Bill Alston

The SFX range



This is an SFX 1 which is the top of the range


This range comprises three guitars the 1 the 11 and the 111, they are metal or rock style guitars released as the signature models of Kyoji Yamamoto who was the leader of the band Bow Wow also known as Vow Wow. Lots of videos on Youtube for those interested. The guitars are all made in Japan for the domestic market.
There is the usual Yamaha discrepancy with dates, the archives saying they were launched in October 1986, yet they appear in the Winter 1985 catalogue. They also show in a catalogue described as 1988 new line up suggesting they may have been available after 1988 despite what the archives say. The specifications below show that the guitars are all very similar in build extra features on some models.


Specifications

SFX 1 SFX 11 SFX 111
Launched October 1986 October 1986 October 1986
Discontinued 1988 1988 1988
Launch Price Yen 110000 80000 60000
Neck Maple Set Mahogany Set Mahogany Set
Scale 628mm 628mm 628mm
Fretboard Rosewood Rosewood Rosewood
Frets 24 24 24
Body Arched Maple Top Mahogany Back Arched Basswood Arched Basswood
Hardware Gold Gold Chrome
Bridge Rockin Magic 11 Rockin Magic 11 Rockin Magic 11
Pickups 2 Power Guerilla 1 2 Power Guerilla 1 2 Power Guerilla 11
Pickup Switches 3 way selector 2 power boost switches 3 way selector 3 way selector
Controls 1 volume 1 tone coil tap 1 volume 1 tone coil tap 1 volume 1 tone
Colours Black Pearl, Wine Red, Pearl White Black Pearl, Pearl White, Red and Black Sunburst Black, Pearl White, Red and Black Sunburst


The Scans below are from the 1988 New Line Up catalogue
   

Some Pictures
   
Left to Right 1 11 and 111
   
Again left to right 1 11 and 111

Update April 2022 SFX 1984
World of Musical instruments have recently added the 1984 catalogue in there there is a model just known as the SFX no mention of a signature model just a limited edition of 180 units. It is black gold bound with gold hardware has an SG type shape but with extended upper horn like the other SFX but with SG style controls presumably 2 Volume and 2 Tone with a 3 way switch, possibly coil split. Can find no information anywhere.


Catalogue scan the SFX is the black one on the left

The only other picture I have been able to find.

Update June 2022 Sergi a friend from Russia frequently sends me pictures of rare guitars. Thanks Sergi. Here are some he sent me of the above guitar.





Looks a high quality guitar to me.

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