Post by stratboy on Oct 21, 2020 19:52:03 GMT -5
I bought my first FG-110 in 1972, for $80 with a cardboard case. I still have it to this day. It's been everywhere with me and though somewhat worn, still plays and sounds great! Back in 2017, with the help of this forum, I found the date codes and added the guitar to the site's database.
Recently, I decided to look for another FG-110. They are very rugged, ideal for storing at a vacation spot we like so I wouldn't have to carry a guitar back and forth. I found one on Reverb that looked promising. It was in decent shape, at a reasonable price, so I went ahead and made the purchase. I also got a hardshell case from Rondo Music to protect the guitar from temperature and humidity variations when the guitar was sitting, waiting for me to show up.
The new (to me) FG showed up, well-wrapped and undamaged. I unpacked it, changed the strings and set it up to my liking. While the old strings were off, I poked around inside the guitar, looking for the date code and serial number. There are no identifying marks inside this FG at all!
My first FG-110 is a red label, made in Taiwan. It has the triangle truss rod cover, a serial number on the neck block, a circled 2 on one side, and a distinct date code. My new FG is a red label (the later version), made in Japan, triangle truss rod cover. There's no serial number or date code, only a partially stamped circle 2 on one of the sides.
I'm stumped.
I think the Made in Japan on the back of the headstock means it was built earlier than my Made in Taiwan. I think the later red label would place it toward the end of the Japanese production, before Yamaha started making FGs in Taiwan. That's maybe a 1-year window on the site's timeline, isn't it? Without the date code or SN, there doesn't seem to be a way to accurately date this guitar.
In any case, it's a sweet little guitar that is perfect for my purposes.
Recently, I decided to look for another FG-110. They are very rugged, ideal for storing at a vacation spot we like so I wouldn't have to carry a guitar back and forth. I found one on Reverb that looked promising. It was in decent shape, at a reasonable price, so I went ahead and made the purchase. I also got a hardshell case from Rondo Music to protect the guitar from temperature and humidity variations when the guitar was sitting, waiting for me to show up.
The new (to me) FG showed up, well-wrapped and undamaged. I unpacked it, changed the strings and set it up to my liking. While the old strings were off, I poked around inside the guitar, looking for the date code and serial number. There are no identifying marks inside this FG at all!
My first FG-110 is a red label, made in Taiwan. It has the triangle truss rod cover, a serial number on the neck block, a circled 2 on one side, and a distinct date code. My new FG is a red label (the later version), made in Japan, triangle truss rod cover. There's no serial number or date code, only a partially stamped circle 2 on one of the sides.
I'm stumped.
I think the Made in Japan on the back of the headstock means it was built earlier than my Made in Taiwan. I think the later red label would place it toward the end of the Japanese production, before Yamaha started making FGs in Taiwan. That's maybe a 1-year window on the site's timeline, isn't it? Without the date code or SN, there doesn't seem to be a way to accurately date this guitar.
In any case, it's a sweet little guitar that is perfect for my purposes.
