Yamaha Guitars is ringing in its 40th anniversary this year, and to celebrate, Yamaha received a very nice present. According to MI Sales Trak, Yamaha Guitars moved past U.S. competitors Martin and Taylor to take the top sales spot in the U.S.

Yamaha has led the field in the number of acoustic guitar units sold for some time, but just one year ago, Yamaha ranked fourth behind Martin, Taylor, and Ibanez in dollar volume, according to Dennis Webster, marketing manager for Yamaha Guitars. Not anymore.

“The easy part is over,” Webster, said, “we want to celebrate our 40 years in the U.S., but now comes the tough work of staying competitive in the future.”

The Yamaha FG series is one of the best selling acoustic guitars, according to Webster, a feat that is not lost on Yamaha’s guitar marketing team. For its 40th anniversary, Yamaha has commissioned a limited-edition FG to celebrate, and only 40 guitars were made. Each will include a plaque on the back of the headstock and be individually numbered.

For information on Yamaha guitars and other musical instruments, visit www.AndysMusicOnline.com, or call Andy’s Music at 251-633-8944.

(Reprinted from Music Inc. Magazine, July 2009).