The K. Yairi / Alvarez Yairi appreciation thread

[Twoosy18]

Hello all,

Just bought brand new Yairi DYMR70SB serial no. 72257.

Questions I have:

1) how are their serial nos. deciphered ?
2) why no literature or care manual ?
3) what string size/brand are 'best' ?
4) how old are the woods?

https://images.reverb.com/image/uplo...ajdp6s1k8u.jpg

Happy guitaring everyone.

[Oldguy64]

You will need to experiment.
The newer ones leave “home” with D’addario EXP16’s.
That may be the best for them...
Or you may find something else.

[drew b]

Here’s my Yairi made for the European market. I think they use Alvarez as a vehicle for US distribution. Anyway, I think it’s pretty great. It’s an ‘83 model with a Sitka top and a very Brazilian-rosewood looking back and sides (laminate). It has been a great guitar-both gigged and at bluegrass jams when I didn’t want to take my old D-18.

IMG_1529376316.908810.jpg

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[Nctom]

I have an '88 DY-53 coming this week and I can hardly wait. It's supposed to be a pecan(?) B&S European(?) Jumbo. So, it will be something to figure out and enjoy. I look forward to it!

A review, and possibly pictures, to follow.

[Steadfastly]

This is sort of a Yairi and sort of a George Lowden. It was made in 1983 in the Yairi plant in Japan but designed by George Lowden under the Artisan brand.

[edmartin54]

I've had this for over 40 years. DY57S Still sounds amazing!

https://imgur.com/a/9LhOrYa

[leew3]

Originally Posted by Daveyo

I don't have pics yet,but I have a dy74 on the way
Great guitars
Dave

I played a DY74 for about 30 years and loved it! Enjoy.

[TopJimmy5150]

My Mom picked this up at a yard sale and gave it to me to sell on eBay. I think she paid $5 for it but I didn't want to sell it. I cleaned it up and couldn't believe what it was. It was caked with filth. The top was coated with epoxy but it had the sweetest tone of any acoustic I have played.

I set up this goofy tripod site for it and for some reason it is still up after almost 20 years.

http://alvarezyairi.tripod.com

[nightflight]

I have a very old Alvarez, model 508. Purchased in 1973 for $280. I called the St. Louis headquarters years ago, when I was trying to assess its insurance value. They had no record of that series; they said it was too long ago.

It is a sweet little guitar. Over the years, it developed some fine cracks on the soundboard just next to the fretboard on one side. This was repaired with small braces, and it's bumping along just fine. I also had some minor inlay work done on the fretboard a year or two after I bought it. Some ivy leaves - nothing terribly ornate.

A nice little guitar.

[Nctom]

The DY-53, as good as it was, is no longer with me; it was just too big . I never found out what a "California Jumbo", or whatever it was,was. it did sound very good, though.

I'm responding to this thread to try to find a smaller bodied Yairi of about the same age as the one I had (mid- 80's). Mine was the only one I've run across that wasn't a dreadnought of some description. Were there any 000's or smaller guitars? I am not particularly interested in the late model Alvarez guitars I've seen and played.

[RGWelch]

There is a new FYM66 I've been eyeing for sale at a local store. Not able to afford it yet, hoping it will still be there when I can. If not, I'll probably go a different direction, but I really hope to get that Yairi soon, it's a beauty, plays and sounds great. Part of the mahogany line.

[Proclaimer888]

Originally Posted by vindibona1

Anecdotes... Ok, here goes....

It's 1980 and I've got $1000 in my pocket to buy my first guitar. I'm looking at a Martin D28 (I think) but whatever Martin it was would eat almost my entire $1000. A little shopkeeper comes out of the back and asks if he could help. He says "I've got the right guitar for you" and brings out a 1974 DY77. So I took both in the practice room Yairi vs Martin... and the Yairi won. I asked him how much and he said $175 with the original case. SOLD! This guitar is still with me and officially belongs to my daughter and now I get to play it for my grandson.

Fast forward to 1996 and while shopping for a guitar for my daughter, looking at Yamahas for her we came across the second Alvarez Yairi, a DY71Had to have it. So she got the DY77. We still have them and at this moment the DY71 is on loan to my niece.

I cannot fathom why these guitars are offered up so cheaply? Such great guitars that are every bit as good as those that came out of the big names.

Thanks for this......great story. I recently purchase a Takamine (M/I Japan) for my daughter as I was thrilled when she could not put down the guitar. I was born in Japan and will eventually purchase a Yairi. Hopefully for same price that you paid. Thanks again for your story!

[RGWelch]

I got an FYM66HD yesterday! Been looking at it for awhile, and finally got it. I'll be posting a NGD when I get done better photos. So far, I'm very pleased with it.IMG_20190315_122447971.jpg

[PiousDevil]

Originally Posted by RGWelch

I got an FYM66HD yesterday! Been looking at it for awhile, and finally got it. I'll be posting a NGD when I get done better photos. So far, I'm very pleased with it.Attachment 20378

I am tremendously jealous. I have the DYM60HD from that series and it is fantastic.

[Petespix]

gabriel_bc, can you post about the neck reset of your DY 53. I was wondering about it because I've read that Yairi necks are glued in with epoxy and are most difficult to near impossible to remove. Anyone else with direct experience with Yairi neck resetting please chime in.

Thanks!