1972 Yamaha FG300 – £849

NEW ARRIVAL  Along with the FG-140 and FG-180, the Yamaha FG-300 was one of the original six-string jumbo acoustics built in Japan starting in 1969, and it became the flagship guitar for Yamaha in the late sixties and early seventies. Built in 1972, this is a Nippon Gakki tan label Yamaha which was never made for export, but for the Japanese market only. There’s an argument that these guitars were built to a higher spec than the earlier Red labels, as they were ‘too good’ to export. It’s certainly one of the best examples I’ve played, and it captures a moment in time when – certainly in the folk scene – anyone who was anyone played a Yamaha. This example is in very good condition, with no cracks or repairs, just a few light nicks and dings. It’s a more deluxe model than the FG180, featuring classy fingerboard inlays, a beautifully designed pickguard, and a very cool adjustable saddle. The playability is excellent, and it has a room filling sound. One of the tuners is missing it’s back cover, and there’s a plugged jack socket on the bottom corner. The guitar comes in a modern hard case.