David, hi --
Ran into your info
I had saved years ago, now am retired.
My FG360 S/N is 31109, which I assume
means November 9, 1973 as you describe
it. That number is stamped on the
cross-brace as you described, and is
VERY faded, looking possibly unreadable
in the near future. The green tinged
yellowish paper label says "Nippon Gakki
Co. Ltd." near the bottom, and "Made in
Japan" below that.
I have "NK"
stamp/burned onto the back flat-wood
strut just below the label.
It
sounded okay enough when I bought it for
$90 w/hardshell case at a yardsale in
1984 in Durango, CO, but then about 15
years ago I discovered the plastic nut
was actually on backwards, like for a
lefty guit fiddle, but the bridge didn't
match that, so just a mistake by Yamaha.
But then I met Kurtis Orton, one
of the top luthiers in Oregon and U.S.
He runs Fire River Music at
http://rdawgguitars.com/kurt-orton-guitar-repair-builder/
in Grants Pass, Oregon. HE IS AN AWESOME
CHRISTIAN GENTLEMAN GIVER (I'm not a
Christian) who I could not possibly
respect more. He has a heart of pure
gold, seriously, and I've seen him help
folks who just needed a lift in spirits,
at no charge, and no proselytizing at
all (not that I mind). Kurt re-worked
and adjusted the FG360 neck, added a
bone nut, reworked the fret bars and
board, and who knows what other secrets
and love magic he did. DUDE – it's been
played by pros who both said "It sounds
just like a Martin, only plays better".
I'm not great, but my guitar, "Kaye",
makes me sound really really good on
3-cord fun times, and with mee three
fingers, I can make everybody foot-tap
hard (and humble).
Well, hope
you're still there and that this helps.
Holler if other questions, and it's you
who made me put on my list to use a
dental mirror and see what else lurks in
Kaye's bellybox :-) Another serial
number, perhaps?!
Later, David,
--Hal in Grants
Pass, Oregon
