1980s Yamaha FG-300S

This Yamaha FG-300S, made in Japan, is a particularly attractive vintage Yamaha acoustic featuring its distinctive and much less commonly seen Sunburst finish. With its beautifully aged amber centre fading into deep brown edges, it has a wonderfully classic Japanese vintage appearance.

The FG-300S belongs to Yamaha’s Japanese-made FG range from the early 1980s. It features an Ezo spruce top, paired with American walnut back and sides, giving the guitar a rich, balanced acoustic character with excellent clarity and projection.

The back and sides are particularly attractive on this example, displaying beautiful dark figuring beneath the gloss finish. Together with the deep Sunburst top, the guitar has a distinctive and elegant appearance that stands apart from the more commonly encountered natural-finished vintage Yamaha FG models.

Tonally, the FG-300S delivers the character that makes vintage Japanese Yamahas so popular: a strong and resonant acoustic voice with a warm low end, clear trebles and excellent chord definition. It responds beautifully to both strumming and fingerstyle playing, with a mature and open character developed over decades.

The guitar has also been fitted with upgraded bone bridge pins, a tasteful practical upgrade that complements the instrument nicely.

Playability is very comfortable, with the action measuring approximately 2.5mm on the low E and 2.0mm on the high E at the 12th fret. It feels comfortable and responsive in the hand, making it an enjoyable vintage acoustic for regular playing rather than simply a collector’s piece.

Cosmetically, this example remains in very good overall condition, especially considering its age. There are some light scratches and small cosmetic marks consistent with normal use, but nothing that significantly detracts from its appearance. The Sunburst finish remains rich and vibrant, while the back and sides retain a particularly attractive depth and figuring.

🪵 Features

• Model: Yamaha FG-300S

• Era: Early 1980s

• Country of manufacture: Japan

• Body style: Western / Dreadnought-style acoustic

• Top: Ezo Spruce

• Back & sides: American Walnut

• Neck: Nato

• Fingerboard: Rosewood

• Bridge: Rosewood

• Bridge pins: Upgraded Bone Pins

• Finish: Rare Sunburst

• 12th-fret action: Approx. 2.5mm low E / 2.0mm high E

✅ Condition Notes

• Very good overall vintage condition

• Beautifully preserved Sunburst finish

• Attractive figuring across the back and sides

• Some light scratches and small cosmetic marks consistent with age and normal use

• No major cosmetic damage

• Comfortable 2.5 mm low E / 2.0 mm high E action at the 12th fret

• Upgraded bone bridge pins

• Overall a very clean and well-preserved vintage Japanese Yamaha

🎼 Why buy this guitar?

The Yamaha FG-300S combines the quality and unmistakable tonal character of Yamaha’s Japanese-made vintage acoustics with a particularly attractive and less commonly seen Sunburst finish. Compared with the many natural-finished vintage FG guitars on the market, this deep vintage burst gives the instrument a much more distinctive presence.

Its comfortable 2.5 / 2.0 mm action makes it an immediately enjoyable player, while the upgraded bone bridge pins are a tasteful addition. Most importantly, it has the warm, open and responsive character that makes older Japanese Yamaha acoustics so enjoyable to play.

For anyone looking for a vintage Made-in-Japan Yamaha with something a little different visually, this FG-300S is a particularly handsome and well-preserved example.

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