Description

Yama-HELL YEAH! 80s MIJ Yamaha SG-510 with replaced Grover tuners, $1099!

The Yamaha SG-510 is part of Yamaha’s SG series, a range of electric guitars known for their high build quality, durability, and powerful sound. The SG series became particularly popular in the 1970s and 1980s, and the SG-510 reflects Yamaha’s focus on crafting reliable, well-balanced instruments with excellent tonal versatility.

Key Features:

  • Body Type: Solid-body, double-cutaway design, often made from mahogany. This tonewood gives the guitar a rich, warm resonance with strong sustain, ideal for rock, blues, and jazz.
  • Neck: Usually a set-neck or neck-through design, made from mahogany or maple, offering excellent sustain and stability. This is key for providing a smooth playing experience across the fretboard.
  • Pickups: The SG-510 is typically equipped with humbucking pickups. These pickups deliver a thick, powerful tone with minimal noise, making the guitar suitable for high-gain genres like hard rock and metal, as well as cleaner, more articulate styles.
  • Controls: Standard two-tone, two-volume control knobs along with a three-way pickup selector switch, allowing for easy tonal adjustments.

Sound Characteristics:

The Yamaha SG-510 is known for its warm, full-bodied sound with excellent sustain. The combination of a mahogany body, humbucking pickups, and set-neck construction gives it a thick, punchy tone with great low-end response. This makes it ideal for rock and blues players, while also handling clean tones with clarity and smoothness. The humbuckers allow the SG-510 to cut through a mix without excess noise, making it a versatile instrument for both live performances and studio recordings.

Build Quality:

Like many Yamaha guitars, the SG-510 is built with precision and attention to detail. The solid body construction and quality hardware make this a durable guitar, capable of standing up to the rigors of regular use. The set-neck or neck-through construction ensures a high level of sustain and makes the instrument feel solid and well-balanced. Yamaha’s craftsmanship has long been respected, and the SG-510 exemplifies this reputation with its combination of high-quality materials and careful design.

Country of Manufacture:

Japan. Yamaha’s SG series, especially during the 1970s and 1980s, was predominantly manufactured in Japan, known for its consistent craftsmanship and high-quality control.

As Used By:

While the SG-510 itself may not be the most prominent model in Yamaha’s SG lineup, the SG series, in general, has been used by several notable artists across genres.

  • Notable Users: Carlos Santana is perhaps the most famous player associated with the Yamaha SG series, though he primarily played higher-end models like the SG-2000. Other players have gravitated towards the SG series for its combination of power and playability. Indie musicians and session players have also embraced Yamaha’s SG models for their reliability and tonal versatility.