I consider “vintage” Yamaha FG series acoustic guitars to be models made between the years 1966 and 1981. These are the years where the truss rod adjustment is in the headstock. All models introduced in 1981 and later have the truss rod adjustment accessible through the sound hole. I’ll concentrate on models imported into the US, there were many other models not imported but have made their way over here, initially brought back by US military stationed in Japan, and more currently eBay. Beware of inflated prices and misstated descriptions on eBay.
Most people interested in vintage acoustic guitars will recognize the “signature” red label as the start of the historic Yamaha FG line. But the first models, FG-150 & FG-180, where actually available in October 1966, but only in Japan. These models have light green labels, very similar to the familiar red labels. There are other differences on the headstock; the Yamaha logo is smaller, the headstock shape has a slightly flared shape [wider at the top], and the truss rod cover is bell shaped and says “REINFORCED NECK”. They changed to the Red label at the start of 1967.
In 1967 the FG-110 [folk size] was introduced, with the familiar red label. It is a “budget” version of the FG-150.
In 1968 the Yamaha FG line came to America, consisting of the FG-75, FG-110, FG-140, FG-150, FG-180, FG-300 and the 12 string FG-230. They have the familiar red Nippon Gakki label, the larger Yamaha headstock logo, and the Yamaha truss rod cover with the 3 tuning fork symbol. Although they used the bell shaped “REINFORCED NECK” truss rod cover until mid-1968, a way to visually date the earliest FG’s. The FG-140, FG-150 & FG-180 continued with the wider flared headstock shape. The FG-75, FG-110 & FG-230 have the familiar tapered headstock shape. The FG-140 is a “budget” version of the FG-180.
The FG-75 has a classical guitar size body, with rounded shoulders. It has “ladder” braced [bracing perpendicular to the strings] instead of the normal “X” bracing all modern steel string guitars have. Probably a copy of classical guitar bracing but it is much heavier to withstand the additional string tension.
The FG-110 and FG-150 are Folk size guitars, similar to Martin’s 000 size.
The FG-140, FG-180, FG-230 & FG-300 are dreadnaught size [which they call “Jumbo”] guitars with a slightly different shape that is unique to Yamaha. The FG-300 was the top of the line non-hand built guitar of that era. It has a spruce plywood top, rosewood plywood back and sides, split fretboard inlays, a fancy engraved pick guard, and a saddle with individually adjustable saddles [for intonation] and the whole assembly is adjustable for height [action]. The bridge pin holes are arranged in an arc, instead of the usual straight line, although the early 70’s models made in Japan [not for export, Tan rectangular label] have the pins in a straight line. The FG-300 is well known for its sweet tone and deep bass, making many question if it isn’t actually all solid wood.
It’s widely known that Yamaha made great laminated guitars on the 60’s & 70’s. Although that is actually not true. The top, back and sides are 3 ply plywood. But many people still question that they aren’t actually solid wood, because they don’t sound like plywood guitars, especially the earliest models. Plywood is a wooden board consisting of 2 or more layers glued and pressed together with the direction of the grain alternating, typically 90 degrees. Laminate is a wooden board [in the case of guitars] consisting of 2 or more layers glued and pressed together with the direction of the grain in the same direction.
The plywood of vintage Yamaha guitars were made differently than today’s plywood. All the layers of the top are tone wood, not a cheap wood filler. The top has 3 layers, thin top and bottom plies and a thick mid ply [oriented perpendicular to the top and bottom plies], making it hard to tell that it isn’t solid wood. If you take a close look the sound hole with a jeweler’s loupe or magnifying glass you will see it. The back and sides are also 3 plies, with the inner ply being a different wood [filler]. But the outer plies are both tone wood. You can tell the sides and back aren’t solid by looking at a grain pattern or a defect on the outside and looking for the same on the inside. The inside will be different, even though it looks like solid wood. It really is, but they were made with saw cut plies, and not today’s rotary peeled log plies. The grain of cut vs. peeled wood looks very different. Almost all commercially produced vintage Yamaha FG’s for export are plywood. This is because of the uncontrolled climate [temperature and humidity] on the ships carrying them to America. Many earlier solid wood Yamaha guitars cracked in shipping. Plywood pretty much guarantee that won’t happen. Also, the 100 series guitars were very lightly braced. The combination of all tone wood plies and very light bracing gives them the sonic appearance of a solid wood guitar.
Hand crafted models FG-500 and FG-550 [12 string] were added in 1969. Followed by models Fg-580, FG-630 [12 string], FG-1500, FG-2000 and FG-2500 [12 string slot head] in 1971. All being Jumbo size. FG-500, FG-550, FG-580 have solid spruce tops, FG-630 is spruce plywood. All 4 of the models used Jacaranda plywood for the back and sides, which is similar to Brazilian rosewood, but actually Jacaranda is not in the rosewood family. FG-1500, FG-2000 & FG-2500 have solid Ezo spruce tops and solid Jacaranda sides and backs. These are all very beautiful guitars! All of these models are highly respected and sought after. FG-1500, FG-2000 & FG-2500 are very rare and can sell for many thousands of dollars!
The serial numbers initially consisted of 6 digits. It has been assumed the first digit is the year, but the remaining 5 digits do not fit any other dating systems. Actually, they pick up where the previous “Dynamic” series left off. Consecutive numbers with the first Green label starting with 52XXXX, then they incremented to 600000 at the start of 1967. It is assumed all guitars [not just the FG’s] being built shared these numbers. The 6 digit serial numbers grew to 7 digits in 1969. In mid-1971 they changed the serial numbers to 8 digits, the first being the year, the next 2 the month, the next 2 the day, and the last 3 the unit number. YMMDDUUU.
The best way to date the early FG’s is to look inside. On one of the sides you should find an ink stamped date code, such as 45.12.28, which has the format YEAR.MONTH.DAY. The 45 refers to the 45th year of the SHOWA emperor era [1926 - 1989], which is 1970. This date code is probably when the sides were made, not the date the guitar was built. But it’s the only way to figure out when they were made, since the serial number is a sequential with no relation to date.
In late 1971 most of the FG production moved from Japan to Taiwan. You will notice 2 serial numbers inside most of the Taiwan models [8 digit number on the brace under the end of the fretboard, and a 7 digit number starting with a “T” on the neck block], except for the first few months of the Taiwan Red label guitars, they only have the 7 digit number beginning with “T”. It had been thought the dual serial numbers were because some of the parts were made in Japan but they were assembled in Taiwan. I don’t think so because the first few months they didn’t have the 8 digit number on the brace. The 8 digit number is a serial number and date when the guitar was made, YMMDDUUU. The 7 digit numbers are sequential, used by all guitars, no relation to the date. In mid-1973 they stopped using the “T”. In mid-1979 they stopped using the 7 digit number.
There were a few different Taiwan labels during the 70’s. The first is the familiar red label with the Nippon Gakki removed. Starting in September 1972, there were 4 slightly different Tan labels, over a period of 3 years. Then a Black label, used from mid-1975 to early 1977. Then a White oval label that was used for the next couple of decades.
In 1972 new models were added. FG-45 [¾ scale guitar], FG-160 [Jumbo], FG-165S [Jumbo, Sunburst], FG-170 [Folk], FG-200 [Jumbo], FG-210 [12 string slot head Jumbo], FG-280 [Jumbo], and FG-295S [Jumbo, red sunburst]. They also introduced 2 models with pickups, FG-110E [Folk] and FG-160E [Jumbo]. The FG-45 is unique that is has a 21.62” scale, actually 7/8th’s of the normal 24.88” scale. It also has a 12 fret neck with no truss rod [this is the least expensive FG Yamaha made], and a classical style bridge with a thru saddle slot. It is also X braced, although the braces are laid flat.
To add to the confusion, starting in 1972 guitars made in Japan, not for export, also have a Tan label, which says Nippon Gakki. To further add to the confusion, starting in mid-1973 these non-export models have 8 or 5 digit serial numbers. The 5 digit numbers are the same as the 8 digit numbers but don’t have the 3 unit numbers on the end. See another guide “Yamaha FG Serial Numbers, Interior Markings, and Labels” for more info.
In 1975 most of the existing models numbers had -1 added to them, on a black rectangular label. The -1 is in a small font and some people don’t see it as part of the model number. FG-45-1, FG-75-1, FG-110-1, FG-110E-1, FG-160-1, FG-160E-1, FG-165S-1, FG-170-1, FG-180-1 [3 piece back], FG-210-1, FG-280-1, and FG-295S-1. There was also another 12 string model added, FG-260 [slot head, made in Japan]. They also added FG-700S [Jumbo, sunburst, made in Taiwan], a model number they reused between 2004 and 2016. The FG-75-1 was upgraded from the FG-75’s ladder bracing to X bracing, greatly improving its tone.
I’ve found a couple of rare models not listed in Yamaha’s Guitar Archive [no longer available]. www.yamaha.com/apps/guitararchives/guitarchive2.asp?t=ac The FG-160-1 BK [Jumbo], I had one of only 4 references I can find. It’s an all black guitar with a white pick guard. There looks to be another label under the label. I’m wondering if these may have been factory seconds, maybe ugly grained wood, and they just sprayed them black to be able to sell them. Another, possibly rarer model, is the FG-110-1 SBK [Folk]. It is all black except for a sunburst top, with a white pick guard. I’ve only found 3 references to this model. Another rare one is the FG-75-1 BK [I’ve only found one example], with the same black body and while pick guard like the others.
In 1975 the high end FG model [FG-1000 and up] became the L series.
In 1977 a new line of FG-3XX guitars was introduced. Three models with mahogany plywood back & sides [all Jumbo]; FG-335, FG-335L [the first left hand model], FG-340, and FG-336SB. And 5 models with rosewood plywood back & sides [all Jumbo]; FG-345, FG-350W, FG-365S, FG-375S, and FG-351SB. The FG-350W became the new flagship model, replacing the FG-300, featuring an adjustable 1 piece saddle. The first solid top FG models were introduced carrying an "S" suffix, which previously indicated Sunburst finish [now noted as SB]. Three 12-String models were also introduced [all Jumbo], the FG-312, FG-412SB [cherry sunburst], and the FG-512 [rosewood plywood back & sides]. Other models included the Classical Folk body FG-325 [obsolete in 1978] and the Folk size FG-330 and FG-331. All these guitars featured white oval labels.
In 1978 a mid-range series [both Jumbo] was introduced featuring the FG-750S [solid spruce top, mahogany plywood back and sides] and the FG-770S, the first all solid wood non-hand crafted model, with a solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides.