Yamaha FG-180

I only put a five for features, because how many features can an acoustic have? This is a red label Nippon Gakki instrument, so obviously made in Japan. It is very hard to determine whether the top is laminated or not. I suspect it is not and is certainly spruce. Back and sides could be rosewood, and the fingerboard is VERY dark. It looks to me like ebony. The body shape is like a dreadnought with a waist. The open tuners remind me of those on classical guitars. The neck is rather chunky, but I find it comfortable. It came with the original original soft case-- very beat up and well used.

I do more strumming than picking but either way the tone is better than any other acoustic I've ever played. I found this guitar sitting in the sun at a garage sale. It seems to have had very heavy strings on it for a long time because the top around the bridge has begun to bulge outward a bit too much. After tuning it and playing it enough to be knocked out by the tone and intonation I took the heavy strings off. Some net searching revealed that these guitars have light top bracing and thin tops. I decided to put on a set of medium gauge classical guitar strings as an experiment. I'm glad I did! Mellow! And yet, the volume is there, probably because of the big body. It has the sound of a fine classical guitar! I'm going to leave it like this, because the sound is so good, and so unique. Also, as old as this guitar seems to be, steel string tension might just be too much for it now.

Action improved as soon as the heavy steel strings came off. It is probably about perfect now, a good compromise between best tone and easy playability. It can be fretted right up the neck, until the body gets in the way. The rosewood bridge is nicely made and the bridge insert seems original. I have not had to touch the truss rod. The only flaws are the dings and scratches you'd expect in a guitar thirty plus years old.

It was reliable to survive this long and still be playable, but at this point in its life I think it needs TLC. I gave it a 9 for living this long.

Not really relevant.

I've been playing for a long time but I'm still non-professional. It's just a hobby. I have a Standard Stratocaster, a Jasmine S-35, an early Yamaha nylon string classic, an old Peavey Patriot, and an old Harmony electric solid body-- Korean made. I've owned several strats, and several gibsons, and a couple of Fender Jaguars. This is the best of all the acoustics I've played. I feel fortunate to have gotten such a bargain. I feel that I rescued this guitar.

Serial Number: 1311538
Model Number: FG-180 a paper red label inside.
Date: No idea. If anybody knows, please email me.
It's looks like typical Martin bracing and scallops.
I don't know much about woods, but it looks like a one piece spruce top with a mohagany back (one piece) and sides. The fret board and bridge seem to be redwood, with solid black pegs.

The Sound: I like it alot! I play Bluegrass.
The FG-180, I would say is close to an 'AVERAGE' 20-30 year old D-18. I was visitting my brother in Florida, and he had this sitting around ... he doesn't play much, so he let me borrow the Yamaha, hopefully for a long time.

I'm sure the Factory Finish and set up was very good. Over the years this FG-180 has been used and abused ... but it hasn't effected the sound. It's still solid, no cracks, lots of scratches. It seems the tuners need to be looked at, but they're working fine.

Reliability: I plan to use this alot, both around the campfire, as well on stage periodically.

Customer Support: none.
It would be nice to know how many of these guitars they made and a decent Serial Number Archive. I woould like to know how old this guitar is.
Some info on the woods, tuners, other similiar models, etc.
Also what these guitars cost when new.

I've been playing martins for 10 years or so.
I'm NOT interested in the cosmetics (looks) of a guitar ... it's all in the sound and the action, and this FG-180 has both.
Also, since the guitar is beat up a tad, I don't mind taking it around more often, therefore, it will get more use.

Late 60s Japanese dreadnaught 6-string. Solid spruce top, mahogany back & sides, probably laminated. Reinforced mahogany neck joins body at 14th fret, rosewood fretboard. Open Yamaha tuners.

Very mellow and well-balanced after 30+ years. Solid deep bass, reasonably bright highs & distinct tones. They got it right on this classic model.

Action's a little high, but I never felt the need to adjust it. Moderately fast neck, good string spacing for fancy finger work. Intonation is right on, no obvious manufacturing flaws.

I've abused this guitar since 1974. Dings, nicks, scratches. Been dropped more times than I can remember. Cat knocked a speaker off an 8-foot shelf, put a deep corner-shaped dent in the top. Lived with me for 5 years in a one-room cabin in the Washington Cascades, alternately cold & damp or hot & dry when I fired up the woodstove. Finish is darkened from 5 winters of woodsmoke. Despite this torture, this guitar has never warped or cracked. The neck is as straight as the day it came off the assembly line, the top is flat and the bridge is solidly attached. Tuners a little funky but still functional, pickguard is starting to lift around the edges. Never been to the guitar doctor since the day it was born. Constructed like a tank, but sings like a bird. I think the woodsmoke contibuted to the mellow tone--I recommend it.

Eh?

Been playing since 1966, finally got my first Martin (HD 28)a couple of months ago. The Martin gave me a new respect for just how fine this classic Yamaha really is. Guitars really do improve with age, and this one has mellowed into a real jewel. If I'd taken better care of it, it would be worth twice what I paid for it, but I'll never sell it. Sure, it has sentimental value, but the well-balanced sound is unique and irreplaceable. Also, I won't lose any sleep over it if I accidentally put another ding or two in it, which I can't say for the Martin.

I bought this Guitar in 1969 so it was made sometime before that. It has a spruce top and what looks like mahogany sides and back. Original tuners were crummy so I replaced them immediately with Schaller heads. Finish is unremarkable but durable. I believe it was originally modelled after the Martin D18.

This is a great guitar! I once made the mistake of selling it to a friend to buy a vintage Gibson. Once I started playing the Gibson, I realized my old Yamaha was much better. In fact in playing and trying guitars over the last 33 years, I have rarely found one to match it! The tone is full, bright, rich but capable of great subtlety. I use it for finger picking but it sounds great in any style.

Guitar has performed flawlessly for 33 years. Originally, the action needed to be adjusted ( it was too high) But I did that myself by lowering the bridge. Apart from that it has been great

Totally reliable, stays in tune. I hitchhiked across Canada and Europe with this guitar.

Overall, I'd give this guitar a 8 to 9. For sound it gets a 10, but its a very plain guitar. Having said that, I would never part with it and it is my favourite guitar. I also have a Yamaha FG335II a Giannini GS100 and a Yamaha FG230 12 string. If you see one of these guitars buy it!! They are undervalued today but won't always be.

I've been told that it was made in 1968, but i don't really know. I got it from my uncle, who says he ordered it around then or maybe 1969, but he's not sure. He does know, however, that is was only made in Japan at the Yamaha plant in Tokyo. He had it made especially for him-they even took measurements. (Pretty cool, huh?). Um...features...yeah...um...rosewood fretboard and bridge, spruce 2-piece top, and i hear the sides and back are tigathan, whatever that is, and the neck is mohogany. It's straight accoustic, so their are no pick-ups to speak of. The finish is shiny, so i guess that would be a gloss finish. It's very dreadnought, and is about the widest guitar I have ever seen. The bridge is the kind that is stuck oh...about the middle of the front of the guitar, whatever that means. The pick-guard isn't stock on my guetar, and is coming off, but i suppose it can be glued. The tuners are stock and work well enough for me...i have no complaints. The neck seems kinda narrow, but is thicker than most guitars i have seen in music stores. I don't know what kind of accessories it came with, because i got it second hand, but i have a bunch of good stuff for it.

This guitar is darn near perfect for what i need it for. I play praise+worship songs for my youth group, myself, and, as often as i can, my church. It's one of the loudest un-amplified guitars i have ever heard, although i don't get to hear it all that well from behind it...It has a VERY rich and VERY full sound. I LOVE it. As for the variety of sounds...well...i can strum it, pick it, and beat on it like a drum, so i guess that would be 3.

The only flaws i have in my guitar, as far as i know, are the pick-guard coming up...it's not the original...and a couple dings and scratches, mostly put there by me and my messing around with it. Altogether, this is a very well made guitar. My uncle, my dad and I were all trying to find the seams in the back, and tehy were really hard to find. The one in the top isn't all that easy to see either. I like it.

I think it's pretty safe to say this guitar will withstand live playing. I've played it myself for audiences. The hardware has lasted since 1968, so i think it will last a little longer. The finish is still in excellent condition after all these years too. The strap button is still there too. I can definately depend on it to keep going and the only kind of backup i need for it is extra strings.

I have yet to deal with the company, but since i can't read Japanese, i get the feeling it may be a little difficult

I have been playing around a year and three quarters, and I love this guitar. I have a strap, case, capo, and some picks for it. What ele would i need? If it was ever stolen or lost i would cry then try to file a missing persons report with the police. I love the way it sounds, feels, and plays. The thing i hate the most is that i can't play it all the time. I compared it to a few other guitars, and got this one for 2 reasons. 1. it outperformed all other guitars i tested that were in my price range, and 2. it was the least expensive of all the guitars i tested. My uncle got it made in Japan (the only place in the world that ever made the real FG-180 with the red label and the little words NIPPON GAKKI on it). It was made specially for him. It is an exact copy of the Martin D-18 (all they did was add a '0' to the number and change the head shape a little.) I absolutely LOVE this guitar. It's the best one i've ever owned. Of course it's the only one i've ever owned but hey... what else...well...my uncle said that after reading this site, he might not have sold it to me. I guess that's about it

Tech support at Yamaha says that the Nippon Gakki FG180 was only made in Japan and was not sold in the US, so if it got to the US someone bought it specifically from Japan or brought it with them. That's why the serial number databse on their web site doesn't work for this model.I don't know if that's correct. The US Yamaha group says they can't date the guitar like their web site does. They say the guitar was made in Japan for several years and that the last FG180 was made in 1968. Whatever. The site says the back and sides are tigathis. Yamaha once again said they thought the FG180 was made with tigathis in 68 but didn't know what the early models were made from. The top is spruce and has a very broad grain pattern. Neck is mahogany and the fret board is Indian Rosewood - that I can tell for sure. Replaced the skanky old tuners with new micro adjust tuners, 20 frets, rosewood bridge and sound box (pretty wierd).

This is the best sounding guitar I have played. I don't know if it's one of those 1 in a 100 of a model that the planets lined up for but this thing sounds unbelievable. I have a Tak and have had Martin D28, Guild D55, Gibson Humingbird, Washburns, Epiphones and other assorted guitars and have played hundreds of guitars in shops all over the coutry as I traveled for work for years and the vintagage Guild 72 and was the closest. I feel guilty about this guitar sounding so good because I found it in a guys garage up in Northern CA mountians sitting in the rafters, no case, busted strings, covered in dirt. The temp changes alone should have killed this guitar long ago. He said the thing was played by his son for a few months in high school then put out to pasture as found 20 years later by me. How wierd is that? He also said some guy he was in the Marine Corp during Veitnam had given it to him as a gift - no case. He said the guy walked off the stage, handed him the guitar and said thanks for helping me to come home from Veitnam. Some Story. The guy gave me the guitar because I'm a pastor and he wanted it used for God's Work. I took the guitar in the house, cleaned it up (several hours of work) replaced the tuners and strings, started playing and almost fell over - so did the people who gave it to me. Soooooooo Rich.

The action was wacked because if the weather temperment ion the neck - but was fixable. Action is still fairly high because the bridge is so thick. Had a luthier say he would shave the bridge down to drop the action but I didn't want to take the chance it would change the intonation or the tone - so I play this guitar differt than the others mostly rythm chords and very little leads. The finish looks like it has been through the ringer - has scratches and some dings but is not as bad as Bob Dylan's early LOO Gibsons. The top has mellowed so much that when I put some pro-lemon oil cleaner/restorer on it the wood went from light blond to a deep orange/yellow. Beautiful color.

Obviously this thing was made to last if it made it, no case, in a mountain town in N CA for 20 years. I play it too much as well. This guitar has become my work horse as I am a music pastor who plays guitar better than piano. Our sound crews always cringe when I bring out other guitars because the FG180 is so easy to mix and the others take some work to get the tones to blend with Electric, bass and percussions. So I play this guitar 6 to 10 hours minimum per week and have very few problems.
I had to have work done on the bridge to repair a fine crack, replaced the saddle with bone and the nut with bone. Had fishman classic 4 electronics installed and am happy clam. I am concerned that the neck is going to fold permanently some day becase of all the weather related aging.

Don't waiste your time with Yamaha on FG180 questions - the guy I talked to didn't know what tigathis wood was (neither did I till I looked it up) He also had no answers for where to find info. If you read Japanese you may be able to find info on web as all the web searches I have done to find anything on this guitar produce more in Japanese than english.

I've been playing for 25 years and play a lot as well as play a lot of guitars. I leave the music store disapointed most of the time because I can't find a guitar for under 3 or 4 K that comes close in tone quality and quantity. Every once in a while I will find a guitar in a private guitar shop that is aged well that sounds as good - but those are rare. If you ever find an FG180 somewhere buy it. Most people who have them don't have a clue what they have - some work and some love they make great instruments.

Judging by the Serial # inside it was made in 1974 in Taiwan. I bought it new at Steves Music, Montreal, Quebec in 1975 for $160.
It has around 20 frets, spruce top and a totally funky 3 piece back. It is a feature that always made the guitar totally distinctive, and even almost 30 years later, always surprised folks when I let them play it.
Dreadnaught style, Mahogany neck, sides, bound fretboard, black pickguard, rosewood finger board and bridge.
It was so pale when I bought it, literally white. Has aged to a deep carmel color, almost looks like cedar now.

I play with a light touch, finger-picking, sometimes with a light pick, often with just my thumb. Always have trouble getting volume out of an instrument, but this guitar is by far the loudest, most responsive guitar I have played, matched only by one of my friends old Gibson acoustic, which had a wharped neck and wouldn't stay in tune for more than 10 minutes.
It has a pretty good range, rich bass, nice clear high notes. I always use Daddario light phospher bronze strings, which are perfectly suited to this guitar.
She always stands out in a group playing situation, mostly living rooms etc. and is a very popular choice when we all swap and pass the wood around.

The guitar was well set-up when bought, which is one of the reasons I was drawn to it, it was far superior to others in its category and indeed, even more expensive models. I am a woman with a small hand, so its thin neck makes it ideal for me.
I replaced its original nut and bridge with bone, about 2 years after I got it, which took it up another couple of notches. The frets were a little high, so with a fine file, I put about 5 years of wear on them, especially the first 3 or 4....I adjusted them as low as possible, and got them just right. As a result it has a very low, very fast action, very much like an electric. I can make bar chords up to the 12th fret, no problem...clear as a bell.

It is a real workhorse of a guitar, and shows no signs of ageing, except for the darker varnish. I live in Canada, bad winters, humid summers. Wild temperature variations...no signs of wharping etc. I keep her in her case, standard hard-shell, fake fur lining...she is happy as a clam. I always loosen the strings when transporting her in winter, and keep her out of the direct sun, as much as possible, when playing outside in warmer weather.
Didn't come with a strap button, but I installed one in the butt of the neck soon after purchase, it is solid and as good as new. Use a leather belt of my Dads for a strap...It was a cast-off when I got it, and now is a dear souvenir of him after his passing, almost 20 years ago now.
100% dependable. Has been used for professional gigs, never a moments trouble. Rarely break a string. An easy going instrument, tough as nails.

I have never dealt with the company. No repairs needed. Always did the adjustments myself.
No warranty that I knew of, altho'Steves will back up anything they sell. Montreal's best Mucic shop, hands down

I have owned many other guitars, have sold most of them on, but have never considered selling my FG 180. I shall leave it to a dear friend when I go..it is heirloom quality.
If you ever come across one, grab it. I have never played a more enjoyable instrument, and I have played them all.
It forgives mistakes, and makes merely good playing sound great.
It has only 2 scratches on it, one done by my brother just after I got it...it almost killed me. Then another done in a sloppy moment, all my fault. Both are on the front, and add character, I guess.

I found this Guitar at a garage sale Very damaged as it was was used to bash someone over there head. But for $2 bucks I brought it home and spent two days putting it back in playable condition.
It a dreadnought (Full Size) and Judging by the serial numbers it was made between 1960-62 in Japan. It seems to have a solid a spruce top and soild mahagany back and sides. Open chromed tuners, Rosewood bridge and frettboard, mohagany neck. The nut and saddle are bone.
it has a tortis shell pickguard that may be real shell. the body is
4-7/8 deep and it has 20 very shallow fretts on a V shaped neck. Its finnished natural High gloss. I'll only give this dammaged axe a 6 because of its heavy dammage and ovious lack of care by the previous owner. Oh it has wonderfull thin bracing and taping this guitar sounds like a bongo drum. Very Loud Guitar!

I dont use this guitar too often as I have much better playing equiptment availiable such as my Taylor, Alvarez, Mitchell,and Ovation celeb delux. But it is capable of a very rich sound even though the fretts are pretty much worn out and action is medium height. It has a truss rod but the guitar is so old that it doesnt change any thing except to make the action higher. Its as low as it goes and I just keep it slightly taught so as not to rattle. Even so the solid woods used here even with my extensive use of glue to put this humpty dumpty back together, Still produces a Martin like warm tone quality.

Well if new I would belive this guitar would have been a ten.
unfortunetly it wasnt taken care of and I saved it as good as anyone could. It was used proffesionaly I know for over twenty years in a country western group and was brought over from Vietnam then given to the guys neice who scribed things all over the top and then stord it out in the garage and then bashed here roomy over the head with it before it fell into my hands.I had to repalce a missing peice of the top with Balsa wood and then I took a scanner and coppied the grain and binding detail and pasted that over the repair. I had to file out deep divots in the frett board and glue the craked sides back together. Well now its playable and a worthy picknic or beach guitar but thats all I could do with it.

I this catagory I would have to say this old axe can take anything including a bar fight. It survived Everything imaginable including Vietnam and over 42 years off abuse. It still plays!

Yamaha Has never ever responded to anything I have asked of them.

I have Six amps and 15 Guitars. I play mostly smooth jazz and blues with a little classic rock and country. I have been playing since I was 8 yrs old and am now 51.
My acoustics are This FG180, G255s Yamaha classical, Ovation celeb Delux, Danelectro convertable pro, mitchell Jumbo, Taylor Big baby,
Alvarez AD60SC,and Fender DG10CE.
My Electrics are Yamaha AEX502 & AEX520,FENDER STD STRATOCASTER & DOULBLE FAT STRAT.GIBSON ES345,WASHBURN WI64 ICON,EPIPHONE DELUX DOT ES335 LIMITED EDITION.Bass Ibenez GSR200.
My Amps are Crate VC50H all tube, Crate GX65 ,Crate GXS412XS cab,Vox AC1,Fender Frontman15, Prime AG3,and B50 Univox bass amp. I use the Boss VF-1 all in one effectts processor with an AKG D60S Microphone.

I too found out it was made in 1968. In Japan, I think. It has 20 frets. I was told the top was plywood. Some say it's Spruce.
I also own a Gibson Les Paul and the neck very much resembles it. The tuners were shit when I got the guitar off my dad (who says he got the guitar in a pawn shop near Woodstock, Ontario, Canada, in 1973). I replaced the tuners with bad ones ( I shouldn't have, I drilled unnecessary holes)

I'm all the over the guitar music spectrum. Finger Picking - Struming - whatever (even both (hybrid picking). It's funny because it has both a rich/full and bright sounds. It depends on how you play it. It's very versatile. I love it. I mean, I grew up listening to it (via my Dad), and I learnt pretty much everything on it; and now my son gets to hear it. People are constantly amazed at the sound.

My Dad gave me this in '91. The guitar he bought doesn't even compare to the sound this one gets.

The Action is amazing on it. It's been constantly played for almost 30 years now. I've (we've) never had to adjust the rod or anything of that matter.

This guitar is amazingly reliable + durable. My dad got into a few accidents with it. It craked the casing around the body. I got it fixed. Sounds just as good. The frets are worn dorn (it's okay though). The neck has mine and my dad's hands molded into them. The G-Chord really fits like a glove. Hehehe.

The body is full of dents, and nicks, and bruises, which adds to the personality of the instrument. I walked in cold canadian winter nights many of times (when I didn't know any better). Did a bunch of other 'wrongs'. IT has kept well (too well, it's scary).

Never dealt. Just the website + e-mail.

I would rate this guitar A+++. I've never had to buy an acoustic guitar. Never really thought of it. I also own a Les Paul, + a telecaster, but this is THE guitar. IT's funny...I know three other people who have an FG-180. My uncle, a friend, and the guy who lent us his place for my wedding.

This guitar has been everywhere with me. Boy, if this guitar could talk. My prized possession, that's for sure.

Made in China! Dreadnaught! Three piece back! Binding on both sides of the neck! Block inlays on the smaller sized rosewood neck! A couple little flowers on the black pickguard from the factory.
Says model# FG-180-1.
I can't believe the prices mentioned here. I payed $500 U.S. dollars for this used guitar in 1988 and sold it years later to a friend for the same price.

IT SOUNDS INCREDIBLE!
I own a custom made Taylor 615 Jumbo and the Yamaha sounds almost as good!
The low E string sounds deep and rich.
The guitar is excellently intonated and stays in tune very well.

I've taken this guitar to a couple music stores and it sounded better than $3000 Martins! Only other high end 3 piece back guitars matched the rich tones of this guitar!

The neck is like a Les Paul. Small, flat and short scale.
The action is very low and barring chords is a breeze.
The neck and frets are smooth and feel great.
It is a smaller neck put it does play like a good Les Paul neck.
This guitar is way over 20 years old and has been kind of abused and still looks, plays and sounds like new.

Did I mention that this old neglected guitar still looks, plays and sounds like new? Like a new $3000 Martin!

No idea

I've been playing guitar seriously since 1979. I played bass before that.

I'd buy this guitar back from my friend for $500 in a heart beat.

I wonder why no one here mentioned the 3 piece backs or bound necks. Was this one a different model?

I can't believe anyone would sell a guitar like this one for anything less than $500. We go to music stores all the time for years and I've never played or heard a guitar that comes close to this guitar for under $1500.

What the hell is going on?