PERFORMER SERIES - YLP

Models, options, and prices

Though these Les Paul “Performer” models were also branded as JooDee and Daion, we’ll be using the Yamaki model designation (YLP) since we have the most detail documentation on this brand.

Period pricing as of June 1, 1978 was as follows:

• YLP-450 ¥24,000 Standard Model (Maple top; Lauan back, body, neck; Rosewood fingerboard; “Pearloid” fret position markers; less expensive Japanese tuners; Yamaki humbuckers). Listed at ¥45,000 in the advertisements below.

• YLP-500 ¥26,500 Standard Model (Maple top; Mahogany back, body, neck; Rosewood fingerboard; “Pearloid” fret position markers; best quality sealed Japanese / Yamaki branded tuners; Yamaki humbuckers). Listed at ¥50,000 in the advertisements below.

• YLP-550 Triple humbucker (Maple top; Mahogany back and body; Nato neck; Rosewood fingerboard; “Pearloid” fret position markers; best quality sealed Japanese / Yamaki branded tuners; Yamaki humbuckers). Listed at ¥55,000 in the advertisements below.

• YLP-600 ¥32,000 Custom Model (Maple top; Mahogany back and body; Maple neck; Rosewood fingerboard; “Pearloid” fret position markers; best quality sealed Japanese / Yamaki branded tuners; Yamaki humbuckers). Listed at ¥60,000 in the advertisements below.

• YLP-800 ¥42,500 Pro Model (Solid Maple curved top; solid Mahogany back and neck; Ebony fingerboard; Might Mite 1300 humbucker, Pearl rather than “Pearloid” fret position markers, foreign-made tuners). Listed at ¥80,000 in the advertisements below.

• YLP-801 ¥40,500 Pro Model (Same as YLP-800 except Japanese-made tuners)

How to find the model number

We have seen hand written model designations as well as black stamping on the body under the neck pickup (see pictures below). If you can not find a model number (sometimes they have been painted over in the neck pickup cavity), you have to start narrowing things down by color, hardware, woods, and headstocks.

Electronics

The YLP-800 and YLP-801 had Mighty Mite 1300 humbucker pickups that have braided metal shielding on the wires (see picture below). The 1978 catalog shows triple screw (anti-tilt) on all models but the 800. That being said, in one advertisement (see below) there are two screw pickups in the YLP-600. In our sampling below, only the 550 had the triple screw pickup height adjustment. This needs confirmation, but it could be that later production there was a switch for some reason, or, pickups may have been swapped.

Circuit boards were used in the control cavity and can be labeled MADE BY YAMAKI or JOODEE MADE BY YAMAKI (see pictures below). The control cavity shielding and circuit board is very similar, if not the same, as the Washburn WING SERIES which were also made by Yamaki in the same time period.

Lastly, the pickup selector switch (see pictures) was also shielded.

Serial Numbers

The 500B in the photo gallery below retains a serial number sticker on the back of the headstock. We have not seen any serial numbers elsewhere on the body.

Tuners

The 450 had “Japanese-made machine heads,” the 500 and 600 “best quality Japanese-made machine heads” (which are sealed tuners of various styles and typically have the Yamaki logo), the 800 “best quality foreign-made machine heads,” and the 801 “best quality Japanese-made machine heads.” On our 800 example below, the tuners are Grover.

Necks, Fingerboard, Fret Markers

The 450 has a Lauan neck, the 550 a Nato neck, the 600 a Maple neck, and the 500 and 800 Mahogany. A rosewood fingerboard was available across the line except for the 800 and 801 which was Ebony. The 800 is described as having “Pearl” rather than “Pearloid” fret position markers.

Finishes

• Black (B) was available on both the 450, 500, and 600.

• Cherry Red Sunburst (CS) was available on the 450, 500, and 800.

• Tobacco Brown Sunburst (TB) was only available on the 450, 500, and 800.

• Red Sunburst (N) was available on the 550 and 600.

Matte finish (M) was available option across the line and is sometimes stamped with a circle M (see pictures below).