Post by Sonny on Feb 17, 2019 10:26:57 GMT -5
I was looking for a new guitar to buy as I currently own an Epiphone I got for $200 with a HSC and a Fender for $50 with a HSC and a Cajon that needed repairs.
Found a Yamaha FG-365Sii which I was going to buy for $275 out in NJ, but that was a trek plus tolls and on a whim checked again discovering this Yamaha FG-345 locally for $125. Prayed about it and sent a message to the seller around the wee hours in the morning. Waited but got no response so I head off to bed. Though by the specs I found both guitars over all were similar in make the 365Sii was a solid top and the 345 was a laminate top both Spruce. Sent a message to the 365Sii owner to apologies that I wouldn’t be coming out to check their guitar out because the deal was $150 less, shorter distance and also quite a bit less for tolls and gas and hoped they understood I needed to check the 345 out first, but if it didn’t work out I’d be still interested in their 365Sii.
Set out around 11am to get to the FG-345 by 12pm with my daughter in tow cause I’d already promised to buy her some Boston Cream donuts. Got there to the church and met Pastor Mark to check out his FG-345. On the wall of his office we’re two electric guitars and on the floor in a guitar stand was the FG-345. Picked it up and started chitchatting with him and he mentioned it’s a great guitar for around the campfire. He has higher end guitars like a MARTIN and such and that this was his original guitar he bought way back. Assuming this was from 77’-81’ when this guitar was in production going by the specs I found searching the Internet.
Suffice to say I picked it up and looked it over and played a few chords and plucked the strings. It had a bit of grime on the fret board from top to bottom. Glanced at the headstock and noticed the tuners had a few loose and that the high E was missing a thin spring washer (that’s seared between the tuner body and tuner button if that’s what you call them). The binding around the body had a one or two minor dings. The sound board has a small flat halfmoon depression the size of a nickel to the right of the saddle not bad. The base of the neck where it attaches to the body there is a triangluar flat plate the same as the binding where it abuts the body edge binding there is a crack between it and the binding and I see discoloration which I’m guessing might have been due to someone using glue. The action on the guitar seems high even though I was told prior it was medium, but of course I’m not a guitar tech and it’s my laymens’ opinion. Besides all this I changed out the old strings with a set of medium gauge and cleaned off all of the surfaces of the FG-345 and she cleaned up nice. The frets have only a few worn areas near the nut and the fret board has minor wear too in a few spots.
My question is if anyone knows a decent and reasonable price luthier or guitar shop located in the New York, Queens area or close by check out my guitar and set the action a bit lower than it is current. The FG-345 has great volume and I need to settle the few issues with its setup. Thanks for any help or suggestions.
Found a Yamaha FG-365Sii which I was going to buy for $275 out in NJ, but that was a trek plus tolls and on a whim checked again discovering this Yamaha FG-345 locally for $125. Prayed about it and sent a message to the seller around the wee hours in the morning. Waited but got no response so I head off to bed. Though by the specs I found both guitars over all were similar in make the 365Sii was a solid top and the 345 was a laminate top both Spruce. Sent a message to the 365Sii owner to apologies that I wouldn’t be coming out to check their guitar out because the deal was $150 less, shorter distance and also quite a bit less for tolls and gas and hoped they understood I needed to check the 345 out first, but if it didn’t work out I’d be still interested in their 365Sii.
Set out around 11am to get to the FG-345 by 12pm with my daughter in tow cause I’d already promised to buy her some Boston Cream donuts. Got there to the church and met Pastor Mark to check out his FG-345. On the wall of his office we’re two electric guitars and on the floor in a guitar stand was the FG-345. Picked it up and started chitchatting with him and he mentioned it’s a great guitar for around the campfire. He has higher end guitars like a MARTIN and such and that this was his original guitar he bought way back. Assuming this was from 77’-81’ when this guitar was in production going by the specs I found searching the Internet.
Suffice to say I picked it up and looked it over and played a few chords and plucked the strings. It had a bit of grime on the fret board from top to bottom. Glanced at the headstock and noticed the tuners had a few loose and that the high E was missing a thin spring washer (that’s seared between the tuner body and tuner button if that’s what you call them). The binding around the body had a one or two minor dings. The sound board has a small flat halfmoon depression the size of a nickel to the right of the saddle not bad. The base of the neck where it attaches to the body there is a triangluar flat plate the same as the binding where it abuts the body edge binding there is a crack between it and the binding and I see discoloration which I’m guessing might have been due to someone using glue. The action on the guitar seems high even though I was told prior it was medium, but of course I’m not a guitar tech and it’s my laymens’ opinion. Besides all this I changed out the old strings with a set of medium gauge and cleaned off all of the surfaces of the FG-345 and she cleaned up nice. The frets have only a few worn areas near the nut and the fret board has minor wear too in a few spots.
My question is if anyone knows a decent and reasonable price luthier or guitar shop located in the New York, Queens area or close by check out my guitar and set the action a bit lower than it is current. The FG-345 has great volume and I need to settle the few issues with its setup. Thanks for any help or suggestions.
