NGD - Well, will be soon...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sky Blue Lou
  • Start date Start date
I remember you verbally drooling over these guits fairly recently. Well, congrats! She's finally coming home.
 
I found one in England a month or so ago and was gonna pay Muttley to go buy it for me but somebody snatched it on BIN. I think this one is better anyway and a bit less $$ as well.

I've lusted after one of these since Santana Moonflower and Be Bop Deluxe Live in the Air Age back in '77 or so. You never find them in local guitar stores.

If you do - buy it.


lou
 
Nice, I know you've been after one of those for some time now!
 
Glad you got what you were after in the end.

Looks like a winner.:)
 
Damn that guitar is sweet! Play the hell out of it!!:D
 
Thanks, guys. Paypal has dinged my bank but the seller hasn't got his yet. Hopefully he'll get it and ship tomorrow. I'm thinking Monday before it gets here.

Damn. Oh well, I've waited thirty years...


lou
 
NGD Today!!

She showed up this afternoon. Even prettier than the pictures. This must have spent thirty years as a closet queen - it's almost mint. One small ding on the back and two smaller ones on the front. Can't see 'em unless you look. Unbelievable condition for a thirty year old guitar. Serial number checks out as a '79 not a '78. The last year of the "original spec". Production number was 1350 that year.

In 1980 Yamaha changed these guitars in several ways. The designation became SBG in the US (Gibson lawsuit threat). They eliminated the brass sustain plate and added coil taps. Somewhere along the line I think they eliminated neck-thru as well but the history is ambiguous at best. They also came out with the SBG3000 - a higher-end luxo-cruiser with abalone purfling and Spinex pick ups. (I just passed on one of these on Ebay - I may regret that later. They show up even less frequently.)

This one has some unexpected features. I'm thinking it was early mods before the 1980 series. The tone knobs both work on both pickups. It's like one cuts highs and the other lows. Has anyone seen that before? Also it has one push/push coil tap pot ("bridge" tone - actually the high cut) that splits both pups. Cool and different. And heavy - omigod! Must be well over ten pounds. As heavy as any of my LPs or more. I'll have to eat my Wheaties before I gig with her.

Tone report - outstanding. She plays like a dream (I love ebony fretboards) and the pups are both brighter and meatier than a typical Les Paul. It's as bright as my '81 Custom or more but the neck pup is not near as "muddy". Fuckin' thing rips! Sustain forever. This is where Santana got those minute-long sustained notes. It seems almost like a built in reverb - it just rings. Similar crunch to a Les Paul but with an added spatial dimension.

So anyway I'm one happy camper. My long-lingering lust for one of these has been quenched. I'll be getting more intimate with her for a while, learning the nuances and best amp settings. Looking forward to it. If any of you guys knows anything about these guitars please share. Info is spotty on the web.

See ya'.


lou
 
Congrats on finally getting the Yamaha home-safe and sound! I've been very pleased with any Yamaha gear I own..
Now get back to playing that new girl in your guitar harem!!!!!!;)
 
Congrats! Take a couple pics of your own, and if you get a chance do a clip or two, I'd love to hear her in action. :D
 
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