I've been in love with the Yamaha SG-3 in Coral Red ever since I saw it. Yamaha's mean take on the Jazzmaster, just more options (additional bridge pickup to be blended with the other one), and more aggressive looking. I don't get why those didn't get re-issued! Too me, it's the best designed solidbody I have come accross (I know it's subjective, though). Their first solidbody guitar (SG) design, their second model (after the two-pickup, otherwise identical SG-2 Link Wray is known for). This baby is from 1967, so it is more than 50 years old. No definition of vintage discussion here, I guess...
Problems for acquisition were:
- It comes in SB, Pearl White, and Coral Red (Something between Race Red and Dakota Red, I guess - really screaming in your face - I love it!). With CR being the most rare, as far as I can judge by personal observation.
- meanwhile Vintage prices (although not comparable to Fenders, this model usually has an asking price of around US$ 1700...2500 - When I started looking, they were quite a little less, ca. 900...1300 €)
- It showed up in Japan or North America, adding another ca. US$ 400 for shipping and customs.
- By 2017, it's not to be shipped to the EU at all (Indian rosewood slab board).
I finally came to string it up, and I shouldn't have bought it: I was pretty convinced that my Squier VM offsets were pretty good guitars. Well, they are - compared to this excellent thing more or less "pretty good". More muddy, less lively. I have Rose PUps with vintage spec for them lying around, will shim and improve some components. But this Vintage Beast is just noticeable more transparent and defined, the tuners are a joy, it just feels pretty natural... I will give it some time, though until the honeymoon is over to draw a conclusion there.
While I am at it, I cleaned, set, and strung up my recently (ca. 2 years ago... I guess I was pretty busy) acquired Yamaha SGV-300. It was a pretty messy, grime- and setup-wise, and had a Mexican Fender Whammy-bar-substitute. I managed to acquire one of the last original spare Whammy bars from Yamaha/EU. As a re-issue of the SG-2a (EDIT: correct is SG-5), I thought it was pretty close to the SG-3 (They even share identical PUps in identical configuration...) - except a dramatically different shape for the body (strangely revers) and the headstock ("samurai headstock" - I like the billhook headstock of the SG better). I didn't care too much for the design, but it was the closest thing to the SG-3 I could get my hands on. Well, it is in no way the same - They are two completely different guitars!
So here is what came to my face on first look/listen (based on my models - There could be hidden modifications in the SGV, whereas I'm pretty sure the SG has been restored by a knowing hand to vintage spec). I used Thomastik Infeld Swing 10s (flatwounds with wound G) for both. Actually, I was going for 11s on the SGV, but read that the vibrato springs take a maximum of 10s, so they are identically strung.
- Scale:
The SGV is short scale.
The SG3 is Fender Standard scale
- Nut:
The SG has the Zero-fret/steel-guide I expected.
The SGV has a bone or most likely plastic nut (although it feels pretty solid like a quality TUSQ nut).
- Vibrato/bridge:
Quite different systems, especially the Vibrato and its consequences. SG looking similar to JM/Jag rocker. instead of a rocking bridge, it has a roller bridge with individually (!) adjustable saddle heights! The intonations screws are one-side-through with spring.
The SGV has more of a Bigsby-turning shaft thing balancing a block through wich the strings are led completely straight-through. It is very sensitive to tension changes (tune down one string a bit, all others go up - when unstringing the grimey old strings, the high E popped after tuning down the others). It also sports a roller bridge that seems to be rocking to a degree, but has only two outer height adjustments (I have the feeling that the roller saddle heights are not perfectly matched to the fretboard, but a little heigher on the outer strings (haven't measured yet, though). The intonation screws are two-side-through with cap nut but without spring. - Break-angle:
The SG-vibrato has a flat behind-the-bridge-offset string end.
The SGV's vibrato is angled quite steeply, probably still a bit steeper than the often criticized non-vintage-spec mexican Classic Player offset trem-placement.
- Pickups:
The neck Pickup is slanted lightly with the SGV. - Controls:
The SG has a rhythm circuit. The third roller weel is the bridge mix blender.
The SGV doesn't have a rhythm circuit but a third shaft pot for the mix blender.
- Last but not least: Sound: The SG sounds like a little warmer version of the JM. The SGV too me, sounded quite piercingly with strong trebble. Not sure if I like it, I'll have to let it settle and see about PUp height etc.. although I already gave it a full setup including a cardboard neck shim (temporary, but was required to get the action down).