The Yamaha ST and STH

The Models
The ST range was a standard three single coil strat configuration and comprised of the 360M and R, the 400M and R, the 500M and R, The 600M and R, the 800M and R and the 1000M and R. It is said that the 600, 800 and 1000 are 1 piece bodies, the 400 and 500 2 piece and the 360 Multi piece. I have no concrete proof of this.The 800 and the 1000 have locking nuts and Yamaha locking bridges. The STH range was a 2 Humbucker configuration comprising of the 400R, the 500M and R, the 800R and the 1000R. If any models other than the 500 came with a Maple option I can find no evidence of it. Again it is said that the 800 and the 1000 are one piece bodies and the 500 and 400 two piece and multi piece respectively. The 800 and the 1000 have locking nuts and Yamaha locking bridges.

Specifications

Maple

	ST360 M and R	ST 400M and R	ST 500M and R	ST 600M and R	ST 800M and R	ST 1000M and R	STH 400R	STH 500M and R	STH 800R	STH 1000R
Body	Sen or Agathis, Igem	Sen or Agathis, Igem	Alder	Alder	Alder	Alder	Sen or Agathis	Alder	Alder	Alder Bound
Neck	Maple	Maple	Maple	Maple	Maple	Maple	Maple	Maple	Maple	Maple
Fretboard	Maple or Rosewood 21 Frets 13.75" radius	Maple or Rosewood 21 Frets 13.75" radius	Maple or Rosewood 21 Frets 13.75" radius	Maple or Rosewood 21 Frets 13.75" radius	Maple or Rosewood 21 Frets 13.75" radius	Maple or Rosewood 21 Frets 13.75" radius	Rosewood 21 Frets 13.75" radius Matching Headstock	Maple or Rosewood 21 Frets 13.75" radius	Rosewood 21 Frets 13.75" radius Matching Headstock	Rosewood 21 Frets 13.75" radius Matching Headstock
Bridge	Standard Steel pressed saddle trem type	Standard Steel pressed saddle trem type	Standard Steel pressed saddle trem type	Standard Steel pressed saddle trem type	Yamaha locking type with locking nut	Yamaha locking type with locking nut	Standard Steel pressed saddle trem type	Standard Steel pressed saddle trem type	Yamaha locking type with locking nut	Yamaha locking type with locking nut
Pickups	3 SCs	3 SCs	3 Alnico V	3 Alnico 5	3 Alnico 5	3 Alnico 5	2 HBs	2 HB Spinex	2 HBs probably Spinex *	2 HBs probably Spinex *
Tuners String Trees	Gotoh Tuners 1 String tree	Gotoh Tuners 1 String tree	Gotoh Tuners 1 String tree	Gotoh Tuners 1 String tree	Gotoh Tuners No string tree	Gotoh Tuners No String Tree	Gotoh Tuners 1 String tree	Gotoh Tuners 1 String tree	Gotoh Tuners No String Tree	Gotoh Tuners No String Tree
Release Price Yen	36000	40000	50000	60000	80000	100000	40000	50000	80000	10000
Weight	3.5kgs	3.5kgs	3.5kgs	3.5kgs	3.6kgs	3.6kgs		3.8kgs
Colours	Sunburst, White, Black	Sunburst, White, Black, Candy Tone Red	Sunburst, White, Black, Black Metallic, Siver Gray	Sunburst, White, Black, Candy Tone Red, Silver Gray	Sunburst, White, Black, Candy Tone Red, Silver Gray	Sunburst, Black, Cream White	Black, White, Red	Black, Cream White Coral Blue	Black, Cream White Coral Blue, Red, Deep Blue	Black, Cream White Coral Blue, Red, Deep Blue

* The Yamaha Archive only details the 500 from the SH range, but as the 500 is stated to have Spinex pickups, it is reasonable to assume that the more expensive models also have them.

Some STH Details

Left to right an STH 500 and an STH 1000 showing the different Bridges

Extract from the 1985 catalogue showing the last survivors of the ST and STH ranges.

Bill Alston

The ST and STH