Are Yamaha SG2000 guitars any good?
- Thread starter lungimsam
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Why do you think it's cheap? I've only played the SA2200 and it was a magnificent instrument. Hard to come by, too.
I’ve got a friend who has several of these and I’ve played a couple of his. It was a while ago but it wasn’t a cheaply made guitar by any means and played and sounded great. Pretty heavy if I remember. I think he moved the strap button on one to balance it better?
merlin6666
Senior Member
Were these not the go to guitars of Carlos Santana for most of the 70s into the 80s? I doubt he would pick a cheaply made model.
www.ultimatesantana.com
Carlos Santana's Yamaha SG Years
Santana was originally interested in the SG175 is that it combined some features of guitars he had used for years. It had the double-cutway body style of the Gibson SG, allowing him easy access to the highest frets. But it featured a thicker, heavier body -more reminiscent of the Les Paul --...
www.ultimatesantana.com
Yes that's what I thought too : Carlos' guitar for a while after Gibson SG, and before Paul Red Smith's...To my taste, nothing that much really...I believe players end up using guitars that seem a little bit more perfect between their hands, but that loose some of their wildness ; fire ain't not burning so much, but old Les Paul or SGs he 'remains faithful to at home' can be broken, damaged or stolen on tour...So more of a stage instrument really. Probably gets paid for using them too, and surely nice to be asked to design the instrument you want - and rewarding too somehow. His albums with these guitars are not music enthusiasts' favorites (but seem to work with a large majority of people). Since he played for Julio Iglesias (housewives favorite in Western Southern Europe) I don't take santana as seriously as I've done...But I never played the Yamaha - nor the Red Smith - and might be missing something...(surely miss his old fire 
)
)
Rambozo96
Senior Member
I don’t think they look cheap but that’s just me. Yamaha was more than capable of making a pro grade guitar when the SG-2000 came out. You don’t break into the US guitar market with a model some consider Les Paul killers by cranking out junk
lungimsam
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Sounds very loud but jazzy mellow in tone. Is that really mop inlays or just stick ons? Feels raised. Looks like ebony board? Gold hardware. The cavity covers feel/sound like some kinda paper board, not plastic.
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chazmo
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Interesting, lungimsam! I thought you were talking about a new one, but this is a vintage one. I've never met a vintage Yamaha that was anything but stellar build quality. However, I see your points. I seriously doubt those inlays are stick ons. They may be MOTS (mother of toilet seat) as opposed to pearl, but If they're not inlays I'd be shocked. As for the cavity covers, are you sure they're not corroded metal? If they're really some kind of paper board, that would be pretty cheesy!!! Anyway, let us know what you find out.
lungimsam
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SN 1109
I removed the covers.
The covers are plastic. That papery feeling discolored stuff that’s on top of the plastic cover must be the original protective plastic that he never removed. Here are some cavity shots.
I will also note that it does not neck dive at all. Sits very comfortable. But it is very heavy!!!
I removed the covers.
The covers are plastic. That papery feeling discolored stuff that’s on top of the plastic cover must be the original protective plastic that he never removed. Here are some cavity shots.
I will also note that it does not neck dive at all. Sits very comfortable. But it is very heavy!!!
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Last edited:
ClaytonS15
Member
I bet that thing would sound amazing though a cranked Marshall stack! That said, I’ve never played a vintage Yamaha SG2000. From what I’ve heard, though, that is an excellent guitar (if set up well, ETC.)
chazmo
Super Moderator
That's great. That guitar never saw any bad weather or excessive humidity. Nice! Funny about the protective plastic.
jp
Senior Member
Wow! That's in really nice shape. Those SGs were at the top of the Japanese guitar food chain in the 70s and 80s. They were the first high quality Japanese models that weren't US copies and before Ibanez started making their own models. It looks to be a quality build but probably needs some spit and polish.