Yamaha SA700 Super Axe Persimmon Red 1979
Yamaha SA700 Super Axe, red, made in Japan 1979. Yamaha started making hollow and semi-hollow guitars in the late 60s. The Super Axe series was the second generation of their offerings, taking a few more queues from the Gibson ES series. As such, this gets a 335-style laminate body with a centre block, an arched top and back and a thinline depth. It's all done by hand, as there were no CNC machines in Japan's guitar factories until the early 80s. The quality of craftsmanship is excellent: very tidy woodwork, frets all in order, gorgeous finish... they weren't messing around, this is made very well indeed. The neck is a comfy moderate shape and the body is beautifully balanced and resplendently resonant, it's very enjoyable to play. The pickups are approximately PAF flavoured, and they sound great. You get a rich low end with plenty of sustain, woody and warm midrange and a chirpy, musical treble. You can easily cover jazz, blues or funk stuff, but it will deliver the goods for rock and punk parts with gusto. I reckon this is outstanding value, you get a stupendous guitar for not much cash at all. Yum, aha!
Model: Yamaha SA700 Super Axe
Made: Japan, 1979, Nippon Gakki factory
Serial: 003025
Finish: Persimmon Red
Body: laminate birch, semi hollow with centre block, thinline depth
Neck: mahogany, rosewood board, 24.75" scale, 12" radius, vintage C shape
Weight: 4.075kg
Mods: none
Pickups: Yamaha A-III PAF-style humbucker x2
Accessories: basic vintage hard case
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has dimples and dents on the end, dimples and scuffs on the bass side, scuffs on the treble side and back around the tuners, and some dimples on the front near the Yamaha logo and some dents on the treble edge. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, dimples and scuffs and some rub wear on the back only. The back has scuffs on horns and bottom corner and some dimples int he elbow area and back edge, as well as some rub wear and surface scratches in the middle of the body. The sides have scuffs near the neck heel on both sides, dimples on the top horn and elbow area, scuffs near the rear strap pin, dimples and scuffs near the jack and some rub wear on the bottom horn. The front has dimples on the top horn, near the knobs and switch, near the rear strap pin, scuffs in the elbow area and some play wear on the guard and horns.
Overall: very good condition (7.5/10)
Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. Wearing fresh 11/49 Moonshiners strings.
Fret life: 7/10, minor wear but playing evenly with no major buzz issues