Yamaha Guitars Celebrates 40 Years In The United States With Limited Edition SBG3000

Apr 10, 2009

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The Yamaha SBG3000 solid-body electric guitar is a masterpiece of musical instrument craftsmanship. To commemorate the 40th year that Yamaha began selling guitars in the United States, Yamaha is issuing only 40 of these limited edition collector's items, a model that has never before been available in this country. Each guitar is serialized and comes with a special glass display case (a $400 value).

Originally issued in the mid-1970s, the SBG line became famous for its incredible sustain after legendary artists like Carlos Santana and Bob Marley popularized the models. In 2007, Yamaha reissued the SBG2000 and SBG1000 with faithful reproductions of these two classic six-string beauties.

The SBG3000, appointed with intricate aesthetic details, is individually handcrafted by skilled master luthiers at the famed Yamaha Music Craft in Hamamatsu, Japan, the company's elite workshop responsible for producing Yamaha's top-of-the-line handcrafted acoustic guitars and custom instruments.

"Collectors understand that Yamaha SBG series electrics are historically among the finest handcrafted solid body electric guitars ever made," says Dennis Webster, marketing manager, Yamaha Guitars. The SBG3000 is no exception. "This guitar's elegant attention to stylistic details and warm, gorgeous tonal characteristics make it a fitting tribute to the heritage of Yamaha guitars."

Aficionados will appreciate the high-end neck-through body construction, which helps to create the SBG3000's amazing sustain and tone. The SBG3000 also features a premium carved Maple top over a Maple/Mahogany body and high-grade Ebony fretboard over select Maple/Mahogany neck.

Proprietary Yamaha Alnico V Covered Humbucker pickups, featuring special coil wiring and selected pole piece materials, create a wide array of sounds. High-end hardware, including Gold precise torque tuning machines and a low-mass bridge, along with Mother-of-Pearl/Abalone inlays, position markers and binding, add to the instrument's stunning looks. The Santana connection, along with the skills of Yamaha's custom shop, helped spread the word about the original SG models. Renowned players who began to use the guitars include reggae great Bob Marley, jazz master Al Di Meola, Stax/Volt house guitarist Steve Cropper, Phil Manzanera (Roxy Music), Paul Barrere (Little Feat) and Al McCay (Earth, Wind & Fire).

A new feature added to the SBG guitars is Yamaha's Initial Response Acceleration, a proprietary manufacturing technique that accelerates the maturing process of the guitar, allowing a newly built instrument to develop its own unique personality quicker, producing a highly responsive instrument that sounds as if it has been played for years. Initial Response Acceleration also brings out the guitar's tonal sweet spots, increases the stability and strength of the wood, and offers protection against cracking, splitting and decay.

Celebrating its 40th year of selling top-quality acoustic, electric and bass guitars in the United States, Yamaha was one of the first companies to bring quality Asian construction to the worldwide market. The venerable FG acoustic, introduced in the 1960s with the famous Red Label, is the world's top-selling guitar model of all time. In 2008, Yamaha became the top-selling acoustic and acoustic-electric guitar brand in the United States, determined by sales volume and number of units sold, with the CPX500 rising to the top slot in acoustic-electric models.