The sleeper - Yamaha G100 & Yamaha G50 amps

fep · #1 02-28-2010, 08:17 AM

The Yamaha G100 and G50 are amps that Yamaha made in the 80s. They were reportedly Yamaha's version of the Fender Twin Reverb. They sound like Fender Twin Reverbs.

G100 - 100 watts, solid state, it came as a combo with one or two 12" speakers.

G50 - 50 watts, one 12" speaker (btw, a very loud 50 watts)

I orginally saw a guitarist playing one in a club, a Gibson 335 straight into a G100. I loved his tone.

A G100 was Pat Metheny's amp in the 80s.

A G100 is still Mike Stern's amp of choice.

The interesting thing is, these amps are not popular... so if you're looking for a bargain jazz amp you may want to consider one of these.

I just bought a G50 on ebay for $70 plus $30 in shipping. I was the only bidder.

Meggy · #2 02-28-2010, 08:34 AM

I once went for a lesson with a superb jazz guitarist who lives near me (or did at the time). He had both the G100 which he was using, and the G50 which I plugged into. I remember getting one of the nicest jazz tones I'd ever had from that amp. They seemed like great amps for jazz guitar to me - well worth checking out if seen on ebay I would think.

Meggy · #3 02-28-2010, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fep

I just bought a G50 on ebay for $70 plus $30 in shipping. I was the only bidder.

Just taken in this part of your post - congratulations! $70 is a completely ridiculously low price to pay for such a great amp. I'm quite jealous!

famousbirds · #4 03-04-2010, 04:05 PM

Picked up one of these last night. I've been looking for a clean platform amp for jazz + pedals for a long time.. Polytone's caught my eye but I wasn't seeing anything on ebay that looked like a good deal.

Found one of these for $100 in a web shop last night. Should be here next week

What is the speaker like in these? I'm not opposed to putting a Weber or EV in there.

fep · #5 03-04-2010, 04:35 PM

I'm not knowledgeable on speakers, I just know I like the amps.

Do you know which version you got? Apparantely there are I, II, and IIIs which I believe represented different years of manufacture.

famousbirds · #6 03-04-2010, 04:43 PM

It's a I (that looks weird). What year does that put me at?

Apparently people have a lot of luck putting Electro-Voices in these, but that could be said for most amps.

fep · #7 03-04-2010, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by famousbirds

It's a I (that looks weird). What year does that put me at?

Apparently people have a lot of luck putting Electro-Voices in these, but that could be said for most amps.

I'm not sure but glad to hear you don't have a III. I read on the net that the ones with the color knobs (the IIIs) are the ones to avoid. I also read that the I and IIs were designed by Paul Rivera... and it was written as though that is a really good attribute.

famousbirds · #8 03-04-2010, 05:53 PM

Whew, avoided. Yeah, I gravitated towards this one because it was relatively simple. God knows I don't need a separate channel for 80's solid state distortion... Although apparently the II's have a parametric eq - very cool but by no means necessary.

Paul Rivera, no kidding? Never thought I could afford anything he had a hand in

Which model is yours? Has it arrived yet?

Archie · #9 03-05-2010, 11:05 AM

One of the guys at the local guitar shop really likes the current Yamaha guitar amps. He got me to try a new Les Paul Traditional through a Yamaha DG-60. I was impressed too. That's a very, very nice sounding amplifier.

BigDaddyLoveHandles · #10 03-05-2010, 11:17 AM

According to this, the DG60-112 is discontinued:

DG60-112

fep · #11 03-05-2010, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by famousbirds

Which model is yours? Has it arrived yet?

The one I'm still waiting for is a G50 I.

What started all this was my G100 II, that I've had since about 1982, finally has a problem... the reverb doesn't work. There is a crackling sound when turning the dial and sometimes the amp screams a hi pitched really really loud sound when the reverb dial is turned up past zero. With the reverb on zero it works fine.

So I called a repair man and was prepared to get it looked at. But I did some internet searching and discovered I could buy a used one pretty cheaply. Seemed like a better bet than seeing if and how much it would cost to get the G100 repaired.

fep · #12 03-05-2010, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by famousbirds

II's have a parametric eq - very cool but by no means necessary.

I played around with it and wasn't quite sure what it's intended purpose was. The amp already has treble, middle and bass dials; and fat and bright switches. That's a lot of control without the eq.

What I ended up using it for was to decrease the resonate frequency that I'd get in certain rooms.

Archie · #13 03-06-2010, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigDaddyLoveHandles

According to this, the DG60-112 is discontinued:

DG60-112

It must be NOS, therefore worth more.

cosmic gumbo · #14 03-06-2010, 12:03 PM

I've yet to use anything made by Yamaha that wasn't good. They are arguably the single best musical instrument/equipment manufacturer in the world. Guitars, drums, keys, horns, PAs, speakers, recorders, etc, who else even comes close?

famousbirds · #15 03-11-2010, 03:47 PM

Well, my G50-I got here today.

WOW.

This thing sounds great. Really punchy and clear. My 335-style straight into the hi-input sounds glorious.

Four band EQ is great. I would say overall this is a pretty bright amp, but the treble control is way sensitive, and knocking it down to 10:00 was instant jazz territory.

Pleasant surprise - the distortion was surprising. First off - even with the dirt knob all the way at ten, it's still a very light distortion at best - a little fuzzy, a little warmer, but nothing like "distortion" like I think of a Rat or a DS-1. I've have pedals for dirt, but if I was in a situation where I needed a little extra something straight in I wouldn't have a problem using it.

Not-so pleasant surprise - the reverb circuit is very ringy and cheap sounding spring-type. Anything about 9:00 results in nasty sounding *tingtingtingting*. If I really cared, I would look into getting a new Accutronics pan, but in the meantime I'll stick with my pedals.

Overall - I love it, and an absolute steal for US$100. Wow.

FatJeff · #16 03-11-2010, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cosmic gumbo

I've yet to use anything made by Yamaha that wasn't good. They are arguably the single best musical instrument/equipment manufacturer in the world. Guitars, drums, keys, horns, PAs, speakers, recorders, etc, who else even comes close?

I generally agree with that, except that my Yamaha digital piano (YDP-323) doesn't sound very good. The modeling is pretty synthetic and it's just not much of a joy to play. Whenever I play a rootless Eb7 (I think that's the bad one) the resulting combination of beats is almost too much to bear. Don't hear that on other digital pianos, and definitely not on the Steinways at school.

fep · #17 03-13-2010, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by famousbirds

Well, my G50-I got here today.

WOW.

This thing sounds great. Really punchy and clear. My 335-style straight into the hi-input sounds glorious.

Four band EQ is great. I would say overall this is a pretty bright amp, but the treble control is way sensitive, and knocking it down to 10:00 was instant jazz territory.

Pleasant surprise - the distortion was surprising. First off - even with the dirt knob all the way at ten, it's still a very light distortion at best - a little fuzzy, a little warmer, but nothing like "distortion" like I think of a Rat or a DS-1. I've have pedals for dirt, but if I was in a situation where I needed a little extra something straight in I wouldn't have a problem using it.

Not-so pleasant surprise - the reverb circuit is very ringy and cheap sounding spring-type. Anything about 9:00 results in nasty sounding *tingtingtingting*. If I really cared, I would look into getting a new Accutronics pan, but in the meantime I'll stick with my pedals.

Overall - I love it, and an absolute steal for US$100. Wow.

I'm glad you like it. I agree with everything you wrote.

I think they're great. The nice thing about the G50 is it "comes alive" at lower volumes than the G100.

The G50 I doesn't have a reverb tank on the bottom of the cabinet like the G100 II does. I thought the G100 II has a very Fender like reverb sound.

My ebay G50 arrived and it has a hum - even with no guitar and all the dials at zero. The hums too loud for me to use it. There is also visable rust at places on the amp, looks like it's been affected by weather in one way or another. I have to send it back. Dissapointing but that's the risk you take with ebay.

BigDaddyLoveHandles · #18 03-13-2010, 12:40 PM

Just to double-check: all these amps are used, right? They're not made anymore. And do you have any recommendations for Yamaha guitar amps that are currently being made?

fep · #19 03-13-2010, 12:52 PM

Bigdaddy,

Yep they're used. I just know of them because I've always had one, well since the 80's. And Metheny and Stern (and I think Holdsworth used them). And if you can find a good one for $200 or less, they're a bargain, a steal, imho.

I'm not familar with the new yamaha amps.

Steve Z · #20 03-16-2010, 02:38 PM

There is a 1979 Yamaha G50 that just appeared on the Nashville Craigslist for $150... pickup only though...

VINTAGE 1979 Yamaha G50 112 AMP!!!

famousbirds · #21 03-16-2010, 03:57 PM

Yup, mine is used. In good shape though.

It's the same model as in the CL ad. If anyone's in Nashville, go get it!

virtuoso · #22 03-16-2010, 07:15 PM

For a couple of years I've been using the g20 model,just for jazz,the clean sound is pretty unbeatable.

Modalguru · #23 05-17-2010, 01:25 PM

I own a Yamaha G100-112, too. It's loaded with an old EV 12L speaker, which makes it pretty heavy. But the sound is really great. I get alot of compliments on the sound. It doesn't only give a good jazz sound, it's great for any style. And with the parametric eq you can notch out those low feed back frequencys when playing with an archtop. But it likes strats and teles, too. To be honest, I'm thinking about bying a second one, just to have one in reserve...

Cheers, Chris

Strat-toter · #24 10-12-2010, 08:40 PM

Hello everyone, I picked up a G100 212 Series III today for a song...everything seems to work well and it sounds very sweet with the exception of A) The headphone jack doesnt cut off the speakers to the cabinet shouldn't it? and B) what the heck does the RED AB button above the INPUT jack do? TIA! I hope to learn a lot here!

virtuoso · #25 10-13-2010, 10:25 PM

Did you push the button?

It must be drive chanell.

Strat-toter · #26 10-13-2010, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by virtuoso

Did you push the button?

It must be drive chanell.

I figured it out, found the USER guide online...the button switches to GAIN ONLY if the F/S is not plugged in...

Wilson Sound · #27 03-07-2011, 02:21 PM

Time to part with this one. Should make someone happy.

Yamaha G100 - eBay (item 270716917788 end time Mar-12-11 12:19:26 PST)

offhand35 · #28 03-07-2011, 03:19 PM

I see a new arrival listed at a GC in CAlifornia for $149.99
I have no personal interest or stake in this, I am not in the market
for one, and thought I'd pass it on.

GUITAR AMP
USED YAMAHA FIFTY 112 G50-112 COMBO AMP

Guitar Center South Bay Lawndale, California 90260 310-542-9444

SamBooka · #29 03-07-2011, 05:11 PM

100 212 Mk III here for 200.. I will pass LOL

jbear · #30 03-07-2011, 11:41 PM

Yamaha makes some dam* good stuff. I found a T50c Soldano for next to nothing in a local pawn shop. Great build and layout, but it was a gain MONSTER, just not my style. I put a Tonker in it and had my amp guy tame the gain with some ingenious tube swaps and mods. Closest to perfect tone I've ever coaxed out of an amp. It's no Dumble or Suhr, but it's waaaay closer than you'd ever expect. Then again...my amp guy is pretty much one of those electro-wizards. Clean channel has headroom to burn. Gain channel with a Double Fat Strat and some Duncan 59's is layin' down early Tribal Tech. With a semi or a Tele it's straight up Jing Chi. I can't believe it's the same amp. It would have cost me 2g's to get close to this type of sound.
I had an SGB700s which was a killer guitar with a Louisville Slugger of a neck (I like 'em fat...not that fat). Gotta get me a Mike Stern, an SA2200, and a DG Stomp. Yamaha knows what their doing.