scale: 658 mm
weight: 1525 g
body length: 488 mm
nut: 52 mm
upper bout: 282 mm
waist: 240 mm
lower bout: 371 mm
depth: 98 mm
top thickness: 2.7 mm
action - 5th fret: 2.7 mm
action - 12th fret: 4.2 mm
neck size - 1st fret: 80 mm
neck size - 5th fret: 85 mm
natural resonance note: G#
strings: D’Addario Pro Arté normal tension,
silverplated wound clear nylon, EJ45
top material: spruce
sides/back material: nato
neck material: nato
fretboard material: rosewood
bridge material: rosewood
builder: Yamaha ( Nippon Gakki) made in Japan
model: G85A
serial no: 1463963
years built: 1970-1972
original msrp: $89.50 ($498 in 2011 dollars)
download picture pack (4.1M)
info on specs
Stuff
A real Nippon Gakki with the typical sound - powerful for the price range. For collectors, this IS a Nippon Gakki with the seven-digit serial number that even Yamaha can't figure out. It's got the 658 scale, the boomy bass, the pagoda head, the 60s-70s era tuners and it's made in Japan. If I didn't have too many guitars, I'd keep this one. It's showing its age but it sounds and plays like a higher-end guitar.
Condition
Around average condition for its age. The guitar has pick marks on the top plus some other scratches. The back and sides have scratching/scuff marks in multiple areas with heavy scuffing on the bottom part of the sides. The tuners appear to be the originals and are typical of the style - smooth and tight. The neck appears straight and well attached. There's the typical light finish cracking at the edge of the banding and where the neck attaches to the body. There is also a crack in the head (shown in photos) that should be an easy glue and clamp job if it widens but, as is, I wouldn't touch it. There are also a couple divots in the head. If you look closely, you can see some very minor crazing in the finish but overall it's still shiny...except, of course, for the scratches, dings, etc. The frets and fretboard are in good shape but eventually could use some fretwork.
How it sounds