Sleeper guitars

[multree]

I really like sleeper guitars. High quality instruments off the beaten path. My main guitar nowadays is a beautiful Yamaha AES 920. I like the whole AES range especially since the lower tier ones are not expensive 2nd hand. The 920 is not stupidly cheap like the others but it is really nice and a couple of steps up quality wise.

B261F163-7E64-442C-AEF3-E4D8C1A2A54E.jpeg

BE1CF7DE-4277-45B5-9E92-08079C56A154.jpeg

90B69AF4-6938-49A3-8CDE-137581AE5C82.jpeg

24B3E852-E5D9-47F0-8419-AE89F97D704C.jpeg

What are your sleeper guitars that for some reason haven’t been super popular until now…?

[BertKoor]

Sleepers are the wooden blocks they put rails on? Usually pine? Bad wood to make guitars from.

[multree]

Sleepers are the wooden blocks they put rails on? Usually pine? Bad wood to make guitars from.

there are barn wood guitars, guitars from wood that has been underwater for centuries, so why not sleepers.....

[morelia]

Yamaha Pacifica. Surprisingly tough sounding for high gain.

[Winstontaneous]

Yeah - there are lots of great Yamaha and Ibanez models, especially less fancy MIJ ones from the '80s, that are as good as anything else out there. I think Godin and their brands (Seagull, Arts & Luthierie) are fantastic, but they do cheap out on the electronics (pots & switches, not pickups). And if you like a Gibson, you can often find a similar, slightly quirkier Guild for much less $$.

[YnJ]

Yamaha Pacifica. Surprisingly tough sounding for high gain.

Yeah, what's the deal with the Yamahas? I have two, both $500-600 guitars, an HSS with a tremolo and an HH hardtail. They both sound amazing, for no apparent reason. Nothing unusual about the materials and unbranded AlNiCo V pickups

[mystran]

Yamaha Pacifica. Surprisingly tough sounding for high gain.

Yeah, what's the deal with the Yamahas? I have two, both $500-600 guitars, an HSS with a tremolo and an HH hardtail. They both sound amazing, for no apparent reason. Nothing unusual about the materials and unbranded AlNiCo V pickups

Don't know about Yamaha guitars specifically, but I think in general Yamaha sort of manages to have this reputation of being "solid, yet boring" with most of their musical instruments... where there's basically no hype whatsoever, yet everyone still expects that anything they make is really solid.

Considering how many types of instruments they do manage to build that are kinda highly regarded (even if rarely spoken about very much), I'd be surprised if the guitars were particularly bad.

[YnJ]

Not bad at all, they both feel and sound a lot more expensive than their retail value

[lfm]

Is it maybe that Yamaha did not put so much effort into branding and endorsing artists, or something?

One highly respected guitarplayer, George "jojje" Wadenius(died the other day R.I.P) he joined Blood Sweat and Tears long ago.
- last concert I saw with him with a trio was with a Yamaha semiacoustic something 335ish

Fine instruments for sure.

I was on to Jojje to release autobiography so we could read about his years in the US, but he refused at the time.
- I did not know him at all, just a suggestion
- would be neat if he changed his mind and wrote something before passing away that might be released
- small place like sweden get a guitarplayer with BSAT is a biggy

But they are not perfect in the sense knowing everything they do. I was in contact with Yamaha over that the DTX700 drum module engine has really cool features, loading own samples and apply in up to 4 layers.
- but each of 4 layers got it's own midi note number?????
- so asked why they did not sense how midi sequencers work and allow to edit and such
- meaning each kit piece should have it's own root midi note, that is translated from velocity it got into which layer to play
- they missed out completely on this

If you play with 4 layers, one for each velocity range, but different midi notes each layer as well, you're in trouble if to edit that midi before rendering!!!!!
- instead of fixing with one midi note, you have 4 if to move a note, or change velocity
- so sometimes disconnect with end user base on some things

But I moved from AD2 to DTX700 for recordings too, so a fine unit otherwise. Just don't bother with multilayer own samples.

[zerocrossing]

When I worked for a Yamaha dealer, I always pointed people to the Yamahas. Always a great value.

[jamcat]

The Yamaha SG 2000 is an outstanding guitar, and was a staple of post-punk guitarists, mainly thanks to John McGeoch.

[jamcat]

Duplicate

[jamcat]

My main guitar nowadays is a beautiful Yamaha AES 920.

That’s a beautiful maple top. I’m a sucker for quilted maple!

[uOpt]

Early SGs.

I have a 1964 SG Jr. I don't remember what I paid but it wasn't much.

[Uncle E]

Yeah - there are lots of great Yamaha and Ibanez models, especially less fancy MIJ ones from the '80s, that are as good as anything else out there. I think Godin and their brands (Seagull, Arts & Luthierie) are fantastic, but they do cheap out on the electronics (pots & switches, not pickups). And if you like a Gibson, you can often find a similar, slightly quirkier Guild for much less $$.

The closest I've sounded to Santana was with a Yamaha Les Paul. It's the same guitar that Santana played, just with a different body shape.

My cheap-o Yamaha BB200 bass is my all-time favorite.