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Yamaha guitar FJ-651

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 Steve Parker 05 Feb 2009
I just got one of these secondhand off eBay. 1993 and pretty rare. Seems like the business. But I've never heard of them before. Anyone know anything about them? Bit of an open-ended question, but any information at all would be appreciated.
 Danzig 05 Feb 2009
In reply to Steve Parker: Yamaha have always made decent guitars and some of the high-end kit rivals any of the top US custom shops. The FJ was the jumbo acoustic (?) if mem-serves, very good and as long as its been looked after it should last you another 15 years easy. I don't play my acoustic (Ovation Balladeer) much these days-mainly electric stuff ala Lynch/Rhoads etc. You get a case with it?
OP Steve Parker 05 Feb 2009
In reply to Danzig:

No, didn't get a case, and I imagine a case will be pricey as it's not a usual-shaped guitar. It's kind of fatter and wider around the big curves, if that makes any sense... I'm liking it so far as it looks like a sort of 50s jazz thing and has a huge sound and a nice action.

Yeah, I've mainly been playing electric too, so this thing has got my fingertips hurting all over again.

All good, though. Thanks for the reply.

 Jimmy D 05 Feb 2009
In reply to Steve Parker:

Been Googling and can't find much - I'm intrigued - you say it's 50s jazz style - does it have f-holes, arched top, etc.?
 nolo 05 Feb 2009
In reply to Steve Parker: Sounds nice! Any chance of a few pictures?
OP Steve Parker 05 Feb 2009
In reply to Jimmy D:
> (In reply to Steve Parker)
>
> Been Googling and can't find much - I'm intrigued - you say it's 50s jazz style - does it have f-holes, arched top, etc.?

Nah, that would have to be acoustic-electric, wouldn't it? this is just acoustic, but with a slightly weird shape.
OP Steve Parker 05 Feb 2009
In reply to nolo:

I'll put a pic up in a minute.
 Dominion 05 Feb 2009
In reply to Steve Parker:

Not really an answer, but I've got a Yamaha FJ-645A, which is very nice, got a beautiful neck, and nice tone.

I bunged a piezo-electric pickup under the bridge, and that works a treat, too...
OP Steve Parker 05 Feb 2009
In reply to Dominion:
>
> I bunged a piezo-electric pickup under the bridge, and that works a treat, too...

How much bottom end do you get out of that then?

Or is it very trebly? Seriously...
 Blue Straggler 05 Feb 2009
In reply to Steve Parker:

I think you should pimp it up to look like Mr. Greedy. It's already halfway there!
OP Steve Parker 05 Feb 2009
In reply to Blue Straggler:

Suggest some ways. I'm all ears.
OP Steve Parker 05 Feb 2009
In reply to Blue Straggler:

Will I still be Mr Cool 1955 Basin Street etc, though???
 Dominion 05 Feb 2009
In reply to Steve Parker:

It was pretty good, from what I recall. Needs new strings, and a new battery at the moment, though.

In fact the pain is that to get at the battery, you have to take the strings off, as the battery sits inside the guitar, and access is via the soundhole.
 Simon 05 Feb 2009
In reply to Steve Parker:
> (In reply to Danzig)
>
> No, didn't get a case, and I imagine a case will be pricey as it's not a usual-shaped guitar.


Looks nice - as for a case - google "body glove" - its a kinda well padded soft case that is quite light and takes differing sizes acoustics -love mine & never use a hard case these days... I got mine trade for about £60

Si
 Jimmy D 06 Feb 2009
In reply to Steve Parker:
> (In reply to Jimmy D)
> [...]
>
> Nah, that would have to be acoustic-electric, wouldn't it? this is just acoustic, but with a slightly weird shape.

No, there have been plenty of purely acoustic jazz guitars with arch-tops and f-holes, e.g.

http://www.archtop.com/PageMill_Resources/34L5ri2.jpg

What you've got there is a nice looking Jumbo, a design introduced by Gibson in the 30s and favoured in country/rock'n'roll circles (see Elvis, Emmylou Harris, Etc.). I love em.

You should be OK getting a case, as it is a standard shape, albeit one not as popular as Dreadnought, OM etc.

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