Vintage (1981) Yamaha G240ii Classical Guitar: Review and Sounds
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- Опубліковано 12 лип 2022
- Review to 3 mins 32s; sounds from 3min 33 s to 7 mins 24 s; wrap up and thanks for listening ends at 7min 43 sec.
Here is a 1981 vintage Yamaha G240ii classical guitar I bought 2nd hand on Ebay for ~ £80 and it arrived in great condition and in a hard case too. What's not to like! A lovely guitar, great tone and projection. I suspect it was never played much. Made in Korea, it has an all laminate body (ultrathin pine top with beautiful rosewood back and sides). The bridge is rosewood, the neck mahogany and the fretboard ebony. It also has really nice tuners. Nothing much more to say but a great find! Best to play something for you: in this case a piece I wrote called "Dreaming Waking Dreaming" played in open G with 6th string tuned down to C.
Happy to have any questions or comments. Thanks for listening.
(Dreaming Waking Dreaming: copyright RobSongs 2022)
Beautifully played
Beautiful composition Rob! I really enjoyed it.
HI there and thanks for your so generous comment. It's hard not to play something nice on this gem of a guitar. All the best, Rob
Absolutely lovely piece of music! The 240II lends itself well to the piece. Thank you for sharing your music and the guitar.
HI John, nice to hear from you and thanks for your generous comment. The 240ii is a really great guitar especially with the Aquila strings. All the very best and happy new year.
Rob
Howdy Mr Rob.
Firstly, lovely piece. I could listen to it for a long while.
Secondly, I was lucky enough to be sold one of these secondhand as my first, and still only classical guitar. Mine is just labeled as a G-240 and was apparently made in Taiwan. I have a few guitars, two electrics and one 12-string acoustic electric Ibanez, but this little Yamaha just feels and sounds too nice and is probably my favorite of them.
Thank you for the video, it was nice to find when looking up a bit about my guitar.
So beautiful and balance sound in rosewood ,spruce character..
Thanks for the comment gitarjadul77. Yes it's a lovely guitar. I was very lucky to find it especially as I took a chance and bought it unseen/unplayed. My daughter who is a trained classical guitarist just bought herself a high level Yamaha classical guitar. She says it sounds wonderful. I hope to (be allowed to !) play it when I see her over Christmas.
All the best
Rob
wow very beautiful guitar its Yamaha G240ii very good guitar at a lower price and do so well in its time I love it it always amazes me this guitar and also very beautiful piece to play thank you for this beautiful interpretation sir play well 😉🎶🎼🎸
Hi Denis, nice to hear from you and thanks for your kind words. Do you have one of these guitars or something made by Yamaha of that vintage? I think I might buy mine some new Alabastro strings for Christmas as I noticed I put the last set on over 2 years ago! How time flies. Yamaha make some very fine guitars in all categories. My daughter is a genuine classical guitarist and her two daughters are also learning classical guitar. It's becoming a bit of a family heritage. Anyway, the competition for the classical guitar was quite intense so my daughter was looking for a new one and tried many around where she lives and in the end bought a high end Yamaha which she says is fantastic. I can't wait to play it (if allowed!).
Thanks again and all the best
Rob
I’ve picked up my guitar again after 35 years of not playing, getting back into it and enjoying it immensely. I’m not anywhere near a good player now, practice,practice practice…. My G240 is a beautiful guitar, still sounds great (when a real guitarist plays it!!), and yes it’s the original one that I was playing all those years ago!
Hi Jon, how nice to hear from you and especially to hear that you've started playing guitar again after so long. What got you going again? And did your nice G240 need some new strings after all that time? Completely agree about these guitars though. My daughter bought a much higher end Yamaha classical guitar recently. She says it's a step beyond the lovely classical guitar she had many years ago when we lived in the USA. I'm looking forward to playing it sometime, maybe over Christmas. She's a very good classical guitarist and her daughters are learning too. It's quite a dynasty! Yes, it always has to be practice, practice, practice. For me it's a mix of learning some new stuff and trying to keep my (limited) repertoire going.
Thanks for your comment and I hope you have a good Christmas and a good new year!
All the best
Rob
@@robrobson7101 Thanks for replying, it seems you’ll have areal family concert when it comes around! I started again because my son was playing it with his friends, they’re very good players, so I bought him an electric guitar and he put mine back in the cupboard! I’m now 50, so I’m over the embarrassment I felt when I was younger, and I’m curious to see how good I can get! My fingers don’t move as fast as they used to and the brain to finger reaction (especially two hands for classical guitar) is quite interesting, just allow them to remember where to go… Still working on that! And yes it needed new strings, that’s how I saw your video,searching for restringing a g240! Thanks again, enjoy your family time and hope you get to play your daughters new guitar 👍👍
Loved that original piece you made up, amazing how you play those hammer offs and ons at the second and third
HI there and thanks for your comment and kind words. I think the strings I'm using now (Aquila-Alabastro) really help with fingering and hammers on and off. They are just a bit "crisper" than the D'Addario's I've used for a long time. However, my daughter who is a really good classical guitarist doesn't like them. She finds them " harder". Thanks again and all the best, Rob
Fantastic guitar and awesome performance sir
Good to hear from you and thanks so much for your nice comments. It's just a great guitar I can't help but try to compose and play something that complements it's lovely tone especially with those Aquilla strings. Thanks again and all the best
Rob
@@robrobson7101 you are wellcome sir, i hope you always succeed and healthier and keep happy vibes now and future
Regards,
Vino
❤
Hi, love your composition
What strings are you using please
HI, nice to hear from you and thanks for the nice comment. The strings on this recording were probably D'Addario Pro Arte EJ45s. I've used these strings for many years as does my daughter who is a very good classical guitarist. But recently I switched over to Aquila Alabastro normal tension strings. These are made from their patented Nylgut". I really like these strings if only for one reason: the sound from the G string is much more balanced with the rest of the set at least the way I play classical guitars. The D'Addario and other nylon G string makes I've tried are quite "plonky" I find. Maybe it's because I don't use my nails: I use the softer finger tips. Also, and for the same reason the sounds from all the Aquila strings seem "clearer" with more high end overtones ( at least to my ear). However, as with everything guitar, it's horses for courses and my daughter couldn't get on with them and went back to D'Addarios. Hope this helps. All the best
Rob
Which alabasteo strings are you recommending please thank you
Hi Permanentwave, nice to hear from you. So, I'm using Aquila Alabastro normal tension strings. I should say that my daughter who is a very good classical guitarist found them a bit hard so she is back to her (D'Addario) nylon strings. For me though, the Alabastro 3rd (G) string sounds much crisper and has more resonance than the nylon strings I've played with. But then it would be different again if you play with nails which I don't. If you try a set of Alabastros do let me know how you get on with them. Be prepared for a little "squeaking" when you run your fingers up/down the treble strings but it's very short lived!
All the best
Rob
which is better between G-55 A and G 240??
Oh I really don't know. I'd have to have both in may hands to say. All I can say is that Yamaha make some very nice "budget" classical guitars. The G-240ii I have is a beautifully made guitar and compares well with my daughters much more expensive Yamaha classical. Strings make a big difference to these guitars. I have switched into Aquila Alabastro strings. As I play with finger tips rather than nails they give a sharper sound that D'Addarios I used to use.
Thanks for your question and all the best
Rob
@@robrobson7101 you're welcome...I am looking for a new guitar..but my budget is less...I think your advice will be useful for me in the future..
Solid top wood.?
Mine has a 3 ply top. It is very difficult to see.... Some say theirs is solid....I have my doubts. In any case it sounds beautiful
hi,
can you tell what is the difference between the G-240 and G-240ii? Nice video by the way
Hi MrHostZ, thanks for the comment and question. Just reading the specs on these two guitars. I can't really see much difference. I'm guessing that the ii is a later version? Both were made in Yamaha's Taiwan factory. Some claim that the 240 version has a solid top. Not sure about that since I don't have a 240 but for sure I can see the 240ii has a very thin laminated top. Not a negative in my view as Yamaha have perfected thin laminated tops that are very resonant and stable. My guitar does have a serial number but it doesn't seem to conform to any of Yamaha's listed serial numbers. Anyway, why do you ask..do you have a 240 or are you thinking of looking to buy one?
All the best
Rob
@@robrobson7101 Thanks for your response sir. I'm thinking of buying one since I've been playing with a borrowed for quite a while, i been looking for acoustic guitars in general but this one caught my attention for the brand reputation and the good quality of materials that, as you show, make the skills and the guitar sound very good :)
@@MrHostZ nice to hear back from you. Good luck on looking for a 240 or,I think. a 250. I bought mine on EBay without seeing it for about £100. It also came in a hard case and obviously hadn't been played much. It sounded good from the off and even better with the Aquila Alabastro strings which I really rate. So good luck and it's hard to beat Yamahas. Hope you find one soon.
All the best
Rob
Hello friends, both G240 and G240II guitars are laminated. The only difference between them is the wood on the fingerboard and the bridge. In the G240 the fingerboard is rosewood from India and the bridge is rosewood, while in the G240II, the woods used are the other way around, rosewood on the fingerboard and rosewood from India on the bridge. In terms of sound and timbre features, both are fantastics guitars. Yamaha guitar models of that solid top G series start from the G245 onwards. We can say that the G240 is the top of the line of the laminate guitars of this series. While in the solid top it is the G255S
Hi, Yamaha G240 has a diapason of 66cm G240-II has a diapason of 65 cm
Nice sound and playing.
I believe if you measure the scale length you will find that the G240 has a 58mm and the G240II has 50 mm
that should say 658 mm (25 7/8") vs 650mm 25 1/2" in any event II has a shorter scale
HI there and nice to hear from you. I'm not sure what you were referring to in terms of dimensions? Did you mean cms or what? The scale length on my G240ii is 65 cms. Can you clarify please?
All the best
Rob
sorry, 240II scale length is 650mm. 240 is 658mm. Many do not know what the II designation means. I left the 6 off of my original post. I enjoyed your video, thanks.
Yamaha G240 came up on a site in my city. Do you think it would be worth buying for $300?
Hi Peaceful nights. Thanks for the question. I guess you mean $US? I think 300 is quite a lot to pay for this guitar which may be 40yrs old. If you're looking for a good classical guitar you might find a new modern Yamaha in that price range. I think Yamaha make such good instruments at all price points. I'll take a look see and let you onow but I'm in the UK so prices don't necessarily equate.
All the best
Rob
Hi again Peaceful nights. Have a look at the Yamaha CG122MS. Has a solid spruce top. Several UA-cam reviews. Probably much better value that the G240 and if you can get it from a music store then they should set it up well for you. At first string change I recommend Aquila Alabastro strungs if you can get them. Then you'll be all set to go.
Rob
It is in CAD money. So about $230 US. It comes with a hard shell case. Supposedly it it in excellent condition, and hardly ever used. I have yet to see it.
@@peacefulnights2766 hi again. Well if it looks a good deal then go for it. I'm sure it will be great especially as little used and in a hard case. I have seen some comments to say the G240s have solid spruce tops. They are all laminate tops but Yamaha know a lot about making vey resonant laminates and for an older guitar they will not crack or bow. I wish you jiy euth it if you decide yes. Mine cost the equivalent of 150 CAN on ebay here in uk. I paid the price they wanted and it came from a charity shop and came with an ok hard case.
All the best
Rob
@@robrobson7101 Thank you so much for your advice. I might just buy a Martin guitar though
Nick Drake, gone too young, way too young, played an acoustic guitar on his lovely recordings and live, and he too fiddled about with alternative tunings. When I heard the first notes you played, I immediately thought of him.
HI, thanks for the comment and yes I agree with you on Nick Drake. HIs records are never far off the top off my playlist. It doesn't bear thinking about what he might have gone on to do and many performers from that time and before have continued to perform and eevolve. I was watching Cat Stevens at Glastonbury. Can you imagine what a Nick Drake set might have been like today? I really appreciate hearing from you. I play in several non standard tuning: Drop D, DADGAD, Open D, Open G with the bottom string tuned down to C. I also started playing a lap top steel guitar which I made recently and that's in C 6 tuning. Each one suggests new things to play, new modalities to work with which is what a song writer/composer needs to refresh things.
All the best
Rob
Maestro Eduardo Ferrer from Granada went to Japan in the sixties to teach Yamaha how to build a Spanish guitar.
Hi albertnuitjen5757, nice to hear from you and thanks for your comment which is really interesting information and makes perfect sense. Where did you find out about this ?
All the best, Rob