Yamaha Studio Lord SL-650 Black 1976
Yamaha SL-650 Studio Lord, black, made in Japan 1976. We love vintage Yamaha stuff around here, and these Studio Lord models are some of the coolest vintage Japan LP style guitars going around in my books. We get plenty of Standard style Lord models through, but the Custom style examples like this one are a lot harder to come by. This is also an early example: the four digit serial places the birthday in 1976, so it's a first year guitar. As with all these mid-70s Yamaha electrics, the build and finish quality is excellent: well chosen woods, all carved totally by hand into shape and finished with plenty of care and attention. The neck is super comfy: it's a slim rounded shape without being super skinny, which feels instantly easy, and looks the part too with a lovely rosewood board. The tone is clear, balanced and warm, with a little more brightness and presence than many guitars in the same genre. A previous owner has black out some of the hardware, but not the bridge: a bit quirky, but it looks pretty cool. I figure it also means you've got permission to mod this however you see fit: drop a set of those obscure pickups you like in and go nuts, you may as well. The black finish has seen some play, but I for one love a well-loved LP Custom and feel this to be dripping with vibe and swagger. Very cool.
Model: Yamaha Studio Lord SL-650
Made: Japan, 1976, Nippon Gakki factory
Serial: 1098
Finish: black, gloss poly
Body: agathis/Asian mahogany, carved maple cap, chambered
Neck: agathis, rosewood fretboard, 24.75" scale, 12" radius, slim 60s style C shape
Weight: 4.275kg
Mods: pickup covers, jack plate and tailpiece painted/coated in black, pickguard removed and missing
Pickups: Yamaha humbucker x2
Accessories: basic vintage hard case
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has some scuffs on the end and both edges and some minor chips on the corners, as well as some scuffs on the front and back. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples and scuffs on the back only. The back has scuffs around the switch cavity and bottom horn, dimples around the control cavity, surface scratches and scuffs in the elbow area and back edge and a dent near the rear strap pin. The sides have dimples and scuffs on horns, the elbow area and near the jack, as well as some finish clouding on the treble side of the neck join. The front has dimples around the knobs and tailpiece and widespread light scuffs around the whole body, as well as play wear on the horns.
Overall: good condition (7/10)
Playing condition notes: action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. Wearing fresh 10/52 Moonshiners strings.
Fret Life: 6/10, normal wear inc some pitting, but playing smoothly with no major buzz issues, freshly polished