Bill Alston

The 600 Models


The 600 series has a lot of model variations and has models which are both SE and Session 11. The 603, the 612 and the 620 are all session 11s and SEs. The 610 I can only find as a Session 11 but then I can find very little information about the 610 so any help would be appreciated. All the 600s I have come across are MIJ but with so many models and variations it is certainly possible that some were made elsewhere.
 

The only pictures I can find of the 610


I have got a little information on the 610 from Yamaha Archives and from the pictures above. There are 2 models the 610S and the 610SM I assume the S has a Rosewood board and the SM a Maple one and are otherwise identical. They were produced for less than a year in 1987 at 60,000 yen. As the model number suggests and the pictures show it is a single humbucker. It has one control presumably volume and black hardware including an RM11 bridge. It seems odd that as all the other 600s are around the same price anyone would want this very basic version. Does anyone know anymore?

 
A Session 11 603p and an SE620


Those of you following the story so far will know that P tends to indicate a non locking vintage type vibrato however the 603p has a RM11 bridge verified in the service manual just when I thought I had it figured thanks once more Yamaha!
The 600s appear to be the same guitar with the usual variations the 603 a 3 single coil 612 SSH and 620 HH.The 603 has a M for maple board an MA for addition of active pickups. The 612 has an A for active pickups and a P for who knows what anymore. The 620 has a P also.There may be more model variations that I haven't found yet.
They all have the specs that are common to the range. 648mm scale, 350mm radius and 22 frets.


A 603MA with Active pickups and three controls I assume the third control is for the mid boost.


Body of an SE 612
603 603M 603MA 603P
612 612a
620 620p

Dates
1988 to 89 the P 3/86 to 87
1988 to 89 the P from 1987
1987

Body
Alder
Alder
Alder

Neck
Maple
Maple
Maple

Hardware
Chrome Black on the P
Chrome
Chrome

Bridge
RM11
RM11
RM11

Pickups
YGS-A1CC Alnico V x 3
2 as 603 + Ferrite HB
2 Ferrite HBs

Switch
5 way
5 way
3 way

Control
1 vol 1 tone extra 1 on the A
1 vol 1 tone extra 1 on the A Coil split
1 vol 1 tone coil split

Colours
Candy Apple Red, Black Pearl, Cream White or Fine Red Purple on the P
as 603
as 603

Weight
3.5kgs
3.5kgs
3.5kgs

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