NGD: '68 Yamaha SA-50

For guitars of the straight waisted variety (or reverse offset).
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theworkoffire
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NGD: '68 Yamaha SA-50

Post by theworkoffire » Sat Apr 29, 2017 2:46 am

I've been after one of these for ages, and had recently been thwarted by CITES in my attempts to get a nice cherry red one from Ishibashi. This had been floating around on ebay and Reverb for a while, and had just been re-listed with a lower price - I sent the seller a stupidly low offer and he came back with a nice low counter-offer and I couldn't resist. Bit of a gamble, since he had an ebay score of 0(!), and then came back with a story about having to fly out of the country for a while, and wanted to hand deliver rather than post...even though he lived 300 miles away...
But then this morning there was a knock on the door and there he was, guitar bag in hand. :w00t:

The guy's uncle had bought it new in 1968 - one careful owner! It needs a new collet and arm, and the balance pot is super-scratchy (both of which are easily sorted) but apart from a few strap scratches on the tailpiece it's absolutely immaculate. Has the original strap, but no case, unfortunately.

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And taking its rightful place on the Yamaha wall 8)

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Will post some (minor) disassembly and clean-up pics later.
Last edited by theworkoffire on Sat Apr 29, 2017 3:12 am, edited 2 times in total.
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rexter
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Re: NGD: '68 Yamaha SA-50

Post by rexter » Sat Apr 29, 2017 2:52 am

Very, very nice! I've also been lusting after one of these for the last few years. Prices have been climbing so sounds like you got a good deal!
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Re: NGD: '68 Yamaha SA-50

Post by CorporateDisguise » Sat Apr 29, 2017 3:28 am

Great score! I've wanted one of these for a long time. There is just something about perfectly symetrical guitars that just something to me.

What are the pickups like? I've not been able to find a decent demo to hear them.
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Re: NGD: '68 Yamaha SA-50

Post by PJazzmaster » Sat Apr 29, 2017 4:28 am

very nice!!!
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Re: NGD: '68 Yamaha SA-50

Post by windmill » Sat Apr 29, 2017 4:51 am

That's a nice wall !

:)
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Re: NGD: '68 Yamaha SA-50

Post by PorkyPrimeCut » Sat Apr 29, 2017 4:54 am

Holy shit, Ben! That's gorgeous!! You're on a roll.

Er....when can I come round? ;D
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Re: NGD: '68 Yamaha SA-50

Post by StevenO » Sat Apr 29, 2017 4:59 am

Thats a beautiful looking guitar! Very nice. :)

And glad to see you back! I'm still enjoying one of your gold guards quite a bit. :-*
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theworkoffire
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Re: NGD: '68 Yamaha SA-50

Post by theworkoffire » Sat Apr 29, 2017 5:04 am

PorkyPrimeCut wrote:Holy shit, Ben! That's gorgeous!! You're on a roll.

Er....when can I come round?
Perhaps once a stripy Jag and a wounded purple German make their appearance ??

This is getting ridiculous :fp:
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Re: NGD: '68 Yamaha SA-50

Post by MattK » Sat Apr 29, 2017 5:25 am

Oh my LORDDDD they are all superb, but the SA-50 might just be the best. Lovely work.
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Re: NGD: '68 Yamaha SA-50

Post by PorkyPrimeCut » Sat Apr 29, 2017 5:28 am

theworkoffire wrote: This is getting ridiculous :fp:
Naah, this is normal. Heheheh! You just need a few vintage amps now.
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Re: NGD: '68 Yamaha SA-50

Post by PorkyPrimeCut » Sat Apr 29, 2017 5:30 am

Are the arms on your other Yammies compatible?
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Re: NGD: '68 Yamaha SA-50

Post by surfin_bird » Sat Apr 29, 2017 8:35 am

Lol, I totally understand you.
I just put down my SA-5; they totally nailed building amazing instruments in their early days and it's totally addicting to collect/restore them :fp:
I actually think that this weekend I'll dive in Yamaha amp territory with a TA-60...
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Re: NGD: '68 Yamaha SA-50

Post by Gavanti » Sat Apr 29, 2017 10:57 am

PorkyPrimeCut wrote:Are the arms on your other Yammies compatible?
Mine were.
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Re: NGD: '68 Yamaha SA-50

Post by antisymmetric » Sat Apr 29, 2017 11:43 am

Super congrats! I'm sorely tempted each time I see one of these. These old Yamahas- :-* :-*
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Re: NGD: '68 Yamaha SA-50

Post by theworkoffire » Sun Apr 30, 2017 6:20 am

Gavanti wrote:
PorkyPrimeCut wrote:Are the arms on your other Yammies compatible?
Mine were.
yes, the guts are the same, but the collet itself is missing, so there's a bit of work to be done. I've ordered a replacement arm same as my others all the same. One way or another I'll make that fit.

Just had a close look at the action on this, which was carefully done to avoid buzz, but left far too much relief on the neck; it's revealed some serious cowboy-chord grooves in the 2nd fret that are going to have to be dressed out. The board itself is quite heavily indented, so I'm not surprised. The neck's never been dressed before, so I should be able to recover them, I hope.

I've never owned or worked on a set neck guitar before; it feels a lot more daunting!
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