Yamaha Studio Lord SL 430 Les Paul Type 1976-1980

Yamaha Studio Lord SL-430 (1976–1980) – Black – All Original – Made in Japan in Very Good

The Yamaha SL-430 Studio Lord is a highly regarded vintage Japanese "Lawsuit Era" Les Paul Custom copy, praised for its excellent build quality, surprising playability, and great tone that rivals more expensive Gibsons, offering deep, thick sounds for the neck pickup and crunchy tones from the bridge, all wrapped in a solid mahogany/maple body with reliable hardware, making it a fantastic value for classic rock and blues players seeking vintage character.

Up for sale is a fully original Yamaha Studio Lord SL-430, a domestic-market Japanese model from the late ’70s era when Yamaha was building some of the best LP-style instruments outside the US. This one is clean, solid, freshly set up, and plays better than many far more expensive vintage options.

Specs & Features

• Years of Production: 1976–1980
• Finish: Black (original)
• Construction: Les Paul–style body, bolt-on maple neck
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Frets: 22 frets, good fret life remaining
• Scale Length: 24.75"
• Radius: Common LP type 12". Comfortable vintage feel and allows for a balance of comfortable chording and string bending.
• The neck is much more slim than other SL guitars I've played or LP replicas w;hich makes this particular guitar much more interesting if you prefer a slimmer neck VS the bigger D shaped neck.
• Pickups: Original Yamaha humbuckers
• Electronics: Fully functional; no scratchy pots
• Weight: 3.9 kg
• Serial: 003496

Setup & Playability

• Action: 1.5 mm (Low E) / 1.25 mm (High E) — low, smooth, and buzz-free
• Neck: Straight, with no dead spots anywhere on the fingerboard
• Maintenance: Fresh D’Addario 9.5s, frets polished, fretboard cleaned and oiled
• Plays great — fast neck feel, tight attack, and that articulate late-’70s MIJ character.

Condition

Very Good overall condition. Cosmetic wear consistent with the age of the instrument. There's 2,3 dents as shown in the pictures : One on the neck, one near the jack socket and one on the top of the body. All shown in the pictures.

Origin

Authentic domestic Japanese model, purchased directly from Japan. These SL-series guitars were not export models and are becoming harder to find in clean, original condition.

Quick and insured shipping - Hardcase, bubble wrap + strong box