Yamaki YM & MAX Series

In the late 1970s and early 1980s there were multiple full sized acoustics offered by Yamaki - YW, YD, YM, Woodcraft, BIT, MAX, MUGEN / MARK, and the YEAR Series. In period catalogs some were listed as “Western” models, some “Folk,” and some “Dreadnaught.” The YM Series looks to be very similar, if not same, as the MAX Series. Except for lower end models, both used the vertical Yamaki logo on the headstock along with traditional hexagon mother of pearl fret position inlays reminiscent of a Martin D-45.

As for timing, the MAX Series looks to have come after and replaced the YM Series. 1978 may be a transition period as the back page of a 1978 catalog shows the YM Series being used for models over a ¥100,000 price point and the MAX Series for models below ¥100,000. By 1981, catalogs no longer list the YM Series.

As the “F Series” was no longer available in the late 1970s, the YM and MAX Series lines picked up the baton for a high end (read expensive!) D-45 styled folk guitar. To that point, the MUGEN / MARK, YD, YW, YEAR, BIT, and Woodcraft lines all top out at or were priced below ¥100,000, whereas the YM and MAX Series reached well past that price point on their ornate models. For example, the YM Series had the YM-1000 (¥100,000), YM-1200 (¥120,000), YM-1500 (¥150,000), and YM-2000 (¥200,000) and the MAX Series had the comparably priced YW-100M, YW-150M, and YM-200M.

Generally speaking for both series, the very high end models (above ~¥100,000) used mahogany for necks and ebony for fingerboards and bridges. Jacaranda was sometimes used instead of rosewood for backs and side construction on higher end models. Lower end models (below ~¥50,000) typically used nato for the neck and rosewood for fingerboards and bridges. Models in the middle (~¥50,000 to ~¥100,000) used a mixture of the aforementioned materials.

• YM Series Six Sting Models: YM-400, YM-500, YM-600, YM-800, YM-1000, YM-1200, YM-2000

• YM Series 12-String Models: YM1000-12, YM1200-12, YM2000-12

• MAX Series Six String Models: YW-30M, YW-40M, YW-50M, YW-60M, YW-80M, YW-100M, YW-150M, YW-200M

• MAX Series 12-String Models: YW-30M-12, YW-40M-12, YW-50M-12, YW-60M-12, YW-80M-12, YW-100M-12, YW-150M-12, YW-200M-12