Product: Yamaki AY365
Price Paid: traded bicycle (Cdn) used
Submitted
10/23/2001
at
06:15pm
by
James F
Email: Ironbru at home<dot>com
Features
:
10
My Yamaki from what I am told is one of the premium models of Yamaki. It is a solid spruce top dreadnought. I am not sure if is a copy of a Martin, or a Gibson hummingbird. The reason for this is that having only seen pictures of the Gibson, its "square shouldered" shape, and headstock shape are quite similar.
The guitar itself has abalone inlays on the black headstock, which has a shaped notch taken out of the top. The binding is a herringbone design, around top, and soundhole. Back and sides rosewood, with a mahogany neck.
It is a 20 fret model, with fixed bridge, and bone saddle. Tuners are gotoh (enclosed gear) with Yamaki covers. It still has its original case, with the lovely bright orange seventies interior
Sound
:
10
I find this guitar is very responsive, and very loud. I lowered my action a while ago, and found it lost a lot of that response. I needed a new saddle, so at the time it was replaced(bone of course) the action was set higher, and wow what a difference.
I found with the lower setting I had almost no sustain, pull-offs, hammer-ons, would just die off. Love it now, although takes effort, but rewards are well worth it.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
8
Action set low. Top bookmatched perfectlyGuitar came with a shimmed saddle, changed strings one day, and the shim must have fell out. Luthier friend made new one, and set intonation etc. all for a case of beer!! I found a picture of the guitar on a Japanese web site: http://www.ishibashi.co.jp/shinsaibashi/used/used33/335566400.htm
Reliability/Durability
:
9
This guitar pumps out sound, stays in tune, and is very comfortable
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Wish I could, for curiosity sake. Any body reading this feel free to email me with any Yamaki history or details. I have only ever seen one in the shape of mine, but without all the fancy trimwork.
Overall Rating
:
10
Had the guitar for 20 years, played a lot at first, then it sat and sat and sat. I have been serious about learning, and becoming a player for the last year and a half. In taking lessons and jamming with some folks, always a positive response both about sound, and its looks. For me like discovering a treasure in your house, after having it all these years, now that I have a little ability, and have been test driving all sorts, Larrivee, Martin, Gibson, I see no need to "Upgrade".
If it was stolen I would %^&*. and then buy a Martin or a Gibson.
I love its sound, look.
