Yamaha SG-3 & SG-2 replicas - SG-2 Finished p15/18

Talk about modding or building your own guitar from scratch.
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chase
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Re: Yamaha SG-3 replica project build

Post by chase » Wed May 19, 2010 12:21 pm

:? :? :?

I've been drooling over that first picture posted ever since I first saw it a year or two ago. That guitar looks classy.

I like the pure-white guard better than the minty one, personally, I think it makes the SG-3 look like a really elegant all-white three-piece suit. I dig that funky headstock too (very distinctive without looking like it's trying too hard, which is pretty difficult to pull off), and the angular offset body (looks like a more aggressive Hellcat or Marauder), and the trem (although I originally thought it was countersunk into the body to make the break angle steeper - is it recessed at all?). The hidden truss rod compartment is genius too, I actually passed on bidding on one of these on Ebay in part because it didn't look like there was any way to adjust the neck. Now I know!

That pin tool thingamabob to measure the neck profile is pretty slick, never seen one of those before.

Definitely going to be following this very closely!!!

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Re: Yamaha SG-3 replica project build

Post by theworkoffire » Thu May 20, 2010 4:01 am

I know what you mean about the white, though so much depends on the lighting - this is that same guitar indoors:

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I have a green blank here I've been sitting on for about two years, but it is very green - I'll try that first, but maybe think about parchment, too.

Thanks loads for the extra pics Michael.

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Re: Yamaha SG-3 replica project build

Post by Sonichris » Thu May 20, 2010 6:34 am

Very cool Project! Can't wait to see pics of the build! I have a '66 SG-2, same guitar with 2 pickups instead of 3. I've thought about building one as well, but the specific parts of the Yamaha that make it so cool are hard to get - namely the tremolo and pickups. Your Tremolo plate drawing looks great!

I found an original Yamaha pickup on ebay a while ago, and need an excuse to build something around it.

Here's a few pics of mine.... for reference ;)

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Re: Yamaha SG-3 replica project build

Post by theworkoffire » Thu May 20, 2010 6:40 am

Cool!

I found all your photos elsewhere online - they've been invaluable for getting this far with my drawings and working out the pickups etc. Thanks loads for that.

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Re: Yamaha SG-3 replica project build

Post by Sonichris » Thu May 20, 2010 6:59 am

Oh, cool! Glad I could help! Here's some original catalog info.

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The 12 string really get it for me.

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Re: Yamaha SG-3 replica project build

Post by PoppaPopp » Thu May 20, 2010 10:11 am

a hamburger? wtf?!? :derp:

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Re: Yamaha SG-3 replica project build

Post by dthodtho » Thu May 20, 2010 10:54 am

Those are really nice looking guitars. I'll join the cheering crowd. this'll be great to watch.

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Re: Yamaha SG-3 replica project build

Post by noisepunk » Thu May 20, 2010 11:28 am

That red is delicious. I'm I admire your ambition with the custom parts, can't wait to see how this winds up.

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Re: Yamaha SG-3 replica project build

Post by john999 » Sat May 22, 2010 8:11 am

theworkoffire wrote:Oh my god, that's what that hole in the neck pocket is for!!! I'd seen it on another site, but never seen the underside of the neck. Ingenious! Bollocks to the idea of exposing the truss rod through the fretboard, then: I'm doing it their way. Fantastic. Interesting trem, too, with the hidden pivot.

Thanks so much, again, for the work you've put into getting me the tracings, Michael, you've been so much more thorough than I ever hoped. I'll make sure this does justice to your efforts.

EDIT: I use CorelDraw for 2D work, Sketchup for 3D. Sketchup exports to .dae, then I've had to use a whole bunch of other stuff to check the files for shapeways as per their instructions. (MeshLab converts .dae to .stl)
Yeah, I was interested when I saw that. A really tidy solution. Great project again Ben, I will be watching with interest. If my trans blonde finish goes tits up I will be going for a solid white like your SG-3 example, very much to my liking, a lot! :) (I will PM yer about the snips, no rush mate).

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Re: Yamaha SG-3 replica project build

Post by omarvolta » Sat May 22, 2010 3:22 pm

The singer/guitar player of one of my favorite bands played a 12 string (strung as a 6) in the early 70'. It's the reason I want one so bad!! Pictures from a 1972 TV presentation.

You can sorta see the 12-string headstock on the first one.

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Re: Yamaha SG-3 replica project build

Post by theworkoffire » Sat May 22, 2010 3:38 pm

Cool! What band?

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Re: Yamaha SG-3 replica project build

Post by omarvolta » Sun May 23, 2010 8:35 am

It's a Chilean Folk/Rock band called 'Los Jaivas'. Their most popular Album is called 'Alturas de Machu Picchu' (The Heights of Machu picchu, where they made music to Pablo Neruda's poem of the same name). It was recorded in the one studio in France where part of 'The Wall'(Pink Floyd) was recorded. Sadly, the guy holding the guitar in those pictures passed away back in 2003 from a heart attack. They are national treasure, legends! I suggest you give them a listen. There's this one song from 'The Heights of Machu Picchu' that has the most beautiful bass lines I've ever here in my life. The original drummer(died in a car accident in Peru in the late 80's. His Daughter replaced him) I was told, appeared in magazine (in the USA or Europe, can't remember) with a list of best drummers. I have yet to find that magazine though so I'm not 100% on that.

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Re: Yamaha SG-3 replica project build

Post by AWSchmit » Sun May 23, 2010 7:52 pm

How is this the first time I'm seeing such an awesome thread. This'll be fun. :w00t:
I finally finish building a guitar, go to play it, and then remember, "oh yeah, that's right. I suck at playing... Why did I build another guitar again?"

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chase
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Re: Yamaha SG-3 replica project build

Post by chase » Sun May 23, 2010 9:15 pm

omarvolta wrote:There's this one song from 'The Heights of Machu Picchu' that has the most beautiful bass lines I've ever here in my life.
What's the song? Got a link to it on YouTube/iTunes/Amazon?

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Re: Yamaha SG-3 replica project build

Post by omarvolta » Mon May 24, 2010 7:10 am

chase wrote:
omarvolta wrote:There's this one song from 'The Heights of Machu Picchu' that has the most beautiful bass lines I've ever here in my life.
What's the song? Got a link to it on YouTube/iTunes/Amazon?
I loves me the sound of that 4001!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2whSKCcCmo" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

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