Yamaha Plays to the World
And it's One, Two, Three...
Torakusa Yamaha formed the Nippon Gakki Co., Ltd. in 1897 to build pianos and organs. Headquartered in Hamamatsu, Japan the company didn't start making guitars until 1941.
The first guitars were classicals and 1966 was the first year Yamaha began exporting their core line-up of classicals outside of Japan.
Also that year, Yamaha introduced the famed FG-180 and FG-150 steel string acoustics followed by their first 12-string, the FG-230.
However, the FG series was not available in the U.S. before 1968 and the original group consisted of the FG-75, 110, 140, 150, 180, 300, and 230.
In 1969, Yamaha was put on the map by Country Joe McDonald's solo performance at Woodstock.
The story goes he was basically forced onstage to fill some time after Richie Havens finished his set. After McDonald gave several excuses not to go on, someone handed him a FG-150 with a piece of rigging rope as a strap and the rest is history.
The early FG series had laminated tops and it wasn't until the FG-500 came along in 1969 that solid spruce top models became available. (A quick price check of used FG-500s from the era puts these in the $2,500-$3,500 range.)
Yamaha ramped up custom shop production in the early 70's with the launch of the FG-1500 and 2000. This led to a glorious decade for Yamaha acoustics with the likes of endorsees such as James Taylor, Paul Simon, Bob Seger, John Denver, and Jimmy Page.
1968 FG-150 Specs: Laminated spruce top, Mahogany back and sides, Rosewood fretboard, Rosewood bridge
Note- In 1972 when Yamaha’s first solid body electric models landed in the U.S. The not-so attractive SG 40/45’s.
Thanks for reading and have a great week! “See you” Friday!
Best, -David