1988 Yamaha AE1200s

[littleknicky]

There aren't too many used archtops popping up in my neck of the woods. When something does hit the local market, it's usually gone in a blink of an eye and inquiries are met with the dreaded "sorry, just sold!"

The stars seemed to be aligned on this one. The seller's appointments fell through and when my place in line came up I took a chance and arranged for a non-refundable deposit to be made in order to hold the guitar. A few hours after getting into town I had a nice 1988 Yamaha jazz box sitting in my lap.

Everything seems to be in order and I'm really digging the guitar. It has a couple of little dings and there is some corrosion on the pickups and bridge - I'm hoping it's nothing serious. I do prefer it to the Aria PE180 I briefly had and to a MIJ Epiphone Emperor I also tested. I'm hoping it will make a nice compliment to the 1944 Levin Deluxe I have, which is much more of an acoustic axe.

[Webby]

That is a beautiful guitar!

[John A.]

Nice guitar, congrats!

[tbeltrans]

Congrats o a beautiful archtop. Those Yamaha archtops are sure fine instruments.

Here in the US, many of us are close to an embarrassment of riches in that we can walk into a shop (or find easily online) and there are archtops to be had. You certainly had the stick-to-it-iveness and patience to go for the long term to find what you were looking for, making the find all the sweeter. Play your archtop in good health.

Tony

[citizenk74]

Metal thingies can be repaired, refurbished, or replaced. It is the wood and the workmanship that goes with it wherein resides the heart and soul of the instrument. Yamaha's standards are as high as they come. You have a terrific instrument (and great story) there. It's got "Kismet" written all over it. Congratulations, and play it in good health!