Difference between Burny 1980s FLG-90, FLG-150, FLG-240

[spectrale]

While I’m thinking of it and working on the body pics, I’ll add that the single ring tuners are at least as common as the dual ring tuners on the models I’ve had. That personal experience has me often discounting some posts that swear by the dual rings as the only spec or catalog listed FLG tuners. My FLGs are running 50/50 on the tuners spec’d. Plain top is more traditional burst, but color on the flames top is not as honey brown as it is in person.

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[spectrale]

FLG-150 are veneer tops, just like an EGF 1200. I lose no sleep over it for either of them.

The Mahogany used on these is gorgeous and the finish is nitrocellulose lacquer as they react instantly to acetone.

Price wise, you need to realize that 1980 was still early days for Seymour Duncan and there wasn't a plethora of shops making boutique pickups like there is today. Duncan's today are relative bargains price wise, but back then they retailed for 25K Yen a piece in Japan.

I have no issue with a veneer top on an FLG-150 and absolutely love the Mahogany they used. I haven't taken the time necessary to really confirm, but some of the characteristics look like it is very likely Honduras Mahogany. Terada made is a huge plus as well.

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I had what I thought was a 1980 Burny FLG 90, which was very much like this guitar spec-wise. Beautiful (non-chevron) flame top, plain black headstock, very thick neck (first I’d ever owned that made me believe the ‘baseball bat’ feature was a real thing), same routing and wiring, and a lustrous orange-brown fretboard like none I’ve ever played before. No serial or model number on headstock or pickup cavity. No longer in my collection, so I don’t have any bias in its specs or true model type. Deciding factors in my conclusion of FLG 90 were the stock (non-duncan) black bobbin uncovered HBs, centered veneer top over a solid off center seamed thick carved maple top. Though I think it might have had a beautiful one piece back (like yours).

 

[JDZ]

I had what I thought was a 1980 Burny FLG 90, which was very much like this guitar spec-wise. Beautiful (non-chevron) flame top, plain black headstock, very thick neck (first I’d ever owned that made me believe the ‘baseball bat’ feature was a real thing), same routing and wiring, and a lustrous orange-brown fretboard like none I’ve ever played before. No serial or model number on headstock or pickup cavity. No longer in my collection, so I don’t have any bias in its specs or true model type. Deciding factors in my conclusion of FLG 90 were the stock (non-duncan) black bobbin uncovered HBs, centered veneer top over a solid off center seamed thick carved maple top. Though I think it might have had a beautiful one piece back (like yours).

If there's nothing on the back of the headstock, it wasn't an '80-81 FLG.

 

[cain]

Those old SD 59s are different than current ones. I have 3 of them. They use butyrate bobbins and American cast magnets. I also think they sound better, but maybe I am imagining that.

i don’t think your imagining that, those early ‘59 Duncan’s were really great pickups.

 

[nopea]

Hi. Just thought I'd help since I speak Japanese.

What it says ボディ - メイプル単板削り出しトップ、 マホガニー単板バック
maple tanban kezuri dashi top means a carved top made from a single piece of maple. In the context of guitars, whenever you see "単板削り出し" (tanban kezuri dashi) it's used to describe the top being carved from a single piece of wood rather than laminate/plywood tops (合板 gouban).

Mahogany tanban back = single piece mahogany back.

I think the confusion is that tanban is often used to talk about veneers as well in other contexts.

If you would like anything else there translated or checked, happy to help.

当たり！

ボディメイプル単板削り出しトップ、 マホガニー単板バック Says that it is only a single piece of maple, nowhere does it mention a veneer (although it may be, but it does not say that in the catalog).

 

[tzurby]

Fernandes Burny FLG-90 1980

Fernandes Burny FLG-90 1980

yamauchi63133.wixsite.com

This guitar collector from Japan, who obviously knows Japanese, wonders how Fernandes could charge widely different prices for the FLG-90, FLG-150 and FLG-240 without distinguishing “single piece carved top from dressing board [obviously: veneer] on carved maple top on catalogue description”. “The only clear difference is pickup, Seymour Duncan model 59 on FLG-150/240, Fernandes original L-8001Vintage on FLG-90.”

And he concludes that the FLG-240 most probably had a solid top [“carved top”], the FLG-150 “a mild figured [he obviously believes: solid] top”, “and FLG-90 had dressing board top”.

This seems plausible to me too. However, JDZ has an FLG-150 (identified by its card) with a veneer top. So, what distinguishes the 150 form the 90? Just the pickups?

 

[JDZ]

This seems plausible to me too. However, JDZ has an FLG-150 (identified by its card) with a veneer top. So, what distinguishes the 150 form the 90? Just the pickups?

If you buy an 80-81 FLG and believe it to be a 150, feel free to message me and I will be happy to confirm what model it is. There's a real concern about fakes with these given the rarity, not just my concern.

There's a legit FLG-150 that's been for sale for the past few weeks - not a guitar of mine.
The owner is asking $3,550. Not sure if it has sold.

 

[tzurby]

When I started thie conversation, I was considering this Burny: https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/1005746774
In the end, it was to expensive for me, with shipping and import taxes included. Maybe a bad decision?
Clearly a Terrada made FLG. But is it an FLG-90, 150 or 240?