Yairi resale?

llew · #1 09-17-2021, 09:48 AM

I thought I saw somewhere on the forum that Alvarez-Yairi guitars had poor resale value. Thought?

KenL · #2 09-17-2021, 09:54 AM

I've had a bunch. Always broke even on them, at least. That includes the best of the bunch, a 1974 DY-74, which was an outstanding guitar; had that one for 7-8 years, and I might have made a little bit on it.

But they were all better guitars when they left than when they arrived.

I don't have one right now, wish I did.

DCCougar · #3 09-17-2021, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by llew

I thought I saw somewhere on the forum that Alvarez-Yairi guitars had poor resale value. Thought?

I doubt it, at least for Kazuo Yairi guitars. Sadao Yairi, perhaps not so much, but I really have no data.

edcmat-l1 · #4 09-17-2021, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by llew

I thought I saw somewhere on the forum that Alvarez-Yairi guitars had poor resale value. Thought?

Misinformation........

edcmat-l1 · #5 09-17-2021, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DCCougar

I doubt it, at least for Kazuo Yairi guitars. Sadao Yairi, perhaps not so much, but I really have no data.

S. Yairi had nothing to do with Alvarez guitars.

llew · #6 09-17-2021, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by edcmat-l1

Misinformation........

That's good th hear...thanks!

TiffanyGuitar · #7 09-17-2021, 01:22 PM

I think this is very true if you buy a brand new one. Used, steel strings, not as true. I have had three - 2 classicals - lost my rear-end selling them and one steel string. Broke even on that one.

They are good guitars but the older ones like mine are a bear to repair due to epoxied joints.

erhino41 · #8 09-17-2021, 02:58 PM

Used prices are high for yairi's right now. That may change, making a guitar you buy now less valuable in the future. It's a gamble if resale speculation is what your after. Talking about used guitars.

All new guitars depreciate in value.

They are great guitars. I just happened to play an old dy-78 at buckdancers choice on my lunch break today. I would have payed the 1200.00 they were asking for it, if I were looking for a new guitar. It was in excellent shape for its age.

The drawback is repair of the older ones, specifically neck resets. Having said that ive seen a lot of very old ones that did not need neck resets.

TheGITM · #9 09-17-2021, 03:53 PM

Love the K Yairi guitars!

Click here to check Reverb.com

Kelly77 · #10 09-18-2021, 03:43 PM

I don’t see the recent Honduran Mahogany series declining in value. They are superb in every respect and not available in the new and used markets. I have the om FYM6OHD model. It’s a keeper for sure!

edcmat-l1 · #11 09-19-2021, 06:30 AM

Some models are worth more, and hold their value better than others. That goes for both the Alvarez line and the Yairis. The early MIJ era guitars seem to be more "collectible" than the MIK and MIC. Although the Masterworks series seems to be much better guitars.
My current collection:
Alvarez
5038
5044
5053
2551-12 Silver Anniversary
PD100 "tree of life"
MD1000
Yairis
FY40B
DY78
DY91 times 2

TiffanyGuitar · #12 09-19-2021, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kelly77

I don’t see the recent Honduran Mahogany series declining in value. They are superb in every respect and not available in the new and used markets. I have the om FYM6OHD model. It’s a keeper for sure!

Those are beautiful guitars and I love my all mahogany Baxendale conversion, BUT, I don't think you can judge the future of pricing/value of any model guitar based on what has happened over the last year or so. Prices have been artificially high recently on just about any guitar and I expect them to come down over the next year and possibly after that even more. Things seem to be artificially high on just about everything right now. Time will tell, and I could be wrong.

Overall, everyone of us should be grateful for what we have and enjoy it! I have bought and sold way too many, and have lost a lot of money during my GAS illness (I don't want to try to add it all up!). Anyone who buys something thinking of it as an investment, is likely to be wrong - except perhaps those rare circumstances over a very long period of time - possibly not over our lifetimes.

Bottom line, enjoy what you have and try not to think of them as investments. Very likely, for most of us, none of them are.

erhino41 · #13 09-24-2021, 05:32 PM

For sure the market is inflated. Speculation is tough right now. I played that dy-78 again today it is a great guitar. The days of under the radar on these yairi's is probably up.

Mark Stone · #14 09-24-2021, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by llew

I thought I saw somewhere on the forum that Alvarez-Yairi guitars had poor resale value. Thought?

I'm coming to the thread a week late

-- but that's normal for me. The problem with Kazuo Yairi guitars sold by Alvarez in the USA is the name Alvarez - which drives the resale price down a bit among people unacquainted with the extremely high quality of K. Yairi instruments. In my 40 or so years of owning my Yairi, there's more than once I've heard the phrase "it's only an Alvarez". Fortunately, I've never wanted to sell mine, but I could see the Alvarez name being an issue. FWIW I got it for about $650 in 1977 or 78 which would be just under $3,000 in today's dollars.

KenL · #15 09-25-2021, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kelly77

I don’t see the recent Honduran Mahogany series declining in value. They are superb in every respect and not available in the new and used markets. I have the om FYM6OHD model. It’s a keeper for sure!

Good to know. I've got a line on a FYM66HD, and would like to know if anybody here has played one?

Like I said in an earlier post, I've owned several Yairis, but they were all from the '70s - '90s. Haven't had the chance to play a newer one.

I miss having a Yairi around.