SN dating help-Yamaha slothd-12 to 5-course Octavello conversion

[Dobe]

Don't know if it's vintage yet, thought this might be the place to post. Anyone have 'the gift' for Yamaha guitar dating ? I've gone through the 3 - 4 google links & can't seem to figure this one out. I'm guessing late 70"s to early 80's. It's a slothead 12-string dread with simple gold YAMAHA silk screen ? hdstk logo. Fully bound,nice bookmatched Rosewood ply. Diamond inlay position markers.

FG-512 Taiwan - sn- 1244158 not orange label

Soon to be an Octavello 5 course (E-A-D-G-C). Neck width seems just right, plus don't have to mess with fbd binding. I thought perhaps a simple removeable muting of the high E or low C could give you a four course flavor of either instrument; or just learn 5.
Any help greatly appreciated !

[Clement Barrera-Ng]

According to the Yamaha Archive website, the FG-512 was made from '77 to '81 so your estimate is spot on. Guitars from that period usually have the first digit of their serial number denoting the year of production. So if I have to guess I'd say it's a 1981.

Keep us posted as to how the conversion goes. I see a lot of these Yamaha 12 stringer around and I have definitely thought about doing a similar conversion myself.

[Eddie Sheehy]

I have an earlier FG-230 12-string I've been thinking of converting...

[mrmando]

Please, no more made-up words! It's a liuto cantabile.

[Eddie Sheehy]

Why not? It's a made-up instrument...

[mrmando]

Calace and Vinaccia already made it up a hundred years ago!

[Dobe]

The 5-course is served:

Cittern ? Octave-MandoCello ? Guit Box !? Ah- Liuto Cantabile, Bueno !!

[Eddie Sheehy]

Excellent. What gauges did you use on the strings?

[Dobe]

Low C's - 56-59 waiting on 70;s
G- 49's
D-36's
A-23's
E-16's ? I'm pretty sure on those.
Beefey !

[Eddie Sheehy]

So it's a 10-string?

[Dobe]

Please, no more made-up words! It's a liuto cantabile.

Seems I'm living in the age of acrynomys? Just thought I was being hip ? Cool ? With it ?
Guess I'm just getting old !!!

[Dobe]

So it's a 10-string?

Yep !

[Clement Barrera-Ng]

Sounds great. Wonderful playing too. Congrats

[Eddie Sheehy]

So you have the original B strings (16's) tuned up to E? And the original E (bass) strings tuned down to C? That's got to be a lot of tension on the treble 16's...

[Eddie Sheehy]

I started tuning/detuning my 12-string ... I left the octave strings on... I'm holding off on tuning the high G up to A (chicken) and I think I'll keep the high E's at 12's and swap the B's (14's) out... maybe I'll tune it all down a step - Bb F C G D and use a capo on 2 to reduce tension and maybe risk using pairs instead of octaves....

[Eddie Sheehy]

...and I'm thinking of swapping out the high G for a B (16) and dropping it a step... so many choices...

[Eddie Sheehy]

Current tuning dD gG dD AA EE - the high G snapped on the way up to high A so I popped in a heavy B (17) and matched the A (low G up 1 step). It's got a nice zouk ring to it. I kept the nut and bridge and just use the top 10 slots and bridge pins.

[Eddie Sheehy]

Replaced the A ( G wound 23) and the A (17) with the old B's (14's). I gots me a Cittern - cCgGdDAADD with Octave Bass strings - Liuto Mirabile...(go on, I dare you...)

[Clement Barrera-Ng]

Not bad Eddie. Is it the FG-230? The fret markers look a bit.. non-standard Sounds good my friend

[Eddie Sheehy]

Thanks, the fret-markers are transfers, just for a bit of pizzazz...

[Rvl]

What is the nut spacing?
I have a 12 on the bench now
Waiting on strings and want to make the nut

Thanks

Robert VanLane