Yamaha SC300T classic surf guitar?

[kiramdear]

I just laid one of these away for Christmas. The pics are not of mine but were found online. Mine has a metallic red finish



Anybody ever had one of these? We played nicely in the store but I'm wondering how she'll track in the real world. And how long did they make them?

Love the styling and just can't wait for Santa!

[kenposurf]

Congrats Kira..these are pretty cool..body is kind of a cross between a Strat and a Mosrite with Yamaha's Samurai headstock made famous on their SGV models...now go buy a reverb unit..cya in the surf

[kiramdear]

The SGVs are nice, make me think of an upside-down 480 for samurai. SGV300:



I like the simpler controls of the SC300, I think, and the three pickups, and the vibrato.

Oh yeah, and the neck is nice and slim on mine

[kiramdear]

Well, folks, Christmas has begun early because I just picked up my SC300T! All original and no mods.

A quick setup and intonation adjustment and we're in surf heaven.


It plays really nice (for a full-scale), action is low and the neck is straight. I put some D'Addario half-round 12's on it. The pickups sound better clean than dirty. I like the simple controls but will have to adjust my strumming to not hit the knob. That's OK.

You should see me smile. The styling is insane and of course it had to be red!

[scotty]

Cool! merry xmas....

[jps]

Cool...a melted Strat!

[chuck_king]

I remember those! I always thought they'd be a pretty cool Strat variant. They are not that common; congrats on finding a nice, unmolested one.

Do you have a more traditional Strat too, and if so, how does this compare?

IIRC, Kenny Loggins played a white one of these at Live Aid.

[kiramdear]

Chuck, thanks.

I owned a Fiesta Red '63 Strat long ago that was burgled. It broke my heart and I never bought another. Nowadays though I do have a Squier mini-strat that actually sees more use than all the others because it's so tiny and cheap, I just leave it lie out next out me all the time.

Anyway, the SC300T is somewhat Fenderish. The pickups are very Fender-like. The board is pretty flat. There's a flatness to the back of the neck that makes it feel slim, very nice, hardly any taper to the thickness of the neck. I think this is a common neck profile for yamaha. I wish I could find a new Strat with a neck like this. The body fits in your lap like a strat but with the point of balance slightly more aft. The 5-way switch is Fender.

This is the first Yamaha that ever appealed to me, the first I've ever owned, though I've considered their acoustics to be a great value. I would buy one of the SVG series too if I gat a chance. I got it for $250, no case. There are actually very few full-scale guitars that appeal to me realistically because I prefer the shorties. But sometimes I make an exception, downtune and use a capo to convert it to short scale.

[Ric O'Sound]

Cool guitar, Kira. A Strat that doesn't look like a Strat...now that's a concept. But ya just couldn't hold out until Christmas, eh? No matter...glad you're enjoying it. You gonna record with it?

[kiramdear]

Absolutely, Daniel. It's teaching me a new song as I type. I'd say we're bonding nicely. I did my capo trick (tune to D then capo 2nd fret) and now it's even easier to play. I do this because I want to use heavy strings on it and to reduce the scale length.

I can think of this as my Sinterklaas present after having enjoyed celebrating that tradition in Holland for a few years.

[jingle_jangle]

Kira, I have the identical twin to that Yammy. I've fitted Fender vintage '57 Strat Custom Shop pickups to it. Insane. Great quality, and gooood surf pickin', too. I've just picked up a green SGV, too, like the one in the pic, courtesy of our friend George, who has a twin to THAT one. Both killer, crazy designs.

[kiramdear]

Cool Paul, great minds think alike. I had already planned a similar upgrade, and put the SGV on my wish list.

Cheers to you and George! Cowabunga, Dudes!

BTW This is one solid and heavy guitar, at least seven pounds

[jps]

Cool Paul, great minds think alike. I had already planned a similar upgrade, and put the SGV on my wish list.

It has nothing to do with minds, it's the SF water supply.

[jingle_jangle]

Cool Paul, great minds think alike. I had already planned a similar upgrade, and put the SGV on my wish list.

It has nothing to do with minds, it's the SF water supply.

...which goes right to the head. Leftovers from the Summer of Love, etc...

[johnallg]

Doesn't the SFPUC have a constant drip of LSD going into the supply??