The Yamaha Super Axe (SA) Series are ES-335 semi hollow bodies. The SAs have a deserved reputation as high quality more affordable alternatives to a Gibson ES-335. These SA models are generally made in Japan - but some of the lower number models may be made in Indonesia. The body shape of the Yamaha SA models has slightly thinner horns than a Gibson ES-335. The headstock angle is a little flatter than the 17 degrees used by Gibson. The SAs also have a volute behind the nut to help strengthen this area. Notable Yamaha SA players include John Etheridge, Frank Gambale, Bert Weedon and Jon Scofield.
| No image yet | YAMAHA SA 1100YAMAHA began making the SA 1100 in 1994 |
| No image yet | YAMAHA SA 500The first SA 500 was produced by YAMAHA in 2005 |
| No image yet | YAMAHA SA 800YAMAHA produced the SA 800 between 1983 and 1989 |
 | YAMAHA SA-2000The ES-335 style Yamaha SA 2000 was made between 1981 and 1989. It is like the SA 1100 but has a curly maple top (or laminated beech/birch top on the early models) with ebony fingerboard and abalone split block inlays. |
 | YAMAHA SA-2100The Yamaha SA-2100 was introduced around 1985 and available until 1989. It had an ES-335 style body like the SA-1100 model but with laminted beech and birch top and back, w-b-w-binding, bound ebony fretboard with split block inlays, 1-23/32" nut width, 24-3/4" scale length, 2 humbucking covered Alnico humbucking pickups The Yamaha 1990 catalog lists an SA-2100 II model, which was the likely replacement for this one. |
 | YAMAHA SA-2200The Yamaha SA-2200 is a Japanese made ES-335 style semi-hollowbody electric guitar model first introduced in 1992. The SA-2200 is similar to the SA-1100 but with fancier appointments including gold-plated hardware, split block inlaid ebony fretboard and multi-ply body and headstock binding. The finger board has 22 medium gauge frets. Pickups are two Yamaha Alnico V humbuckers, which can be coil tapped using the SA-2200's push-pull tone knobs. The SA2200 has a stop tailpiece and tune-o-matic style bridge. |
Specifications:
| Model | Image | Finish colors | Finish effects | Made in | Number of strings | Scale length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YAMAHA SA 1100 1994 | No image yet | - | - | - | - | - |
| YAMAHA SA 500 2005 | No image yet | - | - | - | - | - |
| YAMAHA SA 800 1983 to 1989 | No image yet | - | - | - | - | - |
| YAMAHA SA-2000 1981 to 1989 |  | brown finish | sunburst finish | Japan | 6 strings | 24.75 inches scale-length |
| YAMAHA SA-2100 1985 to 1989 |  | black finish, brown finish, red finish | sunburst finish | Japan | 6 strings | 24.75 inches scale-length |
| YAMAHA SA-2200 1992 |  | brown finish | sunburst finish | Japan | 6 strings | 24.75 inches scale-length |
| Model | Body back material | Body shape features | Body style | Body top material | Hollow body | Pickguard shape | Soundhole |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YAMAHA SA 1100 1994 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| YAMAHA SA 500 2005 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| YAMAHA SA 800 1983 to 1989 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| YAMAHA SA-2000 1981 to 1989 | laminated beech/birch body back | double cutaway | ES-335 style | maple body top | semi-hollow body | raised pickguard | 2 f-holes |
| YAMAHA SA-2100 1985 to 1989 | laminated beech/birch body back | double cutaway | ES-335 style | laminated beech/birch body top | - | raised pickguard | - |
| YAMAHA SA-2200 1992 | laminated maple body back | double cutaway | ES-335 style | flamed maple body top | - | raised pickguard | - |
| Model | Bridge | Hardware color | Tailpiece |
|---|---|---|---|
| YAMAHA SA 1100 1994 | - | - | - |
| YAMAHA SA 500 2005 | - | - | - |
| YAMAHA SA 800 1983 to 1989 | - | - | - |
| YAMAHA SA-2000 1981 to 1989 | tune-o-matic bridge | gold hardware | stop tailpiece |
| YAMAHA SA-2100 1985 to 1989 | - | gold hardware | stop tailpiece |
| YAMAHA SA-2200 1992 | tune-o-matic bridge | gold hardware | stop tailpiece |
| Model | Fingerboard material | Fingerboard position markers | Fingerboard inlay material |
|---|---|---|---|
| YAMAHA SA 1100 1994 | - | - | - |
| YAMAHA SA 500 2005 | - | - | - |
| YAMAHA SA 800 1983 to 1989 | - | - | - |
| YAMAHA SA-2000 1981 to 1989 | ebony fingerboard | split block fingerboard position markers | - |
| YAMAHA SA-2100 1985 to 1989 | ebony fingerboard | split block fingerboard position markers | abalone fingerboard inlay material |
| YAMAHA SA-2200 1992 | ebony fingerboard | split block fingerboard position markers | - |
| Model | Neck material | Number of frets | Peghead (headstock) | Tuner layout | Neck width | Neck joint |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| YAMAHA SA 1100 1994 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| YAMAHA SA 500 2005 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| YAMAHA SA 800 1983 to 1989 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| YAMAHA SA-2000 1981 to 1989 | mahogany neck | 22 fret | bound headstock | three-each-side | - | - |
| YAMAHA SA-2100 1985 to 1989 | mahogany neck | 22 fret | bound headstock | three-each-side | 1.72 inches wide neck | - |
| YAMAHA SA-2200 1992 | mahogany neck | 22 fret | bound headstock | three-each-side | - | set neck |
| Model | Pickup selector controls | Tone controls | Volume controls |
|---|---|---|---|
| YAMAHA SA 1100 1994 | - | - | - |
| YAMAHA SA 500 2005 | - | - | - |
| YAMAHA SA 800 1983 to 1989 | - | - | - |
| YAMAHA SA-2000 1981 to 1989 | 3-way selector switch | 1 tone control, 2 tone controls, push-pull tone control | 2 volume controls |
| YAMAHA SA-2100 1985 to 1989 | 3-way selector switch | 1 tone control, push-pull tone control | 2 volume controls |
| YAMAHA SA-2200 1992 | 2 coil tap switches, 3-way selector switch | 2 tone controls, push-pull tone control | 2 volume controls |
| Model | Pickups configuration |
|---|---|
| YAMAHA SA 1100 1994 | - |
| YAMAHA SA 500 2005 | - |
| YAMAHA SA 800 1983 to 1989 | - |
| YAMAHA SA-2000 1981 to 1989 | 2 humbucker pickups |
| YAMAHA SA-2100 1985 to 1989 | 2 humbucker pickups |
| YAMAHA SA-2200 1992 | 2 humbucker pickups |
2 Comments
Yamaha SA2100
Submitted by Ken Myers (not verified) on
I own a Yamaha SA2100. You say they were made from 1985 to 1986. Well, that fits my guitar -- made in 1985 per Yamaha's serial no wizard. However, I wrote to Yamaha Support for info on this model and THEY told me it was only made from 86 to 89. Made me think for a moment my guitar might have been physically made in 1985 but officially sold in 1986; but then I thought more likely Yamaha Support has bad records on this. I've even seen a 1984 Yamaha SA2100 listed for sale. But, anyway, it does raise some questions about your source for saying these were only made from 95 to 86.
Another thing: I have seen a Yamaha SA2100ii. It is in the 1990 Yamaha guitar catalogue. Appears identical to the SA2100, except maybe some cosmetic stuff. may not have two-tone stop-tail-piece (all gold-plated instead of the silver & gold on the SA2100), and the Yamaha logo on the headstock is different (matching the logo Yamaha started using in or around the 90s).
Yamaha SA Users
Submitted by Chris Devine (not verified) on
A Yamaha user who’d be more familiar to older UK readers was Bert Weedon. Bert was a Yamaha SA endorsee from their introduction in about 1973. Over the years the company supplied him with an SA60, SA90 and SA2000, all of which he modified with Bigsby and Gibson vibrato units.