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I received an e-mail from Dr. Dave Bradley of Maine on March 28,
2008. Here is his story:
Hi David.
I was researching my guitar and found your website about the FG360. I have
the same guitar. I have had mine since fall 1975. Here is the story
of my FG360.
In fall 1972 I graduated from Carolina and got a Yamaha FG150 as a gift. I
then moved to Maine. The FG150 was a low end Yamaha and the top started to
warp. The dealer in Carolina would not honor a return so I wrote to Yamaha
corporate.
A few weeks later, in fall 1975, I got a letter asking me to send them the FG150
for inspection. I sent the guitar to them. They wrote back a few weeks
later and thanked me for doing so, and then said that they would send me another
guitar. They noted that they were experimenting with some partially hand
made guitars in Japan, and noted the name of a guitar designer from I think
Chile whose name was something like Alvarez. They said that he would personally
choose one of the new models and send it to me. A few weeks later I
received the FG360. It was wonderfully made and had great tone and action.
I also received a short handwritten note from the designer fellow (can't find it
though). I also recall that Yamaha said they were using some rare woods on
the guitar line that had were usually not used, Brazilian rosewood, higher
quality top wood, heavier wood
in the neck etc.
Over the past 32 years it has aged well, the top has darkened some,
and the action has remained straight and true. The tone is still sweet,
especially the midrange. I use lighter strings on it, usually Martin
silver wrapped. Whether I use standard tuning or open chord tuning
it is wonderful sound. The guitar has traveled around the world to
a few places and has always come out undamaged in the shipping
with the airline conveyor belts.
Enclosed are three pictures of the guitar taken today. It has a few
blemishes here and there from the years, and the back has a small
area at the bottom where the varnish coat bubbled, probably from
sitting in the hot sun one summer, else all is good!
Thanks for your posting on the guitar. I hope my story helps too.
Best wishes,
Dave Bradley
Portland Maine
www.focusonattention.com
Our thanks to Dave for sharing his story with us.
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