Yamaha "FG7"?

[llew]

The thought occurred to me it would be nice if Yamaha decided to build a FG7 to fill the gap between the FG5 ($1500) and the FG9 ($4000). After all...the LL Series has a 6, 16, 26, 36, & 56. Seems like with a 3, 5, & 9 they left out the 7?

[gr81dorn]

Originally Posted by llew

The thought occurred to me it would be nice if Yamaha decided to build a FG7 to fill the gap between the FG5 ($1500) and the FG9 ($4000). After all...the LL Series has a 6, 16, 26, 36, & 56. Seems like with a 3, 5, & 9 they left out the 7?

mis typed nevermind

[wevvy]

That's a very good points llew.
I've been thinking the same thing over the last few weeks as I'm just about to pull the trigger on a FS5 , definitely can't afford the '9'

[Pdubs76]

Can’t argue with that logic.

[doctone]

I'm curious what you think the FG7 should be like. So please come over with the specs...

[llew]

Originally Posted by doctone

I'm curious what you think the FG7 should be like. So please come over with the specs...

Not my place to say but.....maybe something between the FG5 and FG9. Lots of latitude there in build specs and in pricing. If it was left to me?

-1 3/4" bone nut with a minimum of 2 1/4" bone saddle spacing.
-Baked Sitka top with a choice of Mahogany or EIR back & sides.
-Scalloped bracing and tone bars.
-Ebony board and bridge.
-Full body gloss. (not the neck)
-Standard (25.4") scale for Dread and OM.
-Choice of Atmosfeel pick up or not.
-Hard shell case.
-Tortoise style pick guard.
-Neck profile similar to the FG5.
-More traditional fingerboard inlays.
-Upgraded tuners. (Maybe 510's?)
-A price point that's not prohibitive?

Just my 2 cents. Feel free to change or add your thoughts...

[martingitdave]

I thought of the same thing recently. I *think* I would like to see the FG-5 build with rosewood and long scale.

Just saw Jim’s post. Great minds think alike!

[YamahaGuy]

For those of us who plug in, I'd like to see ART make a comeback. If you don't know, it's a transducer style pickup. I'd love an FG7, ART, ARE, the new bolt on neck, rosewood b/s not sure about a top wood. The L series used Engelmann spruce. I'd be ok with Sitka I guess. 25 9/16" scale length. The multi ply neck. 44mm nut.

[Railroad Bum]

Originally Posted by llew

Not my place to say but.....maybe something between the FG5 and FG9. Lots of latitude there in build specs and in pricing. If it was left to me?

-1 3/4" bone nut with a minimum of 2 1/4" bone saddle spacing.
-Baked Sitka top with a choice of Mahogany or EIR back & sides.
-Scalloped bracing and tone bars.
-Ebony board and bridge.
-Full body gloss. (not the neck)
-Standard (25.4") scale for Dread and OM.
-Choice of Atmosfeel pick up or not.
-Hard shell case.
-Tortoise style pick guard.
-Neck profile similar to the FG5.
-More traditional fingerboard inlays.
-Upgraded tuners. (Maybe 510's?)
-A price point that's not prohibitive?

Just my 2 cents. Feel free to change or add your thoughts...

That sounds pretty reasonable, and it could be something we see in the next few years. From what I know, the FG9 has been a pretty big success.

Heck, you could take the FG830/820, make it with solid back and sides, maybe go 1 3/4" instead of 1 11/16" on the nut, upgrade the quality of the top and give it the ARE treatment, and make the nut and saddle bone instead of urea. Then you have something that would be incredible that you could sell in the $2Kish price range.

[bobster7]

Excellent idea.

[JanS]

With Yamaha’s success with the FG5, FS5 and now the FG9 models, I’d love to see an expansion of the model line to include FG7, FS7 and FS9 models.

The logistics of pulling that off however, may be easier said than done.

I have the new FG9 in mahogany and it’s fabulous. Would love to see a rosewood FS9 guitar someday.

[llew]

Originally Posted by JanS

With Yamaha’s success with the FG5, FS5 and now the FG9 models, I’d love to see an expansion of the model line to include FG7, FS7 and FS9 models.

The logistics of pulling that off however, may be easier said than done.

I have the new FG9 in mahogany and it’s fabulous. Would love to see a rosewood FS9 guitar someday.

Everything Ive seen and heard of the FG9 looks and sounds amazing...congrats on yours!

[TomB'sox]

Originally Posted by llew

The thought occurred to me it would be nice if Yamaha decided to build a FG7 to fill the gap between the FG5 ($1500) and the FG9 ($4000). After all...the LL Series has a 6, 16, 26, 36, & 56. Seems like with a 3, 5, & 9 they left out the 7?

Agree, it seems to me that perhaps a company that has made very good decisions throughout it's history left that space open on purpose??? Maybe they have a plan for a nice marketing niche to introduce the llew FG9 model!!! All I know, is I generally am a big big Yamaha fan.

[llew]

Originally Posted by TomB'sox

Agree, it seems to me that perhaps a company that has made very good decisions throughout it's history left that space open on purpose??? Maybe they have a plan for a nice marketing niche to introduce the llew FG9 model!!! All I know, is I generally am a big big Yamaha fan.

Tom...you don't want the llew FG9 model...the action is high and it won't intonate!

[TomB'sox]

Originally Posted by llew

Tom...you don't want the llew FG9 model...the action is high and it won't intonate!

No, not if that is included in the specs...... I learned on a half sized 30 dollar guitar and I swear the string height at the 12 fret had to be 1/4" and I am sure was not close to being able to be tuned. People say this, but my fingers would actually bleed from fretting it. I wish I still had that guitar just to look back at it, but I threw it out as soon as I got my first real guitar, ironically, a Yamaha FG160 around 1975 (which I do still have).