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After some of the recent posts about setting up guitars and how important that is to the luthier, I started looking for a cheapy dread and classical to start working on. I purchased two Yamaha's. The SS is nice with EIR sides and back, spruce top. I found that it was built in 85. The frets have nice dents from use, so I will attempt to refret it and set it up the way I like to play.
My problem child is the classical. It is old. I wanted to find out more about it before I messed it up. It is a No. 45 made in Japan. I tried the SN finder on yamaha's site, but to no avail. I called the factory and all they could tell me was that it was made in '61. It has flamed maple sides and back and a black verticle stripe on the headstock. I am sorry I don't have a pic of it yet, but will post one a little later.

Anyone have any info on this?

thanks,
chris

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Chris Oliver
Infinity Luthiers
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Here are some pics.

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Chris Oliver
Infinity Luthiers
...in the shop.

live every minute...

Before you go and re-setup that classical for sure as well as the steel string take good notes on there setup at present.

The 85 steel string is not likely to be worth much more than you paid, but if you got both cheaply I would investigate the Classical pretty deeply. back then Yamaha built some very nice classicals so be for you go and change anything make sure you did not get a steal

Offtopic, but that is one weird plantilla they used.  Is the maple laminated? The rosette is neat.

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Build log

Thanks Michael,
I'm hoping someone in the forum knows something about Yamaha guitars or at least to what other forums or persons I should inquire. I have no idea about their history or whether they are regarded as great or just walmart stock. Thanks for the heads up on the classical. I think I'll start on the SS while investigating the classical.
chris

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Chris Oliver
Infinity Luthiers
...in the shop.

live every minute...

Alex,
It does have an unusual shape. I haven't checked for laminated wood yet, I thought I clean it up and take a look inside this weekend. Unfortunately the rosette has some damage on both sides of the neck. You can see the missing wood if you look closely.
chris

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Chris Oliver
Infinity Luthiers
...in the shop.

live every minute...

I have owned only one Yamie it was a 1973 FG260 12 string solid rosewood bs and Sitka top. It was a great guitar I think I paid $250 for it in 1973. It was stold in 1985. I decided to replace it with there new model when insurance paid off. They had changed a lot in the 12 years. It was not near the guitar as the 73 model. So I went to a Yairi instead.

Wished I could help on the Classical but all I know is that I was told by an instructor that the pre 70s Yamie-Mamie's classicals were very nice guitar and worth more now in good condition that newer models ans some very prized.

Is there a Yamaha forum? I'd sure do some checking. It looks to be in really good condition for a '61.

Ron

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Ron Wisdom

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Looks like a student guitar that the student wasn't very interested in playing. Though the pictures don't show what kind of action (or belly) it has, it looks to be in great shape for being 50 years old. Looks to be inlaid herringbone with a sticker around it that's now starting to come off.

What's up with the bass strings? How do they anchor to the bridge?

The base strings are just threaded through like a steel string would be if it were put on the guitar... ie. these nylon base strings have the little nubbin on the end like a steel string does. There is a channel where the rosette parts are missing, so I don't think they are stick-ons?
I did notice that inside the box there is a definite fade line. I think this may have been hanging near a window for a long time.
I am going to clean it up and do a decent inspection on it tonight. I'll let you all know if I find anything interesting.
chris

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Chris Oliver
Infinity Luthiers
...in the shop.

live every minute...

Well, as it turns out, this is a keeper. I have been trying to glean info from different sources and finally, with the help of others, found a sneaky fellow over at the larrivee forum. Apparently this model was made in Japan, and was the first classical under the Yamaha name. There were other earlier models named 'Dynamic' by Yamaha. This was also the first of the Yamaha's exported to the west ...ern hemisphere. The little JIS 9202 logo on the headstock indicates that this one was probably made in 1963. It has a solid spruce top and solid flamed maple sides and back. Maple neck with mahogany fretboard. The rosette is inlayed wood as well. Apparently this particular model is very rare, which, doesn't mean much to the value since it is not a martin.

So I had thought about just cleaning it up, restringing it and playing away. I found that the three base strings on it were actually steel strings. This caused some issues:



So I have got to remove and reglue the bridge. In addition, it appears to have had some fretwork done.



You can see how the frets have been file flat on the left side. This flattening extends from the first fret up to around the tenth.
Also notice that the frets do not extend to the edge of the fretboard. This is weird. Isn't it usually the other way around?

Another issue, or non-issue?, is that there is relief in the neck. If I remove the frets. Do I clamp the neck straight, sand flat, refret, check them for even height, clean them up and then let the neck spring back? Or, am I looking at a much more sinister task... remove its neck!
Any advice will be appreciated.
thanks,
chris

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Chris Oliver
Infinity Luthiers
...in the shop.

live every minute...

Glad you looked it up. Being a 60's model I thought it might be one of the solid wood models