Yamaha SG(2000,1000,etc.) Appreciation Thread

For guitars of the straight waisted variety (or reverse offset).
Post Reply
User avatar
stevejamsecono
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 4552
Joined: Tue Oct 17, 2006 10:55 am
Location: Brooklyn, NYC
Contact:

Yamaha SG(2000,1000,etc.) Appreciation Thread

Post by stevejamsecono » Mon Jun 22, 2015 2:45 pm

I realized there wasn't one of these for the non-offset variety of the SG, and I'm totally in love with them lately, so I figured I'd start one.

I don't know exactly when I first became aware of these. Probably watching youtube footage old Skids and Siouxsie and the Banshees shows almost a decade ago. My experiences with Yamaha products has always been good, and my Yamaha SL is a fantastic instrument. Seems only natural to explore Yamaha's evolution of the idea with the SG.

So many great players too:

McGeoch
Image

Adamson
Image

Bill Nelson
Image

I just love it. I got really into the Les Paul-ish thing lately, and between the double cutaways, the coil splitting options, and the general Japanese flair of it, I'm just totally smitten.

Anyone else love/own these? I know eggwheat will join in (hopefully I can save up to buy his....)
Last edited by stevejamsecono on Thu Dec 16, 2021 7:45 pm, edited 1 time in total.
And you find out life isn't like that
It's so hard to understand
Why the world is your oyster but your future's a clam

Resident Yamaha Fanboy

COYS

User avatar
mackerelmint
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 13674
Joined: Sun May 05, 2013 9:51 pm
Location: トイレ国、ウンチ市

Re: Yamaha SG(2000,1000,etc.) Appreciation Thread

Post by mackerelmint » Mon Jun 22, 2015 3:32 pm

They're certainly way up there on the cool scale. I've never had the chance to play one, I've only seen them in pictures and for 20 years I've silently lusted, watching their values slowly rise on ebay.

Someday.
This is an excellent rectangle

User avatar
Jonesie
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 4047
Joined: Sat Aug 09, 2008 7:00 am
Location: Massachusetts

Re: Yamaha SG(2000,1000,etc.) Appreciation Thread

Post by Jonesie » Tue Jun 23, 2015 2:45 am

For a more modern player: Bill Kelliher from Mastodon.

Image

eggwheat
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 5151
Joined: Sat Mar 03, 2007 8:30 am

Re: Yamaha SG(2000,1000,etc.) Appreciation Thread

Post by eggwheat » Tue Jun 23, 2015 3:16 am

Massive fan, purely because of the guy below. I've had quite a few and the SG1000 I use now actually belonged to John McGeoch..

I told the story a while back but Johnny Marr and John Frusciante amongst others attempted to buy his guitar from me.. I know Johnny Marr has been buying them up.

My only tip is always get one between 1976-and 81...those 5 years the quality was very high. The bodies got thinner in the early 80's but I have had couple of good one's circa 1984-5...the last ones they made were rubbish in comparison.

They are really great guitars...considering the price you can get a '77 SG1000 for over a '77 Les Paul...it really is a no brainer. Super cool looking too in my eyes.

Image

User avatar
stevejamsecono
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 4552
Joined: Tue Oct 17, 2006 10:55 am
Location: Brooklyn, NYC
Contact:

Re: Yamaha SG(2000,1000,etc.) Appreciation Thread

Post by stevejamsecono » Tue Jun 23, 2015 6:19 am

I'm glad you posted that photo. I found it last night on Tumblr and it's awesome. He looks like someone out of The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari or something.

But seriously. Just look at these things. Gorgeous:
Image
Image
Image

Also found some awesome catalogue scans here...
http://brochures.yokochou.com/en_index.html#YAMAHA_GTR

Nice to see the appreciation bumping up for these. Sadly, with guys like Marr and Frusciante buying them up, I feel like the prices will start to rise before long. Still, around a grand or a little more for one is a pretty fair price if you ask me, especially compared to said 70s Les Pauls that by and large seem to have a very spotty reputation.
And you find out life isn't like that
It's so hard to understand
Why the world is your oyster but your future's a clam

Resident Yamaha Fanboy

COYS

User avatar
Maggieo
Expat
Expat
Posts: 13446
Joined: Mon Oct 02, 2006 10:36 am
Location: Nebraska, USA
Contact:

Re: Yamaha SG(2000,1000,etc.) Appreciation Thread

Post by Maggieo » Tue Jun 23, 2015 11:37 am

Andy Partridge!

Image

Image
“Now I am quietly waiting for/ the catastrophe of my personality/ to seem beautiful again.”- Frank O'Hara
I am not an attorney and this post is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult a licensed attorney in your state for legal advice.

User avatar
stevejamsecono
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 4552
Joined: Tue Oct 17, 2006 10:55 am
Location: Brooklyn, NYC
Contact:

Re: Yamaha SG(2000,1000,etc.) Appreciation Thread

Post by stevejamsecono » Tue Jun 23, 2015 12:12 pm

Close. That's an Ibanez Artist. I once asked him about that guitar when he was operating the XTC twitter, and he said he vastly preferred it to Yamahas and Gibsons.
And you find out life isn't like that
It's so hard to understand
Why the world is your oyster but your future's a clam

Resident Yamaha Fanboy

COYS

User avatar
Maggieo
Expat
Expat
Posts: 13446
Joined: Mon Oct 02, 2006 10:36 am
Location: Nebraska, USA
Contact:

Re: Yamaha SG(2000,1000,etc.) Appreciation Thread

Post by Maggieo » Tue Jun 23, 2015 12:53 pm

stevejamsecono wrote:Close. That's an Ibanez Artist. I once asked him about that guitar when he was operating the XTC twitter, and he said he vastly preferred it to Yamahas and Gibsons.
DOH!!! :fp: :fp: :fp: :fp: :fp:
“Now I am quietly waiting for/ the catastrophe of my personality/ to seem beautiful again.”- Frank O'Hara
I am not an attorney and this post is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult a licensed attorney in your state for legal advice.

User avatar
stevejamsecono
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 4552
Joined: Tue Oct 17, 2006 10:55 am
Location: Brooklyn, NYC
Contact:

Re: Yamaha SG(2000,1000,etc.) Appreciation Thread

Post by stevejamsecono » Tue Jun 23, 2015 3:07 pm

Maggieo wrote:DOH!!!
No shame! Those are good ones too. I had an AR50 for awhile but my weakling shoulders weren't ready for it. :(
And you find out life isn't like that
It's so hard to understand
Why the world is your oyster but your future's a clam

Resident Yamaha Fanboy

COYS

User avatar
Maggieo
Expat
Expat
Posts: 13446
Joined: Mon Oct 02, 2006 10:36 am
Location: Nebraska, USA
Contact:

Re: Yamaha SG(2000,1000,etc.) Appreciation Thread

Post by Maggieo » Tue Jun 23, 2015 5:16 pm

stevejamsecono wrote:
Maggieo wrote:DOH!!!
No shame! Those are good ones too. I had an AR50 for awhile but my weakling shoulders weren't ready for it.
I can't do heavy guitars at all.
“Now I am quietly waiting for/ the catastrophe of my personality/ to seem beautiful again.”- Frank O'Hara
I am not an attorney and this post is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult a licensed attorney in your state for legal advice.

User avatar
stevejamsecono
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 4552
Joined: Tue Oct 17, 2006 10:55 am
Location: Brooklyn, NYC
Contact:

Re: Yamaha SG(2000,1000,etc.) Appreciation Thread

Post by stevejamsecono » Wed Jun 24, 2015 6:13 am

Well, for you we have... the Yamaha 1000/2000S series! In the mid-80s they apparently did some where the bodies were way thinner? Not many photos of them, but they do exist!
And you find out life isn't like that
It's so hard to understand
Why the world is your oyster but your future's a clam

Resident Yamaha Fanboy

COYS

User avatar
Axeman52
PAT PEND
PAT PEND
Posts: 46
Joined: Tue Jun 23, 2015 5:10 am
Location: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, Wales

Re: Yamaha SG(2000,1000,etc.) Appreciation Thread

Post by Axeman52 » Wed Jun 24, 2015 2:50 pm

Maggieo wrote:Andy Partridge!
I was gonna point out that that's an Ibanez Artist but somebody already did, so instead I'll applaud you for knowing who Andy Partridge is ;)

I have a black Yamaha SG200 from 1984 - it's essentially the very basic bottom of the line version with no carved top or binding or anything, but superb build quality and great tone and playability nonetheless. I guess it's like the "les paul studio" of Yamaha SGs.
"Say what you wish in abuse of me, for my silence towards the idiot is indeed an answer. I am not at a loss for a response but rather, it does not befit the lion to answer the dogs." - Imam al-Shafi'i

User avatar
CorporateDisguise
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 777
Joined: Sun Mar 08, 2015 9:56 am
Location: NY

Re: Yamaha SG(2000,1000,etc.) Appreciation Thread

Post by CorporateDisguise » Thu Jun 25, 2015 1:40 pm

There is definitely something sexy about completely symmetrical guitars like this and the old Epiphone Wilshires'. It's almost equally appealing to me as an offset design.

As an aside, how heavy are these guitars? They look really thick for a solid body.

User avatar
stevejamsecono
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 4552
Joined: Tue Oct 17, 2006 10:55 am
Location: Brooklyn, NYC
Contact:

Re: Yamaha SG(2000,1000,etc.) Appreciation Thread

Post by stevejamsecono » Thu Jun 25, 2015 3:15 pm

Supposedly the 2000/300o's are super heavy, and thicker than the 1000's. They also had a brass sustain block in them because... well... the 70s. I haven't encountered one in the wild yet, so I can't say for sure.
And you find out life isn't like that
It's so hard to understand
Why the world is your oyster but your future's a clam

Resident Yamaha Fanboy

COYS

User avatar
choice_of_meat
PAT. # 2.972.923
PAT. # 2.972.923
Posts: 74
Joined: Mon Nov 26, 2012 10:54 am

Re: Yamaha SG(2000,1000,etc.) Appreciation Thread

Post by choice_of_meat » Mon Jun 29, 2015 8:14 am

I love the shape of these. I have a beautiful Yamaha SG800. Which is basically a 500 or 1000 in JP only colors (mines an awesome metallic blue) It's the guitar in this pic (not my pics, but my guitar): http://profile.ultimate-guitar.com/Doog ... ar/943381/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

So I bought it for too much, loved the sound of the pickups in split coil.. but the pickups & changed out the pickups, put some cool ivoroid knobs on it etc. neck is slim and fast and my back crumpled from the ~10-12 LB weight.
When I bought it I was thinking heavy would be ok for me, but well I'm old and it's not. Like and idiot I bought without trying it out, and I actually thought at the time it would be SG weight. I love the shape/color so much though I keep debating on hollowing it out, but people say that does not really lose that much weight and not to bother. So for now it's sitting in storage, which is a shame and I think I need to sell it.

Post Reply