Since 1966, Yamaha has been making electric guitars, of which the Les Paul like models were only a minor component. These early LP like models were quite dissimilar to the Gibson LP models. The more modern looking LP models were introduced in 1976 with the emergence of the Studio Lord and Lord Player models. I need some information regarding Yamaha Studio Lord 1974 guitar. (Lawsuit Les Paul Copy) - Do they come with serial number or are they the ones manufactured without the serial numbers? Any information about their specs? - wood, pickups, bridge, neck? I badly need the information - thanks!

I've just bought a rather gorgeous cherry sunburst Yamaha Lord Player LP400 (will check the serial number for exact year with Yamaha) in great original condition. However, in trying to find out some factual info about these guitars, there is very little out there and a lot that is conflicting. Yamaha made Lord Players and Studio Lords - some were so called 'Lawsuit models' with open book headstocks and some weren't, but it is not clear what the differences were between the Studio Lords and Lord Players and the specs of each model. I've seen Studio Lords with both 'correct' headstocks and 'incorrect' and Studio Lords with bolt on necks. But nowhere can I find a site which for once and for all tells me about years of manufacture, specs etc.

Although there are a few that give a little. Yamaha almost appear to pretend that they never existed. Shame - and maybe a quiet agreement with Gibson made this happen.

I know that there wasn't a lawsuit brought against Yamaha as there was with one other. Is there a Yamaha expert out there or somewhere I could really indulge myself in these very well made and highly underrated instruments from the late 70s and early 80s?

I'll put up some pictures of mine in the next few days. Thanks JohnT. John, I'm no expert but I believe the model 100 & 200 were bolt on neck. 300 & 400 were set neck. That may even depend on the year.

The Lord Player/Studio Lord model had nothing to do with the open book headstock. I believe all brands changed headstocks after the Gibson lawsuit. I can't find the thread about the real lawsuit info but I believe Gibson 'threatened to sue' Ibanez over the open book headstock and everyone scrambled to change designs. Yamaha included.

Yamaha was never sued by Gibson. This would have been in 1976. If you find any brand LP copy, Ibanez, Yamaha, etc. With the open book headstock, it's probably 1976 or earlier.

1977 and later, everyone came up with their own headstock design for their LP copies. If I remember from catalogs I've seen, Yamaha started making LP copies in ~1970-71. The set neck Ibanez or Yamaha are pretty nice guitars. Open book headstock or not. Although they'll never have the resale value of a real Gibson, their values lies in the fact that were very well built, MIJ Les Paul copies. I thought the 380 was a bolt neck. Everything higher was set neck.

Yep, I think you're right on that point, but why Studio Lord and Lord Player? What's the difference? Were Lord Players for Japan sales only and Studio Lords for export?

Hey, could you post where to email to get serial number info on Yamaha's please? Yep, will do as soon as I have been successful inreceiving a reply.

I'll aso let you know what year mine is. Looks like you should contact skydog to see if he knows more by now. And keep us posted!

Can do, if you think he's the man. And yours has a broken pup ring. Yep, damaged in transit. Thankfully that's all that was damaged and the seller has been decent and agreed to pay for replacements. YOU ARE HEREBY A MEMBER OF MIJ! A few incorrect statements have been made in this thread. Norlin/Gibson filed suit against Ibanez in 1975, however the suit was dropped as the last 'open-book' headstock model (Ibanez LP Custom) was discontinued by the end of 1974.

Way before the lawsuit was filed. That does NOT mean that the other companies all quit producing guitars with the 'open-book' headstock after that time. Back on topic: That Lord looks great, can I ask what pups are on it? Has the nut been replaced? That looks like a plastic nut, I though all of them had bone nuts originally!

A few incorrect statements have been made in this thread. Norlin/Gibson filed suit against Ibanez in 1975, however the suit was dropped as the last 'open-book' headstock model (Ibanez LP Custom) was discontinued by the end of 1974. Way before the lawsuit was filed.

That does NOT mean that the other companies all quit producing guitars with the 'open-book' headstock after that time. Back on topic: That Lord looks great, can I ask what pups are on it?

Has the nut been replaced? That looks like a plastic nut, I though all of them had bone nuts originally!

Click to expand.Thanks, it's playing great too. It was set for 10s and I use hybrid 9s so tweaking the truss rod a little to suit. Nearly there. Yes, it does look like a plastic nut. I don't think that's original and it will be upgraded. The pickups look to be the original Yamahas as the wiring looks original and undisturbed throughout.