1966 Yamaha SA-50 Semihollow Electric Guitar

Overview: God dang is this a beaut of a guitar! It's in a blue finish that has aged to a deep kelly/jade green (I surmise, unless it was all green originally) and the serial points to first year of production for the model. At that point, this was likely a "Japanese domestic market" instrument. These handle a lot like an ES-335 (though the pickups are more "mini humbucker" in brightness and snap) but with surf-style characteristics -- the Jazzmaster-like whammy feel is a huge part of this model's attraction to me and it works smoothly and beautifully.

The neck is quick and easy, it sits in the lap just-so, has gorgeous lines, and the hardware is high-quality throughout. The pickup housings are even cast -- how about that? It also has actual f-holes that have a recessed panel behind them so they're 3-dimensional but covered which helps with feedback busting. The design team at Yamaha thought of everything...!

I've owned a number of '60s, early Yamaha electrics and have loved every one of them. The build quality on them rivals Fenders from the time and some of their design features out-do Fenders from the era as well. They're solid, practical instruments and the fact that this needed so little after its many years in the world testifies to that.

Repairs included: I gave it a level/dress of the frets, mild cleaning, new strings, and a setup. It's playing spot-on and ready to go. Someone before me fit Schaller tuners (a nice upgrade) at some point.

• Weight: 7 lbs 12 oz
• Scale length: 24 3/4"
• Nut width: 1 5/8"
• Neck shape: medium C/oval
• Board radius: 16"
• Depth at first fret: 0.85"
• Depth at seventh fret: 0.92"
• Body width: 15 3/4"
• Body depth: 1 3/4"
• Body wood: ply maple (likely)
• Bridge: adjustable (fully)
• Fretboard: rosewood
• Neck wood: maple (likely)
• Pickups: 2x mini-humbucker
• Action height at 12th fret: 1/16” overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 46w-10
• Truss rod: adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: medium-lower

Condition notes: It's original throughout save for the tuners. There are mild nicks, dings, and scratches here and there (the worst is in first position at the back of the neck but it's hardly noticeable) but it's overall in excellent health and looks great.

It comes with: It has its original, Yamaha-branded, hard case.

Consignor tag: JW