Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Scotty477 on May 24, 2008, 11:15:58 AM

Title: GAS attack .... Yamaha SG2000
Post by: Scotty477 on May 24, 2008, 11:15:58 AM
I've had GAS before, which I've been able to resist (Edwards LP's are a good example) but this .... this is acute GAS, which I may not be able to stave off much longer.

This is the problem .....


(http://www.yamaha-europe.com/picture_archiv/products/10_Musical_instruments/guitars_basses_amps/electric_guitars/SG2000_medium_jpg.jpg)





My local store has them retailing for  .... £999. That's a good 2 or 3 hundred off of list price.

I played it as well - which was a mistake as it's quite simply a better guitar than my Gibson Les Paul. It was set up perfectly off the wall and the ebony fretboard and mahogany/maple neck was a dream to play ....

I'm sooo dead when the wife sees me trying to sneak this into the house  :D[/img]
Title: GAS attack .... Yamaha SG2000
Post by: Jonny on May 24, 2008, 11:22:32 AM
lol, anyways. Have you bought it already?
Title: GAS attack .... Yamaha SG2000
Post by: Scotty477 on May 24, 2008, 11:24:46 AM
Ta Jonny.

No not yet. I'm seriously trying to think of reasons not to lol. I can't decide if I prefer it in Tobacco sunset or ebony right now.
Title: GAS attack .... Yamaha SG2000
Post by: Philly Q on May 24, 2008, 11:25:50 AM
Just buy it!  I'd love one of those if only they weren't so heavy.
Title: GAS attack .... Yamaha SG2000
Post by: sgmypod on May 24, 2008, 11:26:30 AM
is that original one or reissue?
Title: GAS attack .... Yamaha SG2000
Post by: Jonny on May 24, 2008, 11:27:24 AM
They look a bit chubby (probably further more expressed with the weight) and the horns always put me off, but I think that gives better access to the top frets.

It's looks mighty purdy though, especially the ebony! Which none of my guitars have..
Title: GAS attack .... Yamaha SG2000
Post by: Scotty477 on May 24, 2008, 11:29:08 AM
It's a 2008 reissue.

A small guitar shop up here has an original (1981 I think), which is a bit beat up for £750 and to be honest there is no difference in sound / playability between the two - or weight.
Title: GAS attack .... Yamaha SG2000
Post by: Scotty477 on May 24, 2008, 11:31:56 AM
Quote from: Jonny
They look a bit chubby (probably further more expressed with the weight) and the horns always put me off, but I think that gives better access to the top frets.

It's looks mighty purdy though, especially the ebony! Which none of my guitars have..


Yeah the ebony model looks very nice and changes the whole feel of the guitar from a vintage look to downright mean ...  :D


(http://images4.thomann.de/pics/bdb/193624/19559_800.jpg)
Title: GAS attack .... Yamaha SG2000
Post by: sgmypod on May 24, 2008, 11:32:57 AM
I do like them....loved the originals..and the ibanez artists as well
Title: GAS attack .... Yamaha SG2000
Post by: Philly Q on May 24, 2008, 11:34:34 AM
It's also one of the few guitars which looks absolutely right with gold hardware.  One of those rare designs which is just damn-near perfect.

Agree about the Ibanez Artist, too.  They're both blingy guitars, but blingy in an elegant way.

Gwan, buy it!
Title: GAS attack .... Yamaha SG2000
Post by: Jonny on May 24, 2008, 11:35:05 AM
Quote from: sgmypod
I do like them....loved the originals..and the ibanez artists as well

+1 for Ibanez Artists
Title: GAS attack .... Yamaha SG2000
Post by: sgmypod on May 24, 2008, 11:48:02 AM
Only shame is original Yam sg's and ibanez artists either cost a fortune or look like they have been hacked with an axe
Title: GAS attack .... Yamaha SG2000
Post by: Scotty477 on May 24, 2008, 11:57:57 AM
Quote from: sgmypod
Only shame is original Yam sg's and ibanez artists either cost a fortune or look like they have been hacked with an axe


Yup. The 80's original SG2000 that is for sale up here has 2 large gouges in the back of the body, as if someone hit it really hard with something. It plays and sounds great but WTH happened to it I wonder?

I've seen this before - very often in the same place.
Title: GAS attack .... Yamaha SG2000
Post by: sgmypod on May 24, 2008, 12:06:47 PM
yeah there was a great artist near me in ebony with white binding look great from front..odd mark...back looked like chainsaw massacre gouges all over
Title: GAS attack .... Yamaha SG2000
Post by: Jonny on May 24, 2008, 12:10:49 PM
Maybe it's naturally due to the construction of the guitar. And belts. Then again I've never seen someone play a semi-acoustic with an axe tied to his belt.
Title: GAS attack .... Yamaha SG2000
Post by: sgmypod on May 24, 2008, 12:13:07 PM
I kinda go for the idea if it's that shafted on the back what life has the rest of it had
Title: GAS attack .... Yamaha SG2000
Post by: varkunus on May 26, 2008, 01:35:06 PM
isnt this the same guitar santana used to use live sometimes, and he could get insane sustain, not feedback with it. Like 25secs
Title: GAS attack .... Yamaha SG2000
Post by: Ratrod on May 26, 2008, 06:19:58 PM
Yamaha SG's are great guitars. Most of them are built better than Gibbo's. Pickups aren't bad but lack character. electronics are ace.They are heavy. They're tanks. The tuners will need replacing after 20 years or so.
Title: GAS attack .... Yamaha SG2000
Post by: mikeluke on May 26, 2008, 08:28:25 PM
Sigh....

Always wanted one...

I had an SGB1500 from the USA but it was quite beat up and I sold it on. Few years back went to look at a black (original) SG2000 but decided against it - it was £400.... the things that we get wrong, eh?
Title: GAS attack .... Yamaha SG2000
Post by: sgmypod on May 26, 2008, 08:31:07 PM
We all do it mine was selling original 70's hiwatt 50 head and 4 x 12 cab..but hey you learn
Title: GAS attack .... Yamaha SG2000
Post by: viking on May 26, 2008, 10:23:11 PM
I will try to help,Machinehead  :) !Back in the days (80's),one of my friends had a YAMAHA SG2000 and i had a Gibson LP,we used to compare them  and,really,the SG completely lacked in character.Tonewise, it was not comparable at all.At a  Santana concert,he was still playing his SG then (80's),Mick Taylor joined him on stage and the difference in tone was incredible,the "real" and "full" tones came from his old LP and ,again,you could hear the lack of character of the Yamaha SG.Even in Santana's records,you can hear the difference.Lack of "soulness","richness" and character...It's maybe not a coincidence if his worst years were with him playing the SG  :twisted: Of course,nowadays,it's easy to swap the PU's ,put some BKP's,find a good tech to set it up perfectly with some mods and the SG will probably  become a very nice axe but it was not the case in the 70's-80's....So,it's kind of weird to hear all the fuzz about the Yamaha SG's !Now,i  hope i cured your gas about it once and for all  :) !
Title: GAS attack .... Yamaha SG2000
Post by: Lew on May 26, 2008, 10:53:39 PM
The local shop has 3 of these!!
Two originals and 1 reisue, the originals tops arent matched very well but I prefer them to the reissues.
Title: GAS attack .... Yamaha SG2000
Post by: Philly Q on May 26, 2008, 11:16:02 PM
Quote from: viking
Even in Santana's records,you can hear the difference.Lack of "soulness","richness" and character...It's maybe not a coincidence if his worst years were with him playing the SG  :twisted:

His worst years?  Moonflower?!!!  I think he sounds infinitely worse on his newest records, so are PRS guitars shitee too?

And come on, there are many more factors in a live or recorded sound than just the guitar a person's using!  Amps, mikes, recording equipment, the sound engineer... and do we even know he was using the Yamahas in the studio?

Is this just a wind up to cure Machinehead's GAS?
Title: GAS attack .... Yamaha SG2000
Post by: varkunus on May 27, 2008, 09:40:46 AM
didnt he use mesa mk Is or IIs throughout
Title: GAS attack .... Yamaha SG2000
Post by: Ratrod on May 27, 2008, 10:54:33 AM
My SG400 is over 30 years old. It has a three piece, unmatched plain maple top in tobacco sunburst and everybody loves the look of the thing.
Title: GAS attack .... Yamaha SG2000
Post by: Doadman on May 27, 2008, 11:21:16 AM
I would also have to question the comment about Santana's worst years being with a Yamaha SG. To me, 'Moonflower' remains one of my favourite ever recordings and the tone sounds awesome. I like pretty much everything that Santana does but I don't think his PRS guitars offer any kind of improvement over his old Yamaha and are arguably worse. I had the good fortune to play an SG2000 many years ago and the memory of it still sends shivers down my spine. I can't say I was a very good player so I wish I could try one now that I'm slightly better but ever since that day, a Yamaha SG has been on my wish list.  I'd say that if you have the money free to buy it, then go for it as it's just such an incredible instrument. If you do feel the guitar needs a litle extra, I'm sure Tim would steer you in the right direction for pups.

I love the Ibanez RG I have, though I'd like to upgrade to a Prestige RGT some day but this thread has made me think of what other guitars I'd like if I won the lottery. Only two leap to mind. One would be a Yamaha SG2000 and the other would be a Gibson Johnny A. signature model.
Title: GAS attack .... Yamaha SG2000
Post by: MrBump on May 27, 2008, 12:28:32 PM
SG2000 for under a grand?

What's with the discussion?  If you have the money, buy it, then send it 'round to me for inspection...

(Ebony.  That's the one to go for.  It looks amazing...)

Mark.
Title: GAS attack .... Yamaha SG2000
Post by: MDV on May 27, 2008, 08:20:25 PM
Yeah, do it. I havent played a yamaha SG that (with the caveat that its ot really my bag in ways that cant be avoided) wasnt a great guitar.
Title: GAS attack .... Yamaha SG2000
Post by: viking on May 27, 2008, 09:57:06 PM
Quote from: Philly Q
Quote from: viking
Even in Santana's records,you can hear the difference.Lack of "soulness","richness" and character...It's maybe not a coincidence if his worst years were with him playing the SG  :twisted:

His worst years?  Moonflower?!!!  I think he sounds infinitely worse on his newest records, so are PRS guitars shitee too?

And come on, there are many more factors in a live or recorded sound than just the guitar a person's using!  Amps, mikes, recording equipment, the sound engineer... and do we even know he was using the Yamahas in the studio?

Is this just a wind up to cure Machinehead's GAS?
Indeed,i was trying to help Machinehead :wink: .About Santana,in my opinion,his best years were BEFORE "Amigo"(Europa) and he was playing with Gibson's.The  guitar change coincided with what i regarded ,at the time,as a decline.I saw him Live many times in those days and i thought there was indeed a big difference in his guitar tone when he started to play the Yamaha..In the seventie's,Santana was one of my favourit guitarist and,at the time,i thought that his LP"Amigo"( with the hit "Europa") was the beginning of the end...It looks like the PRS rejuvenated him a little bit but it was never the same again..So,my quote was half a joke (cfr.emoticon) but that's how i felt about it in those days.
Title: GAS attack .... Yamaha SG2000
Post by: Philly Q on May 27, 2008, 10:53:16 PM
Fair enough, I don't have your experience of seeing Santana live in those days.  And to be honest, I think the band started going downhill after Santana 3 :lol:  - but not due to the guitar tones, maybe it was the drugs, or the Devadip/Sri Chinmoy thing, or something...

I do really like individual tracks off the late '70s albums, though, and I love Moonflower.  I liked his solo albums from that period too - Oneness: Silver Dreams Golden Reality and some of The Swing of Delight.  I must admit the jazzier stuff loses me.
Title: GAS attack .... Yamaha SG2000
Post by: ilÿti on May 27, 2008, 11:19:31 PM
Quote from: Doadman
I would also have to question the comment about Santana's worst years being with a Yamaha SG. To me, 'Moonflower' remains one of my favourite ever recordings and the tone sounds awesome. I like pretty much everything that Santana does but I don't think his PRS guitars offer any kind of improvement over his old Yamaha and are arguably worse.

Agreed to the max. Actually I think Santana's recent tone is horrible. So much expensive gear, yet it just sounds so thin and nasal.
Title: GAS attack .... Yamaha SG2000
Post by: Scotty477 on June 02, 2008, 11:33:54 PM
Just a quick update on this.

I've postponed getting myself a Yamaha SG2000 for the time being. I may well get one at a later date but I've just got myself a USA Fender Strat Plus, so I'm fundless for a few weeks  :(

I'll do the usual NGD thread when I get it ... and I'll be looking (and listening) to the single coil clips with interest  :wink: