Home
General May Music Studio
May Music News
The Tao of Music
Get Smarter
Request a Lesson
Guitar **GUITAR LESSONS**
Discount Guitars
Sell Your Guitar
Vintage Guitar Values
Vintage Amp Values
Guitars for Sale
Guitar Foot Pedals
Discount Guitar Pedals
Guitar Gifts
Free Guitar Tabs
BASS LESSONS
Free Bass Tabs
Discount Bass Guitars
Piano **PIANO LESSONS**
Discount Keyboards
Piano Gifts
Drums **DRUM LESSONS**
Drum Gifts
Discount Drums
Drum Tabs
Tabs On Demand
Drum Music Books
Drum Tracks
Theory/Comp **MUSIC THEORY**
**SONGWRITING**
Promote **FEATURED ARTISTS**
**BAND PROMOTION**
More  **MUSIC STORE**
Free Software
Music Sweepstakes
**MAKE  MONEY!**
Site Site Search
Contact
Site Map
Link to This Site
Subscribe
Privacy Policy
[?] Subscribe To This Site

XML RSS
Add to Google
Add to My Yahoo!
Add to My MSN
Subscribe with Bloglines

Yamaha FG-110

by Samantha Katz
(NY)

I recently went to the guitar store to get my strings changed, and the employee informed me that my guitar is vintage, which is something I never knew. It's a Yamaha FG-110, it has the red label inside that says Nippon Gakki. The serial number is 20317134, and it is located in the sound hole right beneath the neck. I'm not sure if I have the original case, how would I go about finding that out? The case seems old enough to be the original. Sound quality is very good. The guitar has minor scratches and dents that are barely noticeable, and there is also a slightly more visible scratch about that is about 7.5 inches in length on the front of the body. There is a small chip in the top left corner of the headstock. On the upper right side of the body there is a spot 1 inch long and 1/2 cm wide where the finish has a scratched-off appearance. The finish on the outer right rim of the sound hole is also a little scratched-off. Overall, I would say the guitar is in good condition, but that is not an experts opinion.

ANSWER

Hi, Samantha--

The FG series has been surrounded by a lot of controversy as to value. Owners swear by them and the Blue Book values on them are very low.

Here is the Blue Book general info:

FG-110
- folk-style body, spruce top, maple or katsura back and sides, round soundhole with multi-ring rosette, black body binding, nato neck, 14/20-fret bubinga fingerboard with dot inlays, three-per-side nickel-plated tuners with plastic buttons, rosewood bridge, black or tortoise pickguard, available in Natural finish, 25 in. scale, mfg. 1969-1973.

The pricing info:

Excellent $150 - 200
Average $95 - 120

I am sure that your guitar is worth much more to you and really, that is all that matters.

Lynne

Comments for
Yamaha FG-110

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Jan 12, 2012
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
damaged FG-110
by: Anonymous

I bought my FG-110 at a salvation army a couple of years ago. At the time it played beautifully. But I went to put new strings on it and the bridge has pulled away from the top. I was wondering if it was economically worth getting repaired?

Nov 04, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Keep it. Love it. Then pass it on.
by: Anonymous

You have the better of the two version (Japanese made v. Taiwanese). It's a very nice instrument. Go spend $40 to have it set up properly, and it will play like a Stradivarius. Almost any old Yamaha is like this.

Yes, the 110 has a truss rod you can use to adjust the neck. It's under the plastic cover on the headstock. I would not exactly call this being "steel reinforced", though. That's not the truss rod's purpose.

No, I would not put nylon strings on a steel string guitar. The necks on steel stringers built to handle the higher tensions... they _expect_ higher tension. Nylon probably won't play well on a steel string guitar; expect lots of string buzz (do nylons buzz, exactly?), specially on the higher strings, due to string diameter. Caveat: unless you have it set up wierdly.

Yes, the case you have is probably original if it is the "Cardboard" kind.


Oct 10, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
FG-110 Details, please?
by: Anonymous

Does the FG-110 have a steel reinforced neck? Can the neck be adjusted with a wrench of some sort?

Sep 26, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
An FG-110 fan, for sure!
by: Joseph

Bought my FG-110 red label in the late seventies off a friend who needed money. I'd played it a few times prior and loved its bell-like tone and relative ease of play. Told him to tell me if he ever wanted to sell it. Think I gave him about $70. Far from pristine, the pick guard was coming off, lots of scratches and the tuners creaked and cranked unevenly. Cleaned it up, glued the pick guard back on and installed a set of Gotoh chrome tuners. Still sounds and plays wonderful after all this time. The favorite of our five guitars, I'd never sell it.

Sep 20, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Yamaha FG-110 w/Red Label...$5.00
by: MrMantra

...the funny thing is that this guitar has been laying around the house for ever...I bought it at The Salvation Army 20 years ago for $5.00...that's Five dollars...I've always thought the action a bit too high...So I go online to see what strings I can put on this...nylon or silver...You see I'm not a Guru,I just have guitars and I'm surprised,surprised,surprised that these buggers are valued and wanted....Now ...I'm cleaning it up,pampering the little guy that has been pushed around for seemingly ever....Can anyone tell me if I can put nylon on this(before I try)???...You can e-mail me @...

MrMantra@verizon.net
thanks...MrM

Aug 12, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Thanks for the reminder
by: Anonymous

And here I was thinking I was sitting on a nice little earner
I've had mine since '75 bought it off a mate for £20. It's a little bit bashed now, it having had a hard life. The trouble I find with it though is that the action is quite high making it rather hard to play once you start barring past the 3rd fret.(As a matter of fact, I saw a version once with a built in pick-up in a shop down Shaftsbury Avenue in London it was an FG110E). Mine has been boxed up and put away for a few years now, ever since I bought a new one, but after picking up this site I guess I'm just gonna have to get the little baby out again. No idea about the label but now I've read this I shall investigate.

Jul 21, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Anybody know?
by: Anonymous

Fg-110-1sbk special edition it has a red sunburst finish black arched back. Any info would be appreciated.

Jun 21, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
FG110
by: Firecracker

I have a FG 110 given to me as a gift from my older brother when I was 16 in 1972...Still plays and sounds great....I keep silk and steel strings on it...has a nice parlor guitar sound....would put its tone and playability up against any more expensive guitar....it can hold it's own...I also saw Dave Cousins of the Strawbs play one at a small venue (Mainpoint) outside Philly....sounded great then too. If you've got one keep it....

Jun 04, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Nippon Gakki
by: Anonymous

What a great guitar! These guitars were selling for 150-300 but the word is out on the great sound quality and they are getting harder to find. I just checked e-bay and $500 seems to be the going price for a red label.

May 14, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
My FG-110
by: Anonymous

I have a Yamaha NIPPON GAKKI serial number 856681. I am trying to find out what it's worth. If anyone can help with this I would be so greatful.


May 14, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Bad Wizard!
by: Norm

Hi!

Bought my Fg-110 brand new---I am almost sure it was in 1967. Serial # is: 867784---triple checked. Yamaha Serial Number Wizard says "Invalid Number". Any suggestions how to find out? It is a red label with the Nikkon Gakki on it. Thank you........

norm

May 02, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstar
curious about fg110
by: Anonymous

I picked up a FG110 at a yard sale afew months ago and really didn't think much about it until I started reading on the internet about them --I have played for about 50 years and jsut really enjoy it--I don't get into snotty ownership--I have 17 guitars-mostly run of the mill-- but now this info on this Yama has made me reaccess the situation--it is a red label with Nippon Gakki and the serial # is only 7 numbers instead of 8==like I see on a lot of listings--more curious than anything--

Oct 11, 2010
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
fg 110 red label nippon gakki
by: ted smith

the yamaha red label guitars are something very special. The build quality has stood the test of time for sure, and the sound is incredible as to the value they are getting more expensive if you look at eBay prices items sold in advanced search fg 110 in good condition £260 and one for £255 fg 180 £410 Nippon gakki red labels made in japan so the secret of how good they really are.. I have a fg 160 green label 1972 nippon gaki made in japan it sounds better than my £2000 lowden I dont think I WOULD EVER SELL IT wow what a sound and nice guitar !!

Feb 02, 2010
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Great Sound
by: Anonymous

I have a FG-110, bought it new in the 70's. It's a little hard to play, but what a sound it has.
My brother had a Guild that he paid $800 dollars for, and my Fg-110 sounded much better than his, it made him sale the Guild and borrow mine all the time..lol.
The FG-110 has a sound like a big jumbo Gibson, but plays like a low end Martin, it's the only way I can describe them.
Great guitar....Gary

Dec 09, 2009
Rating
starstarstarstarstar
Keeping Memories
by: ave in NC

Samantha,

I had a 1974 model that I started playing on. I wish I still had it. I am looking to buy one to put with my Guitars. They usually go for around $75 to $125. If you are learning on that one. Keep it. I can't get one they sale so fast on line.

Dave in NC

Click here to add your own comments





Follow MayMusicStudio on Twitter




Subscribe to "Absolutely Free Music Lessons!" and receive

FREE

"Harmonizing the Minor Scales"!

A 12 page E-Course

Email

Name

Then

Don't worry -- your e-mail address is totally secure.
I promise to use it only to send you ABSOLUTELY FREE Music Lessons!.



Try Our Drum Tabs
The Best on the Web!

Drum Tabs



How Much is Your Guitar Worth?

Drum Tabs



Frustrated?
Get Free Songwriting Lessons

Songwriting