I have a yamaha 365 s (s stands for solid top) bought sight unseen on ebay in australia for $260 with a case. The guitar itself was unknown to me but it had a solid top and I appreciate the MIJ guitars of the 70’s. Ok, This was a 1980 made in Korea but the sentiment remains. Obviously well made and a very solid guitar. Somebody had gone to a lot of trouble to produce a fine instrument. 3 piece back like the Martin D 35 Not a lot of info about the 365 was available but it was the first yamaha model made with a solid top.

even with old strings it rang nicely with the first strum. It need a set up and strings. I took it along to my luthier Charles Cilia in Sydney who also strummed it and just said WOW. I got it a new saddle, nut, frets and strings and set up low. Oh boy what a guitar this is. I had a high end Maton which I then sold. Yeah the maton was better and at 12 times the price it should be. But it wasn’t 12 times better. I don’t care what the headstock says, if it sounds great then fine by me. I’ll play it along side anyone’s gibson or martin or Maton. It projects a strong sound, well suited to fingerpicking or bluegrass equally. I wont say well balanced because every ad I’ve ever seen for a guitar in the last two years says ” it is well balanced”. Who knows anymore what that means. I know it is a great guitar. I am 60 years old and been playing since I’ve been 8. I speak as a player not a collector.

I got lucky with mine. They may not all be the same but it’s worth a punt if you see one.