Yamaha SA2200

**geese_com** · 07-08-2017, 03:37 PM

This is my first semi-hollow guitar. I've been wanting a semi-hollow for a while and was debating between a Yamaha SA2200 and PRS JA-15. This one popped up at such a good deal I couldn't pass it up. I am very glad I didn't.

Put a set of Thomastik-Infeld Swing JS111 on and did a little set up and it plays and sounds amazing!

**neatomic** · 07-08-2017, 03:43 PM

nice! don't be afraid to play with that neck pickup height for your choice jazz tone!..enjoy

cheers

**Rob MacKillop** · 07-08-2017, 03:48 PM

Great purchase! These are beautiful guitars, and your post makes me regret selling mine about ten years ago:

Yamaha SA2200-rob335sm-jpg

**citizenk74** · 07-08-2017, 04:03 PM

Beautiful guitar! As neatomic says, pickup height (and angle) are a big factor in getting the perfect tone. And that three-point mounting system really ought to be the industry standard. Congratulations, and play it in good health!

**neatomic** · 07-08-2017, 04:04 PM

Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop

Great purchase! These are beautiful guitars, and your post makes me regret selling mine about ten years ago:

Yamaha SA2200-rob335sm-jpg

who's the kid holding your guitar??!!

haha..nice!!

cheers

**Rob MacKillop** · 07-08-2017, 04:10 PM

A scoundrel of the highest order. That said, there are angels over his left shoulder playing lutes. I hope he can hear them...

**neatomic** · 07-08-2017, 04:15 PM

i have no doubt he can!!!

cheers

**Rob MacKillop** · 07-08-2017, 04:19 PM

Back to the OP.

geese_com - are you new to jazz? What do you plan to do with your new guitar?

**geese_com** · 07-08-2017, 04:45 PM

Originally Posted by Rob MacKillop

Back to the OP.

geese_com - are you new to jazz? What do you plan to do with your new guitar?

I am new to jazz but I have been playing guitar for at least 18 years. Mostly rock and metal. I felt it was time for a change. Now I can't get enough of jazz (guitar centric or not).

I am working through Richie Zellon's Bebop Guitar Improv Series (I am currently in Module 4) and at the same time doing a Song of a Month group. I am loving jazz guitar more and more every day (even the frustrating days).

**neatomic** · 07-08-2017, 05:00 PM

cool!..be interested in hearing what jazz players inspired you in your crossover from metal to jazz...

keep going!!

cheers

**MikeTT** · 07-08-2017, 05:12 PM

you can search endlessly for the perfect 335...or just get a stock yamaha 2200 and be set

Their fantastic. I just wished there was a plain-top variant, and blonde (I never understood the flame thing on guitars, flamed maple is for furniture. Now flame me!).

**geese_com** · 07-08-2017, 06:03 PM

Earlier this year, I actually stumbled across Julian Lage by accident while browsing through a guitar forum. That led me to Jim Hall. Then it "escalated" from there. I heard of Tal Farlow from Troy Grady's series so I decided to look him up. Hearing Tal Farlow is what got me really interested and made me decide to learn and really immerse myself in jazz.

I knew of and listened to Joe Pass and Wes Montgomery before but I never took it seriously until this year.

Originally Posted by neatomic

cool!..be interested in hearing what jazz players inspired you in your crossover from metal to jazz...

keep going!!

cheers

**neatomic** · 07-08-2017, 06:11 PM

nice!..always go backwards to forwards and around again..lage back to hall to farlow & forward to?...

jim hall was a major path for me..direct modernist link

if i may be so bold. check out john abercrombie and brad shepik!!

have fun discovering..always dig deeper

cheers

**helios** · 07-08-2017, 06:13 PM

Good enough for the fleet fingered Bireli Lagrene:
(Looks like he changed the pickups)

**geese_com** · 07-08-2017, 06:30 PM

Bireli was actually my inspiration for buying the Yamaha SA2200. He is such an incredible player.

Originally Posted by helios

Good enough for the fleet fingered Bireli Lagrene:
(Looks like he changed the pickups)

**neatomic** · 07-08-2017, 06:40 PM

or take it back one step further...birelis idol- django

if you don't dig the tone, just listen to the notes

cheers

**helios** · 07-08-2017, 06:41 PM

Originally Posted by geese_com

Bireli was actually my inspiration for buying the Yamaha SA2200. He is such an incredible player.

About the best there is!

**Longways to Go** · 07-08-2017, 06:53 PM

Congrats on a great looking guitar! Quality Yamaha's are hard to find in my neck of the woods.

Bireli and Jim Hall were also a couple of my pathway guitarists toward interest in jazz to (coming from 90's grunge). Also John Scofield, Herb Ellis and Kenny Burrell. But I think I like to listen to horn players now more than guitar players.

Anyway, that looks like a super great Yam. I never did find the 335 that worked for me . . .

**xuoham** · 07-08-2017, 07:48 PM

Ooooh ... beautiful !

Congrhapsodylations !

Yamaha is still making those. Yours looks so mint ... do you know what year ?

Really classy ...

**geese_com** · 07-08-2017, 08:39 PM

Originally Posted by xuoham

Ooooh ... beautiful !

Congrhapsodylations !

Yamaha is still making those. Yours looks so mint ... do you know what year ?

Really classy ...

Based on the serial number it is a 2016 model.

**MaxTwang** · 07-09-2017, 12:10 AM

Originally Posted by MikeTT

you can search endlessly for the perfect 335...or just get a stock yamaha 2200 and be set

Their fantastic. I just wished there was a plain-top variant, and blonde (I never understood the flame thing on guitars, flamed maple is for furniture. Now flame me!).

The SA-2000 is plain top from the late 70's & 80's. There's a natural on Reverb right now, but it's pretty beat up.