Yamaha SA2000S Sunburst 1979 Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar

This is a Yamaha SA2000S Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar in Sunburst finish. The Super Axe series was introduced in the late ‘60s with the SA-20 to SA-75 models, which grew in popularity throughout the ‘70s thanks to their excellent build quality. By the early ‘80s the line included the much revered SA-2000 and the SA-800. The Super Axe guitars have remained a popular instrument amongst jazz players thanks to their similarities to Gibson’s ES series, high quality and relatively low price.

Made in Japan in 1979, this guitar consists of a Laminated Beech & Birch body, an Arched Solid Spruce top, a Mahogany neck and 22 fret bound Ebony fingerboard. Chrome hardware is fitted including a TOM style bridge and stop tail, as well as a set of sealed Yamaha tuning machines. A pair of Yamaha Alnico-I (A-1) humbucking pickups are installed, and are wired to a 3-way toggle switch and independent volume & tone controls.

The Mahogany neck plays fantastically well, with a profile which might be described as a moderately-sized ‘C’ shape, which offers a smooth and responsive playing experience across the register. The gloss finish to the rear assists with navigation of the 24.75” scale, whilst the dual cutaway body design enhances access to the upper register. The Ebony of the fingerboard is nice and dark in appearance and provides a luxurious playing surface. Its 13.75” radius is comfortable for a guitar of this style, and is practical for all manner of playing styles and techniques. The semi-hollow construction keeps the weight relatively low whilst providing that thinline big-body feel.

Amplified, the pair of Yamaha Alnico-I (A-1) Humbuckers deliver thick and full-bodied tones which work well in a wide variety of musical contexts. There is plenty of grunt available for crunch and overdrive sounds, perfect for rock and blues players. The neck position produces a round and smooth tone, which can even be made dark and jazzy by rolling back the tone control. The semi-hollow construction ensures a lively and responsive feel whilst improving the dynamic range and response of the instrument. A typically well made and great sounding guitar from Yamaha.