Up for sale, a 1981 Yamaha SG2000DP in 100% original condition and in perfect working order, sporting a rare Deep Purple custom color finish. Part of a one-year run of custom color SG2000s, this variant finished in gloss Deep Purple was limited to only 600 guitars and only distributed within Japan. Known as the "Les Paul Killer" for numerous, very good reasons, the SG2000 is an incredibly well-crafted, soulful, and powerful-sounding instrument. Boasting neck through body construction, a carved maple top, mahogany body wings, and brass mounting plate below the bridge, this Yamaha is perfectly tailored for the player who wants an array of classic rock tones with a versatility and reliability that can exceed the approximate Gibson equivalents from the same era.

Perhaps most closely associated with Carlos Santana, the SG2000 was endorsed by Santana in the ‘70s, and his influence resulted in many of the features that give the model such impressive tone and sustain. According to Santana, the guitar was too light and didn’t resonate like he wanted. He recommended making the guitar heavier (with denser woods) and installing a brass plate underneath the bridge, connected to the tailpiece and later patented as the Sustain Plate. Yamaha also used a three-piece neck with two pieces of mahogany paired with a central maple section that was patented as the T-Cross System. This not only improved the stability of the neck, but also added to the tonal complexity, with features of both tonewoods evident in the sound. This SG2000 weighs 9lbs 11oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike's Guitar Bar with 10-46 strings, slinky action and accurate intonation

The neck has a slender C-shaped profile carve at the nut with notable chunk and roundness further up the fretboard, measuring .810" deep at the 1st fret and .980" at the 12th. The bound ebony fretboard features pearloid split triangle inlays, and the stock medium jumbo fretwire is nigh-flawless. This guitar plays cleanly up the 24 3/4" scale with a straight neck and responsive, optimally adjusted truss rod. The 1 11/16" wide nut is hand carved from bone, ensuring optimal note articulation and sustain. The bound headstock retains the original truss rod cover and Yamaha-stamped gold tuners which turn very smoothly and hold pitch reliably.

The electronics function as intended, with untouched solder joints. The humbuckers have date stamps on their baseplates, reading 56.8.29, which translates to the 56th year of the Showa period (1981). Yamaha even made special versions of the Gibson reflector cap knob style, with ridges around the edges that make the knobs easier to grasp and roll for quick swells and tone adjustments. The original bridge and ornate harp tailpiece are intact, and the gold plating has plenty of shine.

The Deep Purple gloss finish is framed by multi-ply binding, and cosmetic wear includes some scuffing along the strum path, a small cluster of dings on the top behind the bridge, buckle rash across the back, and a handful of minor nicks and finish scratches on the body as a whole. There is also an additional strap button hole on the edge of the bass-side cutaway. The smooth gloss on the neck profile is pristine.

A padded gigbag is included.