Seeking Alvarez WY1TS info/feedback from users

[Daniel Grenier]

For the owners/users of the Alvarez Yairi WY1TS.

I have a few questions to enlighten me on this model which I have an opportunity to buy. But, before I go out and drive a few hours to go see it, I need your feedback (the seller knows nothing about the guitar... estate sale or something)

• What is the back & side wood? Solid? Laminate?
• Sitka top? Cedar?
• What is the on-board pick up system?
• Body size (OM? Folk? Other?)
• Nut spacing and scale length?

And what might a "mint" used one go for these days?

Any other info would be welcome. Thanks

[skypeace]

- Top: Solid AA Western Red Cedar
- Back & Sides: Solid East Indian Rosewood
- Shape: Folk
- Neck: One piece mahogany
- Neck Finish: 50/50 Semi gloss
- Bracing System: Hand-carved FST2 - Forward Shifted, Scalloped X
- Bridge: Ebony, Direct Coupled
- Inlays: Abalone & Mother of Pearl
- Fingerboard: Rosewood with 12th Abalone Fret Inlay
- Headstock Plate: Rosewood
- Nut & Saddle: Real Bone
- Tuners: Gotoh 510's Gold with Ebony Buttons
- Binding: Ivoroid
- Bridge Pins: Ebony
- Strings: D'Addario EXP
- Electronics: LR Baggs StagePro EQ and Element Pick Up
- Accessories: Deluxe wood case
- Nut and Saddle: Real Bone Nut width is 1.75"
- Scale is 25 and radius ?

These are the specs of a new one that I am looking at. The electronics may be different from older ones. Alvarez Yairi's are top notch world class guitars on par with Taylor, Martin and Larivee. If you are interested you wouldn't be wasting your time. New they run about almost $1,600, i am seeing them used for $1,100 to $1,200. MSRP is $2,500

From Alvarez site:
DIMENSIONS
Overall Length (mm)1010
Body Width (mm)386
Body Depth at Heel (mm)100
Body Depth at Base (mm)117
Scale (mm)635
Scale (inches)25"
Number of frets20
Nut Width (mm)44
Nut Width (inches)1 23/32"
PRODUCT MATERIALS
SeriesAlvarez-Yairi Stage
Top WoodSolid AA Western Red Cedar
Top FinishTobacco Sunburst/Gloss
Back & Sides WoodRosewood
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
Neck JointDovetail, extended neck
Neck Meets Body14th Fret
Number of Frets20

[jman60]

According to Alvarez Yairi it has laminate back and sides with a solid cedar top.

https://www.alvarezguitars.com/guitar/wy1ts/

Years ago when I bought my first Yairi it came down to two guitar, WY1 folk with Koa B&S
(don't remember the actual model No.) and a DY62C. Both were excellent but I felt the
DY62C was a notch or two better sound wise IMO.

All solid wood Yairi's are typically are in the Masterworks category. But
don't knock Yairi's laminates, they are among the best if not the best.

[Daniel Grenier]

Originally Posted by skypeace

- Top: Solid AA Western Red Cedar
- Back & Sides: Solid East Indian Rosewood
- Shape: Folk
- Neck: One piece mahogany
- Neck Finish: 50/50 Semi gloss
- Bracing System: Hand-carved FST2 - Forward Shifted, Scalloped X
- Bridge: Ebony, Direct Coupled
- Inlays: Abalone & Mother of Pearl
- Fingerboard: Rosewood with 12th Abalone Fret Inlay
- Headstock Plate: Rosewood
- Nut & Saddle: Real Bone
- Tuners: Gotoh 510's Gold with Ebony Buttons
- Binding: Ivoroid
- Bridge Pins: Ebony
- Strings: D'Addario EXP
- Electronics: LR Baggs StagePro EQ and Element Pick Up
- Accessories: Deluxe wood case
- Nut and Saddle: Real Bone Nut width is 1.75"
- Scale is 25 and radius ?

These are the specs of a new one that I am looking at. The electronics may be different from older ones. Alvarez Yairi's are top notch world class guitars on par with Taylor, Martin and Larivee. If you are interested you wouldn't be wasting your time. New they run about almost $1,600, i am seeing them used for $1,100 to $1,200. MSRP is $2,500

I like what I see. Thank you kindly. I have a few more questions.

What does "TS" stand for, WY1 being the root?
How is the neck on these? C shaped? Taylor-like? Mid?
Do/Did these come in Maple b&s at some point? (I got a really lousy pic from the seller and it kind of looks like maple - not rosewood)

Thanks again for the good info. Sounds promising.

[Ed-in-Ohio]

Yairi's two-layer, all tonewood, parallel grain lamination for their back and sides is much better tonewood than the solid backs and sides of the majority of manufacturers.

[TRW1]

TS = "Tobacco Sunburst," referring to the finish color.