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Thread: yamaha mandolins

  1. #26
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: yamaha mandolins

    When I worked for Eldon Stutzman selling instruments back in the '70's, the Yamaha FG-75 was the standard basic "first steel-string guitar" we sold -- along with some Gianninis that would take silk & steel strings. As I recall, it listed at $75 -- same as the model number; in any case it was less than $100.

    Wonder how many of them are still around 45 years later? I had a nearly complete Yamaha PA in the '80's; still have two PA cabinets with 10-inch speakers plus tweeters, that I use as auxiliaries when I put out a "big" PA set-up. Good music gear all-around.
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  3. #27
    Registered User tree's Avatar
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    Default Re: yamaha mandolins

    Quote Originally Posted by Timbofood View Post
    Is it a D-25? Thee shop I worked in sold Guild (and Martin eventually) and we found that almost without exception the tops would “rotate” at the bridge making for miserable action! The solution we employed was the plane the bridge and reset the action that way, it worked quite well. We did that to my D-25 and it settled in pretty well. You just jogged my memory on that.
    Be safe.
    I have no memory of the model number, only that it was red and seems in my memory to have had a box that was slightly smaller than a regular dreadnought. I was sorely smitten after just having seen Bonny Raitt play a similar Guild . . .

    The repair shop I eventually took it to offered to "heat press" the neck, which was beyond my means (and I wasn't really confident that heat would correct the problem), so I unloaded it.
    Clark Beavans

  4. #28
    Mando accumulator allenhopkins's Avatar
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    Default Re: yamaha mandolins

    Quote Originally Posted by tree View Post
    I have no memory of the model number, only that it was red and seems in my memory to have had a box that was slightly smaller than a regular dreadnought. I was sorely smitten after just having seen Bonny Raitt play a similar Guild . . .
    Maybe a Guild F-30?

    The D-25's came in a variety of finishes; most I saw were either brown, "NT" (natural top) of unstained spruce, or with, as you say, a definite red finish. I think their dimensions were pretty much "standard dreadnaught." First they came with a conventional braced back, then later with a laminated, heat-pressed arched back.

    Great all-solid, US-made inexpensive guitar; in the early '70's we sold 'em for $179.
    Allen Hopkins
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  5. #29
    Registered User Timbofood's Avatar
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    Default Re: yamaha mandolins

    I don’t recall any D-25’s in natural top finish but, the “M” (mahogany) finish was what we sold the most, the “C” (Cherry) was just too bright!
    A buddy of mine played an F-20 for years, it was a dandy little guitar. Once played by Leon RedBone!
    Timothy F. Lewis
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  6. #30
    Registered User tree's Avatar
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    Default Re: yamaha mandolins

    Allen's link to red finish looks exactly like my old red guitar, I guess it must've been a D25! I played it with high action as long as I could stand it, developed a hell of a grip with my left hand, but eventually unloaded it and played mostly electric for 4 or 5 years during which time I also picked up an inexpensive little Harmony mandolin.
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  8. #31

    Default Re: yamaha mandolins

    The elusive Yamaha Mandolin was called The Californian and the label coincides with labels of the 1960's. I have one and have yet to find another. I have been searching online for several years. I will post pictures of the front, back and label.

  9. #32
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    Default Re: yamaha mandolins

    Quote Originally Posted by tntb View Post
    The elusive Yamaha Mandolin was called The Californian and the label coincides with labels of the 1960's. I have one and have yet to find another. I have been searching online for several years. I will post pictures of the front, back and label.
    Welcome to the forum; photos will make a lot of people very happy!

  10. #33
    two t's and one hyphen fatt-dad's Avatar
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    Default Re: yamaha mandolins

    Something to look forward to! A Yamaha mandolin photo!

    My FG-180 resides with our son in Brooklyn. I bought it with newspaper money in the early '70s.

    Needs a neck reset.

    f-d
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  11. #34
    Registered User DavidKOS's Avatar
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    Default Re: yamaha mandolins

    Quote Originally Posted by allenhopkins View Post
    When I worked for Eldon Stutzman selling instruments back in the '70's, the Yamaha FG-75 was the standard basic "first steel-string guitar" we sold -
    And that FG-75 model was the first acoustic guitar I bought. Nice little instrument.

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  13. #35
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: yamaha mandolins

    Quote Originally Posted by fatt-dad View Post
    ...I bought it with newspaper money in the early '70s...
    I bought my first Yamaha guitar in the very late 60's with busboy/dishwasher money
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
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    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
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  15. #36

    Default Re: yamaha mandolins

    There's a couple old FG-160's at a local pawn shop for around $149 each, but both of them need necksets........(otherwise, I would buy one!)

  16. #37
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    Default Re: yamaha mandolins

    Quote Originally Posted by tntb View Post
    The elusive Yamaha Mandolin was called The Californian and the label coincides with labels of the 1960's. I have one and have yet to find another. I have been searching online for several years. I will post pictures of the front, back and label.
    Still waiting. We’d love to see it and you won’t find better advice elsewhere.

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  18. #38
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: yamaha mandolins

    Apparently it's still elusive. I really want to see the pics.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
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    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
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  19. #39
    The Amateur Mandolinist Mark Gunter's Avatar
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    Default Re: yamaha mandolins

    Quote Originally Posted by rcc56 View Post
    If you look at the mandolin pictured in the above link, you will see that it has a "Washburn" logo on the head. Despite the advertiser's description, it is not a Yamaha at all.
    I noticed the same. Obviously, can't rust the dealer's descriptive powers,

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    Default Re: yamaha mandolins

    C'mon, man. Make with the Yamaha mandolin pics.
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  21. #41
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    Default Re: yamaha mandolins

    Julius Caesar syndrome - “They came, they posted, they never came back.”

  22. #42
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: yamaha mandolins

    Quote Originally Posted by Ray(T) View Post
    Julius Caesar syndrome - “They came, they posted, they never came back.”
    Et tu Ray(T)?
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
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  23. #43

    Default Re: yamaha mandolins

    My apologies for the delay, I don’t see a option to attach pictures or copy and paste. The model number of The Yamaha Mandolin is 601

  24. #44
    Registered User jim simpson's Avatar
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    Default Re: yamaha mandolins

    Interesting, there's a Suzuki model 601 for sale on Reverb:

    https://reverb.com/item/626042-suzuk...-mandolin-1969
    Old Hometown, Cabin Fever String Band

  25. #45

    Default Re: yamaha mandolins

    They look similar, different tuners and headstock, the label inside does say Yamaha Nippon Gakki No 601 and the label looks to be from the 1960’s. If someone wants to give me a email address I will send pictures. The picture upload process looks complicated. I am assuming the format is from many years ago.

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  27. #46
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: yamaha mandolins

    Instead of clicking on "post quick reply" click on "go advanced". On the top line, on the right hand side, you will see a paperclip symbol, click on that and you can upload images from your files.
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

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  29. #47
    Registered User jim simpson's Avatar
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    Default Re: yamaha mandolins

    Here are photos of Tim's Yamaha:
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

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    Click image for larger version. 

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    Old Hometown, Cabin Fever String Band

  30. #48
    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: yamaha mandolins

    I don't see where "The Californian" is on the label. I suspect that both the Suzuki and the Yamaha were made in the same factory. That makes me wonder who the real manufacturer is as Suzuki mandolins have been around for years. Has Yamaha been building for Suzuki or is Suzuki building for Yamaha? I also suspect that the label might be more 70's than 60's as Yamaha dropped the red in the 70's but who knows. At least we've seen one that actually is labeled Yamaha. The Suzuki model isn't a real barn burner. Apparently Suzuki did label a year on some of these similar models. There's a similar 1975 model Suzuki out on Google images.
    "It's comparable to playing a cheese slicer."
    --M. Stillion

    "Bargain instruments are no bargains if you can't play them"
    --J. Garber

  31. #49
    Registered User Charles E.'s Avatar
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    Default Re: yamaha mandolins

    Californian is written in script on the head stock.
    Charley

    A bunch of stuff with four strings

  32. #50

    Default Re: yamaha mandolins

    What I find strange is Yamaha only used that particular label and logo with a Piano from 1934 to 1936.

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