Searching for a Dreadnought - do I want a 1970s Yairi?

[alexevans917]

Originally Posted by Charlie Bernstein

I wouldn't fixate on a Yairi. It's a perfectly good brand, but they're nothing special.

Meanwhile, Reverb.com has a lot of 1970s Guild D-35s and D-40s at well within your $2k ceiling. Union-made killer axes, as good as any post-WWII Martin D-18 at a fraction of the price.

So much Guild love on this thread! I know almost nothing about their acoustics, but apparently I need to change that. They’re nice looking instruments, and the prices seem vary fair for a quality American instrument. What would you compare them to, sonically? They look Gibson-y with that big pick guard and headstock design, but are they more in the Martin camp sound-wise, or are they their own thing?

I’ll have to see if there are any for sale locally to try out.

[KenL]

Definitely their own thing. Neither Gibson or Martin.

Very balanced across the six strings. Not boomy.

[kizz]

Originally Posted by alexevans917

I think this is where I’m starting to drive myself into confusion. My other vintage instruments were, by and large, cheaper than their modern equivalents and equal or better performers. A lot of that was luck, some of it was buying less popular models from less desirable years or with modifications or what have you. I’m not as well versed in the acoustic guitar world, so I’m sure I’m missing things, but I’m struggling to figure out how these vintage instruments from Yairi or the other brands mentioned stack up against the latest models from Eastman (or Gibson, or Martin, or Yamaha, or Furch). While I do like a well-worn instrument with some character, I’d prefer not to pay a premium for a guitar that may need quite a bit of work to be playable, and I feel like this price range is really butting up against some incredible value new or lightly used instruments.Would a Yairi (or a 70s Guild, as someone recommended) offer a similar quality of construction to a new Eastman, Furch, Gibson, or Yamaha? Would the age of the instrument contribute positively to its sound?

I realize these are big questions that are hard to generalize about given the wide range of models from all of these manufacturers, but I’d appreciate any insights y’all have as I’m unlikely to find a store anywhere near me with both a nice selection of older acoustics and a variety of new or lightly used guitars from some of these smaller brands. As it is, I’m likely to be driving two hours just to get my hands on a few Eastmans and Furchs.

So, discounting the value of the “vintage markup,” with an absolute max budget of $2000, would I be better off buying something older (let’s say a 90s or earlier Yairi, Guild, Yamaha, etc.), an Eastman or Furch (both seem to be available new within this price range) or similar, or a used (but recent) J-45 or D-18?

If you prefer like a well-worn instrument with some character then buy find an old one and fix it up, you will probably end up with the same price as for example a new Eastman and the quality can be better, and then you have a guitar that has been played for over 30 years rather than a brand new one. I feel the same way and have several old guitars I've found cheap and fixed up, most recently a Fernandes from around the 80s, maybe all the way back to the early 70s, a D28 clone, all solid construction, well built and it sounds good. I paid $140 and have it repaired right now, but expect it to end up costing $500-600 when it's done and then I have a lot more guitar than, say, a new Eastman or Yamaha. Just scour the market, there are plenty of exciting vintage guitars out there besides the commercial brands.

[TiffanyGuitar]

Originally Posted by alexevans917

I think this is where I’m starting to drive myself into confusion. My other vintage instruments were, by and large, cheaper than their modern equivalents and equal or better performers. A lot of that was luck, some of it was buying less popular models from less desirable years or with modifications or what have you. I’m not as well versed in the acoustic guitar world, so I’m sure I’m missing things, but I’m struggling to figure out how these vintage instruments from Yairi or the other brands mentioned stack up against the latest models from Eastman (or Gibson, or Martin, or Yamaha, or Furch). While I do like a well-worn instrument with some character, I’d prefer not to pay a premium for a guitar that may need quite a bit of work to be playable, and I feel like this price range is really butting up against some incredible value new or lightly used instruments.Would a Yairi (or a 70s Guild, as someone recommended) offer a similar quality of construction to a new Eastman, Furch, Gibson, or Yamaha? Would the age of the instrument contribute positively to its sound?

I realize these are big questions that are hard to generalize about given the wide range of models from all of these manufacturers, but I’d appreciate any insights y’all have as I’m unlikely to find a store anywhere near me with both a nice selection of older acoustics and a variety of new or lightly used guitars from some of these smaller brands. As it is, I’m likely to be driving two hours just to get my hands on a few Eastmans and Furchs.

So, discounting the value of the “vintage markup,” with an absolute max budget of $2000, would I be better off buying something older (let’s say a 90s or earlier Yairi, Guild, Yamaha, etc.), an Eastman or Furch (both seem to be available new within this price range) or similar, or a used (but recent) J-45 or D-18?

Don't over think this. And trust me, I have done plenty of over thinking over the last few years, so I am trying to save you some trouble. Vintage does not always mean better. It depends on a lot of factors. And there are lots of definitions of what "vintage" means. Using some of the guitar market definitions, I guess it means I am a VERY vintage human!

I had for years a 1983 Yairi DY75. Nice guitar, but it was heavy (due to back and side laminate rosewood - high quality laminate, but heavy) and it needed a neck reset. I emailed Alvarez about it and found out (as I had suspected) it was an epoxy glued neck joint. You have to understand that in the seventies and the eighties, the ability to reset necks was not really a thing, or in its infancy. You replaced your guitar when it was not playable.

I could not find any place that was willing to try to get the neck off or even saw off the neck to make it a bolt on. Just because something is old doesn't mean it is better. Often older guitars need a lot of work to make them playable, if they can even be made playable. Luthiers (not techs) that can do this level of work are not cheap - very easily you will have more in an instrument than its value. And more in it than a Gibson or Eastman will run you.

My advice is to get off the forums and go play some guitars. Buy the best guitar that you can afford and play the mess out of it.

[alexevans917]

Originally Posted by TiffanyGuitar

My advice is to get off the forums and go play some guitars. Buy the best guitar that you can afford and play the mess out of it.

Thanks for the timely reminder. I'm taking this advice today - tuning up my Eastman and trying to knock out some older fingerstyle tunes that have eluded me for a while. It's a nice reminder that a) this guitar is really, really fun to play and b) the thing holding back my playing is my fingers, not my lack of a 70s dread.

I'm sure I'll end up with another acoustic at some point (perhaps even some point soon), but I'm trying not to overthink it or force it. Plenty of nice guitars around the house to play in the meantime.

[67goat]

Originally Posted by alexevans917

So much Guild love on this thread! I know almost nothing about their acoustics, but apparently I need to change that. They’re nice looking instruments, and the prices seem vary fair for a quality American instrument. What would you compare them to, sonically? They look Gibson-y with that big pick guard and headstock design, but are they more in the Martin camp sound-wise, or are they their own thing?

I’ll have to see if there are any for sale locally to try out.

If you are just looking for a good guitar, Guild does make some nice ones. However, I think they have a very different voicing than what you would get out of a K. Yairi or Eastman. So, determining what aspects of a new guitar are important to you will really help you narrow down your search.

As for Yairi, I have D-35 inspired 77 Yairi. It is great. Sounds great, plays great. It doesn't sound like a laminate guitar, which the back and sides are. That being said, it is not so special that it makes it a better proposition than any number of other builders (new and old).

[rllink]

Originally Posted by Charlie Bernstein

I wouldn't fixate on a Yairi. It's a perfectly good brand, but they're nothing special.

Meanwhile, Reverb.com has a lot of 1970s Guild D-35s and D-40s at well within your $2k ceiling. Union-made killer axes, as good as any post-WWII Martin D-18 at a fraction of the price.

I was going to recommend the same thing. There are lots of nice used Guilds out there. If you are just buying used to keep the price below $2000, you can pick up a brand new solid mahogany American made Guild D-20 for around eighteen hundred or less.

[Charlie Bernstein]

Originally Posted by alexevans917

So much Guild love on this thread! I know almost nothing about their acoustics, but apparently I need to change that. They’re nice looking instruments, and the prices seem vary fair for a quality American instrument. What would you compare them to, sonically? They look Gibson-y with that big pick guard and headstock design, but are they more in the Martin camp sound-wise, or are they their own thing?

I’ll have to see if there are any for sale locally to try out.

A Martin D-18 is a lot like Guild's D-35 and D-40. They were designed to compete with the D-18.

Likewise, Martin D-28s and D-45s are a lot like a Guild D-55.

They are their own thing, though. Guilds have slightly more bottom than the Martins. Guilds also have a bit more growl and twang, which Guildophiles love — to me, very rootsy sounding. It's a matter of taste.

I think of them as the Telecasters of the acoustic world. The low E and A strings are more expressive than anything I've found on other guitars — again in a D-18/Tele kind of way.

Imported Guilds aren't anything special, though. They're perfectly good guitars, but it's the US ones that stand out. And again, the ones built in Westerly, Rhode Island, have a cult following of their own.

[Charlie Bernstein]

PS - If you Google around, you'll find at least one Guild forum that can answer questions in gory detail.

[jonbee]

I've owned 3 good vintage Yairi dreads, all very good, plus a few others, but my favorite large body is a Yamaha LL16, which you can get new for under a grand. Marvelous in every way to me, looks, build quality, playability and sonic qualities. It is a bit larger than a typical dread, but not so large as a typical jumbo. Do a search of owner's opinions here and elsewhere.
I also like Eastmans for consistent quality.

[Big - Al]

GC has an Alvarez Yairi DY45 listed right now at a lower price than I've seen elsewhere. It's listed as an "Alvarez DY45" but it's definitely a Yairi.

The DY45 "Vintage Dreadnought" was one of the more simply appointed Yairi models. The Alvarez Yairi DY45 is basically a D18 styled guitar with a solid spruce top and laminated mahogany back and sides. (The "K Yairi" DY45 is a much fancier guitar.) Some years the DY45 had satin finish, others gloss. My '91 is gloss. The one at GC looks to be satin and showing some wear.

It might be worth a look . . . or not. At least if it turns out to be a dud, GC would accept a return.

https://www.guitarcenter.com/Used/Al...ource=4WWRWXGP

[Daveyo]

You have lots of options in your price range
I’ve owned a couple Álvarez yairi’s
But for me
They have always sounded kind of Chimy
Your best bet would be to purchase one from guitar Center as well said before
And if you don’t like it, you can get your money back except for the shipping which is about 30 bucks
I have a guild 25 exceptional that I bought for $1000
It’s a 1989 model
Very good sound very well built in Guitar
I also just spent $350 on an epiphone Masterbuilt
With the killer hardshell case
Try one of those they sound fantastic
And even though they were built in China
Very good guitars
Also
Somebody mentioned a Yamaha LL 16
You can get one for under $1000 no problem
With the neck is a little wide, been one and three-quarter inch
Good luck with your hunting
That’s half the fun

[K20C]

I have a DY-50 I bought new in 1979. One of the best guitars I’ve ever played which is why I still have it and will never sell it.