Yamaha FG-350W Western

Very cool example of one of YAMAHA’s unsung HERO’s, only produced from 1977 to 1981. This guitar is dated to July 1980.

The 350W was more than a nod to the Gibson hummingbird and the SJ-200, and from the law suite era.

While most Yamaha FG guitars were based on the classic dreadnought shape, the "Western" series was designed to mimic the look and feel of high-end American acoustic guitars from the late 1960’s.

The FG-350W was actually a "flagship" model for Yamaha's export market. 
It features an adjustable bridge
allowing you to raise or lower the string height easily with a screwdriver without having to sand down the saddle.

A complete Sleeper vintage guitar, this was a premium model costing about £600 in 1980—equivalent to nearly £2,000 today!

It features multi-ply body binding and high-quality "Yamaha" branded tuners.

Spruce top with laminated rosewood back and sides, giving it a very deep, loud, and "Western" projection compared to the mahogany models.

Taking specific visual cues to create that high-end American look:

The "Western" Pickguard: That large, ornate floral design isn't just for protection; it was designed to mimic the engraved pickguards of Gibson's "Country and Western" models.

The Inlays: While standard Yamahas used simple dots, the block inlays on the 350W are a direct homage to the block and split-parallelogram inlays found on professional-grade Gibsons.

The Bridge System: Interestingly, Gibson was one of the few brands to experiment with adjustable bridges on acoustics in the 60s. Yamaha adopted this on the FG-350W to offer that same "modern" custom look.

Great Vintage guitar and getting thin on the ground these days. Feels and plays great.

Lovely vintage guitar for very reasonable cash.