Product: Yamaki AY431S Price Paid: $475.00 (Canadian) used
Submitted 02/15/2006
at 12:00am
by Bruce Thompson
Email: misterbruce<at>shaw dot ca
Features
:9
1976 12 String Dreadnaught Acoustic, Made In Japan
20 Frets
Solid Spruce Top,Mahogany Back/Sides and Neck
Clear transparent finish with nice binding
Gotoh chrome tuners, thin frets, "chunky" neck
Fingerboard is Rosewood with Dot inlay
I tune it down 1 semi tone and use a capo on the 1st fret.
I use D'Addario light gauge strings Phosphor/Bronze
Sound
:10
Very Rich, Full and Even Sound
Resonates and sustains well
Action, Fit, & Finish
:9
Bought it 2nd hand, it looks like it is right out of the box except for one small "Ding" on the top
Bookmatching is perfect.
Action is a little high.
Relief is .012 at the 7th fret, a little much but clean sounding with no buzzing.
Reliability/Durability
:10
Built like a "Brick ****house" and will last forever.
This guitar looks like it has never been played.
Pristine condition except for the small "Ding" mentioned before.
Absolutely no wear anywhere!
Customer Support
:No Opinion
Company no longer in existence.
Overall Rating
:10
Playing since 1969.
I now own 5 Acoustics, 6 Electrics, 2 Basses, 1 Banjitar,
1 Mandolin, 1 Banjolele
I have been looking for a Yamaki since I lost my first one in the seventies and regretted it.
This guitar has such a beautiful tone, I just wish the neck angle was different so the action could be a little lower, but it is not bad by any means and is still very playable. The neck is wide enough to get clean and clear fingering, not like some of the new 12's with narrow necks.
Probably paid a little much, but for a 30 year old guitar in this condition, and the quality of the sound and workmanship, it really isn't too much in my opinion. It is better than a number of other 12's I have tried at double or more the price.
If it feels good, sounds good, plays good, looks good and is built well, it's a no brainer!
Product: Yamaki AY431S Price Paid: N/A
Submitted 02/14/2006
at 04:40pm
by Bruce Thompson
Email: misterbruce<at>shaw dot ca
Features
:9
This is a 1976 12 String with 20 Frets, Made in Japan.
S/N 100602 Model AY431S
It has a Solid Spruce Top with Mahogany back and sides and neck.
The fingerboard is Rosewood with dot inlay.
The body style is dreadnaught with a natural finish.
The bridge is non adjustable, this is good as it does not dampen the sound like the adjustable type.
The tuners are chrome Gotoh.
The neck is a little "Chubby" but is great for a 12 string and my hands. Too many new 12 strings have narrow necks and are hard to get "clean" fingering, for me anyway.
This guitar is in immaculate condition, pristine, except for a very small dent on the top. Absolutely no fret wear or scratches. It looks like it is right out of the box except for the small dent.
I really don't think anyone played it, maybe the little dent bothered the person, who knows? But I am happy!
It has a very rich warm sound, the sound I have been looking for since I had a Yamaki Deluxe in the 70's.
This is an awsome guitar, not all the fancy stuff of the new guitars, but it has the sound that the new ones DON'T! unless you pay thousands.
The action is a little high compared to new guitars, and the neck relief has to stay a little high because of the neck angle but is still very playable.
I paid a lot for this, $475.00 Canadian, ya I know it may be way too much in some peoples minds, but it has the sound,and volume and it is in "Pristine" conditon except for one little spot, and it gives me a warm fuzzy feeling inside when I play it.
It came with an old blue denim type material covered hard case, now that is butt ugly and dirty, but what a joy when you open the lid!!
Gotta run, time to play my Yamaki.
By the way, Yamaki means "Happy Trees on the Mountain" in Japanese.
I think they are Happier now that they being played with.
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