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Guitar Discussions -> Yamaha CG-170S 411
There are 9 messages in this thread.
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Yamaha CG-170S 411 - joe mama - 02:19 27-11-05
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Hi,
So I ebayed one of these guitars and got it today. My initial response is
that it looks really nice. Whoever owned it before took really good care of
it. The seller was doing the "estate" sale thing, so they couldn't answer
any questions regarding it.
I have noticed ( I am replacing a lost--ON THE FREEWAY--M Rodriguez C-3)
that it doesn't have the volume that the other guitar had, and that it's
overall tone seems a little muted. Not that it sounds bad, and I know it's
only a "student" level guitar anyway.
However, I am curious if there is something that might help it out? I just
restrung it with Pro-Arte EJ44 extra hard tension strings, but those are
what I used on the C-3.
Chances are, this didn't get played much recently. I'm wondering if my
playing it will open it up some? And I can always place it near the speakers
when playing tunes on the cd too.
Is there any way of determining the age of the guitar? Or the precise
materials? It's a solid top, but I can't tell if it's cedar, or spruce.
There isn't a whole lot I can find on this particular model. The stamp says
made in Taiwan, and the only other print is the model number. The headstock
has a logo that looks like three tuning forks positioned in a overlapping
triangle type arrangement.
Any suggestions would be great. Thanks
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Re: Yamaha CG-170S 411 - joe mama - 03:10 27-11-05
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"joe mama" <dmoss74@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:u6dif.20770$7h7.13298@newssvr21.news.prodigy.com...
> Hi,
One other thing...The nut and bridge saddle are definitely plastic, and not
even the newer types of tusq etc. How quantatative difference would there be
inthe sound if I switched both to bone???
Thanks again...
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Re: Yamaha CG-170S 411 - tai fu - 07:04 27-11-05
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First, it is considered rude to cross-post because it makes it look like
spam. I dont know of ways to tell how old a guitar is, unless it has been
date stamped. If you want to know if the back/side is solid, and its an
acoustic electric you can always unscrew the jack plate to find out. You can
try contacting yamaha and give them the serial number (if any) and they
should be able to tell you how old it is. Otherwise the only other way is
Carbon 14 dating... and that is not so accurate... because the wood could
have been in storage for years before being used.
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Re: Yamaha CG-170S 411 - Kol_Isha - 08:16 27-11-05
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Re: Yamaha CG-170S 411 - John Nguyen - 08:58 27-11-05
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joe mama wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Is there any way of determining the age of the guitar? Or the precise
> materials? It's a solid top, but I can't tell if it's cedar, or spruce. .
>
> Any suggestions would be great. Thanks
In Yamaha guitars, the model number sometimes gives away the top wood
material. In your case, CG-170S mean it's spruce.
Cheers,
John
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Re: Yamaha CG-170S 411 - John D. Rimmer - 09:59 27-11-05
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"joe mama" <dmoss74@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:u6dif.20770$7h7.13298@newssvr21.news.prodigy.com...
> Hi,
>
> So I ebayed one of these guitars and got it today. My initial response is
> that it looks really nice. Whoever owned it before took really good care
> of it. The seller was doing the "estate" sale thing, so they couldn't
> answer any questions regarding it.
>
> I have noticed ( I am replacing a lost--ON THE FREEWAY--M Rodriguez C-3)
> that it doesn't have the volume that the other guitar had, and that it's
> overall tone seems a little muted. Not that it sounds bad, and I know it's
> only a "student" level guitar anyway.
>
> However, I am curious if there is something that might help it out? I just
> restrung it with Pro-Arte EJ44 extra hard tension strings, but those are
> what I used on the C-3.
>
> Chances are, this didn't get played much recently. I'm wondering if my
> playing it will open it up some? And I can always place it near the
> speakers when playing tunes on the cd too.
>
> Is there any way of determining the age of the guitar? Or the precise
> materials? It's a solid top, but I can't tell if it's cedar, or spruce.
> There isn't a whole lot I can find on this particular model. The stamp
> says made in Taiwan, and the only other print is the model number. The
> headstock has a logo that looks like three tuning forks positioned in a
> overlapping triangle type arrangement.
>
> Any suggestions would be great. Thanks
>
I would keep playing it and see how she opens up. My guess on the extra
hard tension strings is that if they do not get the volume -- then what
will? The additional tension means you are adding more energy. Some
soundboards need more to give the full range. Is there a luthier in the
house?
I would also get another guitarist (or two) to play it and allow you to sit
back a bit and listen to it.
nhoJ
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Re: Yamaha CG-170S 411 - David Martel - 13:07 27-11-05
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Joe,
I guess that playing the guitar a lot will not hurt the guitar and may
cause it to sound better. But you want it to sound like a different model of
guitar, this may never happen. So you need to focus on this new guitar. Play
it a lot. This may improve the sound and will help you form an opinion of
the setup. After a few months take it to a luthier. Discuss the setup,
bridge material and anything else that you or he see about the guitar. Be
sure to discuss string tension. Get the guitar fixed up the way that you
want. Now try different brands of strings to find the right ones for you on
this guitar.
DaveM.
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Re: Yamaha CG-170S 411 - virtual - 14:00 27-11-05
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In article <mRjif.27252$tV6.6456@newssvr27.news.prodigy.net>,
"John D. Rimmer" <jdri63@sbcglobal.nte> wrote:
> "joe mama" <dmoss74@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:u6dif.20770$7h7.13298@newssvr21.news.prodigy.com...
> > Hi,
> >
> > So I ebayed one of these guitars and got it today. My initial response is
> > that it looks really nice. Whoever owned it before took really good care
> > of it. The seller was doing the "estate" sale thing, so they couldn't
> > answer any questions regarding it.
> >
> > I have noticed ( I am replacing a lost--ON THE FREEWAY--M Rodriguez C-3)
> > that it doesn't have the volume that the other guitar had, and that it's
> > overall tone seems a little muted. Not that it sounds bad, and I know it's
> > only a "student" level guitar anyway.
> >
> > However, I am curious if there is something that might help it out? I just
> > restrung it with Pro-Arte EJ44 extra hard tension strings, but those are
> > what I used on the C-3.
> >
> > Chances are, this didn't get played much recently. I'm wondering if my
> > playing it will open it up some? And I can always place it near the
> > speakers when playing tunes on the cd too.
> >
> > Is there any way of determining the age of the guitar? Or the precise
> > materials? It's a solid top, but I can't tell if it's cedar, or spruce.
> > There isn't a whole lot I can find on this particular model. The stamp
> > says made in Taiwan, and the only other print is the model number. The
> > headstock has a logo that looks like three tuning forks positioned in a
> > overlapping triangle type arrangement.
> >
> > Any suggestions would be great. Thanks
> >
> I would keep playing it and see how she opens up. My guess on the extra
> hard tension strings is that if they do not get the volume -- then what
> will? The additional tension means you are adding more energy. Some
> soundboards need more to give the full range. Is there a luthier in the
> house?
>
> I would also get another guitarist (or two) to play it and allow you to sit
> back a bit and listen to it.
>
> nhoJ
I have a Yamaha GC 20 D from 1972. I use it seldom because although it
is very loud and responsive, the fingerboard is a little narrower than
other guitars. Furthermore, the scale is 165. That makes it hard to play.
With extra hard tension, the ornaments and legati do not always come out
as clean as I like and it promotes extraneous noises.
Lately I prefer lower tension strings. There is less volume, but it is
cleaner, easier to control, and, above all, more fun to play.
If the new guitar is not very responsive, you should have it checked by
a luthier
Have fun
--
Resources to play the guitar for fun and relaxation
http://www.virtualguitarcenter.com
admin@virtualguitarcenter.com
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Re: Yamaha CG-170S 411 - joe mama - 23:45 27-11-05
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"David Martel" <marte005@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:LBmif.5960$N45.1719@newsread1.news.atl.earthlink.net...
> Joe,
>
> I guess that playing the guitar a lot will not hurt the guitar and may
> cause it to sound better. But you want it to sound like a different model
> of guitar, this may never happen. So you need to focus on this new guitar.
> Play it a lot. This may improve the sound and will help you form an
> opinion of the setup. After a few months take it to a luthier. Discuss the
> setup, bridge material and anything else that you or he see about the
> guitar. Be sure to discuss string tension. Get the guitar fixed up the
> way that you want. Now try different brands of strings to find the right
> ones for you on this guitar.
>
> DaveM.
That's probably the best course. I really think this guitar just sat in its
case for years. It is really tight sounding. I will play it for a few weeks
and see what happens. Someone posted that Yamaha serial number chaser, and
it pretty much says it could be from any year ending in a five, from the
sixties on!
I'm assuming it's either the '80s, or '90s. I can't find much about that
model number. They have the CG-XX1s et al now.
Someone else says that back in the eighties, S could have staned for
"solid", and the top is actually cedar. Who knows?!? I'll just play it and
hope for the best.
Thanks for all the help, and sorry for the cross post, whatever that is. I
posted this inquiry to groups that I thought would be relative.
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