1960s Yamaha FG-230 Jumbo 12-String Guitar
Overview: Here's a nice "Red Label" (Japanese-made) Yamaha 12-string. I bought this from a customer who wanted to move it on and, post-repairs, it's now playing like a champ and rings like crazy. It has a big, chimey, punchy voice and when you crosspick or strum it nearer the bridge, it immediately sounds like a ton of old '70s 12-string recordings. It's nice and even.
Interesting features: It's got the cool, original-style Yamaha tuners which work nicely and the cool, original-style Yamaha metal truss cover. The pickguard is also classic and, though it doesn't look it, it's tortoise-colored. The neck is a big old thing, so if you like that, you win!
Repairs included: I gave it a neck reset and setup and Max leveled and dressed the frets. Jose helped max make a new saddle for it. It's playing bang-on and has a quick, easy feel.
- Weight: 4 lbs 10 oz
- Scale length: 25"
- Nut width: 1 7/8"
- Neck shape: big C/soft V
- Board radius: 16"
- Depth at first fret: x
- Depth at seventh fret: x
- Body width: 16 1/4"
- Body depth: 4 1/2"
- Top wood: ply spruce
- Back & sides wood: ply mahogany
- Bracing type: x
- Bridge: rosewood
- Fretboard: rosewood
- Neck wood: mahogany
- Action height at 12th fret: hair-under 3/32” bass 1/16” treble (fast, spot-on)
- String gauges: 46w-9 extra light D'Addario
- Truss rod: adjustable
- Neck relief: straight
- Fret style: medium/lower
Condition notes: It's in pretty good order, with mild-medium usewear (light scratches, scuffs) throughout. It looks more like an '80s Yamaha than a '60s one, to be honest -- a lot cleaner than I'd expect for its age. It's all-original except for the saddle. Yamaha did place the saddle a little too far to the rear on most of their guitars and this one is the same, so while the broad intonation is good, we didn't have enough width at the saddle slot to do the 100% fully-compensated setup we normally do.
It comes with: This guy has a gigbag as I recall.
Consignor tag: JW
Comments
I'm highly interested in this Yamaha FG-230, but as you know, vintage 12-strings are prone to neck angle issues over time. Before I purchase, could you please provide a few quick measurements?
1 Action height: What is the string height (in 64ths of an inch or mm) from the top of the 12th fret to the bottom of the low E and high E strings?
2 Saddle height: Approximately how much wood-exposed saddle material is left sticking out above the bridge slot? Is it bottomed out?
3 Straightedge test: If you lay a 24-inch straightedge flat along the frets, does the end of the ruler rest right on top of the wooden bridge, or does it hit below the top edge?
4 Truss rod: Is there still functional room left for adjustment on the truss rod?
Thank you so much for taking the time to check