Purchased this FG new when I was a GI stationed on Guam. It was my first guitar and it has a very nice patina over the years. I have since purchased several guitars over the years but, “Grandpa” stays with me and will always be special to me. I only hope that I have aged as well as my FG. I’ve been told that this specific model was meant for the Japanese domestic production only but, because I was in Guam, I was able to purchase it through the PACEX exchange. No matter what, it remains my first (and favorite) guitar.
Yamaha FG-160 (Purchased new in 1973 on the island of Guam)
Purchased this FG new when I was a GI stationed on Guam. It was my first guitar and it has a very nice patina over the years. I have since purchased several guitars over the years but, “Grandpa” stays with me and will always be special to me. I only hope that I have aged as well as my FG. I’ve been told that this specific model was meant for the Japanese domestic production only but, because I was in Guam, I was able to purchase it through the PACEX exchange. No matter what, it remains my first (and favorite) guitar.
You are correct. It seems many Japan made models made their way to the US to military PX's.
6/24/1972. Oddly, they were still making Red labels in 1972, which were exported. It seems the models they kept were the Tan labels. Yours is the earliest Tan level FG-160 I've seen.
Does the top of the headstock say YAMAHA in gold letters, or have 3 tuning forks?