Need help on buying an acoustic guitar

dragon1952 · Post by **dragon1952** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 5:00 pm

I saw an ad for a 20 year old Yamaha Eterna EF-15 in virtually unplayed, mint condition. This guitar cost around $225 back then so can I assume it's probably still worth a couple hundred today? $225 back then was alot of money by todays standards. This has to be a pretty decent guitar and probably more than just a beginner model. Yes? No? Maybe?

teb · Post by **teb** » Sat Jun 03, 2006 9:42 pm

Some of the early Yamahas were quite decent compared to what had been available in that price range before they showed up (stuff like the old Harmonys). I'm not sure where in the line that price would put it back then, but as far back as the mid 1970's we were paying $700 or more for Martins, so anything for $225 would have been aimed somewhat at the economy market. In any case, and unlike electrics, acoustic guitars are quite a bit less "mechanical". You don't just pop in a new set of pickups to change the sound, turn a couple screws to lower the bridge or in many cases tweak the rods a bit to change the action. This makes buying one without hearing and playing it first a major ****-shoot, even with guitars like Martins, Guilds and old Gibsons. I don't think I'd ever buy an acoustic without playing it first. The last two I bought were high-end Takamines and I spent the better part of two days in the shop playing everything in the rack before picking them out. I do own one Yamaha and it plays very well. It has a very flat fingerboard that feel a bit strange compared to the others, but it doesn't take long to get used to. It's my 3:00 AM - "don't wake the neighbors" guitar and I really love it. It looks like you're playing a Picasso sculpture. Folds for storage, too!

jdogric12 · Post by **jdogric12** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 1:22 am

I used to have a '79 Yamaha 12-string... I think it was an FG model (?) and it was great.

dragon1952 · Post by **dragon1952** » Sun Jun 04, 2006 2:58 pm

Well I got this guitar today w/ case for $50. Still had the original strings on it, LOL! Very close to mint. It would be considered a beginner model but my brother and I went to GC and got some new strings for it and while we were there we played lots of acoustics. This one beats everything they had up to $400 and was competitive to everything up to $600 believe it or not.

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 11:01 am

I can believe that, Rob. A number of years ago I bought a 1960s made-in-Japan Coronet Model 680-D dreadnought acoustic, and it is one incredible sounding and looking guitar - and I paid something like $125 for it.

Spruce top, rosewood fretboard, sides, and back, multi-ply binding, and real abalone inlays. And the bridge height is adjustable!

BTW, none of the vintage guitar guides mention this brand.

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Mon Jun 05, 2006 11:23 am

I still have my Guild that Earl Klugh gave me, that's my one acoustic I will never let go of. That guitar still has tons of songs left in it.