Up for sale, a 1981 Yamaha SG2000 in excellent, 100% original condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case. Known as the "Les Paul Killer" for numerous, very good reasons, the SG2000 is an incredibly well-crafted, soulful, and powerful-sounding instrument. Boasting neck through body construction, a carved maple top, and a brass mounting plate below the bridge, this Yamaha was perfectly tailored to the player seeking an array of classic rock tones, with great versatility and reliability that often exceeded the Gibson equivalents from the same era.

Perhaps most closely associated with Carlos Santana's early work, the SG2000 was endorsed by Santana, and his influence resulted in many of the features that made the model a classic for unparalleled tone and sustain. He recommended making the guitar heavier (with denser woods) and installing a brass plate underneath the bridge, connected to the tailpiece and later patented as the Sustain Plate. Yamaha also used a three-piece neck with two pieces of mahogany paired with a central maple section that was patented as the T-Cross System. This not only improved the stability of the neck, but also added to the tonal complexity, with features of both tonewoods evident in the sound. The humbuckers are detailed and punchy with great harmonic complexity; the bridge yields focused midrange-centric sizzle, while the neck has a girthy roar. This SG2000 weighs 9lbs 8oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, low action, and accurate intonation.

Neck Specs:

-Wood: Maple/Mahogany “T-Cross”
-Shape: Medium C at nut, more heft in upper registers, measuring .830” 1st fret, 1.005” 12th fret
-Fretboard: Ebony, 14” radius, pearloid split-triangle inlays
-Frets: Medium jumbo, leveled/crowned, no wear
-Scale Length: 24 3/4”
-Nut: 1 11/16”, bone
-Tuners: Yamaha Japan-branded, gold-plated

Body Specs:

-Wood: Maple, Mahogany
-Pickups: “56” date stamps on pickup baseplates translate to 56th year of Showa period (1981)
-Controls: Volume x2, Tone x2, Three-way pickup selector
-Hardware: Adjust-o-matic bridge with brass “Sustain Plate” insert, lyre-embossed stopbar
-Plastics: Gold reflector knobs with ridged grips, two-ply black pickguard

The gloss Brown Sunburst finish is framed on top by multi-ply binding, and there is subtle cloudiness in the finish on top (very common on Yamaha finishes of this era). Cosmetic wear includes light buckle rash central to the back, and some minor dings and finish scratches from careful use, largely on the back and the lower bout perimeter. The neck profile retains its smooth gloss, with few shallow marks along the profile length that are not distracting to the palm while fretting.

The original hardshell case is included.