Epic Axes is a musician-driven showroom in Los Angeles. Each guitar is personally selected, inspected, and tested to ensure top performance - only instruments we would play ourselves become part of our collection. Text us to book a visit.

1981 Yamaha SG800 - Persimmon Red - Made in Japan / Pro Setup

A killer early-’80s Yamaha SG800 in the classic Persimmon Red finish, made in Japan during one of Yamaha’s most celebrated eras of guitar production.

This example is in really good condition for its age and has been professionally set up, playing clean and comfortably across the entire neck. The frets remain in good shape with plenty of life left, showing only even, normal wear - no deep grooves, buzzing, or dead spots.

The guitar retains its original Yamaha humbuckers, stamped SG 56.7.15, with the original Bi-Sound switching on both pickups. The push-push controls split each humbucker for brighter single-coil-style tones, giving the SG800 a surprisingly wide tonal range beyond the classic thick SG sound.

Cosmetically, the guitar shows some finish discoloration / clouding, most noticeably on the back of the body, as well as areas of the neck and the front and back of the headstock. This is a very common aging characteristic on Yamaha SG models from this period and is seen on many surviving examples. It is purely cosmetic and, in our opinion, adds a great authentic vintage character to the guitar.

The SG800 is a fantastic example of Yamaha’s golden-era Japanese craftsmanship: solid construction, excellent sustain, comfortable double-cutaway design, quality hardware, and a powerful but articulate pickup set. These guitars have earned a strong reputation as serious vintage instruments rather than simply alternatives to their American counterparts.

Overall, a beautiful and very playable 45-year-old Japanese-made Yamaha, with honest cosmetic aging, strong original electronics, healthy frets, and all the character you want from an early-’80s SG.

Professionally set up and ready to play. No case included. Weight: 8.88lb

The following work has been done: full fretboard conditioning with lemon oil, fret polish, pickup height adjustment for balance and clarity, and a fresh set of D’Addario 10-46s installed. String height at the 12th fret on the low E is right at 2.2 mm - set for comfortable playability. 

Body

• Construction: Solid body, set-neck
• Wood: Mahogany body with Maple top
• Finish: Persimmon Red, gloss
• Shape: Yamaha SG symmetrical double-cutaway
• Binding: Cream body binding
• Contours: Carved top with double-cutaway design

Neck

• Material: Mahogany
• Joint: Set-neck
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Inlays: Split-wing
• Frets: 22
• Scale Length: 628 mm / 24.72"
• Nut Width: 43 mm / 1.69"
• Neck Binding: Cream

Hardware

• Bridge: Yamaha Tune-O-Matic-style bridge
• Tailpiece: Yamaha stopbar tailpiece
• Tuners: Yamaha sealed die-cast tuners
• Knobs: Gold speed knobs
• Pickup Rings: Cream
• Hardware Finish: Chrome

Electronics

• Pickups: 2x original Yamaha humbuckers, stamped SG 56.7.15
• Controls:
  • Volume (neck)
  • Volume (bridge)
  • Tone / Bi-Sound (neck)
  • Tone / Bi-Sound (bridge)
• Bi-Sound System: Independent push-push coil split for each pickup
• Switching: 3-way pickup selector
• Output Jack: 1/4" mono
• Configuration: HH
• Electronics: Original

Other

• Model: SG-800
• Year: 1981
• Made in: Japan
• Finish Color: Persimmon Red
• Hardware Color: Chrome
• Condition: Excellent for its age
• Frets: Good condition with plenty of life remaining; normal, even wear with no significant pits, buzzing, or dead spots
• Electronics: Original Yamaha pickups and electronics; fully functional Bi-Sound system on both pickups
• Cosmetic Condition: Finish discoloration / clouding present, particularly on the back of the body, neck, and front and back of the headstock; a common aging characteristic on vintage Yamaha SG models from this era. Otherwise very clean for its age
• Case: No case included
• Setup: Professionally set up, inspected, and ready to play