Yamaki Deluxe Folk

My Yamaki Deluxe Folk was also bought right after high school in 1973 from Kalua Music in Scarborough, ON. Think I paid $120 on a payment plan. Serial is AY331S and the date is 1972 ?? 23, made in Japan. All the features are as is described in these reviews. It has survived two marriages, five children and 36 yrs of being bumped, pounded on, plucked and lugged around. I have never done any work on it and it plays and sounds better today than the day I bought it. Stays in tune and to quote James Taylor - "is always in the same mood, no such thing as the wrong time - jumps up on my knee and says get down Pop it's song time".
I played professionally a few years - not just on the Yamaki - but used it very heavily in an acoustic phaze. I use Martin Medium gauge strings. This is not only a good folk guitar but is great for bluegrass and acoustic rock. Dollar for dollar, I don't think a better buy could be had and if I ever found another I'd buy it in a heartbeat. My rating is a 9 only because it doesn't have "tons of features", just plays easy and sounds great.

My 1971 Yamaki Folk Deluxe W-115 is everything I have been searching for in an acoustic guitar and more. It has a steel adjustable re-enforced neck, 0 fret, metal nut and adjustable bridge. It is a solid top with laminate sides, bridge and neck and bridge are Rosewood.

This is the sweetest sounding acoustic guitar I have come across next to my Fathers Yamaki Folk Deluxe. My Father still has his and has had only good things to say about this guitar since it was purchased in 1973. When I play mine all I can say is that the sound really carries, it's bright, bassy and very nice mid-range....total package! The neck is perfect and it plays like a dream, if you come across one.....pick it up and save your money, the price is always right and the sound only gets better with time.

Looks good to me, nice darkened Honey Brown top, it has aged very nicely and plays like a dream.

This guitar is 37 years old, the finish has golden and it looks very inviting when you see it in the corner, it begs to be played. This guitar is dependable and solid.

I would luv to call them up and thank for building a great guitar but they went out of businees many years ago.

My father owns a 1973 Yamaki Folk Deluxe and has always spoken very highly about it for as long as I can remember(I always laughed at him because of the name, it sounded like a copy of a Yamaha...lol). I was in the market to purchase an acoustic and could not get the proper feel and sound from most guitars I played, this includes alot of the big name guitars of today and yesterday. I picked up my fathers guitar and forgot how nice this thing really was and the sound..............beautiful. I spent many days looking for that special or perfect guitar for me, never did I thik I would have purchased one and felt as strong as I do about this guitar.

My 12 string acoustic guitar is a Yamaki 12 String Folk Deluxe.
It has a steel adjustable rienforced neck. According to the label inside of the guitar, it has the serial #AY432S. It was made in 1972.

I have a hunch that the "S" in the serial number of the Yamaki guitars, means that the neck is steel rienforced.

The sound is very good. I originally wanted to buy a "Takamine" in 1979 but they were too expensive at the time. Instead I bought this guitar, and have been very pleased with it for the past 26 years.

The whole guitar is beautifully finished. The grains in the wood are very detailed and a pleasure to look at. The neck is made of rosewood, and shows no signs of warping or cracks. Not being familiar with the types of wood used to create acoustic guitars, I can tell you that the top is a light colored wood (similar to the color of natural oak) while the sides and bottom are and the remainder of the guitar are made of a much darker color wood
(similar to the dark rosewood neck in color).

This guitar is in excellent shape. Aside from a few nicks, no complaints. The finish is excellent and does not show any signs of wear.

I have understood that Yamaki was closed down due to copyright infrigements.

I have been playing guitar for a long time.

I paid $150.00 in 1972 at a music store in Kileen Texas, new. The owner offered to buy it back from me the next week for 350. I didn't sell...It is original except for the strings. Straight neck only adjusted once It's a number 215 dated 1972 6 20. Don't know which is the serial number and which may be the model number. I have had a couple of 6 strings, but cant play them nearly as well as this Yamaki. So easy to play, and the sound....I place my ear on the body some times just to hear each string... awesommeee..

So full that I love to play it in a stariwell... Try it !

Just to smooth...No adjustments except for once on the neck. Original tuners that are still tight.

I'd play thais anywherre at any time and have taken it from the states to Germany, and back...

Didn't need it - Wouldn't know who to call... ! !

I'm not a pro, but have been "playing" for 40 years. I'd take another in a heart beat.

Japanese, made in 1973.
Says "Yamaki Deluxe Folk" on an inside label, with "NO. AY333" (no following letter, as in some of the other reviews I've read).
I can't say what the woods used are, but it sounds similiar to the other reviews. Fixed bridge and plastic nut. Tuners enclosed, no name.
Martin dreadnought body-style. No fancy inlay nor carving.
Bought it new in a music store on Yonge St. in Toronto for, I think, around $C100. Took it home in a cardboard box.

Rich full loud sound. Well-suited for finger-picking, chords. Projects well. Sounds as well as some guitars costing ten times as much. Seems to have improved with age!

Seems well-made. I can believe that it was hand-made; it has little cuts and angles that would lead you to believe that.
Finish is fantastic - looks almost brand-new, with some cleaning! (of course, I don't play as much as most others do, and haven't for the past few years - have kept it in a guitar case). The neck hasn't needed adjustment, and the action remains low, without fret-buzz. The fret ends could have been finished nicer. The tuner covers are still shiny. No separation of seams anywhere. Very slight bulge behind the bridge, but I've used mainly light-gauge strings.

I haven't played a lot, so can't answer this question well. Finish has lasted very well. No rattles. The tuners do slip a bit. However, I have had this guitar for over thirty years now!

Haven't tried. Haven't needed to.

Only real guitar I've owned. Huge sentimental value - can remember many days and nights learning to play, and feeling that I've accomplished something. As you can probably tell, I'm not a professional musician, nor even a serious amateur, but I have enjoyed playing. Looking forward to playing again, in my semi-retirement.

Surprised when I first Googled "Yamaki". Thought I had a very obscure run-of-the-mill Japanese beginner guitar that was an obvious copy of a Martin. It did seem well-made, of quality materials and workmanship, but that was the norm back then, before mass-production and marketing.
Over the years it became apparent that guitars costing much more didn't seem worth the money, compared to my Yamaki.
I'm pleased to see (partly thanks to this web-site) a bit of a Yamaki cult!

Mine is a 1971 showing on sticker inside box. No serial No. on that sticker, although there is a place for it. Sticker says Yamaki Deluxe Golk. Could not find serial No. anywhere else. Says Yamaki Deluxe on head. Also has the metal cover place on truss rod and metal nut. Changed to Grover tuners many years ago and inserted a Gibson black round pickup from an old injured Gibson.

Best sounding guitar I had at the time. Full sound and I use Martin Phos. Bronze mediums.

Excellent action

This has been a workhouse and has traveled out of the country on numerous occasions.

Never tried

I bought a Gibson acoustic in 1997 and it sat in its case for six months as I could not give up on my Yamaki. I made sense as I just mailed the Gibson back to the Montana factory and they destroyed it. The Yamaki is still going, although I am going to fool with the intonation soon, as it is going out.

My Yamaki Deluxe Folk was made in 1973. Made in Japan, 20 frets. I believe it has mahogany back and sides and (maybe) a spruce top (I am not very adept at these things). Rosewood fingerboard. Really good tuners. I replaced the end pins about 2 years ago, the rest is stock. Neck is similar to mid-60's Martins but I am no expert, just basing on those I've played. Absolutely beautiful and takes quite a licking.

Huge sound. I actually use this as my tuned down guitar - it's tuned down a full step and it's currently strung with Martin Phosphor Bronze 13's. Really good bottom end, especially for a dreadnaught. Comparable to the smaller size Gretsch Jumbo I also play.

I bought this guitar used back in 1991. I bought it for $150 back then, along with a beautiful Martin travel case. I've never experienced neck problems or anything major with this guitar. It has seen it's share of abuse as well. Absolutely one of the best sounding guitars I've ever played.

Extremely consistent as far as staying in tune, balanced tone throughout. The tuning hardware is exceptional, nice bone nut that is still balanced. I haven't noticed any finish wear. Absolutely dependable.

Never found any, then again, never needed any.

I've been playing guitar and bass for 23 years. In addition to the Yamaki, I also own a Korean made Gretsch Histori reissue Sierra Jumbo in Tobacco Burst finish. Both are exceptional guitars. I would be very depressed if I ever had to part with either. I am glad to have finally found some information on any Yamaki guitars. I wish there was more available.

Mine is a Yamaki Deluxe Folk S/N 115 made in 1975. It has mahogany back and sides and a blond top. I assume they are laminated, don't know. It has a ivory colored plastic nut and a non-adjustable bridge. All are in good condition including the tuners, which I assume are original. My experience with this guitar, I would give it an 8 for features.

I was looking for a used acoustic at a pawn shop. They had a Gibson, several Martins, Yamahas and this thing that I had never heard of. I played all of them and kept comming back to the Yamaki. It had the best sound that day and I still have not played a guitar with a better sound than this one. I give it a 10 for its strogn rich sound.

I have never had any problems with the tuners, nut or bridge. The neck is great, it frets easy and stays in tune no mater how long its in the closet. No flaws for my purpose, give it a 9.

I stopped playing professionally years ago, so I don't play it very often. However, when I do, its still in tune and for being 28 years old it still looks and plays almost like new. 9

Understand company is out of business.

I have been playing for 47 years. I have a Kent electric solid, copy of Les Paul Special, 1972. Also a Martin A style mandolin I bought new in 1962 for 82.00. I like everything about the Yamaki. I've compared it to a lot of so called better guitars, but Ilike this one better. If I found another one, I would probably buy it, even though I seldom play this one anymore. Overall rating gets a 9.

I paid $100.00 for this guitar from a chick who was in need of rent money back in 1972. The Label inside says - Yamaki Deluxe Folk No. 118 Made September 1971. The name on the headstock had been sanded off and re-varnished. Also, has a metal plate that says (Yamaki Reinforced Neck ) attached over the opening where neck adjustments can be made. Dreadnought style with a spruce top, mahogany neck, back and sides. I replaced the original tuners with Silver Grovers. The nut is made of metal with the first fret only 1/16" away from the nut, I've never seen any other guitar with that feature. Also, put an Ovation thinline pickup under the bridge saddle with volume and tone controls from an Ovation Celebrity that I purchased from a garage sale for .75 cents...that's right..reason..? neck was completely broke in two.

This guitar has very good volume, with Martin Medium gauge strings it generates a full rich bottom sound that I fell in love with...and the only acoustic I've ever owned. Doesn't seem to matter how this guitar is played, fingerstyle, flat picking or hard strumming rhythm I'm a better guitar player because of how it performs.

The low action, playability and sound of this guitar is the reason why it's the only acoustic I've ever owned..the only draw back...after 31 years of use the frets are really showing their age, a slight warping in front of the bridge around the soundhole, and thanks to some asshole from airport baggage handling that tried to put his foot thru my case smashing the bottom right corner...which the airline PAYEDDD.... to have it REPAIRED!!!!....it's aged well.

The guitar is 32 years old!!, I still play it in gigs to this day...I'm taking the time write this review on it.....need I say anything more?

I'm not sure if the company that made these guitar's are in business today or not...warranty has longgggggg since expired...if someone knows who and they are..email me, I'm one satisfied owner and I'd like to thank them for producing a quality product that has given me years of pleasure.....without feeling like I had to give up my first born to own it.

Yes, I'm one those chaps that saw the BEATLES on Ed Sullivan and had to have a guitar....which open the door to a cool/unique way of meeting GIRLS !!!!!! Darn....I can't help but give it a 10 rating for giving me a LIFETIME of GREAT musical memories....not to mention loving it enough to search Google.com for more information on the Yamaki line...............Happy Trails to you all.....

Some additional features that I forgot to mention in my review of
March 28th/ 2003. This guitar features a classical style headstock which makes it more difficult to restring. Also this guitar is a
12 Fret "000" Style Auditorium- similiar to a Martin 00018 (I think!)
and may be a copy of this particular Martin model.