Yamaha SG2000

rays44 · Sep 21, 2014

Purchased new in '78 during my formative "Santana" years.

It's a great guitar that was squarely aimed at competing with Gibson. Construction quality, fit and finish are excellent. Neck through body, ebony board, carved maple top on a laminated mahogany body. Bridge sits on a brass block set into the body (Santana's suggestion) for added sustain. Heavy, but not a boat anchor and has a belly cut in the body for comfort.
The sound has a focused punch and sharp attack not unlike LP Customs from the era. It really plays and sounds like a good Norlin custom with double cut away access to the upper frets.
It is still in my rotation and is currently fitted with Harmonic Design Bridge and Duncan 59 neck p/u's.

Nobi · Sep 21, 2014

cool darkburst, looks great.

tdarian · Sep 21, 2014

I had one that looked identical.

brandtkronholm · Sep 22, 2014

How do these compare with the Ibanez Artist of the same era?

I've coveted a late 70s Ibanez Artist or Yamaha SG2000 from the moment I saw them - but I found the necks to uncomfortable. Each Ibanez I came across had a thin C neck with sharp shoulders. The Yamaha necks seems even thinner.

CutieJones · Sep 22, 2014

Got an Ibanez Artist, AR100 model back in 1979. Never thought I would be able to afford Gibson Les Pauls.
Since then I have gone through a LOT of Gibsons . . . still got the Ibanez .

stevek · Sep 24, 2014

I have an 80's SG3000 which is a beast in more ways than one. It weighs so much that bass players say "bloody hell" when they pick it up to take a look.

I also recently picked up an SA-1200S, which is a spruce topped 335 type with an ebony board, also from the early 80's.

Yamaha guitars get little love but I've never played a bad one.

rays44 · Sep 24, 2014

brandtkronholm said:
How do these compare with the Ibanez Artist of the same era?

I've coveted a late 70s Ibanez Artist or Yamaha SG2000 from the moment I saw them - but I found the necks to uncomfortable. Each Ibanez I came across had a thin C neck with sharp shoulders. The Yamaha necks seems even thinner.

Those late '70's guitars were great sounding instruments. My SG2000 has a very comfortable "C" shape neck of medium profile. Not thin at all.
I think they are comparable in workmanship (very good). I think the Artist had active electronics and/or switches for series/parallel, phase, etc. The Yamaha was straight forward although I added a push pot for coil splitting the bridge.

rays44 · Sep 24, 2014

stevek said:
I have an 80's SG3000 which is a beast in more ways than one. It weighs so much that bass players say "bloody hell" when they pick it up to take a look.

I also recently picked up an SA-1200S, which is a spruce topped 335 type with an ebony board, also from the early 80's.

Yamaha guitars get little love but I've never played a bad one.

The SG3000 is a beauty with the shell inlays. I came up in the '70's and never had a problem with weight. My SG 2000 is not nearly as heavy as some LP's from the same era. I find the belly cut helps a lot too. The 335 styled "SA" guitars were also very nice.

Flogger · Sep 25, 2014

brandtkronholm said:
How do these compare with the Ibanez Artist of the same era?

I've coveted a late 70s Ibanez Artist or Yamaha SG2000 from the moment I saw them - but I found the necks to uncomfortable. Each Ibanez I came across had a thin C neck with sharp shoulders. The Yamaha necks seems even thinner.

I was selling both when new, and I've always had a soft spot for the Yammies, they seemed to go a little further to get a nice instrument. I've liked the Musicians and Artists that I've played, but I prefer the feel and sound of an SG/SGB.

Dave P · Sep 26, 2014

I recently sold my SBG1000, I probably should have kept it as it was really lightweight. Oh well, I have other Yamahas.

Mark Kane · Sep 26, 2014

After buy and selling about a dozen of these here are the 3 I ended up with. first one is a late '70's Japan market SG1500, neck thru but it looks like the neck is maple with a mahogany center strip, opposite of what most neck thru's are. Second is a late '70's SG3000. This guitar is a monster, all original, fat neck, great, great pickups. Last is an early '80's SBG2100. the only difference I can see from a 2000 is the bridge and tailpiece are closer together like the 3000 and the bridge is the narrower design like the 3000. And it's got a birdseye top and more subtle burst than others I've seen. Pickups are swapped out for Duncans. All guitars have push/push coil taps on both tones. Totally enjoy playing these things.

rays44 · Sep 26, 2014

Mark Kane said:
After buy and selling about a dozen of these here are the 3 I ended up with. first one is a late '70's Japan market SG1500, neck thru but it looks like the neck is maple with a mahogany center strip, opposite of what most neck thru's are. Second is a late '70's SG3000. This guitar is a monster, all original, fat neck, great, great pickups. Last is an early '80's SBG2100. the only difference I can see from a 2000 is the bridge and tailpiece are closer together like the 3000 and the bridge is the narrower design like the 3000. And it's got a birdseye top and more subtle burst than others I've seen. Pickups are swapped out for Duncans. All guitars have push/push coil taps on both tones. Totally enjoy playing these things.

Those are some nice looking guitars Mark:dude: Wish those long shaft push/push pots were still available.
Though not similar at all in construction, these guitars are like SG's on LP steroids. :salude

davidd · Oct 7, 2014

Here is my 1976 SG 1500.

Yamaha SG2000

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