Product: Yamaha FG-200D
Price Paid: USD 15000 USED
Submitted
02/23/2009
at
07:17am
by
greg
Features
:
7
Bought that baby for 15000 Yen (roughly 150$) in Tokyo in December 2008
This one is similar in construction to the very well known FG-200, but it was made in Japan (Nippon gakki red label) 10 years later than its predecessor. If I understand the Yamaha site correctly (it was in Japanese), the FG-200D line was a local model only, never meant for export, and made between 1980 and 86.
While the construction is similar I gather that there is a huge difference in woods. It is still a laminate (although its really hard to believe), but the woods used are spruce, mahogany....and okangol for the fretboard and bridge. No clue on what the heck is okangol, but it sure looks (and feels) like ebony.
The site says this line was destined for beginners and students. Boy I wish I had one of these when I was a student!
All in all, its your very basic laminated dread with fancy wood on the fretboard
the tuners look pretty cheap, but they sure hold the tune.
Sound
:
9
This is the reason I bought the thing! (that and the fact it was one of the very few left handed guitars available under 2000$ :)
Ok, Im a blues and rock strummer who leads a little, and finger picks when its time for oooooooooozing love songs. that axe was just made for me! It really sings when hit hard, and really has a sweet whispering tone when finger picked.
Its not as loud as vintage Martins nor as complex and ear pleasing as 20 year old Yairis Ive played....but I paid 150$!
Its 25 years old, and the sound is just incredible. After the first chord I played on it, she had to be mine. The projection is more than decent...I have a pretty powerful voice, but she just buries me even in my loudest screams of passion. The complexity...Well its not a Yairi, but it sure shines more than any guitar under the 1000$ price tag.
I think that this Okangol thingy gives it a pretty unique, yet very pleasant voice.
I just dare you to find anything under the 1000$ that sounds as good as this...You're in for the long run.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
8
For a 25 year old guitar, it was in wonderful shape. Very few scratches on top, very little wear in the back.... I sometimes wonder if Japanese people actually use the instruments they buy, or they just keep everything in a climate controlled safe until its time to sell it.
The action was pretty high, though. I knew that a trip to a luthier was more than necessary. After an hour of painful explanations in my very basic Japanese, the luthier got my point and did an amazing job! One turn of the truss rod and a bridge shaving later, it almost feels better than my electric! God damn Japanese luthiers know what they are doing!
Reliability/Durability
:
10
Although it dosent look like a tank, It is 25 years old and in better shape than some "new" floor models. It will be played without backup, And it will be mistreated....But im not scared at all, Yamahas could withstand an atomic explosion.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
25 years old, and they still have records of it...I dont think I could ask for much more
Overall Rating
:
10
Ive been playing on and off for 20 years. Started as a metal kid, and morphed into a folk and blues signer in the last 5 years. My guitar skills are not stellar, but Ive played long enough to know what I like and how to play it.
When I came to japan, I basically had to sell everything Exept one guitar that I could bring with my luggage, because transportation costs are horrendous from America to Japan. I kept my wonderful Ibanez hollow body, and sold everything else, hoping I could find decent stuff in the land of the rising sun. The guitar that was the most painful to sell was a Norman B-20 acoustic. I thought I would never be able to replace it for under a grand and a half....I was WRONG!
Why was it so cheap? I dunno....Sometimes, you just have to shut up, and run with it ;)
