Yamaki AY376S

Early 70's Japanese acoustic guitar solid cedar top. Apparently they were excellent Martin knock-offs. No electronics. I had the action lowered to fit my style (and inexperience).

Tone is everything and this guitar has it in spades. I've never played a Martin or a Taylor, but I have spent some time trying to find another guitar that generates tones like this anywhere on the fretboard. I have a Seagull that sounds great on the open chord frets, this becomes more like a dull thud as you move up the the neck. Not my Yamaki! It is rich, deep and full everywhere on the fretboard.

The lacquer has fogged with time and there are a couple of superficial cracks in the top (which I am guessing is a result of how it was stored). But you can't fault the guitar for how it was treated by its previous owners. The quality of the construction is equal to anything I have seen in the guitar shops at any price. Rock solid, perfect fits and beautiful.

How do you measure reliability in an acoustic guitar? It's 35+ years young and sounds oh so good.

The company has long since been forced out of the market by name similarities with another guitar manufactures so I read, so there is no such thing as customer support.

I have only been playing for a few years, starting at age 49. Can't believe I missed out on this experience for nearly 50 years. Sad huh. I own a Seagull S6-CW, a "Blackie" Strat and a Gibson Lucille, and a Celtic Franklin 15 boutique amp (what a great amp, thanks Scott). I like blues obviously. The electrics for the style of their name sakes, and the acoustics for Robert Johnson. I have had a MIM Strat and an Epiphone Lucille that I have since sold. MY Yamaki guitar has been well used in its life to-date. The fretboard is a little grooved in the open chord areas, the finish is fogged as I mentioned, the top has some cracking and a ton of pits and scuffs. All of which I attribute to a life of liv'n and lov'n. And after all that, the tones are a testament to the quality of this instrument. I have been trying to find another acoustic that I can leave at work to play during lunch, but I haven't been able to find anything that can compare to my Yamaki AY376S at anywhere near the cost of this guitar. I'd love a second Yamaki, but finding one is easier said than done. Ya, I'd be some pissed if this guitar were stolen, but I figure that's not likely based on how weathered she looks (pst, don't tell anyone). If it did happen, I'd be looking for 2 Yamaki's instead of 1.

Japenese made in the late 70's. Has solin cedar top, rosewood back and sides, mahogany neck. abalone binding around body and sound hole.nowflake posiyion markers, with white binding on neck and headstock similar to Martin D35.

Beautiful sound with lots of volume. I Play Bluegrass Gospel and it is very well suited for this music. I also have a Martin D28 and many times people think that I am playing the Martin when it is actually the Yamaki, and don't believe it until they actually get up
close and see yhe headstock with the name..

The action is very good and I find it easieer to play than mu Martin.
The fininsh on the sides has takes on a dull haze, but the rest is ok. There are a couple os small cracks i the cedar top, but they don't affect the preformance.

I can leave it sit for a couple of weeks at a time and when I pick it up again it is always in tune.It is a very cooperative instrument and I have a reputation for playing rather aggressively. I have played it without a backup and it has been very good.

Have never dealt with the company, nor have had no repaiors or setup of any kind.

Have been playing for over 40 Yrs. Have Martin D28P, Gibson J45, Epiphone Mandolin, Epiphone 12 String, Epiphone square neck dobro style and several other low end instruments. I would definately purchase again and have been on the liik-out for other guitars of this nature.

This Japanese 70's acoustic guitar features a solid cedar top
rosewood back and sides
mahogany (3 piece) neck
abalone snowflake position markers abalone purfling around the soundhole and body

I play bluegrass and this guitar barks as good or better (in a lot of cases) than any Martin D28 I've played. It has a big bottom end and evenly an balanced treble with tons of volume.

The major flaw with this guitar is the thin cedar top. I has cracked and split here and there. I prefer the 'lived-in' look myself. The action is great. The neck is fitted with a truss so it has a much more slender neck than most Martins of the period.

I have played this guitar for hours and hours, then left it for days and days and it never goes outta tune. It may drop an octave but it stays in tune.

I have been playing bluegrass for 20 years now. I have many vintage instruments and this guitar is as good or better than $3000+ guitars in almost every way.