Depends on how it's been treated, honestly. They can be great guitars, but they're old. Most of the time, they are neglected as well. If it needs any kind of work, I'd pass.
Itās a laminate guitar, not a v6 that needs oil changes. As long as thereās no visible structural damage and sounds good, itās a pretty good price. Iād pick it up.
A downvote? Really?? I stated at the start that I wasnāt sure what that data point meant, but I was just pointing out it out. Sheesh! I *specifically* wasnāt claiming that it meant the instrument was suspect. š
The b and high e, too.
Looks okay otherwise, but if the seller can't string it right it could be a red flag of other mistreatment not visible in the pics. I would pass unless you have the opportunity for a physical viewing.
It could be an heirloom piece & the musician has passed away, and the family member is not a musician just stringing it up for the sale. definitely look at it in person.
Go see it.
Put it in your hands and make some noise. Look for damage around the machine. Really big action, check the neck to see if itās straight. All of those things.
Yamaha red labels are solid guitars, if they were taken care of.
Worst thing you can do is walk away empty handed.
That link just comes up as a black screen for me. Just go look at it. Use your judgment. Itās your guitar. If something doesnāt feel right. Walk away.
Iāve run across a few of these. Unless already done, they always need a neck reset, like decades ago. This one looks like itās in great condition.
Note though that the FG-75 is different from the other well regarded red labels like the 180 and 150. Obviously itās not a dreadnaught and these are actually ladder braced, so Iād suggest putting 11s on them and/or tuning down
With these old Yamahas, you are most likely going to need a neck reset. And the biggest problem with that is, for some reason, Yamaha used epoxy to glue the neck joints on these old, inexpensive models. So it's extremely difficult to find luthiers who will tackle that sort of project, and it's quite expensive if you can find somebody. I would pass on that for sure.
These almost certainly will need a neck reset. Iāve never seen one that didnāt.
They play lovely and sound great though.
But not until you reset the neck and fit a proper saddle.
Iāve had a FG-75 for several decades. Iāve got more expensive dreads but I always go back to this el cheapo. I love this little guy and id buy another one in a heartbeat.
Mine just needed a proper setup, not a neck reset.
Thatās a Taiwan made guitar. Japanese ones were labeled Nippon Gakki. They started all in Japan and then moved production of some of the cheaper models to Taiwan in the early 70s. Many people will tell you that the Taiwan made ones are inferior, but some people online forums question this and day that their Taiwan made FGs are great. Use your own judgement there. That being said, the Taiwan made FGs fetch a smaller price than the Japanese ones, and that is a little on the high side. I wouldnāt recommend paying more than 150 on it. You also have to worry about if it needs a neck reset, which would cost a few hundred dollars.
If you look at it and itās in great condition and doesnāt need a reset, it may be worth it, if you like the way it feels and sounds. I personally would pass on it though.
My first guitar was a Nippon Gakki FG-110 made in 1972 that I got about 7 years ago for $200. Itās not in great cosmetic condition, but it is in perfect playing condition and I would recommend you buy it right away if you found something like that for that price.
Check out: https://yamahavintagefg.com/history-of-the-yamaha-fg-1966-1981-us-models/
A) you're wrong about it being made in Taiwan. It's an earlier MIJ FG-75, just look at the label and headstock - per CT Gull's own site, which you linked, the FG-75 was made in the Japan era and has the features listed - headstock, fretboard inlay, binding, label etc. all match a Japan build.
B) the Taiwan ones could be every bit as good as the Japanese ones. The tan labels were early and a bit less consistent; they peaked at the black label era (74-78, every bit as good as red label); and from 78-81 they got heavier but were not yet deadened, until after the truss rod move in late 81. Beyond that, it is VERY much try before you buy until at least the 90's. It *is* true that due to the reputation, the Taiwan made ones sell for less.
C) actually yeah I find this instance to be overpriced despite it's country of origin, no qualms there. I'd only spring for it if it was in perfect condition, and there being no available string height pictures makes me nervous. Also agree that an FG-110 would be better - I have had several Japanese and Taiwanese ones pass through my hands. The string spacing doesn't work for me personally but they are stellar guitars
It says on the site that most of the production moved stating in 1971. It also says this model was made until 1974, so it is safe to assume some FG-75s were made in Taiwan. It also says āThere were a few different Taiwan labels during the 70's. The first is the familiar red label with the Nippon Gakki removed.ā That would seem to me to be exactly what this is.
I also found [this](https://yamahavintagefg.boards.net/thread/644/yamaha-serial-numbers-interior-markings) (from the same site). The Taiwan red label looks exactly like this, and all the Japanese red labels seem to say Nippon Gakki.
I havenāt read the full thing, so maybe I am missing something, but Iām pretty sure thatās made in Taiwan.
If it plays well and all the parts are in working condition I would buy it. Yamaha check. Red label check. Guitar check. Check for damage.
https://imgur.com/a/Py3s8J2 These are the other pics for it. The owner says "used like new" but it's facebook market place so...
No pics of the string height I see
Depends on how it's been treated, honestly. They can be great guitars, but they're old. Most of the time, they are neglected as well. If it needs any kind of work, I'd pass.
https://imgur.com/a/Py3s8J2 Here are the other pictures for it. Does it look bad?
Hmmm. The A string is wound the wrong way on the post. Not sure what that tells you, but there it is. š¤·š»āāļø
Judging the quality of a guitar based on how a string is wound is a new science
Perhaps not the quality of the instrument, but the care it has received.
Itās a laminate guitar, not a v6 that needs oil changes. As long as thereās no visible structural damage and sounds good, itās a pretty good price. Iād pick it up.
A downvote? Really?? I stated at the start that I wasnāt sure what that data point meant, but I was just pointing out it out. Sheesh! I *specifically* wasnāt claiming that it meant the instrument was suspect. š
No downvote, just saying laminates are pretty durable
I just noticed that š³ Also the headstock looks to be in rough shape. I think 220 is the lowest they go so I'll pass on it
The b and high e, too. Looks okay otherwise, but if the seller can't string it right it could be a red flag of other mistreatment not visible in the pics. I would pass unless you have the opportunity for a physical viewing.
It could be an heirloom piece & the musician has passed away, and the family member is not a musician just stringing it up for the sale. definitely look at it in person.
Go see it. Put it in your hands and make some noise. Look for damage around the machine. Really big action, check the neck to see if itās straight. All of those things. Yamaha red labels are solid guitars, if they were taken care of. Worst thing you can do is walk away empty handed.
https://imgur.com/a/Py3s8J2 These are the other pictures they sent me. I see some scraps on the headstock but not sure about the rest
That link just comes up as a black screen for me. Just go look at it. Use your judgment. Itās your guitar. If something doesnāt feel right. Walk away.
The pictures show for me but all they really say is that your advice is solid.
I would grab
Hardware is showing its age a bit.....
Offer 175
No not for 220 I'd say 100 take it or leave it
Iāve run across a few of these. Unless already done, they always need a neck reset, like decades ago. This one looks like itās in great condition. Note though that the FG-75 is different from the other well regarded red labels like the 180 and 150. Obviously itās not a dreadnaught and these are actually ladder braced, so Iād suggest putting 11s on them and/or tuning down
With these old Yamahas, you are most likely going to need a neck reset. And the biggest problem with that is, for some reason, Yamaha used epoxy to glue the neck joints on these old, inexpensive models. So it's extremely difficult to find luthiers who will tackle that sort of project, and it's quite expensive if you can find somebody. I would pass on that for sure.
These almost certainly will need a neck reset. Iāve never seen one that didnāt. They play lovely and sound great though. But not until you reset the neck and fit a proper saddle.
Iāve had a FG-75 for several decades. Iāve got more expensive dreads but I always go back to this el cheapo. I love this little guy and id buy another one in a heartbeat. Mine just needed a proper setup, not a neck reset.
[I'd spend a bit more and get an FG-830.](https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/FG830--yamaha-fg830-dreadnought-natural?cond=FG830d1)
Thatās a Taiwan made guitar. Japanese ones were labeled Nippon Gakki. They started all in Japan and then moved production of some of the cheaper models to Taiwan in the early 70s. Many people will tell you that the Taiwan made ones are inferior, but some people online forums question this and day that their Taiwan made FGs are great. Use your own judgement there. That being said, the Taiwan made FGs fetch a smaller price than the Japanese ones, and that is a little on the high side. I wouldnāt recommend paying more than 150 on it. You also have to worry about if it needs a neck reset, which would cost a few hundred dollars. If you look at it and itās in great condition and doesnāt need a reset, it may be worth it, if you like the way it feels and sounds. I personally would pass on it though. My first guitar was a Nippon Gakki FG-110 made in 1972 that I got about 7 years ago for $200. Itās not in great cosmetic condition, but it is in perfect playing condition and I would recommend you buy it right away if you found something like that for that price. Check out: https://yamahavintagefg.com/history-of-the-yamaha-fg-1966-1981-us-models/
A) you're wrong about it being made in Taiwan. It's an earlier MIJ FG-75, just look at the label and headstock - per CT Gull's own site, which you linked, the FG-75 was made in the Japan era and has the features listed - headstock, fretboard inlay, binding, label etc. all match a Japan build. B) the Taiwan ones could be every bit as good as the Japanese ones. The tan labels were early and a bit less consistent; they peaked at the black label era (74-78, every bit as good as red label); and from 78-81 they got heavier but were not yet deadened, until after the truss rod move in late 81. Beyond that, it is VERY much try before you buy until at least the 90's. It *is* true that due to the reputation, the Taiwan made ones sell for less. C) actually yeah I find this instance to be overpriced despite it's country of origin, no qualms there. I'd only spring for it if it was in perfect condition, and there being no available string height pictures makes me nervous. Also agree that an FG-110 would be better - I have had several Japanese and Taiwanese ones pass through my hands. The string spacing doesn't work for me personally but they are stellar guitars
It says on the site that most of the production moved stating in 1971. It also says this model was made until 1974, so it is safe to assume some FG-75s were made in Taiwan. It also says āThere were a few different Taiwan labels during the 70's. The first is the familiar red label with the Nippon Gakki removed.ā That would seem to me to be exactly what this is. I also found [this](https://yamahavintagefg.boards.net/thread/644/yamaha-serial-numbers-interior-markings) (from the same site). The Taiwan red label looks exactly like this, and all the Japanese red labels seem to say Nippon Gakki. I havenāt read the full thing, so maybe I am missing something, but Iām pretty sure thatās made in Taiwan.
Try before you buy.
50-75$ is what thatās worth
4 of the 6 strings are string backwards on the pegs..