronze so they don't feel too light. The lower tension is kinder to the lightly built FG. I put 56-13s on once and the action raised about 5mm! Not good :)
What strings are you using here? I have an FG-160 that had unchanged strings since possibly the 70's/80's that I fell in love with & wrote on for many years until I finally broke a string. I never found anything that returned it to its original glory. It sounded like an old Nick Drake album. If you have recommendations love to hear.
Thank you so much for posting this video! (I'm sure glad I asked the difference between these two models in your other video!). I am interested to know more about neck condition your Yamahas. Have any had the neck reset? Any need the neck reset? Do they play similar, or is there significant variance in action between the each? Mine is playable, but really needs a neck reset (and fretjob for that matter) to be comparable to any decent newer guitar. Cheers, Brad (NZ)
Yamaha fg150 rad with solid wood top guitar?
@jncruz90 Sorry, just read you can't see a serial number... oh dear. It may have faded. Get a mirror inside and a bright torch and have a look around inside. Sometimes they stamped a date on the inside of the sides. If your guitar is a Nippon Gakki built FG, it may be a Japanese date , for example 46.5.12. (46 being the 46th year of their emperor) = = 1971, May, 12th western calendar. Hope you find something!
Hi there, love these guitars and love your playing, what tunings do you use the most?
I really I hope I can get myself a few of these FG's myself, they really are something. I myself have an FG though it doesn't have anywhere near the same allure and value as these models, it is a much later model, FG402ms, made in year 2000, so 12 years old, what I like about it is that it has a solid top. I REALLY hope I can get my hands on an FG140 or 150 though!!! What do you think of the 180's?
I you playing in open C by any chance?
Hey, great playing and guitars man. I was wondering, I wanna get an fg150, but I want an acoustic that's strings are easier to bend, because one of the songs I like to play is Patience by Guns N' Roses. Could you possibly tell me how these are for bending, and possibly post a video of playing parts of Patience and Broken by Seether? I just really want to hear how this guitar sounds for those songs. it would be much appreciated man.
AMAZING...
My FG140 has the serial numbet T0078629. I'm thinking it's a made in Taiwan model. It looks like it had a sticker on the back of the headstock but it has been removed. The Taiwan sticker most likely.
I have an FG-150 and the strings are a bit high off the neck (needs adjusting and a new set of strings). It kills me to play it and want to have it fixed. Can you recommend anyone in New York City?
The FG150 sounds more alive and has a more pronounced sound, or timbre, to my ears. It's a more pleasing sound. The FG140 sounds brighter and clearer. Having said that, my choice is the 150! Both have excellent tone. Same strings and gauge on both guitars?
I believe the 150 sound better because you play it near the camera's microphone.
@charlietango48 Martin Custom Lights 11-52 (purple pack)
Is the 150 for sale ?
The reason the 150 records better is coz it has a better tone. The 140 fools your ears as sounding better because its a little brighter.
@slashfan47 Hi, the old FG guitars have a short scale length, so the strings are easier to bend than a longer / standard dreadnoughts. D'Addario strings are very flexible strings + lighter stings are easier to bend, so maybe try the EJ15 or EJ10 x.lights. Sorry, don't know how to play Patience, can't promise anything but I will try and learn it/post a vid if I have time. Whichever guitar you choose, tuning it down a step or using drop tunings, will help make bending notes easier. Best of luck!
1055814 thats my serial # on my FG -140 I bought in 1970 in Newburgh NY, its my baby
ur music kind of reminds me of nick drake.
140 much better
@imschur88 An experienced guy on the Acoustic Guitar forum recommends Steven Kovacik, a great repair / restoration guy. Scotia, New York. 518-381-3958