Yamaha FG-300

The Yamaha FG-300 is a jumbo acoustic guitar built in Japan and Taiwan from 1968 to 1976, featuring a spruce top, rosewood back and sides, and a mahogany neck. It was one of Yamaha's top models of the era, designed to compete directly with the Gibson Hummingbird, and it shares that guitar's western-style hummingbird pickguard and decorative fretboard inlays. Buyers dating their instrument by label will find four overlapping eras: the Red label ran from 1967 to 1972 across Japan and Taiwan; the Tan label from 1972 to 1975, also across both countries; the Black label from 1974 to 1977 in Japan and Taiwan; and the Orange label from 1974 to 1985 in Japan only. The voice is strong-projecting and warm. On surviving examples the original pickguard frequently deteriorates, which has driven a small cottage industry in hand-made replicas sized and printed to match the original FG-300 and FG-350 specifications. The adjustable saddle bridge found on many examples is another detail buyers and restorers commonly address.

Years produced

1968–1976

Body type

6 String Jumbo

Top

Spruce

Back & sides

Rosewood

Neck

Mahogany

Fingerboard

Rosewood

Colors

black, natural, red

Original MSRP

$365

Current market

$22.99–$2199 (15 listings)

Adjustable Bridge