Pricing and availability

* Product prices and availability are updated by Equipboard every 24hrs and are subject to change. Equipboard may receive compensation for purchases made at participating retailers linked on this site. This compensation does not affect what products or prices are displayed, or the order of prices listed. For more information, please refer to our affiliate disclosure.

Description

Discover the YAMAHA SGV 300, a solid body electric guitar that effortlessly marries vintage charm with modern performance. Crafted for musicians who appreciate both style and substance, this guitar is a reimagined classic, drawing inspiration from the surf-rock era while offering the reliability and playability expected by today's artists. The SGV 300's distinctively contoured body and unique asymmetrical headstock set it apart as a true icon in the realm of electric guitars.

Equipped with specially designed single-coil pickups, the SGV 300 produces a rich, dynamic tone that is both versatile and expressive. Whether you're strumming mellow chords or diving into high-octane solos, this guitar delivers a sound that's both crisp and full-bodied. Its bolt-on neck ensures a smooth playing experience, allowing for easy access to higher frets, while maintaining sturdy construction.

The SGV 300 doesn't just sound great; it feels great too. The comfortable neck profile and well-balanced body make this guitar an ideal choice for extended playing sessions, whether on stage or in the studio. Its retro-futuristic aesthetic is a nod to Yamaha's innovative spirit, making it a standout piece for any collection.

Key Features:

  • Solid body electric guitar with vintage-inspired design
  • Unique asymmetrical headstock
  • Specially designed single-coil pickups for dynamic tone
  • Bolt-on neck for enhanced playability
  • Comfortable neck profile for extended playing sessions
  • Retro-futuristic aesthetic inspired by classic surf-rock guitars
Crimson Custom Guitars

Crimson Custom Guitars

Love it or Hate it?! The Yamaha Flying Samurai | Luthier Teardown & Giveaway

Video thumbnail for Love it or Hate it?! The Yamaha Flying Samurai | Luthier Teardown & Giveaway by Crimson Custom Guitars

Love it or Hate it?! The Yamaha Flying Samurai | Luthier Teardown & Giveaway

Crimson Custom Guitars

Crimson Custom Guitars

Video thumbnail for 2001 Yamaha SGV300 Guitar Demo by drowninginguitars

2001 Yamaha SGV300 Guitar Demo

drowninginguitars

drowninginguitars

Video thumbnail for Yamaha Sgv-300 guitar demo by ShortScaleGearDemos

Yamaha Sgv-300 guitar demo

ShortScaleGearDemos

ShortScaleGearDemos

Video thumbnail for Testing Vintage Guitar! YAMAHA SGV-300 by Raflly Dias

Testing Vintage Guitar! YAMAHA SGV-300

Raflly Dias

Raflly Dias

Video thumbnail for Yamaha SGV-300 "Flying Samurai" - review & demo by Pedal Experiments

Yamaha SGV-300 "Flying Samurai" - review & demo

Pedal Experiments

Pedal Experiments

Video thumbnail for The WEIRDEST guitar I own...what is this guitar? by Ben Hartwell

The WEIRDEST guitar I own...what is this guitar?

Ben Hartwell

Ben Hartwell

Video thumbnail for Yamaha SGV 300 c tremolo de jaguar by Rogério Gagliano de Oliveira

Yamaha SGV 300 c tremolo de jaguar

Rogério Gagliano de Oliveira

Rogério Gagliano de Oliveira

Reviews

Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about YAMAHA SGV 300.

Setup and maintenance

  • Owners suggest rotating the toggle switch 90 degrees to prevent accidental hits during play.

    Source
  • Some owners observed a small divot at the fifth fret and minimal fret wear above the tenth fret, indicating potential setup adjustments for optimal playability.

    Source

Use cases and applications

  • The SGV 300, a reissue of the 60's Yamaha SG-5A, is associated with artists like Takeshi Terauchi and King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard, enhancing its appeal for vintage sound seekers.

    Source
  • The SGV 300's blend pot allows blending of humbucking coils with single coils, offering versatility from metal to Knopfler-esque quack tones.

    Source
  • The SGV series is well-suited for shoegaze and stoner rock due to its blend knob and single-coil tone, offering a versatile sound palette.

    Source

Value and pricing

  • Owners found significant deals, such as $450 for the SGV 300, highlighting the potential for bargains in less competitive markets like Hawaii.

    Source
  • Despite its unique features, the SGV 300 remains relatively affordable, making it a recommended purchase for those who can manage a narrow nut width.

    Source

Features and functionality

  • The guitar's bridge pickup configuration includes two single coils linked with a notched blend knob for versatile tonal options.

    Source
  • The tremolo system includes a semitone step feature for precise dive-bombs.

    Source
  • The SGV models feature a ball-bearing loaded tremolo system, which is praised for its smooth operation, though lacking a locking function.

    Source
  • The SGV 300 utilizes a unique pickup blend knob allowing tonal blending between pickups, offering distinct sound variations useful in recording and live settings.

    Source

Build quality

  • The SGV 300 features a 24.75" scale and 1.62" nut width, providing a comfortable playing experience for various hand sizes.

    Source
  • The SGV 800's lacquered neck with added binding provides a notably smoother playing experience compared to the SGV 300.

    Source
  • The SGV 300 features ceramic pickups known for their musicality and tonal variety, providing a versatile sound palette.

    Source
  • The SGV 800 model's locking tuners contribute to better tuning stability, particularly during vibrato use.

    Source

Mods and upgrades

  • Using a 3M Scotch Brite purple pad can effectively convert the gloss neck finish to a satin-smooth feel.

    Source
  • Users recommend upgrading to 500k pots for SGV 800 to enhance pickup clarity and versatility, especially for Mosrite-esque P90 pickups.

    Source

Comparisons

  • The SGV 800's Mosrite-style P90 pickups give it a distinctive edge over the SGV 300, which more closely aligns with Stratocaster-like single coil sound.

    Source

4.5 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 3 Ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star
kalam_mahardhika

versatile, criminally underrated, and utilitarian at best

If you're looking for a 1 guitar does all, this would fall into that category. The controls on this guitar allow you to blend the bridge and middle pickup for a faux humbucker sound. The neck pickup on it's own sounds really throaty, similar to a strat pickup and somewhat leaning towards how a jaguar neck pickup would sound (with less jangle and more sustain). It truly is comfortable to play with a 24.75" scale length and a 12" radius. The downside is the tremolo unit's effect towards tuning stability but depending on how you play with it, it can actually provide a whole lot of nuance and mojo to your sound.

Preferred Settings + Usage:

Middle position on the pickup selector with both the bridge and middle pickup on (blend knob at 12'o-clock

Artist usage

Add artist
See how Kylie Miller uses YAMAHA SGV 300

Kylie Miller

Guitarist

...
Verified via Photo

The Beaches guitarist Kylie Miller has used a YAMAHA SGV 300 guitar, also known as the Flying Samurai. This information is substantiated by a photograph on her Instagram account, dated February 26, 2024, where she is seen playing the instrument. In the accompanying caption, she acknowledges borrowing the guitar from Phil Hirst, the bassist of Soft Cult. Additionally, a video posted by The Beaches, features Miller playing the SGV 300 during a performance of their song "Blame Brett," further corroborating her use of this specific guitar.

H

Henry Dartnall

Guitarist

Young Knives

...
Verified via YouTube

From 2003 to 2005, Henry Dartnall used the YAMAHA SGV 300 as his main guitar, as evidenced by a video posted by boomhaueruk on YouTube titled "The Young Knives - Live For XFMRemix (Jan 2006, London?)."

Genre Usage

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

Used With

Based on how musicians on Equipboard use YAMAHA SGV 300, it is most commonly used with the following gear.

Community setups

Show yours
analogueheart

analogueheart

Gear IQ 62

1 alternative for YAMAHA SGV 300, curated by the Equipboard community.

Yamaha SGV 800

 

similar sound

from the same line but different pickups. The SGV 800 provides more mid-range and an easier to dial in tones due to it's more conventional pickup selector (regular 3-way switch).

More Yamaha Solid Body Electric Guitars

Gear Guides

  • Added to Equipboard on by

    fabianabs
    fabianabs

    Gear IQ 155