Yamaha FG’s have gone thru many changes since their introduction in 1966. Some are obvious, some are not. It may not be obvious that there were subtle changes made between about 6 months and nearly 3 years after the Red label FG’s became available in the beginning of 1967.
The guitars pictured in this article are my 1967 FG-150 (s/n 622548, date code 42.3.17), and 1971 FG-180 (no s/n, date code 46.7.??).
The first difference is in the label itself. Initially “YAMAHA GUITAR” is shorter and bolder. The lines above and below are also thicker. The change to the common label happened in June/July 1967. It’s possible this early label was only used on the FG-150 & FG-180. I’ve found a couple of very early FG-110’s with the common label.
EARLY VERSION
COMMON VERSION
Moving outward, the next difference is in the pick guard. The most obvious difference is the later pick guard has a more pronounced protrusion at the fretboard end. It’s also thicker around the sound hole (covers slightly more of the rosette). The radii are larger on the body of the pick guard.
EARLY PICK GUARD
COMMON PICK GUARD
The size of the fret position dots decreases from 5mm to 3mm. This was changed late 1969. It’s possible the 5mm dots were was only used on the FG-150 & FG-180. I’ve found early FG-110, FG-140 & FG-230 with 3mm dots.
EARLY POSITION DOTS
COMMON POSITION DOTS
The shape and material of the end pin changed from wood to plastic.
EARLY END PIN
COMMON END PIN
The last 3 are changes on the headstock. Initially the truss rod cover was bell shaped and says “REINFORCED NECK”. In late 1968 it was changed to the common triangular shape with the 3 tuning fork symbol and says “YAMAHA”.
The next change is less noticeable. The early tuner buttons are thicker. .245” (6.2mm) vs. .210” (5.3mm). This only pertains to the FG-150 & FG-180, which have metal tuner buttons. The FG-230 (12 string) has smaller buttons and the lower priced FG-75, FG-110 & FG-140 have plastic buttons. I don’t yet have enough data to say exactly when this change was made, but the first guitar I’ve found with “thin” tuner buttons is December 1968, but I’ve found a few thin/fat models in the next 6 months.
Also, the marking at the top of the headstock stayed as “YAMAHA” for export models. It became the 3 tuning fork symbol for models made for Japan. This change looks to have been made in early 1968.
EARLY TRUSS ROD COVER AND TUNER BUTTONS
COMMON TRUSS ROD COVER AND TUNER BUTTONS
Side views of the tuner buttons.
EARLY TUNER BUTTONS
COMMON TUNER BUTTONS
It’s possible that these changes only apply to models FG-150 and FG-180, since those where the first models made. I’ve found a few early FG-75, FG-110, FG-140 & FG-230’s that break from these changes. The “budget” models FG-75, FG-110 & FG-140 have plastic tuner buttons, and all I’ve found have 3mm fret position dots and the common label.
I haven’t spent any time looking for when the pick guard shape and end pin changed.
For every observed Yamaha “Rule” there always seems to be a few exceptions.
Added 10/16/20 – AND, I just discovered another minor variation in the gold YAMAHA logo on the headstock. 1967, and possibly early 1968, models have a fatter font. I never noticed it until I was trying to duplicate the logo for a 1967 FG-180.
EARLY NORMAL
I did a CAD layout for each one.
EARLY
