Product: Yamaki AY435
Price Paid: Canadian
Submitted
07/28/2002
at
06:37am
by
Anonymous
Features
:
8
This is one of my great buys - so far as price:cost goes. AY435 - I haven't seen a review or heard of it before.
12 Sting, with a very difficult tuning system (inside pegs - like a classical guitar's system). This is a very bad choice for a 12 string - makes changing strings a nightmare.
I don't know what year it was made, but would love to find out - let me know if there is some key to finding this out - please. My guess is 1965 - 1970?
Solid top and back. Nice tight grain spruce with Rosewood sides and back. Gloss finish. SOme "belt buckle damage" on the back.
It came with a gator-skin style, nice cheezy case - beat up a little though.
It is nicely finished, and bound -- nothing fancy but well constructed. I hear the headstock on Yamakis can be a problem since it is a separate piece - so far all OK with this guitar.
Note that I have the original "manual" that came with this guitar - it says to tune it 2 semitones lower than standard tuning. I believe this is crucial with this type of neck assembly. Just add capo on 2nd fret.
Sound
:
8
I play mostly folk, rock with this guitar.
With the downtuning 2 semitones on this 12 string, the bass E string does buzz if my approach isn't correct - still learing to adjust for this.
Tone isn't glorious, but quite acceptable (could be a little warmer for my taste). I've been trying a lot of 12 strings, and this is better than a lot of $1,000 (canadian) plus guitars, which often sound surprisingly bad for the money. There are a couple 12's I would buy instead, but can't compete with the money I paid. Guild makes a great 12 string, and it is built like a tank. Surprisingly one of the nicest 12's I've played is a Garrison - a new company from Newfoundland
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
8
Set up is quite good for my playing - I'd say it has medium string height - I haven't tried to adjust.
Construction seems to be 100% in every aspect.
There are some electonics that I assume were put on after. No comment on these - don't use them.
Reliability/Durability
:
9
Looks like this guitar should last forever, so long as the neck and head hold on.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Now bankrupt - so no support.
Overall Rating
:
No Opinion
