Bill Alston

Yamaha SAS Range

An SAS1 in see through red sunburst

The SAS Range

The SAS is a smaller bodied version of the Superaxe similar to a Gibson 336 or 339. As far as I can ascertain there are four models three released in 1988 to be superceeded by one model around the end of 1991.
The first three released in November 1988 are the SAS1 the SAS 11 and the SAS T the last one being a signature model for Koji Tamaki (safety zone). None of these models were made for the western market all are domestic only.



An SAS 11 in Black

Specifications

Model 1 11 T
Period Nov 1988 to 1991 Nov 1988 to 1991 Nov 1988 to 1992
Scale 628mms 628mms 628mms
Fretboard Ebony Rosewood Ebony
Frets 22 22 22
Body See below Maple and Birch Alder Block Maple and Birch Alder Block
Neck see below Mahogany Mahogany
Hardware Gold Gold Gold
Bridge TSG 1G TSG 1G TSG 1G
Pickups 2 GHIG Live alnico 5s 2 Yamaha YSEH1 2 Spinex
Pickup Switch 3 way selector 3 way selector 3 way selector
Control 1 vol 1 tone coil tap 1 vol 1 tone coil tap 2 vol 2 tone.
Colours Antique Violin Sunburst Navy Blue Sunburst see thorugh Red Sunburst Black or Navy Blue Sunburst Pearl White
Radius 350 mms 350 mms 350 mms

The construction of the SAS 1 was different depending on the colour. The Antique Sunburst was Kirutiddo Mahogany and Birch with a Mahogany neck and the other two colours are Birdseye Maple and Maple, all have an Alder Block.
The 1 was a higher spec model than the 11 refelcted in the release prices, which were 139,000 yen and 91,000 yen respectively. The T was released at 167,000 yen. I have however never seen a T or even a picture of one so have no image to post. Perhaps the easiest way to tell the 1 and 11 apart is the fretboard inlays, see pictures.
In late 1991 or early 1992 the SAS1500 replaced all previous models, the 1500 is I think a stunning looking guitar but I haven't ever had the chance to play one. The one pictured below sold on Ebay in April 2016 for 650 GBP.