Yamaha Guitar Serial Number Search

[Blossom Stemmer]

Ver. 2.0)

Yamaha serial numbers are recycled every ten years, 29 formats are supported here based on research available on the yamaha website. There is some overlap between formats and in those cases multiple results will be generated. If you encounter any inaccuracies please email the web master

Hey forumites. I am normally a bass player, but years ago someone gave me a Yamaha FG 330 acoustic guitar with serial number: 70614511. It is in great condition and sounds quite warm and deep for an import. Can you help out by giving me some guidance on dating this wonderful guitar. Not gonna part with it, but I was watching Antiques Roadshow and got curious...

I did a search on the Yamaha website. Their serial numbers repeat every ten years. Yours was built in one of the following years: 1967, 1977, 1987, 1997 or 2007. Based on some quick Google searching I concluded that FG 330 seemed to be popular in the late 1970's. With that said, and what you know, is it possible that it was made in 1977?

Thanks a bunch. I think it's the 1977 model b/c it was originally purchased in the early eighties. Does anyone else have love for this model? Cheap and reliable with a great sound. BTW...six strings is way too many, but maybe I'm just used to getting more done with less.

Thanks a lot for that valuable info CTGull .

My wife has an FG75 that was given to her as a gift when she graduated high school. It has the Yamaha on the peghead under the tuning forks and a tan label with "Republic Of China". The serial number is 0515172. I'm assuming that puts it at 1974.

It is now the house "Nashville - High strung" guitar.

Thanks a lot for that valuable info CTGull .

My wife has an FG75 that was given to her as a gift when she went away to university. It has the Yamaha on the peghead under the tuning forks and a tan label with "Republic Of China". The serial number is 0515172. I'm assuming that puts it at 1974.

It is now the house "Nashville - High strung" guitar.

My recently acquired SGV 300 came without the vibrato arm, which is often missing from these guitars. Previously, you could buy a replacement directly from Yamaha at a reasonable cost, part number QC541100. However, I saw that the part was no longer available on their website - neither entering the part number nor searching on SGV gave any results. I called them directly and asked about the specific part number, and was told they are no longer available. And I never see used ones on sale on ebay or elsewhere.

The other suggestion is to get an import strat tremolo bar, making sure it's 5mm in diameter at the threads. However, the tips for those are almost always plastic, including the chrome colored ones, and I wanted something solid metallic that was more similar to the original.

My searching finally led me to the Gotoh chrome tremolo arm (see pic), part A8 C - it's solid metal and the right diameter to fit. Unfortunately, nobody stocks those in the US, so you have to order from a Gotoh distributor in Japan or elsewhere (I ordered through a company with a Canadian website, but they were still essentially based in Japan). It seems they are manufactured on demand, and it took a couple of weeks to be delivered. Cost was about $25 or so.

I'm happy with the way it looks and feels, and it's definitely better than slapping on a generic strat arm. It's not an exact replica of the Yamaha original, but it's the closest I could get without having someone machine one by hand. So if you are searching for a replacement for your SGV, this is definitely a good alternative.

They are shaped quite like the originals from Yamaha, and are $18.99, so not a bad deal. Plus they are 5mm thread, so they should fit an SGV and probably look a bit more original than the Gotoh version I posted first.

I have no idea if they'll fit an old Guyatone. It's a 5mm thread (M5), which is used in some strats like MIM models and some Squiers, so it wouldn't be hard to test out with a cheap arm before ordering something more expensive.

My experience is that the SGV whammy bar have a quite sloppy fit.

The little set screw increase the friction when rotating the bar, but do not improve the fit.

Do you have any ideas about how to improve the fit?

Bjorn, I haven't had any trouble with mine, but I don't have the original arm. I'm currently using the Gotoh arm that I first noted in this thread, and it's been pretty stable when screwed most of the way in. I don't know how the Babicz arm will do, but hopefully it will arrive soon and I will test it out.

I have to say it looks perfect for the guitar. Comparing it to pics of other SGVs out there, the shape of the knob looks pretty much the same as the original Yamaha part. The arm is made in Taiwan, so there is a chance that it's basically the same part, perhaps made by the same people that supplied them to Yamaha.

It does stick up kind of high, but I think that is because of the design of the trem system, rather than the arm itself. You could probably bend it - do a search on the forums here about bending trem arms - there might be some advice on how best to do that. I wouldn't search specifically on bending Yamaha SGV arms, but for strat arms or trem arms in general.

Drill a hole in a piece of wood the same diameter as the bar. Stick the threaded end into it.

Bend the bar. It takes a lot of force. Go at it gradually testing it on the guitar until you're happy with it.

Worked a treat. The chrome didn't crack or anything.

John

Note: You can look up saddle information on Yamaha Parts List Search for your specific model and year. However, please note that this site often lists the closest saddle size and type that Yamaha currently has available, not necessarily the saddle originally used from the factory. As such, we advise that you also follow the below steps to help determine which size is needed.

Almost all Yamaha models made in the 1960s through the 1990s came with a center line non-compensated saddle. A large number of models made after 2000, including some current models, also come from the factory with a non-compensated saddle, too. Please see our Guide to Non-Compensated Saddles for more information.

A large number of Yamahas made after 2000 have a 75 mm long B compensated with slanted bass resin saddle. The Yamaha factory part number is WT83730E, and Yamaha lists the specs for this part as 75 x 3 x 10 mm. Please note that saddle height will vary, though, even from the factory, for each guitar. However, height for models without undersaddle pickups is often around 10 mm. Models with undersaddle pickups often have saddles around 9 mm tall. Additionally, Yamaha saddle slots typically vary from 2.9 to 3.1 mm, so please measure your saddle slot thickness.

I bought a new Yamaha Guitar and When you look inside the guitar hole it looks like the model number is written by hand. Can you please tell me if this one is a fake one or not? The number written on it cannot be found on Yamaha website.

After quickly looking over the other imagery you provided, I think the logo on the headstock in particular is quite suspect. I believe the "YAMAHA" wordmark is not in the correct typeface. If you compare it to the inside sticker (which in your case is probably a photocopy), the middle stems of the letter "M" are not supposed to meet the baseline in the proper wordmark, but on your headstock it does appear to. Also the other letters ("Y" in particular) look too wide to me. Every other genuine Yamaha guitar you ever see will have the same exact wordmark, in the exact same typeface.

Yamaha is a giant corporation that makes everything from motorcycles to pianos to guitars. Actually the Yamaha company staarted out as a reed organ manufacturer in 1887. It was founded by Torakusu Yamaha as Nippon Gakki Company, Limited. Yamaha has become well known for its line of acoustic folk guitars.Specifically, the FG series of guitars has a huge number of enthusiasts.

Yamaha electric and acoustic guitars are not valued highly by collectors--nothing like Gibson or Martin. They ARE, however, greatly appreciated by thousand of people who own them. If you want to upset an FG owner, try telling him that his FG isn't worth much!

To determine the value of you Yamaha guitar, you must know the model and the year of manufacture. There are a few sites that provide Yamaha serial number look ups to determine the year. Just do a search for "Yamaha Guitar Serial Numbers"".

You must also determine whether your guitar is in Original Condition. Any modifications, including tuning keys, pick-ups, bridges, and especially refinishes will lower the value of your Yamaha.

You need to evaluate the condition of your guitar. Does it look almost new with very little damage, does it look as though it has been played a lot with a few scratches and some fret wear, or is it a complete wreck? The condition of the guitar is extremely important in determining the value.

Once you have the above information in hand, you can get a general idea of the value by searching for your guitar on eBay. There you will be able to find out what people are asking for guitars similar to yours. You can also search for your guitar in the Harmony Central reviews. Most of these reviews mention how much the owner paid for the guitar.

If you want a completely accurate evaluation of your Yamaha, my advice would be to go to the experts at Blue Book of Guitar Values . You can get an evaluation of one guitar for less than $5.00, or you can subscribe, as I have, so that you can evaluate as many guitars as you want. I have found this service to be accurte and extremely useful.Leave "Yamaha Guitar Values" and Go To "Vintage Guitar Values"

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