Used Yamaha 1966 SA-50 Vintage Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar

Description

The 1966 Yamaha SA-50 is a fascinating piece of Japanese electric guitar history, offering distinctive vintage styling, expressive semi-hollowbody tone, and the character of Yamaha's early electric guitar designs. Dating to the mid-1960s, this instrument represents an important period when Yamaha was establishing its reputation for innovative electric guitars and high-quality Japanese craftsmanship.

The SA-50 stands out with its classic double-cutaway semi-hollowbody design, elegant vintage appearance, and unique Yamaha personality. Unlike the more familiar American semi-hollow guitars of the period, early Yamaha instruments have their own styling and construction details, making them particularly appealing to collectors and players searching for something unusual.

The guitar's semi-hollowbody construction provides a lively, resonant playing experience, blending the warmth and openness associated with hollowbody instruments with the versatility of an electric guitar. This makes the SA-50 especially enjoyable for clean rhythm work, melodic leads, and vintage-inspired overdriven sounds.

Its vintage pickup configuration offers plenty of musical character, making the guitar well suited for blues, jazz, surf, garage rock, classic rock, soul, and early rock and roll. From warm, rounded chord voicings to bright, expressive lead tones, the SA-50 delivers the kind of individual sonic personality that draws musicians toward vintage instruments.

The 1966 production year makes this example especially interesting to Yamaha enthusiasts. Early Japanese electric guitars from this period have become increasingly appreciated for their unusual designs, historical significance, and the unique playing experiences they offer.

In the recording studio, the Yamaha SA-50 can be an inspiring instrument for capturing vintage-style rhythm guitar, atmospheric clean passages, blues leads, retro pop textures, and character-rich guitar overdubs. Pairing it with a tube amplifier, spring reverb, tremolo, or vintage-style overdrive can produce a wide variety of classic sounds.

Whether you're a collector of early Japanese guitars, a studio musician searching for distinctive vintage tones, or a guitarist who appreciates instruments with history and personality, this 1966 Yamaha SA-50 offers a compelling combination of vintage appeal, expressive sound, and uncommon design.

Vintage identification note: The stated 1966 production year should be supported by the instrument's identifying features or available documentation. Early Yamaha model specifications and dating can require careful verification, and this listing does not assume that all components are original.

Condition

This Yamaha 1966 SA-50 is used, tested, and fully functional. It shows normal signs of wear consistent with its vintage age and previous use, including possible scratches, small dings, finish checking, lacquer wear, hardware oxidation, and other cosmetic signs of aging.

Please refer carefully to the photos for the exact condition of the body, finish, neck, headstock, fingerboard, frets, pickups, electronics, controls, bridge, tailpiece, tuners, binding, and overall cosmetics.

The guitar has been tested for proper functionality, including its pickups and electronic controls.

As with any instrument approaching 60 years of age, originality of the pickups, electronics, hardware, tuners, finish, and other components should not be assumed without documentation. Any repairs, modifications, refinishing, or replacement parts should be evaluated using the photos and available instrument history.

Please also verify the included case, gig bag, paperwork, and accessories from the photos.

Key Features

• Yamaha SA-50 vintage electric guitar
• Stated 1966 production year
• Early Japanese Yamaha electric guitar
• Classic semi-hollowbody design
• Double-cutaway body shape
• Distinctive mid-1960s styling
• Vintage Yamaha construction
• Resonant semi-hollowbody character
• Warm and expressive electric guitar tone
• Vintage-style pickup configuration
• Excellent for clean rhythm playing
• Great for blues lead guitar
• Ideal for jazz
• Excellent for surf rock
• Great for garage rock
• Suitable for early rock and roll
• Excellent for classic rock
• Great for soul and retro pop
• Distinctive vintage tonal personality
• Comfortable double-cutaway access
• Appealing vintage Japanese guitar design
• Interesting instrument for Yamaha collectors
• Uncommon alternative to American semi-hollow guitars
• Great for vintage-inspired studio recording
• Excellent for atmospheric clean guitar tracks
• Suitable for retro rhythm guitar arrangements
• Great with spring reverb
• Excellent with vintage-style tremolo effects
• Pairs well with tube amplifiers
• Character-rich guitar for creative recording
• Distinctive 1960s Japanese electric guitar aesthetics
• Appealing to collectors of early Yamaha instruments
• Exact production date should be verified through available documentation
• Exact pickup and hardware specifications should be confirmed
• Originality of components should be verified
• Any vintage repairs or modifications should be evaluated from the photos
• Exact case, gig bag, and accessories should be confirmed from the photos

This product has been tested, is fully functional, and includes a 30-day warranty for in store purchases. For the exact condition, please refer to the photos provided. If you have any questions, call or text 770-931-9190. We are happy to assist you! If you're in the Atlanta area, stop by and bring your trades. Connect with a buyer here

Online Purchase Policy

If you are not satisfied with your online purchase, contact the originating Music Go Round store within 48 hours of receiving your shipment to obtain return authorization instructions.

• All returns must be sent to the store where the item was originally purchased.
• Customers are responsible for return shipping costs unless the item arrived damaged or has an undisclosed defect.
• Refunds are limited to the purchase price of the product. Original shipping charges are non-refundable except for returns due to shipping damage or an undisclosed defect.
• Refunds or exchanges are issued after the originating store receives and inspects the returned item.
• Returned items must include all original packaging, accessories, manuals, and any other contents included with the shipment.

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