Yamaha SG Series — A Pillar of Japanese Original Design

The Yamaha SG series stands as one of the great monuments of Japanese original guitar design.

Yamaha first created the prototype of the SG in 1972,
and remarkably, the company has continued to refine and sustain the series for over forty years.
Such longevity owes much to Yamaha’s corporate strength,
but it also reflects something rarer — the dedication to preserving even a small, unprofitable division like the guitar department.
That commitment deserves admiration.

For dating these instruments, the book The History of YAMAHA Guitars: Over Sixty Years of Innovation
includes a serial number reference chart in its appendix — a very useful resource for collectors.

This particular guitar bears the serial number 065123,
which, according to the chart, places it between 059620 and 096639,
identifying it as a 1982 production.
A stamp reading “57.1.28” on the back of the front pickup confirms this,
corresponding neatly with the manufacturing date.

It features a three-piece hard maple top with a single-piece body construction.
The center maple core of the body forms a “T” cross-section with the top,
a structure Yamaha calls T-cross maple.
The body is impressively thick, giving the guitar a formidable presence.

At the time, the retail price was ¥150,000.
Weight: 4.35 kg (including strings).
(Updated August 28, 2016)