The K. Yairi / Alvarez Yairi appreciation thread

[fenderball]

only pic of my Yairi i have on my computer...1990 DY-50

note the album covers on my wall in the pic...name the one on the right...or both...the one on the left is easy...

LOVE THE NECK ON THIS GUITAR!

[Twin Six]

I've had the DY-76 since 1994 and the DY-39 for just over a month. It was an Ebay find that worked out brilliantly.

[Puddleglum]

I discovered Alvarez/Yairi guitars in the 90s and have always been fond of them. They've always been hard to find in person so I've never owned one, though. I do follow the K. Yairi account on Instagram and they post some amazing looking guitars from time to time. I would love to play one someday but I've never seen a K. Yairi guitar in person.

[edcmat-l1]

Wow I didn't even know this thread existed. Anyway, big Alvarez and Yairi fan. I have a few cool ones most are in exceptional condition. The 5024 in the picture is sold. It goes to it's new home early next week. It's in near museum, unplayed condition. Doesn't have a scratch on it. Only flaw is a tiny chip out of the first fret inlay.

I've a really cool 5053 in very good to excellent condition. A near mint DY91, near mint PD100S. A 5044 that's well played. Probably the roughest one I have. It has some double A logo tuners I've never seen on anything else. If anyone has, please let me know.

I also have a good bit of documentation going back to the 70s.

[Puddleglum]

Originally Posted by edcmat-l1

Wow I didn't even know this thread existed. Anyway, big Alvarez and Yairi fan. I have a few cool ones most are in exceptional condition. The 5024 in the picture is sold. It goes to it's new home early next week. It's in near museum, unplayed condition. Doesn't have a scratch on it. Only flaw is a tiny chip out of the first fret inlay.

I've a really cool 5053 in very good to excellent condition. A near DY91, near mint PD100S. A 5044 that's well played. Probably the roughest one I have. It has some doulbe A logo tuners I've never seen on anything else. If anyone has, please let me know.

I also have a good bit of documentation going back to the 70s.

Is that a Gibson Dove on the right or an Alvarez copy of one?

[Mark Stone]

This is a slightly older thread, but I'm glad it resurfaced -- I've always appreciated the artistry and innovation of Kazuo Yairi and believe his work has always been underappreciated. I've owned a Conquistador Classical from their factory in Kani, Japan for over 40 years, and the build quality & tone are wonderful. The picture is myself playing it for an anniversary party about 20(?) or so years ago --

[edcmat-l1]

Originally Posted by Puddleglum

Is that a Gibson Dove on the right or an Alvarez copy of one?

That's an Alvarez. It's the 5024 I'm talking about in the post. Near museum quality.

[edcmat-l1]

My DY91 and the back of one of my blondes. It's a 5038 and I have the Yairi twin the FY40B. Both in exceptional condition, near mint.

[rmp]

in the the fall of 1989 I was working with a local music store who had ordered me a newer Yari

The owner agreed to take two of my acoustics on trade, -- two pretty nice Japanese made Ibanez acoustics -- which I left at the store and which he sold almost immediately.

Mine, he said was on backorder, or so I was led to believe for about 2 months -- long after my guitars were long gone.

Turns out, the place this guy was dealing with (St Luis Music) had shut him off for non payment on merchandise already ordered.

So the truth of it was, my new guitar was never ordered. Eventually he came clean and told me what was going on.

Then he says,
"So maybe we can solve this.. I've had this in storage for a while now, it's actually worth more than the guitar you were waiting for, it's not new, but it's decent"

He brings out the case, pops it opened sitting inside was a 1978 Dy74.

The previous owner had bought it from his Dad who ran the store prior, and then later hawked it to the same store when he needed some cash. He had not really taken good care of it, lots of knocks and dings on the top plus he was a chain smoker so it smelled like an astray.

After a few minutes sitting down with it, I knew I was playing a pretty stellar dreadnaught.

I took it home and long story shortened, it's been with me ever since. Eventually I got the smoke smell out, and I tossed the case (it was brutal)

Back around 2010, I had a few frets replaced, a new nut, replaced the machine heads and installed a Fishman Infinity Matrix and bought a Cedar Creek case to replace the semi-soft case I had for it.

It's really a fantastic guitar.

[Puddleglum]

Originally Posted by edcmat-l1

That's an Alvarez. It's the 5024 I'm talking about in the post. Near museum quality.

Very cool.

[KenL]

rmp, that's a great story. Funny how things turn out sometimes.

I had a DY-74 too, a 1976 with the Brazilian pickguard like yours. It had a hard life before it came to me, and the otherwise stunning top was pretty dinged up. But I babied the heck out of it, installed a K&K, and later replaced 8 or frets. Loved the neck, loved the tone. Had it for 10 years, but sold it (and a DY-57) in a fit of downsizing. It was a really good guitar and I miss it.

That's it in the photo of a photo (that hangs on my wall) taken by a professional photographer friend of mine. He did a series of photos of it that were the centerpiece of his website for a long time.

20201205_133316.jpg

[KenL]

Here's a better photo, forgot I had this one. And the DY-57 that I rescued.

20181104_145638.jpg20190317_144006.jpg

[rmp]

Originally Posted by KenL

rmp, that's a great story. Funny how things turn out sometimes.

I had a DY-74 too, a 1976 with the Brazilian pickguard like yours. It had a hard life before it came to me, and the otherwise stunning top was pretty dinged up. But I babied the heck out of it, installed a K&K, and later replaced 8 or frets. Loved the neck, loved the tone. Had it for 10 years, but sold it (and a DY-57) in a fit of downsizing. It was a really good guitar and I miss it.

That's it in the photo of a photo (that hangs on my wall) taken by a professional photographer friend of mine. He did a series of photos of it that were the centerpiece of his website for a long time.

Attachment 47905

Hey Ken

yea,, that's another nice example.

I don't think I'd ever sell it, I'm not sure the money in would be worth the value out. So I'll just keep it till the end I guess.

I knew, personally the guy who ran that store, we went to school together.

He could never quite stop feeling bad about what happened, despite my telling him many times that he more than made up for the situation.

I ran into him at a home depo about a year ago, "hey do you still have it?"
"of course!"

[appstaterules]

I have three DY 90's, one DY 95N, One DY 84BR, one DY 80/12 Canyon Creek and one DY 40 CBK. I heard of Yairi at Edwards Music in Fayetteville, NC after I ordered a "New" Takamine F-381 DX that arrived with a 12 inch crack in the top in 2004. Sent back immediately, did my research and discovered the hidden jem in high end acoustics. Edwards had a DY 40CBK, mahogany, like my previous models. I like the "hand made quality' of Yairi and the proprietary lamination processed used which is stronger that solid applications and perfected by Kazuo Yairi long ago.

Then I found my "soul" in rosewood s/b acoustics. Love the thunder and overall tone of Rosewood and Spruce. Started with a Breedlove AD 25 SR+
and then bought my first rosewood Yairi DY 84C. Fell in love, researched the high end 90's, 95's, 99's with Brazilian and DY 80 with Coral RW. Now, after severe GAS sold most of my collection, except the Breedlove after layoff's in the Pharma industry, and then inherited half of my family's estate and started buying in May '19. I am up to 7 Yairis, all rosewood and brazilian.

I have never thought of buying a Taylor with screwed in necks, and the added cost of a Martin due to the name when after playing these and playing and buying Yairi's find the price points vs. quality and sound to be a no brainer. I have friends with the Taylors, Martins, Gibsons?, and others. I'll take the Yairi quality, strength of Kazuo's lamination process and special bracing over any of the aforementioned "names" anyday and twice on Sunday. Some pics for your review!
https://imgur.com/a/eaZSmZj

[appstaterules]

[URL="imgur.com/a/nGX6rCV"]imgur.com/a/nGX6rCV]
Yairi DY 84 BR Brazilian