Post by jdsoldbuddy on Mar 25, 2024 4:59:38 GMT -5
Thanks to the vast amount of information at Yamahavintagefg.com I’ve been able to learn more about the FG 150 I have owned since the early 80’s. It is a FG 150, Tan Label, Nippon Gakki, made in Japan and my research via the website leads me to believe it was made 1971/1972. This was further supported when I found a past advert for an FG 150 guitar on Reverb who's owner said that he’d bought the guitar new in Japan in 1972, the ad images show it has identical characteristics to my tan labelled FG. The tapered headstock with closed tuners, the lone tuning fork symbol, the plain triangular truss rod cover and the same ring artwork around the sound hole. He went on to say that tan label Nippon Gakki guitars are very rare and hard to find. I don’t know if that is true but after weeks of looking at FG 150’s on the web the vast majority I found were red label guitars, so is he correct?
Unfortunately the serial number on my FG is faded and not 100% determinable, but the best guess is 69275132 with 2751 being the clearest of the numbers.
For those not already asleep, some history.
I bought the guitar in the early 80's from a friend and workmate while we were in the Middle East 1980-1987. He told me that it had been with him throughout his tour of duty in Vietnam (which may explain some of its patina). It is currently with me in Wales.UK, so it’s travelled.
The guitar had seen good use when it came to me and continued to get more use until the the fret wear combined with very heavy fingerboard wear (craters) took the pleasure of playing it away. So it was relegated to the attic some 30ish years ago where it stayed until rediscovered during a recent sort out. For all intents and purposes it was unplayable but seeing it again brought back memories and I decided to try to make it playable again. So I removed the frets, repaired the craters in the fingerboard, fitted new frets, tweaked the action a little and now with new strings it plays and sounds as good as ever. It is currently my go to guitar.
Unfortunately the serial number on my FG is faded and not 100% determinable, but the best guess is 69275132 with 2751 being the clearest of the numbers.
For those not already asleep, some history.
I bought the guitar in the early 80's from a friend and workmate while we were in the Middle East 1980-1987. He told me that it had been with him throughout his tour of duty in Vietnam (which may explain some of its patina). It is currently with me in Wales.UK, so it’s travelled.
The guitar had seen good use when it came to me and continued to get more use until the the fret wear combined with very heavy fingerboard wear (craters) took the pleasure of playing it away. So it was relegated to the attic some 30ish years ago where it stayed until rediscovered during a recent sort out. For all intents and purposes it was unplayable but seeing it again brought back memories and I decided to try to make it playable again. So I removed the frets, repaired the craters in the fingerboard, fitted new frets, tweaked the action a little and now with new strings it plays and sounds as good as ever. It is currently my go to guitar.
