Identify a Yamaha...

[Dee]

Which model is this Yamaha? It is played by Japanese fusion guitarist Issei Noro. He is from the band Casiopea.

*bows down to the Japanese fusion gods*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXDBgjbs2gs

[Myst and rain]

I have no idea. The Yamaha AES, is kinda similar, but it's not that, I think.



It's probably custom made for him.

Alwin

[Dee]

It's definitely not the AES. I think it's some kind of Yamaha SG? He has been playing these guitars for as long as I can remember, and Casiopea have been around since 1979. I really like his guitars and I'd like to own a similar model one day.

[Crazy_Guitar]

If we're talking about that pic, its the AES620HB.

http://www.yamaha.com/guitars/produc...RODUCT,00.html

[Myst and rain]

I don't think it's and SG, either:



Nor is it this, obviously.



It's a good question, Dee. I really wouldn't know. Does this guy have his own website? Maybe it's on there.

Alwin

[Crazy_Guitar]

Originally Posted by Crazy_Guitar

If we're talking about that pic, its the AES620HB.

http://www.yamaha.com/guitars/produc...RODUCT,00.html

SEE ABOVE!!!

[Dee]

We are not talking about an AES! Issei Noro has been playing his guitars forever, and the AES wasn't even around back then, as far as I know.

Alwin -- he doesn't have a website, unfortunately. Well if he does, I can't find it.

Here's one of his guitars:

[Dee]

Hold on... here's a web page which lists it as YAMAHA SG-I Issei Noro model.

http://blog.kansai.com/katochandrum/44

[Myst and rain]

Ah, so it's his signature model... It's very beautiful.

Alwin

[Dee]

Yeah, very cool. Reminds me of Brian May's guitar, actually.

[Scali]

I have a Yamaha RGX with that very same rolling double-locking trem... weird, but it works okay

[Myst and rain]

Originally Posted by Dee

Yeah, very cool. Reminds me of Brian May's guitar, actually.

There is a resemblance, now that you mention it.

Originally Posted by Scali

I have a Yamaha RGX with that very same rolling double-locking trem... weird, but it works okay

I thought it looked unusual... What does 'rolling' mean, when it comes to this tremolo?

Alwin

[Scali]

It uses an 'axle' on which it rotates, unlike a knife-edge system. It's similar to the ZR tremolo on the S series, although not quite. This one has the rolling mechanism way at the front, and it's smaller. Not sure if it actually has ball-bearings, I've never taken it apart far enough to be able to see. They'd be pretty small anyway.
It's a pretty weird design anyway... The locks are also different... You put the string through the back of the bridge, under the finetuners, with the ball-ends still on, then you screw the locks on the top.
I suppose the idea is to create a system that doesn't require an expensive Floyd Rose license. The roller system should also have less problems with wear than cheap knife-edge systems.
By the looks of it, Issei Noro uses a real Floyd himself.

[Myst and rain]

Wow, thanks, Scali.

Alwin

[Dee]

Yeah, thanks. It's a weird looking trem! Very 80's.