GAS attack .... Yamaha SG2000

[sgmypod]

I kinda go for the idea if it's that shafted on the back what life has the rest of it had

[varkunus]

isnt this the same guitar santana used to use live sometimes, and he could get insane sustain, not feedback with it. Like 25secs

[Ratrod]

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.

[mikeluke]

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?

[sgmypod]

We all do it mine was selling original 70's hiwatt 50 head and 4 x 12 cab..but hey you learn

[viking]

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  :) !

[Lew]

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.

[Philly Q]

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?

[varkunus]

didnt he use mesa mk Is or IIs throughout

[Ratrod]

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.

[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. 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.

[MrBump]

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.

[MDV]

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.

[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 .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.

[Philly Q]

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.