1980s Yamaha CH-10MII & FL-10MII Effects Pedals

Vintage Japanese stompboxes, lesser-known, but very high-quality units

This could be the last pedal post or any post, for a little while, SCGM goes on vacation starting this morning. With that disclaimer, let's get to the gear... These pedals are both real nice and the price tag is about half that of their Boss counterparts and slightly lower than the vintage DOD pedals.

The only catch is that the Yamaha MII line doesn't come along nearly as often as those or even some of the boutique pedals from the 70s and 80s. The delays still run for around $100, but these two were scored for a much lower price than that. The chorus pedal is real clean and the fact that it's stereo is also a bonus. When paired with a DOD DFX94 digital delay pedal, it replicated that Andy Summers "Walking on the Moon" sound to a tee.

The flanger is also very nice, I chose this over another good vintage, 4-button flanger made by Arion. This one was a little more quiet and didn't seem to change the volume or tone very much. When looking for vintage pedals, keep these in mind. You can save a ton of cash and still get killer vintage tone.

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1970s Granada 5-string Bluegrass Banjo

Sweet vintage banjo was made in Japan at the famed Matsumoku factory

Here is a real treat, the first stringed instrument that is not a guitar to be featured here at SCGM. This one belonged to a family friend and when he was looking to get rid of it, the chance was too good to pass up. In nearly 25 years of playing, this is the first time a banjo has passed through these hands, but this is a very nice instrument, even though it may not be played very often.

Granada instruments were made at the Matsumoku factory, known for cranking out guitars for Yamaha and Ibanez at different times and still revered today for making both acoustic and electric guitars for Aria, like this beauty that we found last summer. While the level of banjo expertise is minimal, both the wood and binding around body and headstock give a hint to the quality of this piece. The binding especially is reminiscent of Gibson guitars of the same era.

This is also the same brand that made a nice classical guitar which found it's way around at the same time last summer. So, that's two-for-two with Granada, if you find one, it'll likely be at a good price. Go for it...

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1980s-90s Boss DS-1 OD-2 & SD-1 Effects Pedals

Vintage black label effects, industry standards, made in Japan and Taiwan

As promised, there are no shortage of effects posts. A month-long search for deals on vintage stompboxes yielded over a dozen candidates and the ones that made the cut will be featured. After the MXR Distortion +, I was able to score great deals on three Boss pedals, the DS-1 & SD-1 probably being the OD/Distortion pedals on most players' boards and the OS-2 was said to have a different feel, so one of those was swept up as well.

First thoughts are that the DS-1 is very noisy and the distortion a little muddy. I was hoping to get more of an 80s thrash metal sound with it, but maybe that's why they made the Metal Distortion pedal? The SD-1 has that classic Guns N Roses sound just nailed, but it's also noisy. At first I a bit worried that these pedals were bunk because of the noise, but I've read that the problem is common and many modifications are available to fix it.

The OS-2 is the only one of the three pedals that was made in Japan and the date ties to 1986. The DS-1 is 1990 and the SD-1 dates to 1981, but these pedals began coming out of Taiwan in 1989-90, so I'm guessing 1991 with some serial number referencing getting lost in the conversion. The OS-2 was putting out a sound close to that MXR pedal mentioned above, so I'll probably pair it with the DS-1 and put the SD-1 on a board with the MXR.

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1978 Fender Model F-35 Acoustic Guitar

Vintage Japanese dreadnought, still in great shape 35 years later and sounds better than ever

This just fell into my lap the other day, while looking at another 1990s solid top and the owner happened to bring it along, he had never listed it for sale. Fender acoustics are kind of like the Rodney Dangerfield of guitars, they just don't get no respect...

That could be because the electrics are top industry standards alongside Gibson, but the acoustics have never been mentioned in the same breath as Martin, Guild, Taylor and Gibson. Still, All 3 Fender acoustics that I've had in the last year have all been great players. This F-35 plays and feels a lot like an old Yamaha FG series guitar.

This one was definitely made in Japan, as the decal on the back of the headstock states and the F series was produced from 1972-1981, same as the FC-10 3/4 that was one of the first guitars featured here at SCGM, so we can assume that the classical also originated from the same place.

I was able to clean off most of the little scuff marks on the back and sides of the guitar and some small stuff on the edges of the headstock, the only signs of wear that remain are some dings on the face. I filed down the saddle a bit to lower the action and put on some Martin SP Custom Lights. Really nice guitar in the same league as the Yamaha FG-200 and Takamine F360 that were recently featured.

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1980s DOD FX20 & FX60 Effects Pedals

Vintage American-made stomp boxes, still held in high regard to this day

The pedal parade continues, after researching countless online forums for information on what to look for and what to stay away from, around 15 pedals were recently acquired to put together a couple of boards for rhythm and lead guitar rigs and of course, most of the pedals will be featured here.

These DOD pedals always had good reviews and the prices were consistently lower than more-popular brands like Boss and Ibanez. In fact, the FX60 was chosen over a reissue Ibanez CS-9, considered a top rival to the Boss CE-2, arguably the most-famous chorus pedal of all-time. 

The Phasor actually hasn't been able to be used yet, as one of the eyes on the battery pad is busted and I don't have the correct adapter yet, so I'll either have to fix it or get a power supply. I paired the FX60 with an overdrive pedal and was dialing in on some classic Def Leppard sounds, stuff like Photograph and Armageddon It. That's usually the first thing that I do when I get these babies in the mail, just plug them in to make sure they work and try to replicate the sounds of bands or songs that I love.

Thanks for looking, more high-resolution photos here. 

2000s Vox AC15CC1 Tube Combo Amplifier

1x12 with both pro-quality cleans and effects, sounds even better than it looks

This is just the 2nd tube amp that I've ever owned, with the vintage Carvin head that was featured last month being the first. A Vox was the perfect choice for another one, because it has a completely different feel than that Carvin, where say a Fender amp might be a little redundant. 

The cleans on the Carvin are one of the better features of the amp, but you get a warmer version on this Vox and the tremolo effect also put this one over the top. This line was discontinued sometime in 2008-09 and they have been known to have their issues. But owners of multiple Vox amps usually prefer the sound on this model to the newer one.

On top of sounding great, this thing is in excellent condition. The biggest blemish is some sticker residue along the bottom-right corner, I got some of it off, but didn't want to pry any further and risk ripping the gorgeous purple-green-gold mesh that looks incredibly sharp. The faux leather cover and the fact that I won't use it for gigging will keep it that way.

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1997 Hohner Model No. HW700S Acoustic Guitar

Sweet 15-year old solid spruce top dreadnought, gorgeous mahogany on the back, made in Korea

This is the 3rd Hohner guitar that I've picked up in the last couple of months and it's been a complete trifecta, as there has been a 1970s electric, a 1980s classical and now this 1990s acoustic. All 3 have been quality guitars and nice players, with both the classical and acoustic being made in Korea.

After I put a new set of Martin SP XLs on this guitar, my fears about the original nut and saddle were validated, as this guitar amazingly has both high action and a little bit of a buzz. The nut definitely needs to be bigger, I had filed down a new bone saddle for this one, but the buzzing was even worse. I'll probably have to take this one in, because fitting for a nut is a bit trickier than a saddle and I really just want it done, so I can hear what this beauty really sounds like.

As it stands, the current setup really kills all of the tone, the G and high E strings are both hitting frets when struck, creating the buzz and the indentations on the saddle make the two highest strings sound really tinny. You can see in the photos that I've stuck some masking tape in between the nut and the strings, that cuts out the buzz, but also robs just as much tone.

This is a nice guitar though, it has Schaller/Grover style tuners and the hold tight. Finding an entry-level guitar with a solid top is always nice, when it's 15 years old and not made in China, even better. The solid mahogany back is the nicest feature to me. This one still looks great, the original owner played the hell out of it, but took good care of it.

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1981 MXR Distortion + Effects Pedal

Vintage top-quality stomp box, made in the USA and used by Guitar Gods Eddie Van Halen and Randy Rhoads

A few weeks ago, I mentioned that I hadn't really played with many effects in 20+ years of strumming guitars, but much has changed since then. This was the first piece that was acquired after that beautiful Cry Baby Wah and it's another classic boutique-type pedal.

MXR pedals were among the best in the business back in the late-70s, Eddie Van Halen changed the face of rock guitar with help from the Phase 90 pedal on the first two VH albums and Randy Rhoads gave it another makeover while using this model Distortion + unit with Ozzy Osbourne a few years later in the early 80's.

Like most distortion pedals, it's a little noisy and on it's own, it's a little dirty for my taste and doesn't quite have the amount of gain that I like. Another weird thing is that the distortion seems to have a small amount of flange built-in to it, not sure how to tone that down yet. I've paired it with a vintage overdrive pedal, which will also be featured soon, and that got closer to the tone that I like.

This is vintage, the old ones don't have LED lights or AC adapter jacks. They are very expensive too. The Phase pedals generally go for $150+ and these D+ units usually can't be had for anything less than $100. Like old guitars, these vintage pedals contain higher-quality parts and generally give off better tone.

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1995 Takamine G335 12-String Acoustic Guitar

Sweet little 12-string, made in Taiwan, not to be confused with the current G Series

This is actually the guitar that started all of this madness, when I picked this up a little over a year ago. I bought a Takamine G334 6-string brand new back in late-1994 and when I saw this available at a great price, I couldn't pass it up. Even with some dirty old strings, it sounded and played nice enough.

Fitted with D'Addario Acoustic XL strings, it sounds really bright and plays a little easier than the Fender solid top that was featured here a couple of months ago. Like the Fender, this is also a quality guitar. This one has nice tuning keys that bear the Takamine name, but were made by Ping.

The finish is a little hazy, which is something that I've never seen before. Looks like someone may have tried to clean it and messed it up. Other than that and a couple of small nicks, it's in perfect working order.

12-strings are always popular models and this is one of the better ones that I've played. The only one that was better was a high-end Guild and that's really no contest... Still, I've never had a Takamine, or even a Jasmine for that matter, that wasn't a good player. Great guitars for all levels. 

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1976 Yamaha FG-160-1 Acoustic Guitar

Vintage folk guitar, Black Label era, made in Taiwan 

Looks like I've settled on a few brands on my quest for affordable vintage acoustic tone: Carlos, Takamine and Yamaha. This is the 2nd FG-160 that I've had in the last year and this one is a better player by a mile.

Like that other 160, this one is not in museum-quality condition, with a fair amount of nicks scattered along the face, back and sides of the body. But, all of the flaws are cosmetic, the guitar is still rock-solid, no breaks or cracks and all of the tuners are in good working order.

Whoever had this before set the action pretty low, but that suits me just fine. I set it up with Martin SP Custom Light strings last night and cleaned it up a little bit. Even with the smaller gauge strings, the low-end is still nice and warm. All of these FGs have been players, the next Japanese model that comes my way will be staying...

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1987 Gallien-Krueger 200RCB Bass Amplifier Head

Vintage micro-sized amp, in excellent cosmetic and working condition

This is something that just fell into my lap yesterday, a killer little bass head with an on-board EQ and chorus. And of course, it's GK, one of the top names in bass amps.

I haven't messed around with this too much yet, having it for just over 24 hours, but it looks and sounds really clean. No noises whatsoever when pushing the knobs around and the chorus is right in line with 1987. This is a 100-watt amp, so it should be perfect for playing bars and small clubs, which is most likely what it will be used for from here on out.

Series II is listed on the back, but I haven't been able to find much information on this amp to know exactly what that means. I've read that this amp does contain many of the same parts as the 400RB from the same period, one of the top bass heads of all-time and still in production to this day.

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1990s Boss SE-50 Stereo Effects & SE-70 Super Effects Processors

The first rack mount multi-effects units from the top name in pedals are still favorites of gigging and recording musicians 20 years later

Released in 1990, the SE-50 Stereo Effects Processor immediately became a fixture on the rigs of the top players in the music world. James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett of Metallica reportedly used the box to produce some of the sounds from their legendary Black Album in 1990-91 and Hammett had it atop his rack on the following tour.

When the SE-70 was released 3 years later, it improved on initial model and has since been used by acts as diverse as Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top to The Prodigy. The 70 is still the superior unit, it's not nearly as noisy as the 50 and the reverbs are definitely cleaner. One of the cooler effects on here is a Vocoder, which when used on vocals, creates that scattered, echoey sound that Tommy James got on Crimson and Clover. Kind of worth it for that alone.

These are still great to use on vocals and some interesting effects for guitars. Not really what you're looking for if you just want pure tone though. The distortions aren't nearly as good as the old pedals and you can get better delays and reverbs on newer, cheaper rack units. Still a great piece of gear for the gigging musician, I was able to pick up the Midi foot controller, so these units have the ability to store effects in presets and use the controller like a modern multi-effect stomp box.

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1974 Thomas Int'l Corp. Cry-Baby Wah Pedal

Vintage pedal, loaded with organ parts and made in Chicago, IL

This is the first effects piece that we've featured at SCGM, but it will be first of many to come here in the near future. This one is a very worn Cry-Baby Wah, pushing 40 years old and made before Dunlop purchased the rights and dominated the market.

I've never really played with many effects in my near 25 years as a player, but seeing all of the things that are flying around this area at a good price, no harm in picking up a few and seeing how it goes. Serious players love these older versions, because they're loaded with higher-quality parts and that usually makes for a warmer sound.

So far, I've been messing around with this pedal going through that Hohner Telecaster below, plugged directly into the recording deck and have mimicked everything from old school country western to euphoric Jimi-type sounds. Definitely money well-spent, if you're in the market for one, go older...

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1975 Yamaha FG-165S-1 Acoustic Guitar

Awesome Black Label dreadnought, sweet sunburst finish and dovetail pickguard, made in Taiwan

This is the 2nd Black Label Yamaha that I've been able to get my hands on within the last year and this one is a rare sunburst model in real good shape nearly 40 years later. As with the other two 70s FG Yamahas that we've featured, this one plays easy and has a nice low-end tone.

The sunburst finish and pickguard only add to the vintage vibe. There is some heavy wear on the face from hard playing and the finish is worn off a bit around the soundhole, but that's really it. Signs of heavy use, but no abuse. 

This one isn't as nice as the FG-200 that was featured a couple of months back or an FG-160-1 that we just picked up yesterday and will be featuring soon, but it was still a great find. Can't get enough of these old Yamaha, Takamine and Carlos acoustics. 

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1970s Hohner Telecaster Electric Guitar

Vintage Japanese import, real nice short scale copycat model

One of the few electric guitars to have made it's way into the showcase, this little Tele copy looks and plays great and sounds even better. I'm not sure exactly when it was made, but the gentleman that I acquired it from said it was 1978.

The body is real small and slim, loaded with a single P-90 style pickup. Whatever that pickup is, it gets the job done, especially on the clean channel. The sunburst finish still looks great, although there are a few nicks here on there, mostly around the edges.

Aside from the performance on the clean channel, the other that really stands out about this guitar is the neck. It feels great abd looks real nice with binding down the sides and what looks like a regular-size 22-fret neck (didn't measured it).

I had never played a Hohner electric before, so when I had the chance at this deal, I took it. It's a nice little guitar that could easily be used for recording and gigging, but the small size makes it a great beginner too.

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1980s Carvin X-60B Guitar Amplifier Head

Vintage mid-80s tube amp, in original and excellent condition

Like the Acoustic Control amps that we've featured here in the past, Carvin is another local So. Cal company that doesn't get the same respect as industry heavies Marshall and Ampeg, but longtime players know they deliver similar quality for roughly half the price. 

From what I've been able to find out about this particular head, it was made somewhere between 1984 and 1986. It has 2 channels, a 5-band EQ and on-board reverb. The clean channel sounds super sweet and there are only 2 of the 4 tube slots being used right now. The only visual flaw on this amp is one of the metal corner pieces is missing, but that is a cheap and easy fix.

This one becomes the undisputed top amp in my collection, it will be paired with the Sunn 412L cab that was posted here a few months back and should add to future recordings for lead guitars and clean channel tracks. I'll probably take it in to the local Carvin shop and have them go over it too.

Thanks for looking, more high-resolution photos here.

1973 Takamine Model No. F360 Acoustic Guitar

Sweet vintage Martin copy, a little beat up, but all original

These Takamine lawsuit models have been an interest of mine for a while and I've finally found a couple at good prices. As luck would have it, I've ended up with possibly some of the first and last of these Martin copies that the company made. 

Takamine experts state that 1984 was the year that the lawsuit was threatened, so 1984-85 should have been the cutoff. The first model that I picked up was a 1987. The history also shows that 1975 was the first year of major distribution to the US, so this one predates those models.

My first guess would be that both of these guitars were not only built in Japan, but also purchased there and then somehow made their way here to So. Cal.

This one does have some issues, the frets show major wear, the last owner said it was mainly used as a beach guitar, so the salt in the air probably caused the tarnishing. There is also some slight warping by the bridge, but I filed the saddle down real low and that helped the action alot. 

It stays in tune so far and there isn't any buzz, so it works for me.

Just set her up with some D'Addario Custom Light strings last night, plays and sounds great.

Thanks for looking, more high-resolution photos here.

 

1981 Carlos Model No. 228 Classical Guitar

Beautiful vintage Korean nylon string guitar, still looks and sounds great

This is a vintage lower level nylon string guitar that is passable for gigging and a great banger for the beach or parties.

Not sure exactly what happened with the bars inside the tuning pegs, as four of the six have broken in half. They're all still fully functional though, even if the G was a bit difficult to replace.

But, there is no damage to the headstock or neck, the only thing I can think is that maybe there were steel strings on there at some point and they ate through the bars? Guitar still looks and sounds great though. There are some small signs of wear, the usual rubbing and light scratching on the surface.

That's to be expected for a 30-year old guitar and even though this one is a laminate, it gets a nice tone and really does play great. I have a solid mahogany 228 in my personal collection and this one isn't too far off.

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1987 Takamine G330 Acoustic/Electric Guitar

Classic vintage lawsuit model, Martin dreadnought copy, modified with a pickup for plug-and-play

This is the first of these Takamine lawsuit models that I've been able to take home. I'd really been looking forward to grabbing one and it's as advertised, super sweet. The only thing that it's lacking is a solid top, but I was told that one of the previous owners was a guitar tech and it is setup beautifully. The action is real low, which makes it easier to play, and what appears to be a bone saddle gives off a nice tone.

An under the saddle pickup was also installed at some point, so this one has the added acoustic/electric feature. On top of playing and sounding great, this one is still in real tip-top shape. The only blemishes are some real small, barely noticeable marks on the top of the headstock and there is minimal wear on the first three frets.

Now that I've been able to jam on one of these, I want to find an old F series Takamine lawsuit model even more. Those generally go for at least $400, I was able to get this one for a little less and it's definitely worth every penny.

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1970s Taka Model No. TA501 Acoustic Guitar

Vintage Japanese dreadnought, sweet natural dark stain and old-style plastic tuning pegs

Well, I was able to find another nice Taka acoustic, but still no information on them. This one is nearly identical to the TA500 that was featured a few weeks back, only that one has a natural blond finish. The darker finish on this one looks sweet and the plastic tuning pegs give it an older feel.

When I got my hands on this one, it had a set of electric guitar strings on it and was a little dirty. I cleaned her up and put a new set of D'Addario acoustic XLs on last night. The tone isn't as nice as the TA500, but I think if I put a bone saddle, this one will come closer to that sound.

It's a little beat up, with some small nicks along the body, but it's structurally sound. The neck and bridge don't show any signs of giving anytime soon, so at around 40 years old, this one looks like it still has lots of life left.

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2000s Fender GD-47S/12 Acoustic Guitar

Killer solid top 12-string acoustic, made in Korea and upgraded with Grover tuners

Today we showcase a beautiful 12-string that just come from the original owner and is still in like-new condition. This one was upgraded with gold Grover tuning keys when it was first purchased from Guitar Center and that just ups the quality.

The Fender logo on the headstock is inlaid with abalone, as are the fret markers and abalone also surrounds the soundhole.

A solid spruce top is the main feature of this beauty, giving it a full sound and a strange thing to note...there is no pickguard.

When I changed the strings, I noticed that the saddle was made of bone and not plastic, so when I put on that new set of D'Addario XLs, they really sang. These go for as much as $500 on eBay and despite Fender's so-so reputation in the acoustic market, this is a real nice one and will be taken in to the personal collection.

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1970s Taka Model No. TATG-300 Classical Guitar

Another nice Japanese import, this one in very good condition

This is the 3rd Taka guitar that I've found recently and the second of this particular model. In a strange series of events, I ended up finding one online and then another one locally before it arrived in the mail. What are the chances?

That local piece had a small crack and some discoloration to the chrome on the tuners, but this one here is in excellent condition. A few small scratches and even smaller nicks are sparsely scattered throughout and that has to be expected for a guitar of this age.

It was also set up with some new LaBella strings, but these were the flat clear strings. I prefer the Folk Singer strings, with the dark colored nylon on the higher strings. It's nice having both setups on the same model though.

I've never really been much of a classical player, but I'm always looking to pick up any old Japanese or Korean guitar that is reasonably priced, just to hear what they sound like. These Taka classicals don't seem to be as nice as the dreadnought that I've found recently, even though they look to be from the same period.

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1980s Hondo H314 Student Classical Guitar

Vintage Early-80s classical, student-grade, made in Japan or Korea 

Not up to the same quality as the Hondo II guitars that were manufactured around the same time, but this little box is a good first guitar for a beginner, because the small size makes it easier to play.

It's definitely better than what you'd get in a big box store for the same amount of money. These were either made in Japan or Korea and even if it's the latter, you'll get a higher-quality than the Chinese guitars being put out today.

Sound nice enough for a student model, but it's built to last and can be had online for anywhere around $60-$120.

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2000s Crate GFX-15 Combo Practice Amp

Great little practice amp, with on-board effects, made in the USA

Kind of the little brother of the GFX-212T that was featured a little while back, this guy is a great amp for the aspiring metal guitar god and an above average chorus effect makes it a versatile piece for a practice amp.

These were manufactured in the early 2000s in the USA and they're fairly solid amps. This one did need to go in for service at one point, but I haven't had any issues with it myself.

This came with an electric guitar that I bought a few months back and I basically use it to demonstrate that electric guitars are in working order. It gets a decent distortion, Crates have always been known as having a tinny sound anyway, and the on-board effects really put it over the top. These generally go for around $50 online today.

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1985(?) Carlos Model No. 238 Acoustic Guitar

Another vintage high-end dreadnought from the Korean makers, this one might be the best yet

This is the 8th or 9th Carlos acoustic guitar that I've found since the end of summer and it's another really nice copy of a Martin or Guild, like the 249 that was featured yesterday, but this one has a natural finish. The serial number on the support beam reads either 1983 or 1985, it's a little smudged and hard to decipher.

The bridge has started to come up from the body, so I'll have to repair it before it can really be used for anything serious. There is hardly any wear on this guitar though, a couple of scuff marks on the edges, but the frets are still in great shape and the finish on the neck/headstock area are as nice as ever.

It sounds nice as is and as soon as I can remove the bridge and reattach it, this will probably end up being my #1 acoustic. I may end up sounding like a broken record, but don't pass up a Carlos guitar from Korea if you come across one at a good price.

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1970s Taka Model TA500 Acoustic Guitar

Rare vintage dreadnought, sounds and plays beautifully, made in Japan

Here is another great little guitar that is at least 40 years old, still in great condition and sounds absolutely beautiful. There isn't much information at all available on this brand that I've been able to find online, but I have seen them selling at some auctions for as much as $700.

This particular model sounds great, I installed a new bone saddle on it and it projects really well. Both the high and low ends are very clear. That new saddle did raise the action a little and once this set of strings is worn out a little, I'll make some adjustments to bring it back down.

This is something that if you stumble upon it and the price isn't outrageous, you should pick it up. Not sure if it's an early version of a Takamine or maybe a knock-off, but it's certainly a quality guitar. Most of these no-name vintage Japanese and Korean imports generally go for around $100-$200.

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1995 Ibanez RX 170 Electric Guitar

Vintage Ibanez budget-line guitar, worlds better than what is out there today in this price range, made in Korea 

Here is an interesting guitar, a low-end model, but one that is worthy of investing some money into for hot rodding. The body is made of plywood and the hardware isn't anything to write home about... 

But, the neck is one-piece maple and the HSH pickup configuration means that the sky is the limit in terms of the number of sounds that this guitar is capable of putting out. Throw in some high-end pickups and tuning machines and this guitar suddenly becomes a monster shredder.

Haven't seen too many of these floating around, most cheap Ibanez's available secondhand are the next generation Gios. $250 is a fair deal for a stock version like this one, but finding one in decent shape for about half that number is possible too.

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1970s Taka Model No. TATG-300 Classical Guitar

Vintage Japanese classical guitar, shows some wear and tear, but rock solid and well-aged

Now that I've been on the lookout for Taka guitars, they've been popping up all over the radar. This is the 2nd that I've gotten my hands on in the last couple of months and the first classical. This one has a TG distinction in the model number, but I'm not sure what it means yet.

There is a small crack on the bottom-right side of the body and a little chip in the binding along the fretboard. The crack doesn't go all the way through though, so there are no holes in the guitar and the sound is not effected at all. There is also a bit of discoloration along the tuning pegs, but these flaws are purely cosmetic and also don't really jump out at you.

I set it up with a set of LaBella Folk Singer strings as soon as I got it and it plays and sounds really nice. Once again, these can sometimes be found for as little as $50-60, but they play at the level of at least a $200 guitar.

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1960s Conqueror Short Scale Bass Guitar

Killer vintage 4-stringer, complete with all-original hardware, in great playing and cosmetic condition 

Another quality Japanese import, this one is likely closer to mid-60s than 1970s, but it's in great shape and even with a set of strings that probably at least 10 years old, it still plays and sounds good too. These were distributed through the C. Bruno and Son company out of Atlanta back in those days and the Bruno makes have developed a following in the collector's market.

There are a couple of minor cosmetic flaws on this one, but when you consider that it could be approaching 50 years old, it's about as good as you're going to find. It looks like all of the original hardware is intact, even though the chrome definitely shows some wear, but the original sunburst finish is absolutely gorgeous.

This bass sounds and plays great, the electronics are still nice and smooth and the short scale makes it easier to play than a normal bass. I'm glad I found this one and will be keeping my eye out for anything else from the Bruno line that gets put out there.

Thanks for looking, more high-resolution pictures here.

1972 Yamaha FG-200 Acoustic Guitar

Beautiful Japanese dreadnought, over 40 years old and still in tip-top condition

Yamaha has been one of the top names in acoustic guitars for about 45 years now, with the late-60s Red Label guitars being a top choice of collectors in the vintage market. This model was the next generation in the early-70s, still made in Japan and still a beauty over 40 years later.

The FG series was a budget-line for Yamaha back in those days, with these models retailing for around $150-200. You'll be lucky to find one in good condition for that price today, as the vintage market is booming and tone junkies are always scouring the internet for good buys.

This one is definitely one of those. There is barely any wear on this guitar, a few scratch marks on the back are the biggest flaws. It plays real easy and there isn't much fret wear for a guitar of it's age. The tone on the low-end is similar to the FG-160-1 that was featured a few months back, but this is a superior guitar.

I have a feeling this will end up being my new #1 acoustic guitar for recording. Trying out some D'Addario Custom Light strings for the first time. If you're looking for a nice acoustic guitar and want to spend about $200, check craigslist or eBay for a nice Japanese-built model.

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2000s Takamine G-230 Acoustic Guitar

Indonesian budget-line guitar, this one is in critical condition

The first G-Series guitar that I've ever played is a nice one, but when it arrived in the mail, the back of the neck had a crack that went nearly all the way across. That's unfortunate, but that happens sometimes when you buy guitars sight unseen.

Luckily though, it's still fully functional. I set it up with a fresh pack of D'Addario Acoustic Light strings and it sounds pretty nice. There is some buzzing, so a new nut and or/saddle would probably fix those issues. This guitar does play super easy, with nice low action and a thin neck.

I've used a higher-end Takamine G334 as my main guitar for almost 20 years now and this is basically a poor man's version of that. I think these retailed for about $200-$250 and that's about right for what you're getting. This one was obviously well-made, as it survived a major fall at some point and still has some life left.

The Takamine name, without Jasmine anywhere to be found always attracts guitar players, this model shouldn't go for any more than $150 today. Since this one is already beat up, it's perfect to have around to play at parties or the beach or something...

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1980s Hohner Model No. HGK614 Classical Guitar

Vintage 3/4 size classical guitar, plays and sounds real nice, made in Korea

I haven't been able to find any information on this particular model. Every search has come up with a Contessa series from 1975, made in Japan. But, this one was made in Korea, Contessa is nowhere to be found on the label and the style of the label and serial number tell me it's from the early 80s, probably 1983.

I'd never played a Hohner before and this is a nice guitar for what it is. Probably an entry level model back in the day, given the 3/4 size, which is a little bigger than the student sized Crown and Hondo classicals that were featured here recently. This is a nice beginner guitar.

I set this one up with a set of Draco by Martin flat strings and it has a nice enough tone to it. The smaller size neck makes it easier to play than a standard classical and the tuning machines and bridge have both stood the test of time. This is something that you can probably pick up for $40-60 if you're lucky, but anything over $150 is probably paying too much. Definitely better than the modern First Acts and Carlos Robelli guitars in the same price bracket or higher.

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1982 Carlos Model No. 207 Acoustic Guitar

Vintage folk-style acoustic guitar, another beautiful guitar that was sitting in a closet for about a decade

The younger cousin of the Carlos folk guitar that was featured here a little while back, this one looks and sounds a little better, with the cream colored binding and natural wood grains on the back really making it pop.

On top of the fact that it looks great, this one also plays about as nice as any acoustic guitar ever will. I set it up with a set of D'Addario Acoustic Light strings and they really sing resonating off of the stock brass nut and saddle.

The body is not only thinner than a regular dreadnought, but the width and height are also smaller scale, making this one the same size as a standard classical. These Carlos guitars have a cult following of sorts in the collector's market and I guess you can count me among the faithful.

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2000s Johnson Model No. JG-620-SC Acoustic Guitar

Another Chinese cutaway, this one living up to the reputation of a low-quality cookie-cutter guitar

This is one of those cases where I just picked something up because it was available real cheap and I was curious to know how this particular brand played, being that I'd seen a ton of them for sale over the last 8 months or so.

Everything that I'd read about these cheap Chinese acoustic guitars being virtually unplayable was true about this box. Even with a new set of strings and a proper setup, there was hardly any projection at all and even a few dead notes along the 2nd and 3rd frets.

The body was also warped, raising up along the soundhole, even though the bridge was completely flat against the body. Avoid at all costs, in the same league as Harmonia and Ariana. If the difference between this and say an entry-level Yamaha is even $60, spend the extra cash. The only way you want to come across one of these is if someone gives it to you for free. I guess it looks pretty, at least...

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2000s Jasmine By Takamine ES33C Acoustic/Electric Guitar

Newer Chinese cutaway acoustic guitar, but surprisingly of good quality

The second Jasmine that I've acquired in the last few months is another solid player, going against everything that I had read when browsing internet forums regarding these models made in China.

It looks like this model was built in 2008. Someone decided to paint the face red and it looks alright, but they didn't cover the soundhole when they did it. Another thing that stood out to me on this one was the tortoise shell binding along the body and fretboard, looks real sharp.

This guitar plays real easy and projects very well, along the lines of the older Takamines that I've played from Taiwan and Korea. The electronics seem to be above average too, with an EQ and two settings for the pickup. If you're in the market for an A/E and looking to spend around $150, it's a real good buy for a used guitar.

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1982 Carlos Model No. 249 Acoustic Guitar

Vintage high-end dreadnought copy, brass nut and saddle, made in Korea

This is the 2nd of this model that I've been lucky enough to find over the last few months and this one didn't need any repairs, unlike the previous copy that was featured. The body was a little more beat up, but it was still solid and there was nothing major wrong with it at all.

The brass saddle was sitting a bit too low and there was some buzzing because of it. I ended up passing it on to another longtime player here in So. Cal. This model was his first guitar way back when and he really wanted it for the sentimental value.

Hopefully I'll be able to find another, as both of these played and sounded so nice. Another Carlos from the same period will be featured tomorrow, I'm picking up as many of these that I can realistically get my hands on.

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1970s-80s Acoustic Control & Sunn Guitar Rig

Vintage half stack, featuring two of the top names in classic solid state amplification, ACC 150 head and Sunn 412L cab

This is a killer rig that I pieced together late last summer, the head was purchased from a student at UCI and is modified, someone put in an extra knob where the 2nd input jack was and it seems to control the volume and reverb. This was made in 1971 or 1972, from what I can find.

The cab was found in Huntington Beach and is loaded with (4) Made in England Celestion G12-80s. Sunn Amplifiers have been a big name since the 1960s, but with the Celestions being added later and the ACC head, it's basically a Sunn in name only.

Still kicks though, finding these old Celestions is easy, but you will have to pay for them, between $75-$150 each and these ACC heads generally run anywhere from $150-$350, depending on the model. Any of them that you find in working condition, you should give it a shot.

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1981 Carlos Model No. 228MH Classical Guitar

Vintage classical guitar, top-quality and in near-perfect condition, another gem of the Carlos brand from Korea

It's amazing to me that these guitars, which may have retailed for about $200 back in the 1980s, have aged so well and that there are so many of them still floating around out there.

This one is about as nice as any classical guitar that I've ever played, right up there with the Tres Pinos from a similar period that we also featured recently. The MH designation would indicate solid Mahogany, as the better-made Carlos guitar were rumored to have solid-wood construction.

If you find a Carlos acoustic guitar at a yard sale or pawn shop and it has the Egyptian Ankh style "L" on the headstock and soundhole, pick it up. Sometimes you can get lucky and score one for $50-$100, but collectors are known to pay anywhere between $200-$500, depending on the model.

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1984 Ibanez Roadstar II RB650 Bass Guitar

Another top-flight 1980s import, still a popular choice with collectors and musicians 30 years later

Like it's younger cousin that we featured yesterday, this is another super-nice Japanese Fender copy from Ibanez, with P/J pickup configuration and a maple neck. This model still has all of the original hardware, including the very hard to find "boomerang" strap holders.

Can't believe how fast this plays for a maple neck, most others seem to be really wide. This one needed a little work with the electronics and it has been beaten up a bit over the years, but it's still in perfect playing shape.

This was the top model of the Roadstar II Standard Series in 1984, but I'm not sure if they had a Deluxe or Custom Series that year. Either way, this is a great bass for gigging or recording and you can generally find a mid-80s Roadstar bass from anywhere between $200-$300.

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1985 Ibanez Roadstar II RS440 Electric Guitar

Vintage Super Strat, Made in Japan, original hardware and custom finish, classic guitar

This is a real beauty, an old-style Ibanez super Strat, with a vintage locking tremolo system. Someone stripped off the original white finish and treated it to give it a natural relic'd look.

On top of looking great, it also plays like a dream and is rock-solid. No dents or cracks anywhere and the frets still have some life left in them.

The original Ibanez pickups are still well-regarded to this day and the Pro Rock'R Top Lok tremolo system is generally seen as superior to the Edge systems that succeeded it.

All in all, this is a pro guitar. The Roadstar series has a great following in the collectors market and for good reason. These are much better than today's MIM Fender guitars and you can expect to pay anywhere between $300-$400 to get one in great shape.

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2000s Sunlite GCN1640 A/E Classical Guitar

Chinese acoustic/electric cutaway classical, good beginner or throw-around guitar

Sunlite is known more for making drums and hardware than stringed instruments, but it seems they made a foray into guitars at some point and I found this little guy not too long ago.

It's pretty much an entry-level guitar, the acoustic/electric and cutaway features make it a popular choice. It plays pretty easily, stay in tune well enough and sounds decent.

Not something you'd want to gig or record with, but if you need a cheap guitar to take to the beach or carry around in the trunk of your car, this one is perfect. About $150 is the most one should spend on one of these.

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1988 Alvarez Regent Model No. 5212 Acoustic Guitar

Vintage entry-level dreadnought, still plays great and sounds nice enough, made in Korea

Alvarez does have some top-notch acoustics floating around out there, but most of the ones I've played have been mid-level, at best. This one actually plays really fast, so it would be perfect for a beginner, but the adjustable saddle needs to be changed, because the action is actually way too low.

Some noticeable blemishes on this one, a deep scratch on the face of the guitar and some light ones along the neck joint, but it still plays fine. The tortoise shell pickguard looks nice from afar, but it's pretty dull and cheap up close. Nice dark mahogany finish on the sides and back classes it up a bit though.

Not a great guitar by any means, but still alot better than most of the Chinese no-name boxes that are out there today. If you're looking for a cheap acoustic and this is an option, it's a much better buy at $100-$150.

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1960s-70s Crown Professional Flamenco? Classical Guitar

Beautiful vintage classical guitar, a little beat up, but still plays great and a perfect beginner guitar

The small size and Japanese craftmanship make this a great first guitar. But this is another one that is real tough to find any information on. From what I've been able to dig up, these were made in Japan for distribution to department stores and local music stores here in the US in the late 60s and early 70s.

This one is beat up a little, with scratches throughout and a tiny little ding on the top side of the guitar. It sounds beautiful though and plays great. The size (slightly bigger than a student model) and light color of the wood on the back make me think it's a true flamenco style guitar, but I haven't been able to find any information to confirm, with no model number listed anywhere inside to trace.

This is a quality instrument, so if I stumble upon any other Crown Professional guitars that are playable, I'll pick it up if the price is right and I suggest you do too.

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2002 Ibanez Gio GSA 60 Electric Guitar

Budget-line HSS electric guitar, still better than today's new stuff, made in Indonesia

This is an early 2000s Ibanez beginner level guitar, but it's been well-maintained over the years and plays great. Surprisingly, this guitar does sound fairly nice too, so it could be something that you could rely on as a backup for gigging. 

Ibanez is known throughout the world of guitar players for making fast necks and that's why I recommend them to everyone that asks me what they should get for their first guitar. Those fast necks make the guitars easier to play and the beginners are less likely to get frustrated and stop playing after a couple of weeks.

Unlike the earlier generation RX Series guitars, this one probably isn't worth putting any money into, but the HSS pickup configuration still makes it versatile sound-wise and it plays nice enough that you'll get back what you paid for it. $100-$150 for this model is a fair price, easily the best I've played from the Gio line.

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2009 Esteban Crystal Star Acoustic/Electric Guitar

Acoustic/Electric guitar, limited run, part of the Rock On Collection 

 

These were limited to 5,000, feature artwork made of shiny bead-like objects on the body and headstock and has the artist's signature on the back.

This guitar plays real nice and both the acoustic/electric and cutaway features make it a very popular choice. These Esteban guitars get a bad rap on many guitar forums, but the 4 that I've had my hands on over the last few months have all been decent players.

That being said, they're still not worth paying too much for, about $150 is the absolute most anyone should ask for one of these.

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1980s Tres Pinos Model 113 Classical Guitar

Another top-shelf vintage classical guitar, this one made in Mexico, reportedly by hand and with solid wood construction

This is a fairly rare guitar, made sometime between 1984-1987 and originally purchased at a local music store in Orange County. Everything about this guitar is high-quality, the binding on the edges and back of the body and ivory tuning keys.

It sounds even better than it looks, as the 25+ years that the wood has aged produces a warm sound on the low end and crystal clear brights. The fact that it has spent most of that time in it's case means that it still looks great too.

This guitar rivals most Japanese guitars from the same period and is reportedly solid top and not laminate. If you can pick one up in good playing condition for under $200, you'll be very happy with your purchase.

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1960s-70s Kay? Model No. G440 Acoustic Guitar

Vintage parlor guitar, guessing on the brand, but it's nearly identical to others I've had, made in Korea

The label inside the soundhole only lists a model number and there is no brand marker on the headstock either. It's nearly identical to a Checkmate Model No. G235 that I also picked up right around the same time, so chances are they're related.

This one plays a little better, even though the neck is separating from the body, so it doesn't stay in tune for very long. Like every Checkmate acoustic guitar that I've ever seen, this one also looks great, which is probably the reason people still collect these to this day.

The double flowered pickguards just invoke the spirit of this one's glory days. These are purely for collectors, they don't play easy enough for beginners and they don't sound anywhere near the level needed for recording and performing.

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1970s-80s Carlos Model No. 236 Classical Guitar

Top-notch vintage classical, these Carlos guitars become unforgettable to collectors and longtime players

Once again, the sticker with the serial number was torn off by the time it got to me, so there is no way to know the exact year or even take a guess. Carlos guitars made in 1981 and 1982 have a date stamped on one of support strips inside the guitar, so this seems to be 1980 or before.

This was a rescue, it had no nut or saddle and there was a chunk missing just above the nut on the headstock. This guitar played and sounded so nice though, that I passed it on to a professional flamenco guitar player and he intended to use it for when he traveled, so the cosmetic flaws didn't matter at all.

I can't recommend these Carlos guitars enough. You can find them for as little as $50 in some cases and they're probably better than most brand names you'd pay $250-$300 for, even secondhand online.

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2000s Ibanez Gio GSR 100 Bass Guitar

Budget line bass guitar from a trusted brand, plays nice and easy

Ibanez is known for making electric guitars with fast necks and this Gio bass continues that tradition. This model has the classic split pickup P-Bass setup, but I've seen others with P/J and even humbucker setups.

For as well as it does play for it's price range, it's probably not up to par for a gigging musician to use even as a backup and definitely not something that you want to reach for if you're laying something down.

It is however, an excellent choice as first bass for a beginner or maybe a guitar player who wants to mess around with one. The price should definitely be right. These retailed for around $200 or so way back when, anything more than $100 secondhand is a crime.

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