Prior to the famous SG-2000, Yamaha Music Corporation produced a series of early Yamaha SG double cutaway prototypes. Here an example the SG-50, light-weight early SG, with a phenomenally easy playability and versatile sound.
The guitar is made from Japanese Katsura woods with a set neck, rosewood fret board with mother of pearl dot position markers and fretboard embossed serial number, Chrome Hardware and Tuning pegs. Yamaha’s hum-bucker pickups produce a sound ranging from clear clean, to growly crunch. An aftermarket switch was added to increase the tone options. The SG-50 guitars were made from 1972 till 1974 in translucent red, limited numbers of white and natural wood. 2 of these SG-50s in red finish are in currently use by Bruce and Jamie Watson of “the Skids” and “Big Country”