1971 Yamaha FG180 TLC

[DuFf]

Guitar TLC reminded me.

I have a 1971 Yamaha FG 180 Red Label (Nippon Gakki) I bought new in '71
Sat in an unheated attic for over 20yrs and barely touched for 10 years before that.
Took it in to Ken at Cosmo local Shop for a little tune up because the action was a little nasty.
(the new Taylor has spoiled me)
Didn't need a reset (wouldn't have been worth the $$) but Ken the guitar technician  did a great job dressing the frets, shimming the nut and shaving the saddle and bridge, truss adjustment and new strings for under $115.00 Cdn
Plays like a new guitar and sounds great......I understand these guitars are collectable these days although many require a neck re$et.
I Thought I might have a wall hanger there but Ken gave it new life.
DuFf

[Mike_S]

I reckon you have a good guitar there. I have a yamaha fg720sl. It looks similar to yours and it has a lovely warm sound. Like yours it was a bit unloved for quite a long time, I barely played it. It was like an unwanted child in a way. I think i thought my Mexican Strat was way "cooler". But I started picking it up more regularly about 2 years ago and now its normally the first one i go for, not sure why but it must be just down to the great sound coming from it.

[Blooby]

In the attic? Ouch.

My first good acoustic was a Yamaha LA-18 (I think), which has been languishing in a case for years. I need to quit neglecting it, but I have been loving the Bedell and Blueridge guitars I picked up.

Congrats on the new old instrument.

Blooby

[dobrodaddy]

The early 70s Red Labels are indeed worth some coin. But after all that dry storage it should have tone to burn. A good luthier is an ace in the hole for resurrecting instruments. Too bad the neck reset is too pricey for you. That can make a big difference for tone and playability, not just sale value. Sweet that you have it. And you've found one of the downsides to Taylors -  usually set up WAY too light. IMHO

[hooper]

Those FG-180's were/are great workhorses and I also got mine in '71 and played it for thousands of hours.  Only recently learned that one in good condition can fetch in the $800's.  Mine is in rough condition, was actually once found floating on water     Has marks on the headstock where a puppy chewed on it. (pic attached)  The tuners wore out and I replaced with Grovers. The bridge is cracked and the top is bellied-out a bit so I keep it strung now for Nashville high-strung and it works for that.  DuFf, have you got a picture of yours?

[Boognish]

I recently got a '72 Gakki fg-75
It does need a neck reset. I'm kinda stuck, I'd like to do it but I don't really have time to mess with it.
Sounds beautiful, though. For now it's a parlor slide haha

[DuFf]

Those FG-180's were/are great workhorses and I also got mine in '71 and played it for thousands of hours.
  DuFf, have you got a picture of yours?

Sorry....I just saw this...ha ha

[hooper]

Wow, that's a great-looking FG180!

A couple of years ago I was looking for a playable but inexpensive guitar to take on a road trip. Was needing something that I wouldn't have to sweat about sometimes leaving in  the trunk of the car when necessary.  That search led to a new but direct descendant of the old Yamaha FG's.... a Yamaha FG800. (Mine is Tobacco Sunburst). The normal price for new was $200. This one was new but sold as a 'scratch and dent' for $160, for whatever reason I never figured out.

I was expecting to have to do some set up work on it but it played so good right out of the box I said I'm not changing a thing. Does not sound like a $800 guitar but it's really, really not bad. Intonation is spot on, all the way up. And it's built like a tank. Laminated front, back and sides but all you see on the outside is nice looking spruce and faux mahogany.  So, maybe the Yamaha FG tradition is still doing okay...