If you’re looking for a rare, vintage, collectible and just plain cool guitar, here it is!
This is a Yamaha SG-3 from 1966.
If you’ve never heard of, or seen one of these you’re not alone. This is quite a rare guitar.
The SG-3 and SG-2 (the two pickup model) were Yamaha’s very first foray into electric guitars. Upon initial launch in April 1966 they were called SG302 and SG201 but very soon after switched to the SG-3 and SG-2. SG standing for Solid Guitar.
The SG-3 was only a two year production run, 1966 and ’67.
With an obvious nod to the Jazzmaster, the Yamaha SG-3 is an amazingly well built and pretty innovative guitar.
The mahogany body, ‘humbucker’ and single coil pickup and innovative controls (they are different from the Jazzmaster) make this a really solid piece of early Yamaha electric guitar design.
The pickups are far superior to most Japanese units of the period, with the most interesting feature being the unique double-coil bridge unit. There are actually two independent single coils in the humbucker-looking housing, each differently constructed. The coil closer to the bridge has an extra magnet and metal bridge plate giving it a more powerful twang. The coils can be combined via the rearmost roller knob, allowing for an interesting mix of tones
This guitar is in very good condition showing only minimal signs of wear, especially for a 60 year old guitar!
There are a few nicks and dings and some ‘buckle rash’ – which looks worse in the photos than it actually is- on the back, please see the photos.
Functionally, it all works as it should. The pickups and controls all work well. The wiring and everything under the pickguard appears original.
The frets and fingerboard are in excellent condition with next to no visible wear. And look at that beautiful flamed maple neck and headstock back!
Action and playabilty are great with this SG-3. The neck is very comfortable and easy to play.
Sound-wise, this is a really fun guitar with lots of cool tones available. It’s not just a ‘surfy twang machine’ but has some grunt with the humbucker giving some great muscle.
Yamaha described this model as follows in 1966:
“The Yamaha Electric Guitar Model SG-3 is truly the ultimate in design and versatility for the professional player. The newly developed roller type mike balancer enables you to optionally select either pick-up or any intermediate tone available between these two pick-ups located near the bridge, thus making it possible for the first time to dial the desired tone quality. The Anisotrophic Ferrite Magnets used in these pick-ups assure a consistent quality of sound at all levels of volume. A preset switch is also used to make it possible to instantly select one of three pick-up combinations at the touch of a finger. The roller type bridge is completely adjustable in height and forward and backward for the individual player’s needs. The action of the tremolo arm is ball bearing, which assures a soft touch action. The neck is made of select maple and is fully adjustable to give the performer the fast action required in professional playing today. The scale is 25.5”. The body is comfort-contoured. A high gloss, scratch-resistant polyester finish is standard on all models. Available colors are Sunburst. Coral Red and Pearl White. The individual machine heads are chrome plated with metal buttons.
The volume and tone controls on lower part of the guitar work in the usual way for the main circuit, but the switch nearest the point of the upper horn allows you to select the alternate circuit which has separate volume and tone “wheels” just above the neck pickup. There is a third “wheel” situated slightly apart from the other two, slightly towards the housing for the rear two pickups.
There’s not many of these for sale in North America at the moment.
This Yamaha SG-3 is an excellent addition to anyone’s collection, a great studio guitar or one for the player that really wants an axe that stands out!
This one will be packed in a generic hard case to ensure safe shipping if need be.
