
( Brand: Yamaha ), ( Model: FG-450S ), ( Part Type: Acoustic Guitar ), ( Size: Full Size ), ( String Configuration: 6 String ), ( Dexterity: Right-handed ), ( Model Year: 1987 ), ( Body Material: Rosewood ), ( Soundboard Style: Flat Top ), ( Body Type: Dreadnought )
The Yamaha FG-450S is a vintage acoustic dreadnought guitar, manufactured by Yamaha in 1987. This instrument is part of Yamaha's renowned FG series, which has earned a reputation for delivering high-quality acoustic guitars that provide excellent playability, rich tone, and durability.
The FG-450S features a solid Sitka Spruce top, which is known for its ability to deliver powerful and balanced sound with clear highs and articulate mid-range. The top is supported by Meranti back and sides, known for their strength and stability, ensuring the guitar maintains its tone and structure over time. The Nato neck provides a comfortable playing experience, with a slightly rounded profile and a scale length of 25.3 inches, making it suitable for various playing styles and hand sizes.
The FG-450S boasts a number of features that contribute to its superior playability and tone. The rosewood fingerboard and bridge offer a satin finish and smooth feel, allowing for fluid fingering and accurate intonation. The 20-fret design provides ample access to the upper register, catering to players who prefer to explore the higher frets. The bridge saddle is constructed from graphtech tusq, a synthetic material that offers excellent stability and durability, ensuring consistent intonation across the instrument.
The guitar's dreadnought body shape provides a full and resonant sound, making it a popular choice for both strumming and fingerpicking styles. The scalloped bracing pattern under the top further enhances the guitar's acoustic properties, allowing for better sound projection and improved bass response. Additionally, the FG-450S comes equipped with a Function X-type bridge pins, which improve string tension, allowing the strings to sit more firmly in the saddle and ultimately enhancing tuning stability and tone transfer.
In summary, the Yamaha FG-450S is a 1987 vintage acoustic dreadnought guitar with a solid Sitka Spruce top, Meranti back and sides, and Nato neck. Its features include a rosewood fingerboard and bridge, scalloped bracing, Function X-type bridge pins, and a 20-fret design, all contributing to its excellent playability and rich, balanced tone. The FG-450S is an ideal choice for any guitarist looking for an acoustic instrument that delivers superior sound quality and durability, with a vintage aesthetic and the reputation of Yamaha's FG series behind it.
The Yamaha FG-450S acoustic dreadnought guitar, manufactured in 1987, is a popular choice among musicians for its balance of affordability, playability, and tone. In this analysis, we'll assess the pros and cons of investing in this guitar model based on playability and tone.
Pros (Playability):1. Comfortable neck: The FG-450S features a matured neck that has smoothed out with age. This makes playing comfortably for extended periods.
2. Scalloped bracing: This design element in the guitar allows for better soundboard vibration and can make playing easier due to the increased sheets of wood in the soundboard.
3. Versatile: The dreadnought body shape offers a solid sound and allows the guitar to handle various playing styles, making it an appealing option for both strumming and fingerpicking.
Cons (Playability):1. Action height might need adjustment: The string height might be too high for some. In such cases, an adjustment from a professional luthier may be necessary.
2. Fretwork: The frets on some of these older models might show signs of wear and may benefit from dressing or replacement to enhance playability.
Pros (Tone):1. Rich, balanced sound: With a solid Sitka spruce top and rosewood back and sides, the FG-450S delivers a rich, full-bodied sound with clear highs and strong bass notes.
2. Projecting tone: Its dreadnought body type enables this guitar to produce a powerful and projecting tone that older models are known for.
Cons (Tone):1. Age-related tonal variations: Every guitar ages differently. While most FG-450S models deliver a pleasing tonal balance, others may have developed peculiarities due to age-related changes in the woods.
Conclusion:The Yamaha FG-450S guitar (1987) offers a decent balance of playability and tone, making it an appealing choice for musicians. The pros of the model, such as the comfort neck, scalloped bracing, rich tone, and versatile body shape, outweigh the cons, including potential action height and fretwork issues. Overall, the FG-450S is a solid investment for those looking for an affordable and high-quality instrument. However, it's advisable to have a professional evaluate the guitar for any necessary adjustments before purchasing.
Recommendation:For the best experience, explore different models in person and play them extensively if possible. Check for any signs of wear on the frets, tuning pegs, and other essential components. An experienced guitar technician can provide valuable input and suggestions to ensure you find a FG-450S guitar with optimal playability and beautiful tone.
This guitar is a cannon. It is very hard to put this guitar down. The logo was changed from dove to leaf, but guitar design is same, very well made. The x braced top is bound with abalone ,along sound hole.
It does have one small dent on the back 1/2 inch, its hard to see and not affect playability or tone. The action is excellent. To my ears, it is comparable Gibson martin acoustics. For your consideration is this amazing vintage, Yamaha 450s acoustic dreadnought guitar.
There are no cracks on this guitar. It is definitely a very high end model. Totally awesome. The body is made from a solid spruce top and rosewood.
The head stock and fingerboard are also fully bound. Please see all the photos and feel free to ask questions before buying.
It is very loud and has an incredibly sweet tone. The fret board is made from ebony ,inlaid with mother of pearl fret markers. The body is fully bound.
This model is the same as Yamaha dove it very fancy ,with its colorful, ab abalone head stock logo and leaf design unfortunately, I wan't able to get abalone colors come out in photos, but does look spectacular. Speaking of playability and tone.