Yamaha MSG Custom (called Image Custom in the US) 1989

In the late 80's PRS was becoming the premium brand of choice for beautifully carved flame maple top guitars; combining the best of the Les Paul and the Strat into something unique. Yamaha wanted a piece of this action too and enlisted UK luthier Martyn Booth to design something to rival or better PRS without trying to copy Paul's design. Martyn hit the ball right out the park with this one - the MSG (Martyn's Solid Guitar) although it was called the Image in the US.

This particular example is an absolute stunner!

The top is a gorgeous piece of flame maple (although it is a simple figure it is wonderfully consistent and straight) which would be Artist grade on a PRS (I have 3 to compare it to!).

The back and neck are fantastic pieces of mahogany.

It has a lovely Brazilian Rosewood fretboard; so unfortunately can’t be shipped outside the UK or EU due to CITES restrictions.

LED fretboard markers.

Active mid boost.

Individual coil taps for each pickup.

The trem is a unique design with a thumb screw that lets you set the amount of upward travel available from ‘80’s hair metal string abuse to solid (ie like having the trem screwed down to the body) so that you can easily switch to drop D tuning without the need to retune the whole guitar; then switch back to floating for the next song 🙂

Here is a lreview from Vintage Guitar with more details.

I bought this guitar new from RJM Music in Kilmarnock and have gigged with it ever since. The guitar has a few minor marks and some light bucklerash as you would expect from a 30 year old instrument but it is really in excellent condition for its age. Original case (some marks as you would expect - that’s why you have a case: to stop the guitar taking the knocks!) original hang tag is still in the case too.

There is some minor tarnishing on the gold plating but, again, no more that you would expect for a 30 year old classic.

Everything works perfectly.

The MSG Standard and Deluxe models come up for sale from time to time but the Custom is a rare beast indeed.

Here is a little video of this guitar in action: