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Post by HenryJ on Jan 5, 2020 17:14:17 GMT -5
I have a Yamaha FG-160 acoustic guitar. I recently learned how to read date codes on tan-label Yamahas made in Taiwan from about 1970 to 1975. Mine was manufactured on May 10, 1974, which means it will be 46 years old in a few months. 281st instrument made that day. I got it 2nd or 3rd hand in 1982 for $50, including a case that fell apart last year and went into the trash. One internet source says it has a spruce top, mahogany back and sides, and rosewood fingerboard. I have to admit it does sound better with age, or perhaps it's because I am playing it more often. So, what have you got? BTW the date code is the number at the top, right at the end of the neck, not to be confused with the serial number a little below it.  |
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Post by Ragtop on Jan 5, 2020 17:40:40 GMT -5
My Guild D-46 was built in 1981. And I just sold a nice Alvarez-Yairi that was built in 1976.
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Post by budg on Jan 5, 2020 17:43:31 GMT -5
1972 Martin D35.
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cagey
Wholenote
My guitar doesn't have the same notes as yours
Posts: 110
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Post by cagey on Jan 5, 2020 18:03:22 GMT -5
76? Fender F-85. Can't check the code at the end of the neck cuz the bracing hides it from view
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Ayns
Wholenote
Posts: 767
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Post by Ayns on Jan 5, 2020 18:46:12 GMT -5
1973 Martin D18-12. Bought for £1,000 about 10 years ago. Sounds great, plays fine. Haven't played it in a long time though.
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Post by hushnel on Jan 5, 2020 19:29:04 GMT -5
My Martin ukulele is 103 years.
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Post by HenryJ on Jan 5, 2020 20:54:06 GMT -5
Budg, after reading your post on this thread, I was impressed and started to declare you the winner of this thread (not that it's a contest or anything, but man, it's a MARTIN!). I was going to ask you all about your guitar, but then I saw your post on another thread in this unplugged forum and now I am really impressed. You did good!
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Viera
Quarternote
Posts: 35
Formerly Known As: Viera
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Post by Viera on Jan 5, 2020 21:05:23 GMT -5
I have a 63 Harmony classical. My oldest steel string is just a pup, 2014.
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Post by FlyonNylon on Jan 5, 2020 21:30:16 GMT -5
I have a Marwin Star archtop acoustic from 1937 that was my grandfathers.
It's a great jazz comping style guitar.
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Post by Peegoo 🏁 on Jan 5, 2020 21:33:47 GMT -5
Slingerland tenor banjo, 91 years old...perhaps older. These were made between 1912 and 1929, so that's the year I go with. They didn't stamp serial numbers on these, so dating them by their features provides only a date range. It's got a modern head and newer tuners.  |
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Post by budg on Jan 5, 2020 21:52:03 GMT -5
Budg, after reading your post on this thread, I was impressed and started to declare you the winner of this thread (not that it's a contest or anything, but man, it's a MARTIN!). I was going to ask you all about your guitar, but then I saw your post on another thread in this unplugged forum and now I am really impressed. You did good! Thanks , like the old saying “ a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while”.. 😆 |
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Post by Lefty Rev on Jan 5, 2020 22:08:01 GMT -5
Two that date from '78-'79:
1) my first lefty acoustic was an MIJ Ibanez A300 all laminate dread; bought it new then when I was in college, still have it, did a set-up on it recently and play it occasionally at my office;
2) a '79 Larrivee L-19 that I acquired a couple years ago. Was built in the era when folks like Linda Manzer and Grit Laskin were working side by side with Jean Larrivee in his shop, and this guitar has "it" - 40 year old beautiful tone. Last year I had Hoffmann Guitars in St. Paul work on the neck: compression frets and planed the fingerboard to give it a 16" radius. Now it also plays great.
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Post by slowhand on Jan 5, 2020 22:19:00 GMT -5
80 years. 1940 Martin d18. I still play it every day.
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jeffscott
Wholenote
Rickenbacker Guru..............
Posts: 138
Age: GOF
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Post by jeffscott on Jan 5, 2020 22:34:14 GMT -5
I don't have any old ones, any longer. My current oldest is from 2009.
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Post by 6l6 on Jan 6, 2020 10:53:36 GMT -5
That would be my 1971 Guild F-312NT.
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Post by Lefty Rev on Jan 6, 2020 12:37:32 GMT -5
80 years. 1940 Martin d18. I still play it every day. Wow. Now THAT's a "vintage" guitar ... well worth playing every day! |
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Post by jefe46 on Jan 6, 2020 16:41:12 GMT -5
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Davywhizz
Wholenote
"Still Alive and Well"
Posts: 443
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Post by Davywhizz on Jan 6, 2020 17:55:31 GMT -5
1978 Ovation Balladeer Custom. I've had it from new, bought with my first ever monthly pay cheque plus my big old Harmony Sovereign.
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Post by larryguitar54 on Jan 6, 2020 19:08:22 GMT -5
'75 Gibson J-45 bought in college for $200.
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Peppy
Wholenote
Guitar gear guru at Milano Music Center
Posts: 180
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Post by Peppy on Jan 7, 2020 9:37:57 GMT -5
1930 Martin. So 90 years old this year. Damn, something older than I.
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Post by Auf Kiltre on Jan 7, 2020 10:30:02 GMT -5
I have 2 acoustics, the oldest being my Martin D17M from 2013. I've not been good holding on to guitars in general, especially acoustics. My first was a Cortez maple body dread from the early-mid 70's that I gave to my older brother in the 80's. He still has it as a corner decoration. I would take it back if he offered. Just sayin' bro...😁
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Post by ScottB on Jan 7, 2020 11:26:16 GMT -5
Mid-'60s Yamaha No. 60 Classical. Solid cedar top and laminated mahogany back/sides.
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Tall-Fir
Wholenote
Liking both kinds of music—Country and Western!
Posts: 109
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Post by Tall-Fir on Jan 7, 2020 12:10:06 GMT -5
My Martin D-35 is 1972. I've had the bracing scalloped by a violin maker. He used very small violin making planes to do the job. I also had a tortoise shell colored pickguard placed on the guitar and got rid of the black plastic one. I think the newer pickguard is made of or from polyurethane. Looks really nice. I also had a luthier do marquetry of a gold miner to replace the Martin decal on the headstock. Looks really cool. The guy did a really nice job. When I get better at dropping photos around here, I'll put a picture of the gold miner up.
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Post by Chris Greene on Jan 7, 2020 14:32:35 GMT -5
I briefly owned a D-18 last year from 1974 but sold it off. My oldest current acoustic is a 1994-5 Yamaha FG-461S I bought shortly after I'd moved to Idaho. I'd had an early FG-180 (1970ish) but sold that along with some other guitars when we took a sabbatical in 1992.
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Post by jhawkr on Jan 7, 2020 14:51:06 GMT -5
I have an 80’s Yamaha 12 String, then the oldest is my 2002 J45 that I bought new @ EM Shorts.
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jdawg
Wholenote
Posts: 151
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Post by jdawg on Jan 7, 2020 16:25:19 GMT -5
1979 Cat's Eyes Dreadnought. At that time they were a Japanese version of Sigma/Martin. It looks like a Martin Dreadnought but does not have the strong bass response of a Martin. But it is a little sweeter sounding than a Martin.
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Post by LesTele on Jan 7, 2020 16:28:05 GMT -5
My oldest violin was made by James Omond from Stromness, Orkney. The date on the interior label is 1893. There’s a later one on a US website. Mr Omond must have improved his violin making between 1893 and 1901 because my violin isn’t worth quite as much.  |
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Post by LesTele on Jan 7, 2020 16:29:03 GMT -5
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swampyankee
Wholenote
Fakin' it 'til I'm makin' it since 1956
Posts: 713
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Post by swampyankee on Jan 7, 2020 17:04:36 GMT -5
My Regal R200 was bought was bought new as birthday present in '67.
My beater Wahburn DM18 is circa 1983.
That's all I got
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Post by jazzguy on Jan 7, 2020 18:11:35 GMT -5
20's Gibson
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