The K. Yairi / Alvarez Yairi appreciation thread

[gabriel_bc]

Many of us have come to love the handiwork of luthier Kazuo Yairi (R.I.P). His guitars are comfortable in pretty expensive company.

If you have a Yairi, let's see some pictures and hear your stories!

I'll start - my one Yairi (thus far) is an 1982 DY-53 "Silver Harp". I love the tone, and the back is mesmerizing in person - it has a very 3-D look. At the moment it's at the luthier for a neck reset and setup. Can't wait to get it back.

[v32 finish]

I've become a bit enamored as of late.. from an advertisement i saw of their new FYM66 (?) or something similar, it's basically a $2k all-hog beautiful creation using 50-year-old seasoned honduran mahogany.

http://acousticguitar.com/alvarez-winter-namm-2018/

I would absolutely love to own one of these, but at that price point I don't see it making its way into my lineup. Maybe if I could get a used one at fire-sale pricing, or trade, then who knows. It's a shame because lately I've found an ABUNDANCE of guitars like that, ones that pique my interest and I know they'd be fine guitars, but for their price point, realistically I just know that I'd much rather go for a used SCGC or Bourgeois or even high-end Martin for 2700 bucks. That being said, 50 year old Honduran Mahogany .. mmmm...

[Daveyo]

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

[stuco]

I've been a fan for a long time. I don't have any currently but have owned several.

[Seagull S6]

Congratulations. Yairi's are really a sleeper in the guitar community. They are not very well known so people are scared off by them which is good for someone who could actually care less about buying it with resale in mind. Avoid buying a Yairi new because depreciation does hit pretty hard on new Yairi's. Of course for the quality the new price does compete well with better known brands.

Mine is a WY-1 which is a Cedar top with Rosewood laminate back and sides, Ebony fretboard and it is a fantastic playing and sounding guitar. Oh, and bought used......................

Factory tour video probably several years before Kazuo Yairi passed on last year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXiSh9p27gs

[Red_Label]

No pics handy, but I had a 1986 (the same year I graduated) DY75 herringbone dreadnaught that looked and played amazing. I wouldn't say that it sounded amazing, because it wasn't in the same universe as my Breedlove American C25, Voice CM, and other high-end steel string acoustics in terms of quality of tone, unamplified volume, etc. But the Yairi was a great guitar nonetheless and I wish I still owned it (despite not liking to play dreads any more).

[chippygreen]

K.Yairi Japan domestic market RF-120 Sitka/RW, purchased at Ishibashi Music in Tokyo, Japan, summer 2017.

IMG_0002.jpg

It's a standard model but I really like the tasteful inlay at the 12th fret. Mine has a satin finish which I find tactile and a nice variation from my other gloss guitars.

IMG_0003.jpg

The "Angel" headstock depicts the RF is from the "Angel" Series that has been in production for many years

IMG_0004.jpg

Did Kazuo sign these? Or maybe the luthiers signed in his name.

[brancher]

Okay, Okay....

Didn't wanna spill the beans on these most excellent instruments, imho a very well documented secret in the world of high-end instruments...


So here's my pic of the DYMR70SB. It's a slope-shouldered dread - Rosewood and Spruce 12-fret slothead - that plays like silk, throws out a deep, rich bass along with ringing trebles, and pours out those Rosewood tones like warm chocolate syrup! I actually stumbled onto it while searching for a J-45. One play was all it took. And I traded a Martin DCPA4 dread for it (yeah, I traded a Martin for it). So - with some D'Addario Nickel Bronze strings (shout-out to my personal AGF Yairi Guru, PIOUSDEVIL), this is now a 3-4 hour per day instrument.

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e1...&1527263125632

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e1...&1527263125632

http://i38.photobucket.com/albums/e1...&1527263125632

She's got a few battle scars on 'er these days - couple of little dings and a little scratch where some Bozo (me) dropped a preamp on her.... but she's beautiful, competent, and loud -- and she makes me sound goooood. And she makes me sexier than I already am (hard to believe, I know ...)

Please -- don't try to buy her. Not for sale! (... well, she MAY be for sale... )

[jonbee]

Here's my virtually mint 1985 DY-90 Super Abalone (same as Yairi YW-1000). D-45 style abalone, D-35 back. Amazing tonality, sustain and projection. Custom rosewood pick guard, tuner buttons and armrest. This guitar was unplayed until this year!

[brancher]

Dude, the 90 is beautiful!! How's the low end on her?

[gabriel_bc]

Agreed - that 90 is a stunner!

Also nice to see the domestic Japanese headstock instead of the A/Y version on that one up thread.

[dguitar]

Please post more about the neck reset when you get it back. I've been told mine can't be removed.
Thx!

[chippygreen]

Love the detail and headstock binding on that DY90!

[GBS]

Let's not forget the one's made by Yairi, with an obscure (grin!) licensed brand name on them:

[Steadfastly]

Originally Posted by GBS

Let's not forget the one's made by Yairi, with an obscure (grin!) licensed brand name on them:

I am looking at a 12 string make by Yairi with a brand name on it. I have yet to get over to play it but in looks it's easily a 9/10.