What would an old Yamaki acoustic be worth???

[markom89]

I aqquired this old Yamaki acoustic from my good Japanese friend whos father used to play it when he was young. Its been sitting in their basement for quite some time now... I have no idea what it might be worth, so I decided to post it here, hopping Id get some answers. It looks very much like a Martin acoustic. It is pretty "beat" up. Its got some dents on the top, and besides that nothing else is really wrong with it. It actually sounds pretty good...Here are a few pictures, maybe they will help out. model # is: NO. AY370 S and is made in Japan. Im guessing its from the 60's or maybe early 70's. Thanks in advance for any help. Cheers.

Marko M.

Here are the pictures:

http://img170.imageshack.us/img170/7493/img0578ty6.jpg (http://imageshack.us/?x=my6&myref=http://imageshack.us/)

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/1975/img0583qm9.jpg (http://imageshack.us/?x=my6&myref=http://load.imageshack.us/)

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/6357/img0585fs5.jpg (http://imageshack.us/?x=my6&myref=http://www.imageshack.us/)

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/6408/img0587xj0.jpg (http://imageshack.us/?x=my6&myref=http://www.imageshack.us/)

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/374/img0588ea1.jpg (http://imageshack.us/?x=my6&myref=http://load.imageshack.us/)

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/1471/img0593xn7.jpg (http://imageshack.us/?x=my6&myref=http://load.imageshack.us/)

[John Benz]

There is no real market for a Yamaki. It's likely a $150 pawn shop candidate, however, if it's a decent player, you or your friend should keep it. I have a '78 Yamaha FG 330 that happens to be a pretty nice instrument. Nice action and big voice. It isn't worth anything so I keep it up at the lake cabin for a knock around, or for loaning out when a neice or nephew or friend wants to try their hand at guitar. Just a thought.

[markom89]

Yea, I thought about that, but, Ive already got a Denver for that purpose. I really cant play hat Denver. I love my Larrivee LV-05e, nicest acoustic Ive played. So $150 eh???

[John Benz]

It's worth what someone will pay. I've overpaid on guitars before. I played, I liked, I bought. If you can get it in someones hands (make sure your Larivee is not in the room) let 'em strum it and listen to them say "wow this is pretty good!" then ask for $300. You've got to set the price on how it sounds next to other instruments. If it sounds and plays better than those $239 Alvarez Yaris and Fenders hangin' down at the music store, then ask for more. If it doesn't, ask for less. As far as I know, the Yamaki brand has no value for a collector, so it's gonna have to be priced on it's merits as a players guitar.

[markom89]

ok, sounds good. Thanks for the advice! I personally think it sounds quite good considering the condition and what not. Definatley sounds MUCH better than my Denver acoustic...Is there anyway to find out how old it is for sure? Thanks again. Cheers.

Marko M.

[suttree]

i've seen older (solid top only though) yamakis fetch considerably more than $150. if you've got a truly nice one in good playing shape, that is an uncracked soplid top, i'd guess that $5-700 would be pretty easy to get from the right person. i can't really tell about the top from the photo though. if it's ply wood, then $150-250 would be right, if it's a good player. if it has any issues though, that'll pretty much completely kill the resale value.

[markom89]

Im pretty sure its a solid top. No cracks in it what so ever. Like I said, its a great player considering it was a gift to me, and that it hasnt been tuned or anything in that many years. Theres just a few very minor dents on the top, and some minor scratches, no major damage. What type of issues are you referring to? Cheers.

[suttree]

by issues i mean neck shift, cracks, holes, that kind of stuff. most people won't pay a ton of money to get one of these into shape, if any at all. so if i were looking at one, and there was even the hint that i'd be taking it to a luthier for anything more than a very quick setup, i'd most likely just pass completely...

oh, if you look at the wood grain at the edge of the soundhole, it should be pretty apparent if it's a solid top.

the prices i was talking about are in my experience, in canada (sometimes i find that regional respect of guitar brands can be quite different, so YMM definitely V). most players i know though will hunt down older yamakis as a great bargain in a quality dreadnaught. i've played a few that i would call martin killers, in my time.

[mc5nrg]

My guess would be mid to later 70s.If the S in the model indicates a solid top that is pretty cool,sometimes you can confirm by checking out the wood at the soundhole.Judging by the tuners* it is a midgrade guitar...worth about $100 to $200 tops.Keep in mind that these days you can find well made and decent sounding Asian guitars with decent Grovers for about $200 sometimes even with a HSC.A few months back I found a smaller store in Elkton,MD with nice solid top Alvarez guitars w/HSC for $200.

*edit: and other features-decal logo,no binding on neck,dot inlays etc.

[Allthumbs56]

I have owned my Yamaki since 1974. It's a different model than your's - I believe that it was their top of the line at the time.

The top is chewed up around the soundhole from all the playing, there are numerous dings and scratches, and I've had to have the braces reglued.

Over the past 30 years in countless trips to the shops I have tried to find her replacement - but I have yet to find one that equals her in tone or feel (in the under $3000 range anyway).

So she stays. And I don't care if there is a market or not - she was beautifully built and to me remains pretty much priceless.

If you can find an early 70's top of the line Yamaki for less than $1000, my advice would be to buy it - you couldn't have mine for three times that.

[doctorjack47]

do you still have the guitar, if so i am very interested, please let me know, thanks, brian

[musicofanatic5]

"...worth about $100-200, tops"

"...pretty much priceless"

Tha good ol' TGP "conventional wisdom"!

For the record, I'll bank with wiseguy no. 1.

[dividedsky]

do you still have the guitar, if so i am very interested, please let me know, thanks, brian

He's been banned for a long time I think.

[musicofanatic5]

Wait a minute...how did this come up? 2006??? I failed to see the date. Nevermind...

[Whitebear Spirit]

The "S" stands for solid wood top, in this case solid Cedar.

Specifications:
Yamaki AY370S: Solid cedar top, Mahogany back and sides (probably laminate) rosewood fingerboard and bridge. Mid to late 1970’s.

I have one. Everything that is removable has been. New bone nut and saddle, ebony pins and the saddle slot filled and re-cut farther back for proper intonation. Schaller tuners. I stripped off the crappy looking gold decal and have been asked more than once if it was an old Martin.
I tune it a full step low and use heavy strings because of my voice, but it sounds way better there than at pitch.