Yamaha FG-140
The Yamaha FG-140 is a dreadnought produced from 1968 to 1972, built in Japan by Nippon Gakki during the red label era. It features a laminated spruce top, laminated mahogany back and sides, a mahogany neck, and a rosewood fretboard and bridge, with a 25-inch scale and a 1-11/16-inch nut width. Label history is a practical dating tool for buyers: the red label ran from 1967 to 1972 across both Japanese and Taiwanese production, followed by the tan label from 1972 to 1975. For many players and collectors, the red label FGs are the most iconic Yamaha acoustics ever made, and the FG-140 is considered one of the great sleeper vintage acoustics. Documented players include John Martyn. Survivors often show the effects of decades of hard use — dings, scratches, cracked headstocks, and stripped truss rod nuts — but even well-worn examples are noted for continuing to play and sound well.
- Years produced
- 1968–1972
- Body type
- 6 String Jumbo
- Top
- Spruce
- Back & sides
- Mahogany
- Neck
- Mahogany
- Fingerboard
- Rosewood
- Colors
- red, white
- Original MSRP
- $95
- Current market
- $260–$712 (25 listings)