The SG1000 Metallic Blue was a limited-edition color produced in November and December 1982 and September 1983, with only 460 units made.
Metallic Blue was the first limited edition color for the SG1000, reportedly thrilling Masayoshi Takahashi's fans at the time of its release.

The SG1000 began sales in 1976, the same year as the SG2000. While the SG2000 featured a T-Cross one-piece neck construction (commonly known as a through-neck), the SG1000 adopted a set-neck construction. Most parts were shared with the SG2000, but it omitted the sustain plate and featured a simpler construction: a 2-piece maple top with a mahogany back.

The SG1000 featured a Direct Circuit and By-Sound system. The Direct Circuit function completely isolates the audio signal from ground when the Volume and Tone knobs are set to full 10. This prevents high-frequency components from being lost to ground, resulting in a brighter sound.By-Sound utilizes a Push/Push Tone pot, enabling coil tapping. Both features are newly adopted starting with the SG1000.

Although it features a set neck, it also employs a bolt-on fixing method. This configuration would no longer be seen after the mid-1983 period.

While continuing the lineage of the YAMAHA SG, it was clearly differentiated from the SG2000, featuring a set neck The SG1000 is the model that established the " " (SG).

Sound Impressions

The set-neck construction and the combination of AlnicoV magnetswith AWG #42 wiregive it a tone close to classical, but you can also feel the midrange response similar to other domestic manufacturers of this era.

Combined with the SG's characteristic tightness, the balance of grit and crispness when distorted feels great. Power output is relatively high, so switching to the bypass sound doesn't noticeably reduce power, allowing for solid performance.

[SPEC]
BODY: Maple Top/Mahogany Back
NECK: Maple/Mahogany 3P
FINGERBOARD: Ebony
PICKUP: OPG-I

The SG2000 Deep Purple was a limited-edition color produced in a run of 600 guitars over two months, July and August 1981.
In 1980, to commemorate the 4th anniversary of the SG2000's release, the first limited edition models for the SG—Black and Blue—were sold. Therefore, Deep Purple is the third limited edition model within the SG2000 series. The specifications, other than the color, are identical to other SG2000s.

The SG2000 was first released in 1976.
Carlos Santana played a significant role in the SG2000's creation. Santana, who was using an SG175 at the time, placed a custom order with Yamaha.
The result was the "Buddha SG".
The SG2000 incorporated many elements from the Buddha SG and was developed under the concept of "an electric guitar that meets professional standards."
It possessed numerous elements not found in previous SG models.
A representative specification is the [T-Cross One-Piece Neck Structure]. This is a through-neck construction, but with a different wood veneer applied to the body top surface, making it appear not to be a through-neck when viewed from the front. The T-Cross One-Piece Neck Structure eliminates the step at the neck heel, making access to the high frets easier, while also aiming for long sustain.

A metal plate called a sustain plate is attached under the bridge . This part was developed based on the idea that sustain is extended by looping the string's vibration transmission as much as possible.

The unique features of the SG2000, as described above, were specifications already incorporated into the "Buddha SG." This clearly demonstrates how the SG2000 aimed to be a model that could hold its own among professional instruments.

Sound Impressions

I expected the sustain plate to give it a tighter, more metallic sound compared to the SG1000, but the SG2000 actually delivers a more beautifully balanced sound across the entire frequency range, resulting in a more classical tone. You can feel the wood vibrating solidly in the output, and with a slight sense of compression, it offers character not only in distorted tones but also in clean tones.

Personally, I remember seeing Red Hot Chili Peppers' John Frusciante holding this SG2000 Deep Purple on the cover of Guitar Magazine's May 2014 issue, and that was a YAMAHA... This is what first introduced me to SG. That's why I still remember how incredibly excited I was the first time I saw DP.

[ SPEC ]
BODY: Maple Top/Mahogany Back
NECK: Mahogany
FINGERBOARD: Ebony
PICKUP: OPG-I

The base model is the SG1000X.

The SG1000X was released in 1984 and was the first SG1000 model to feature a tremolo unit. Its neck heel also differs from the standard SG1000, featuring a heel-less design without a step.

It was created based on the SG3000 custom-ordered by VOW WOW's Kyoji Yamamoto and sold in a limited run of 150 unitsin 1985.While Masayoshi Takakou's SG2000MT wasthe first SG2000 artist model, the SG1000XY(Tsuyoshi Ujiki model)and SG1000XU were the first SG1000 modelsofficially sold by Yamaha bearing an artist's name.

The tremolo unit features a two-point locking system developed in 1983. A locking mechanism is also attached to the headstock side above the nut.Yamamoto's SG3000 features a locking nut itself, so there is a difference there, but hisSG also has a two-point support tremolo unit installed.

The fingerboard is arguably its greatest charm. While the base SG1000X uses standard arrow inlays on its fingerboard, the SG1000XY features arrow inlays placed upside down, just like on his own SG3000.

Abalone inlays between the arrow inlays are found primarily on high-end models like the SG3000 released in 1982. However, the inverted placement of these inlays is a specification unique to the SG1000XY.

LikeKyoji Yamamoto'sSG3000, this model features a 24-fret specification with an extended fingerboard, resulting in the front pickup being positioned closer to the bridge than usual. Consequently, the space between the front and rear pickups is narrower compared to a standard SG1000.
While the standard line of this era typically featured Spinex pickups, the SG1000XY and SG1000XU were equipped with pickups usingAlnico V magnets.

The controls feature a 2-Volume, 1-Tone layout, also exclusive to the SG1000XY, and includes a Bypass Sound function.

Sound Impressions

The SG1000XY, featuring a tremolo unit and taking a completely different approach from other SGs, boasts the most powerful and hard-hitting sound among the four models introduced here.Perhaps due to its high power and tremolo unit, using the B-sound delivers a very pronounced single-coil feel.

When distorted, it naturally maintains tightness, but the high-mid range comes forward nicely, producing a tone that doesn't pierce the ears excessively.

[ SPEC ]
BODY: Agatis
NECK: Mahogany
FINGERBOARD: Rosewood
PICKUP: Alnico V Pickup

The base model is, of course, the SG2000.
It retains the SG2000's characteristic construction, such as the T-cross one-piece neck and the Bass plate under the bridge.

This model recreates the Takana Blue SG2000 used by Masayoshi Takahashi starting in 1979. The SG2000MT, the first artist model released for the SG2000, was sold in a limited run of 220 units in 1998. It was crafted by measuring the original Takanaka Blue SG2000 owned by Mr. Takanaka himself.
It also features a custom truss rod cover with "TAKANAKA" inscribed in blue lettering.

The YAMAHA SG had continuously embraced evolution, pursuing [ novelty ] to its limits. However, the SG2000MT was created from a completely opposite perspective— [ reissue ] —marking a significant departure from its predecessors. Therefore, the SG2000MT's appeal lies not only in being an artist model, but also in allowing you to feel Yamaha's dedication to the concept of [ recreation ].

The pegs are R Type, notthe conventional TM-57G, to get as close as possible to the OMG-I pegs originally fitted on the Takana Blue.

1990 The mounting holes for the control pot, discontinued in the mid-1990s, have been reinstated.

The pickups are custom-made forthe SG2000MT, featuring double white bobbins as one distinctive element. While using nickel silver Bass plates similar to the Spinex pickups found on other SG models from the same period, they incorporate Alnico V magnets like the OPG-I. This design effectively combines the best features of both pickup types.

The SG2000MT also features a high-pass capacitor. This is a unique feature of the SG2000MT and is not found on other models.

As this specification was adopted in subsequent SG2000 models starting withthe SG2000MT, theSG2000MT became one of the models that significantly changed the direction of YAMAHA SG guitars.

Afterword

When it comes to limited models and limited colors, the focus tends to be on appearance. However, with the YAMAHA SG, I was reminded that they approach things from a sound perspective, truly considering the players who will actually perform on the instrument.

Moreover, executing this while upholding their corporate philosophy of "Originality in Everything" is something only Yamaha could achieve. The SG1000's features like the By-Sound system also felt like a pioneering presence among domestic high-end guitars. The fact that numerous artists use the Yamaha SG is proof of this.

In writing this article, I referenced " YAMAHA SG graffiti " by Shigeru Terada. It's an indispensable publication for understanding the YAMAHA SG instrument. As noted on the book's cover, it truly is a book that should be preserved for posterity.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude.