Yamaki Deluxe anyone?

[stormin1155]

Well, it appears this thread is now in about it's seventh resurrection. I have a soft spot for Yamakis. Here is mine... I purchased it with my high school graduation money back in '73. I've gone through dozens of guitars since then, and this is the only one that has stayed. I'll never sell it. Really a very good sounding guitar.

[Jersey tuning]

Originally Posted by bille

I have a 1977 Martin D28 and my other acoustic is a Yamaki Deluxe on the Headstock, it is indeed a Martin clone because the dimensions are almost identical Yamaki has a 44.4mm scale length the D28 is 44mm, inside it says Folk and No.115 but no serial number.

I have seen a couple of posts from people with this guitar but they say they have Serial Numbers and some have a letter W.

Mine has an adjustable Truss Rod from inside the sound hole so has no Truss Rod cover on the head stock.

Someone in Japan made some inquiries for me and they came back with it may have been an early production (Demo) used to show to music shops/retailers as it's strange that it doesn't have a Serial Number but this doesn't seem correct as I have seen some identical ones on ebay with no Serial Number.

I have the identical guitar, No. 115 with no serial number. It is date stamped 1970. I have owned it since,........1970. Willing to sell it, BTW.

[Bomber]

I have a folk deluxe and I had a OM style Yamaki, and both sounded great, especially given the fact that I paid under 200 for both. However, I don't know if the comparison to high end American made guitars holds.

In terms of size, shape and woods, the folk deluxe seems like its a copy of a D-18, but it doesn't have the sizzle of a D-18, even though the tone is nice. I wonder if that has something to do with the cedar top,

[Treyors]

Hi, long time lurker, first time poster.

I have a 1974 Yamaki AY303s that belonged to my father. Trying to to find out any model specific info about Yamakis is hard as is, especially since they all had different models numbers if you bought one in Canada.

The 303s seems to be a D28 copy save for the faux three piece back. It has an ebony fret board and a solid wood top, spruce Im assuming.

I loved listening to my dad play this when i was a kid, and it was a big day when he actually let me play it myself. It was the first guitar that growled at me when a chord was strummed. Still growls.

[pablojones]

Originally Posted by bobby b

Like so....





DSC_0054 by bobbyjeepyj, on Flickr





DSC_0049 by bobbyjeepyj, on Flickr

Cedar top? What model Yamaki is it? I have a Yamato that is identical. I wonder if Yamato had some of their guitars made by Yamaki?

[Wade Hampton]

It wouldn’t be surprising if Yamaki made your Yamato; there was a lot of subcontracting going on, especially back in the 1970’s and early ‘80’s.


whm

[pablojones]

Originally Posted by Wade Hampton

It wouldn’t be surprising if Yamaki made your Yamato; there was a lot of subcontracting going on, especially back in the 1970’s and early ‘80’s.





whm

Yeah I heard that was the case. I have seen Nippon made by Yamaki (I own two and they sound incredible), Barcley made by Yamaki and those were branded as such. Ive heard of other brand names guitars from that era made by Yamaki (no mention of Yamaki in the branding) but Yamato was never one of the suspected brands Yamaki built from the info I've seen. In any case, it also sounds very good. Cedar top, Rosewood b/s, adjustable bridge, zero fret, no name whatsoever on the headstock just Yamato 120 label inside. Looks like a Yamaki 118 or 120.

[tippy5]

I have one. I bought it new in 1972. Still have it. It went on many trips. It never had good tone but for $100 it was all I could afford. A nice one to have as my main acoustic until 1986 when I got another laminate guitar a Gibson J 55 1973. The frets and rosewood are worn down. Retired it 20 years ago to my ocean view upstairs room:

[pablojones]

Originally Posted by tippy5

I have one. I bought it new in 1972. Still have it. It went on many trips. It never had good tone but for $100 it was all I could afford. A nice one to have as my main acoustic until 1986 when I got another laminate guitar a Gibson J 55 1973. The frets and rosewood are worn down. Retired it 20 years ago to my ocean view upstairs room:

What model is it? That was my original question and reason in resurrection of this ancient thread.

[tippy5]

The sticker is long gone.
I know that the general model is a Deluxe Folk Yamaki (1972).

[pablojones]

Originally Posted by tippy5

The sticker is long gone.

I know that the general model is a Deluxe Folk Yamaki (1972).

Sometimes the model number is engraved on the neck block or near it. Nothing?

[YamakiMan]

Originally Posted by Treyors

Hi, long time lurker, first time poster.

I have a 1974 Yamaki AY303s that belonged to my father. <snipped>

It was the first guitar that growled at me when a chord was strummed. Still growls.

I have a 1972 AY303s. I bought it a few weeks after getting a new Yamaha A5R thinking "No way I'm exposing this Yamaha to the dangers of a family barbecue!" No, the Yamaki is not in the same league as the A5R but I still pick it up and play it because the action is great, it has a sweet sound, and yes, the low E string growls. It's a very nice guitar. It has a few rashes and a gouge on the top but the rest is nice enough that it deserves to have the rashes and the gouge filled in to restore most of its former glory. The headstock and neck are excellent, tuners are great, and with a set of GHS Phosphor Bronze strings it sounds very good indeed. I keep wondering whether I would have bought my A5R if I'd found the Yamaki first. Probably would have because the A5R is very special, but I often pick up the Yamaki when I want to learn something new.

[pablojones]

I wanted to upgrade my acoustic and spent last couple years trying many new and used guitars and ended up coming back to Yamaki and Daion. The tone, mojo and rare quality won out over new guitars costing thousands. I have 2 Yamaki and 2 Daions and love them. I'll never part with them