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Description

The Yamaha SG-I is a solid body electric guitar that has earned its place in the pantheon of essential instruments for serious musicians. Known for its versatile tone and exceptional playability, the SG-I offers a seamless blend of traditional craftsmanship and modern innovation. This guitar is especially suited for players who appreciate a distinctive double-cutaway design that allows for effortless access to higher frets, making it ideal for both rhythm and lead guitarists.

The SG-I features a finely crafted mahogany body that contributes to its warm and resonant sound, while the set neck construction ensures excellent sustain and stability. Equipped with high-output humbuckers, this instrument delivers a robust and balanced tone that's perfect for a wide range of genres—from rock and blues to jazz and metal. Players will appreciate the intuitive control layout that includes two volume knobs, two tone knobs, and a three-way pickup selector, offering a broad palette of sonic possibilities.

Whether you're performing on stage, recording in the studio, or jamming in your garage, the Yamaha SG-I stands out as a reliable and expressive tool. Its heritage in Yamaha's esteemed line of guitars is evident in every detail, from the smooth fretboard to the responsive tuning machines.

Key Features:

  • Mahogany body and set neck construction
  • High-output humbucking pickups
  • Double-cutaway design for easy access to higher frets
  • Intuitive control layout with two volume knobs, two tone knobs, and a three-way pickup selector
  • Known for its warm and resonant sound, suitable for various music styles

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Yamaha SG-I.

Features and functionality

  • The SG-I features a 12" neck radius, which users find more approachable than the bulkier necks like those on classic Les Pauls.

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  • Owners appreciate the stock pickups for their ability to handle gain and provide a glassy tone with coil splitting, suitable for jazzy vibes.

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Comparisons

  • The Yamaha SG-I is noted for its weight and resonance, comparable to a Les Paul, but with coil-splitting capabilities for extended tonal versatility.

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  • The model evokes vibes similar to those associated with Josh Homme and Desert/Stoner Rock styles.

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Mods and upgrades

  • Some owners plan to replace stock pickups with Arcane pickups for a punchier tone, as the originals can sound muddy.

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  • Owners are considering Railhammer pickups as an alternative to the stock ones for improved performance.

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User experience

  • The 15" neck radius is praised for its comfort, feeling more natural than the slimmer 60s profiles found on other guitars.

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  • The guitar feels substantial and is described as heavy, not lightweight.

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  • Described as "vintage" with a production year around 1980/1981, adding historical value.

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Build quality

  • The SG-I is described as having “fretless wonder” type frets, which are low-profile and enhance playability.

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Other

  • The guitar is noted for significant feedback issues with its current pickups.

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Artist usage

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See how Issei Noro uses Yamaha SG-I

Issei Noro

Guitarist

Casiopea

...
Verified via YouTube

The guitar can be seen in the whole video. It became Issei Noros Signature guitar since the mid of the eighties. In the late eighties the guitar was added with a single coil and was available as "Yamaha SG-I" on the Japanese market.

Picture Source:

http://gakki.gaku-ya.jp/shopdetail/000000009532/

Genre Usage

Based on how artists on Equipboard use this gear, it is most commonly found in the following genres.

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