1970 Yamaha SG7 - UPDATE: THE GUTS

Gabriel · Post by **Gabriel** » Thu Sep 13, 2012 11:29 pm

Dave wrote:
UlricvonCatalyst wrote:That's a nice geetar. Rub off the gold and you're, er, golden.
You're gonna hate me for what I've just done:

Those strings are ace, a bit pricey but they sound awesome.

PS: Lovely guitar you've bought!

Freddy V-C · Post by **Freddy V-C** » Thu Sep 13, 2012 11:32 pm

Dave wrote:
UlricvonCatalyst wrote:That's a nice geetar. Rub off the gold and you're, er, golden.
You're gonna hate me for what I've just done:

If this is true I just want to kiss you right now.

ultratwin · Post by **ultratwin** » Fri Sep 14, 2012 5:10 am

A vintage beau!

I love the look of those things, and this is probably the best ss.org acquisition in a while. Everyone here should be reaching for bottles of IPA and passing out cigars.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Fri Sep 14, 2012 8:06 am

Freddy V-C wrote:If this is true I just want to kiss you right now.

It is indeed true! But 10's not 9's

Will be having a quality setting up session this weekend and hoping the strings arrive by then.

Andi - thanks! I've still got a warm glow about it, which is a great sign.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Fri Sep 14, 2012 7:38 pm

[youtube][/youtube]

Progrockabuse · Post by **Progrockabuse** » Fri Sep 14, 2012 7:51 pm

I fucking love hearing dave talk. I'd want him to narrate some prog rock concept album or something.

Thomas · Post by **Thomas** » Sat Sep 15, 2012 10:18 am

Man, that guitar is really something. WANT!

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Sat Sep 15, 2012 1:15 pm

Grabbed some photos before i strip it down and get it all set up.

ICEYBOMB PICS:

► Show Spoiler

Okay the mystery I alluded to previously: At some point in it's history it has definitely been repainted. There are some chips here and there which are covered in red paint and other tell-tale signs. I think this repaint was done a long time back based on the overall look. The red is perhaps a tiny shade lighter than the headstock which I'm certain is original due to the decal and natural relicing. I'm therefore this has always been a red guitar but I guess a previous owner tarted it up! The red is lovely and has a nice smooth matt feel just like old vintage nitro finishes (but probably isn't). There's a chip out of the binding but too high up the neck to bother the hand. I can't put this guitar down!

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Sun Sep 16, 2012 12:34 pm

Okay: LET'S GET ANALLY RETENTIVE ON THIS MUDDYFUNSTER.

Time to strip it down and get it set up. Photo bombs:

The Bridge:

The engineering of the bridge is AMAZING. The plastic rollers are the only perplexing choice given how exquisitely they have far exceeded Leo's original ideas. Improvements are:

Individual saddle adjustment, both height and intonation.
Rollers.
Non rocking mounting and screwed directly to body with heavy duty springs underneath allowing the whole bridge to be raised.
Little brackets that hold the saddles snug together to prevent slippage and rattling.

I'll be honest, for a Jag/jazzy/mustang type trem this IS the best solution and I cannot believe no one makes them like this. I simply don't see that the Mastery, for one, can work as perfectly as this design for the type of trem it's intended for. Granted, Rollers just make sense to me.

Only downside then: plastic rollers. Might get them swapped out one day but the guitar doesn't really suffer for them anyway.

Moving on (spoilered)

► Show Spoiler

speedfish · Post by **speedfish** » Sun Sep 16, 2012 1:16 pm

Dave,

thanks for the pics under the hood. I did some googling and although I knew this body design originated back in the 1960's I had no idea that there were so many variations on this body style. Here's an example of the bridge/tremolo that I was already familiar with, different design and placement from the SC7.

http://www.guitar-museum.com/guitar-839 ... -Candy-Red

George · Post by **George** » Sun Sep 16, 2012 1:24 pm

Definitely ahead of it's time. Looks great. Very Jaguarine tremolo too. Truly the best basis.

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Sun Sep 16, 2012 1:43 pm

speedfish wrote:Dave,

thanks for the pics under the hood. I did some googling and although I knew this body design originated back in the 1960's I had no idea that there were so many variations on this body style. Here's an example of the bridge/tremolo that I was already familiar with, different design and placement from the SC7.

http://www.guitar-museum.com/guitar-839 ... -Candy-Red

Yeah those are on the modern reissue types Yamaha put out - essentially they are Mosrite trem and bridges - ironic considering the SG5/7 body shape was designed by legendary Japanese surf guitarist Takeshi Terauchi (according to the internet) who was primarily a Mosrite player. He's great.

[youtube][/youtube]

OKay so you guys wanna see some PIMPIN' shots? Just some basic set up stuff and practical modds... there is much more to get it to it's full potential but it's 80% the way there now.

FOR FREDDY AND ULRIC: TEH GOALDZ

Double-backed strap end to both act as a strap lock AND to give you a convenient loop to slip the lead through.

Front end get's the Grolsch strap-lock treatment. A white No1 Stretch Strap for teh comfort and bucketheadz

Dave · Post by **Dave** » Sun Sep 16, 2012 3:03 pm

George · Post by **George** » Sun Sep 16, 2012 3:09 pm

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSS

sholkham · Post by **sholkham** » Sun Sep 16, 2012 4:52 pm

Awesome, those self portraits should end up in a banner.

The gold strings look cool too, I briefly considered putting some on my Duo sonic but given the gold pickguard and tan paint It might be a bit overkill.

rps-10 · Post by **rps-10** » Sun Sep 16, 2012 6:24 pm

Nice slippers

and Berrics t-shirt?

benecol · Post by **benecol** » Sun Sep 16, 2012 6:36 pm

Lovely looking guitar, am jealous (although I'd have put a neckplate on that thing sharpish), but: who do you get to resize your images? George?

George · Post by **George** » Sun Sep 16, 2012 6:45 pm

Tried to think of a comeback but still haven't fixed it yet.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Sun Sep 16, 2012 7:30 pm

Dave wrote:

Iconic.
The carpet slippers and 1980s Southampton FC shorts only add to the coolness.

Does it suffer with 'neck dive' Dave? The shape isn't a million miles away from a BC Rich Mockingbird and they all seem to balance poorly stood up.

Mages · Post by **Mages** » Sun Sep 16, 2012 8:03 pm

cool. I think the plastic rollers would be fine. plastic is used for fake bone, bone is what they use for acoustic saddles so it's not an incredibly outlandish material for saddles. also it has a zero fret so that should even things out.