Post by CTGull on Jan 15, 2024 18:48:09 GMT -5
His Story: Not a huge story to be told, but they only guitars I've ever really put money into are electrics, because there just seemed to be a lot more ways to "tweak" them to get them to play better. I’ve only ever had cheap acoustics, like 200 dollar new Yamaha's or Seagulls. It is a bit of an FG cliche at this point, but Elliott Smith is a huge inspiration for me for more than half my life, and I always have wanted a 60s/70s red label FG-180 because of him. After finding out that in the US, you can spend 500-1000 dollars on an FG-180 that still needs a neck reset, I decided to look in Japan, and came across this FG-360 in perfect cosmetic shape. Even if it ended up still needing a neck reset the initial price was low enough and the overall condition being so high seemed like a no-brainer to go ahead with it.
It is in incredible condition, looks barely used at all, and when purchasing I thought I might not have to do a neck reset as the seller said the low E string height at the 12th fret was about 2.7mm high.
Fast forward to today.... I noticed the strings were fairly buzzy, and that it seemed like there was very little neck relief. After taking off the truss rod cover, the truss rod was totally loosened at full potential neck relief. I then noticed that the strings were 10s or 11s. The second I put 12s on, the action was up to 3.25mm at the 12th fret, and while the saddle isn't super low, I don't think I can take 2mm off to compensate for the 1mm I'd need to have removed to lower the action enough.
Observations: He shipped it in the box that it was originally shipped in from Japan, which is still in great shape, and it was packed very well. Also in the box is a manila envelope with the return shipping label and a check for payment.
The guitar looks to be in great shape!! Very few dings or scratches.
With closer inspection, it gets a little weird. The first thing I noticed is it has had a finish touchup on the top around the fretboard extension, but there's no evidence someone tried to get under the fretboard extension. Has it already HAD a neck reset?? Looking at the heel, that's a definite NO. BUT!! It has had a refret, although I don't know how level it is. I'm wondering if they damaged the finish on the top during the refret. The nut & saddle have been replaced. Obviously, the saddle is low. The nut has some kind of weird grey stuff in front of the D slot.
Tuned to “D”. The neck relief is A little low, but it’s there. The nut action is good, although the strings spacing is the Yamaha narrow standard 1.38" The action is a little under 1/8” low D and a little under 7/64” high D. The neck projects 1/16” below the top of the bridge with a .005” gap in the middle.
The bridge is .24” thick, a bit low, they’re usually .31”. The saddle sticks out .10”/.08”.
The fret level is hard to tell with the strings on, since there is some neck relief. I’ll check it again after the neck is off.
The nut is 1.80” wide, but the neck is 1.74”, with a very narrow 1.37” string spacing (center of E to E). The lower bought is a wide 16.33”, 16.25” being normal. The saddle string spacing is Yamaha narrow 1.97”.
Some refinishing around the fretboard extension.
What is that grey stuff??
Low bridge & saddle.
The normal finish cracks at the heel.
The action with string tension.
The string break angle with string tension. Very low.
The nut slots are a bit deep.
It is in incredible condition, looks barely used at all, and when purchasing I thought I might not have to do a neck reset as the seller said the low E string height at the 12th fret was about 2.7mm high.
Fast forward to today.... I noticed the strings were fairly buzzy, and that it seemed like there was very little neck relief. After taking off the truss rod cover, the truss rod was totally loosened at full potential neck relief. I then noticed that the strings were 10s or 11s. The second I put 12s on, the action was up to 3.25mm at the 12th fret, and while the saddle isn't super low, I don't think I can take 2mm off to compensate for the 1mm I'd need to have removed to lower the action enough.
Observations: He shipped it in the box that it was originally shipped in from Japan, which is still in great shape, and it was packed very well. Also in the box is a manila envelope with the return shipping label and a check for payment.
The guitar looks to be in great shape!! Very few dings or scratches.
With closer inspection, it gets a little weird. The first thing I noticed is it has had a finish touchup on the top around the fretboard extension, but there's no evidence someone tried to get under the fretboard extension. Has it already HAD a neck reset?? Looking at the heel, that's a definite NO. BUT!! It has had a refret, although I don't know how level it is. I'm wondering if they damaged the finish on the top during the refret. The nut & saddle have been replaced. Obviously, the saddle is low. The nut has some kind of weird grey stuff in front of the D slot.
Tuned to “D”. The neck relief is A little low, but it’s there. The nut action is good, although the strings spacing is the Yamaha narrow standard 1.38" The action is a little under 1/8” low D and a little under 7/64” high D. The neck projects 1/16” below the top of the bridge with a .005” gap in the middle.
The bridge is .24” thick, a bit low, they’re usually .31”. The saddle sticks out .10”/.08”.
The fret level is hard to tell with the strings on, since there is some neck relief. I’ll check it again after the neck is off.
The nut is 1.80” wide, but the neck is 1.74”, with a very narrow 1.37” string spacing (center of E to E). The lower bought is a wide 16.33”, 16.25” being normal. The saddle string spacing is Yamaha narrow 1.97”.
Some refinishing around the fretboard extension.
What is that grey stuff??
Low bridge & saddle.
The normal finish cracks at the heel.
The action with string tension.
The string break angle with string tension. Very low.
The nut slots are a bit deep.