The Mosrite-derived design of the Yamaha SGV 800 is cool.  But is it worth a premium price?

The 800 has a bound neck and the parts and workmanship are generally  above average.  When Yamaha discontinued the SGV800 (mid-2000s?), Guitar  Center allegedly discounted these instruments to just $350US.  At those  prices, you were getting a lot of (potential) value for your money.   This price may have included a gig bag, also.

The Yamaha SGV 800, to me, is the logical extreme of a Mosrite – the  cool ‘upside-down’ shape, the roller bridge, a tremolo, two single  coils, the body-mounted output jack and a relatively thin neck.   However, you may need to upgrade and change your SGV 800 to make it an  instrument you can depend on.  It is also a little on the heavy side,  probably around 9 lbs.

In summary, when/if you decide to buy this Yamaha model (or a similar  one), add in the cost of making it an instrument you can take on a gig  or sit around and play without getting frustrated.  Personally, I cannot  recommend paying a premium for an instrument that needs a modified  bridge support and other key items to get it to professional standards.  On  the other hand, the raw materials are all present for a signature sound  and great play-ability, once you get these instruments fixed, adjusted  and fine-tuned.