1966-71 Yamaha FG-180 Red Label Jumbo Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar Neck Reset MIJ

The Elliott Smith guitar! I’m obsessed with this model.

Spruce top, Mahogany Back and Sides, Indian Rosewood fretboard.

Just got this back from a neck reset, I found this at a Salvation Army in rough shape. The neck was done by local luthier Ben Bruton, and it is playing fantastically. Sounds so good (I have a Soundcloud link for ya), easy to play, action is low and smooth. I have two of these. This is the nicer one. The other has seen the campfires too many times and itself needs a neck reset. One project at a time.

The cosmetics aren’t all that bad either. It’s pretty clean for being 50 years old. Check out the pics, you’ll see normal wear and some “sitting around” bumps and grinds. But no cracks or neck breaks or any of that. I’m guessing from the wear that at one time it was loved and played, and that by the mid 80’s sat in a closet until it showed up in my face, cause it was unplayable. The frets have some marking, but no denting, plenty of life left on them.

I’m proud to see this back in action and hopefully this will end up on many recordings, etc.

We put .12’s on it, (my preference). So it can sound deeper by adding heavier strings.

The Soundcloud link was recorded on a Rode NTR Ribbon mic, with UA 610A Unison pre, and a little Fairchild 670 Legacy plug in compressor. No EQ.