Yamaha SG Guitars Index page
How to find the right SG page
I have produced an index page so that it is easier to find any specific model without having to work through
several pages some of which are not obviously titled. So here is what model each page covers with links.
The easiest way is to use ctrl F on this page and it will find the model you put in.
I will also include some information on SGs generally usually thoughts of people who write to me on the subject.
As always if you have anything to say on the subject let me here from you.
An 1820 in Vintage White just for the sake of a picture
The Index
Thoughts and a story from Julian
A correspondent Julian Hankinson has considerable experience and knowledge of Yamaha SGs here is a bit of his story
on SGs Julian has also written to me about several other guitars some more info on other pages.
Julian's SG story
My first 'proper' guitar, first one I paid for, bought brand new, my 'first love'. 1984 Yamaha SG1000S in cherry sunburst.
This should have been black, however...
In April '84, I walked in to Dawsons Music in Stockport. I wanted a Yamaha SG1000S. None of the local stores, in Manchester, and you never
saw them in the magazine ads at the time, stocked Yamaha guitars. Dawsons did Yamaha pianos, keyboards, drums and acoustics back then. I said,
"You're a Yamaha dealer, right?" They said yes. "Okay, I want to order a Yamaha SG1000S in black." The manager spluttered a little, then when
he saw I was serious, he rang the distributor. They said there weren't any in the country, but if I wanted one, they'd get one. Long story short,
after six months of mithering them about when is my guitar arriving, they rang me to say, Keeble (or Kimble... the Yamaha distributor at the time)
had just taken delivery of three Yamaha SG1000Ss, they're all cherry sunburst, but if I want one, it'll be ready to collect at the weekend.
As you'd expect, it's standard Les Paul construction - three-piece maple top, multiple piece mahogany body set, mahogany neck,
rosewood board. Single ply binding all round. Belly cut on the back. Gold plated hardware.
The bridge is screwed directly in to the maple - no sleeves or brass gimmicks. Pickups are open coil, A5 magnet humbuckers.
Tuners are (presumably) Japanese replicas of Schallers.
The guitar is 100% original, barring the strings. It is as it left the shop. It must be said, the fit and finish of the guitar
is exceptional, but the quality of the plating on the hardware is diabolical. Gold wears off, but blistering is a result of bad nickel plating.
The body thickness is significantly less than is typical for Yamaha SGs.
Now, I still have the Yamaha guitars catalogue from 1984, which I got before ordering the 1000S.
I also have an '82 SG2000S in deep green which I bought used a couple of years later. Also 100% original. Same pickups as the 1000S, but with
'semi' covers. Through neck, ebony board, multiple ply binding, brass gimmick plate under the bridge...
Interestingly, the pickups on both guitars measure out at 7.15k/7.50k bridge/neck... yes, you read that right. The pickups read exactly the same,
AND they both have the 'hotter' pickup at the neck. The reason they had the reputation for being extremely loud is that the magnets are charged to
about three times what is typical for a PAF derived pickup.
Also, the plating on this guitar is exceptional.
Now, that 'S'... I remember back then; it was said to indicate models that had coil tapped pickups fitted.
I read an article a couple of years ago about the collection of a Scottish Yamaha collector, and he stated that the 'S' indicated "slim neck".
I can assure you, that is a load of twaddle. My 1000S has a slim neck, but my 2000S neck is identical to my Les Paul R9.
Okay, the controversial bit. The 1000S is the better guitar. There, I said it. It has significantly longer sustain than the 2000S and the
pickups just sound better without the mufflers, sorry, covers. The frustrating thing is, the 2000 neck fits me better. My theory... the 1000S
was designed as a Les Paul alternative, whereas Yamaha made the mistake of listening to Carlos Santana when they designed the 2000. The through
neck and brass "sustain plate" make zero positive difference. He had his pickups replaced with Gibson PAFs - that should have told them something.
If you have any thoughts on this or any other Guitar matter please email me.