1971 Alvarez Yairi 5051

[pdx]

I was watching some YouTube videos and decided to pull out my classical I bought 15 or so years ago at a vintage shop. I kinda forget about it as it is on a case in the back of the guitar closet. I know the prices on Japanese steel string acoustics and electrics have definitely increased over the flyers, but how are these old classicals doing? I don’t really plan on selling it, just curious mitt more than anything. I may get some strings for it tomorrow and see how it goes.

I vaguely recall some folks at UMGF stated they thought the back and sides were Amazonian Rosewood due to the sulfur deposits in the back.

[Carey]

The back looks like East Indian Rosewood to me, which commonly has sulphur
deposits as well.

[MoePorter]

but how are these old classicals doing?

Quality wise they can be excellent - screaming bargains IMHO. Market in California would be $500 to $800 (Craigslist) in my recent dealings. The CY series Yairi's sell better I think because the numbering is understandable. The 5051 seems to be upper range?

K Yairi classical guitars are fairly confusing in the line up,
partly because he used different model naming methods under different situations.

In Japan, his classical models are:
YC-30, YC-40, YC-50 YC-80, YC-90, YC-100 and YC-150

In USA when selling under his own labels, the models are:
CY116, CY117, CY118, CY120, CY125, CY130, CY135 and CY140

In USA under the Alvarez label, his models are:
5047, 5048, 5049, 5050, 5051, 5017, 5027, 5036 and 5037

Generally,
Lower model number = lower price
Higher model number = higher price
Except under the Alvarez labels, pricing jumped around with model 5037 as the top model.