1994 Takamine G334 Acoustic Guitar

Vintage dreadnought, made in Taiwan, original owner and my main guitar since 1994

 

I wanted to feature the rest of my longtime pieces, before we move on to some new acquisitions and an update on some items that were featured in the past. This one has been my acoustic guitar of choice for over 20 years. Even when this thing was brand new, it sounded sweet enough that friends were asking to use it for demo recordings.

This has since seen countless recording sessions and shows all over the state. I recently took it to Clay at Beach City Pawn and Guitar for some fret work and a set up, and he was very impressed. He even swore up and down that it's a solid-top, even though it doesn't look like it to me and Takamine's website says otherwise.

I purchased this beauty at Guitar Center in Fountain Valley, I believe the day after Christmas, 1994. The sticker price was $699 and they were having a buy one, get one free sale. My good friend and eventual first roommate wanted to buy an acoustic guitar and I didn't have one myself, so we decided to take the plunge after sitting around and playing a bunch of them for a few hours. Over these last few years, I've only picked up a few acoustics that have rivaled this beauty and its still on the wall as one of my go to's...

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1980s Fender F 220 SB Acoustic Guitar

Vintage mid-level dreadnought with sweet sunburst finish, made in Korea or Japan

When I found this guitar, I initially thought it was much older than it really is. Partly because of the label and headstock designs, but mostly because the back of the neck looks like it had been played virtually nonstop for about as long as I've been alive. It turns out that these were produced between 1982-88, but I haven't been able to confirm exactly when or where it was made.

I've featured a few different Fender acoustic and classical guitars over the years and while all of them played surprisingly well (Fender acoustics do not have a great reputation), this one is easily the best of the bunch. It already played great before I took it to Clay at Beach City Pawn and Guitar and after he was finished with it, it just about plays itself.

The action is nice and low and the sound it produces is better than expected. The sunburst finish and snowflake fret markers definitely make this guitar stand out from the bargain bin jobs and the natural relic look of the neck gives it tons of mojo. I'm definitely happy that I made the move to pick this one up, as it is in really good shape and is a solid guitar.

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1974 Yamaha FG-200 Acoustic Guitar

An update on this 40-year old gem from the FG series, made in Taiwan

About a year and a half ago, this beauty was found about 20 miles away from me and the private owner that was selling it said that it had been sitting around for years. It had been through alot, with all sorts of dings, chips and scratches along the sides, back and face of the guitar. The original tuning keys had also had some casualties.

The first time new strings went on this guitar, the end of another tuning key snapped off, so it was time for replacements. The solution was a chrome set of Grover tuners. The screw holes matched the original set, so it was an obvious choice. The slots didn't really line up though, so new holes were made slightly to the side. The headstock does look a bit off, but its not an eyesore.

This guitar also brings about another cool story. All of these guitars have photos that are posted on Facebook and people from all over the world stop in to either talk about these guitars or ask questions that they may have. One fellow in Pennsylvania saw the photos and commented that he had broken one of his tuning machines years ago and could never find another one. Since the originals had been replaced on this one, he sent in his address and we were able to make his guitar complete again.

Thanks for looking, more (updated) high-resolution photos here.

1980s Carlos Model No. 240S Acoustic Guitar

Vintage solid-top dreadnought, date unknown, but sweeter than words can describe 

If you've been following this blog, by now you know that I'm a full-blown Carlos enthusiast. I had never even heard of them before I came across a Model No. 249 in August 2012, but the way that one played and sounded was enough to get me hooked. This is the 12th Carlos guitar that I've picked up since then and four of them are still in my possession.

This is the first Carlos solid-top model that I've had my hands on and it sounds absolutely incredible, with both the low end and brights ringing out loud and clear. Cosmetically, there are just a couple of small dings on the face of the guitar, but not really any other flaws. The wood on both the front and back of the guitar are very attractive and the cream binding also classes it up.

I'm having trouble dating this one, as there is no serial number listed anywhere, but my educated guess would be somewhere between 1981 and 1985. I did have a Model No. 240 at one point, but that one was an older one, based on the style of the tuning pegs and the adjustable saddle. The Carlos logo on the headstock of this guitar is also unlike any other that I've seen thus far. If you have any information on this model, please pass it along...

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1974 Yamaha FG-200 Acoustic Guitar

Vintage dreadnought, made in Taiwan, a little beat up, but still a great player 

Though not as nice as the first FG-200 that I picked up last year, this one sounds and plays beautifully, even if it has more than a couple of cosmetic flaws. One tuning key is a little off-center and another has been replaced completely, but at least a Grover was used as the replacement.

There are too many dings and scratches to count along the body and face, but nothing too deep and none of them effect the structure at all. Someone also installed a strap holder at some point, but they did a fairly good job of it.

One thing that caught my eye was that the tuners say "Made in Japan", but the guitar was clearly built in Taiwan, as stated on the label. This must have been one of the first batches made over there, with some of the parts being imported from Nippon Gakki. It has a sweet low-end tone, like the other four vintage FG series guitars that I've been lucky enough to find. I installed a set of Martin SP Light strings and will definitely show this one some love in the coming weeks.

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1992 Takamine G330 Acoustic Guitar

Vintage dreadnought, made in Taiwan, a precursor to today's G Series 

SCGM loves Takamine guitars, from the old Japanese Martin copies to today's G Series, the company has always put out quality, affordable products. This one was a craigslist find, it has it's flaws, but they're purely cosmetic. The finish has a milky haze, which I've read is moisture that somehow gets between the wood and the finish. The previous owner couldn't figure out exactly how it happened, but this Takamine 12-string from the same era also had the problem.

Like that 12-string, this guitar also plays and sounds great. I've had a G334 since December 1994 and this one feels nearly identical. The action is nice and low, with no buzz whatsoever. It also has the same die-cast Takamine tuners. We'll leave this one out of the case to see if that haze starts to dissipate after time and will set it up with a new bone saddle sooner than later, to get an even sweeter tone from this beauty.

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1981 Carlos Model No. 249 Acoustic Guitar

The third Model No. 249 we've featured, this one also needed repair 

SCGM returns after a long hiatus with another one of our favorite finds, the Carlos Model No. 249 acoustic guitar. Unfortunately, this one needed more work than the previous two that I'd found, as the bridge was coming up so bad, that it wasn't playable at all.

This one was a year older than the others that I'd come across and the finish was just a tad lighter than the 1982 versions. Aside from the problem with the bridge, there was also a hairline crack where the neck met the headstock, but it didn't as though it was a fatal flaw.

This one was passed along to another Carlos collector, who will more than likely make the necessary repairs and add a very nice and inexpensive piece to their acoustic guitar arsenal. Check back here later this week for another Carlos dreadnought that will be arriving at my door in a few days.

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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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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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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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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.

 

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.

Thanks for looking, more high-resolution photos here.

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.

Thanks for looking, more high-resolution pictures here.

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.

Thanks for looking, more high-resolution pictures here.

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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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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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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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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1982 Carlos Model No. 249 Acoustic Guitar

Made in Korea and in great condition for a 30+ years old acoustic guitar 

 

Here is a hidden gem, a top-quality Carlos guitar with a brass nut and saddle, reportedly constructed out of solid wood. This one needed a repair, as the bridge had begun to separate from the body.

Can't speak enough as to how nice this guitar sounds though and it plays great too. The dark (mahogany?) finish still looks beautiful and the structure of this guitar is still very sound, with no cracks or breaks.

Throw on a set of Grover tuners and you would think you were playing a much more expensive guitar. This is a copy of a Martin D28 or a Guild D25, but they are lesser known, because there were no lawsuits threatened against any of the Korean makers.

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