I would like some feed back on Alverez Yairi Giitarrs.

[Mr.O]

I may have an in to a Deep discount on a new Alverez Yairi.

Looking for some feed back on peoples experience with them.

 

I was also looking at the Guild GAD 50.

 

 

Peace!

[totamus]

Yairi is well respected. Consider it as a totally different guitar and manufacturing company than the regular Alvarez series. Alvarez Yairi has a strong following and is often compared to Martin, Taylor and Gibson.

[babablowfish]

What he said. The only one I heard up close and personal was top flight.

[JerseyGuy]

My limited but perhaps useful experience. In 1985 I bought an Alvarez-Yairi DY61 from a dealer who was quitting the business, real cheap, bought it for its looks mostly, to be honest. I thought then and still think now that A-Ys are some of the most beautiful guitars being made. This was cedar top, burl mahog sides and back, a few nice non-blingy inlays, clear amber tuner pegs. I was playing 12 and thought I'd like 6, didn't. Put it away in an unheated basement for many, many years. No humidifier, no playing, forgot I even had it. Took it out last year after going to a Tom Rush concert and was absolutely blown away, what an amazing sound. Clear, every string distinctive, very balanced. After all that neglect (the Department Of Guitar Protective Services should have raided my house), not a crack, warp or defect anywhere. Neck true as the day I bought it. I am using it as my DADGAD guitar for which the balance seems perfectly suited.

 

So, in sum: love the sound, beautifully made, lasting value. In my search over the last year, I found just one dealer in NJ/NY/Pa that carried the Yairis, he had only two in stock. Their website is messed up, and has been for a long time. Dealer locator link is busted. I emailed the importer, never got an answer. It's a shame because I really like them.

[JerseyGuy]

Forgot to add: you lucky dog. Good luck.

 

Guild GAD 50s are popular here, but they are mass-produced while the A-Y's are made with a lot more individual attention (and priced accordingly, too).

[C70man]

 

I may have an in to a Deep discount on a new Alverez Yairi. Looking for some feed back on peoples experience with them. I was also looking at the Guild GAD 50. Peace!

 

 

I love Guilds, but prefer older ones (i'm old too)

 

As for Yairi's:

Excellent quality. Sound is hard to judge. Kind like women, some you love, some you don't. I love the pre-70's handmade Yairi's and especially my nylon.

Everyone who ever heard it, wanted to buy it.

[krisnrg]

When I was looking for my first acoustic guitar I played a Yairi at a local shop. This guitar was wonderful immediately upon touching it I new it was a quality instrument. It sounded amazing.

 

I have not played a guitar that sounded or felt as nice. I believe it was going for $1800.

 

Now I'm saving up to buy one. I'll probably get a Larrivee first but for a high end guitar I'd go with the Yairi. I would like to have both

[Mr.O]

Thanks gang.

I really hope that this so called "IN" on the Yairi comes to life.

If it doesn't, what do you all think of Alveres in gengeral?

 

Regards,

[totamus]

The regular alvarez is not even made at the same factory - it is a totally different animal. Like all guitars, there are those who support and those who dont. I personally dont care for non-Yairi Alvarez. When people look for recommendations of good guitars at a reasonable price point, Alvarez is not often mentioned.

[Harmonycat]

I have an New Alvarez-Yairi DY-94. It is a fine handcrafted instrument, manufactured to the highest standards, out of superb quality wood. It was individually voiced by an Artisan. It is all solid wood. There are many Yairis out there with laminated back and sides. Do not let that disuade you from considering one.

 

It is not an Alvarez Guitar at all. It is a Kauzo Yairi guitar, brand labelled in a volume agreement for Alvarez in the USA. They are signed by K.Yairi and made in a Japanese workshop, with a storehouse of some of the finest tonewood in the world.

Everywhere else in the world, they are sold as K.Yairi.

 

Fortunately for the educated buyer, they are not that well known by the guitar buying public and as such sell for bargain prices at times.

 

Because they are not that well known, they do not hold their resale value all that well in comparison to a Martin. That means get your discount deep in the beginning.

 

If it is new and about 35% of list price you are looking at a bargain.

 

I own examples of the very respectable guitars arriving from China such as the GAD-50. They are wonderful instruments and worthy of praise.

 

They are not Yairis.

[Pascal]

I bought a K. Yairi New Yorker a couple of months ago and can't say a single bad thing about it.

 

I don't think this particular model is on the Alvarez-Yairi catalogue, though.

[Harmonycat]

I would choose a Guild GAD, Epi Masterbilt, Washburn Timbercraft, Aria AD series, Johnson Carolina, Recording King, or Morgan Monroe over a standard Alvarez.

[DeepEnd]

Since Alvarez is distributed right here in St. Louis, I've heard numerous Yairi's, starting in the early 70's when they were making Martin copies. As you'd expect, they're quite popular hereabouts. Excellent guitars. I've seen professionals playing them. The regular Alvarez line is pretty good too, although they wouldn't necessarily be my first choice. As for totamus' comment that the're not mentioned sometimes, I usually see Alvarez mentioned in mid-priced guitar threads. They tend to be overshadowed by more popular brands but they're decent guitars. They are not, however, the same as Yairi's. The current Alvarez line--even very pricy models--is made in China, while only the Yairi line is still made in Japan.

[ESL94]

 

I may have an in to a Deep discount on a new Alverez Yairi. Looking for some feed back on peoples experience with them. I was also looking at the Guild GAD 50. Peace!

 

 

My Yairi ('05) DY62C was a steel of a deal for me (guitar store was getting rid of the Alverez line). Cool combination of a Cedar top with Burled Mahogany back and sides that give it a great deep tone. The neck is made with Mahogany and built for speed as well as for finger picking with no problem. Its EQ system is not bad too. I use it mostly when I'm finger picking, and very happy with find.

 

I also like the GAD 50 playablity.

If I had to pick b/t the two I would pick my Yairi (I like the deep tone, the great feel of its neck). No to say that I would not pick the GAD 50 over any other Yairi.

If possible try & play them both & see which one fits your tone needs.

[lauren]

I bought a K. Yairi New Yorker a couple of months ago and can't say a single bad thing about it. I don't think this particular model is on the Alvarez-Yairi catalogue, though.

[Pascal]

Pics

 

Pics

[TehSuperFox]

I have an Alvarez Yairi DY91 which I absolutely love. I played the electric/acoustic version in a music store and it felt and sounded perfect - went looking for a DY91 online and I got one, on this site actually, for $600. They sell for $1800 new.

 

I wrote a review on it when I got it:

http://acapella.harmony-central.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1665906

[guit30]

I am a big fan of the regular Alverez guitar, have a black RD20s and love it.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Alvarez-RD20S-Regent-Series-Dreadnought-Acoustic-Guitar?sku=518725

 

- I played an Alverez-Yairi last year, it was a DY-77, not sure what year, beautiful instrument,aluminum frets(you could take it scuba diving),

They were selling it for $1000, the amazing thing about Yairi's is that they are not all solid wood guitars, but still are very popular. The 77 was a Dread with Solid Spruce top and Rosewood sides aand Back,

Here is a Yairi I would get in a heartbeat if I had the money

http://www.samedaymusic.com/product--ALVWY1

 

Great fretwork

J

[zenbu]

the S Yairi line has been revived but is not MIJ. Sadao passed sometime in the 80s I think, least thats what I read. I own several S Yairi classicals and they are outstanding. The Local Rock Inn is full of K Yairis with a few Alvarev/Yairis as well. Most of the Ks in that shop are laminates...the all solids sell for a lot of money and perhaps would not sell in this city, seems MIAs are big here both electrics and acoustics. Never played any of the Ks or Alvarez guitars I`ve seen...just so happy with my old Yamahas...and Sadaos.

[AugTPD]

I've played several Yairi's and they were all nice sounding well built guitars. A couple of them were downright great. The only caveat I would offer is that I'm not a huge fan of the acoustic/electric ones. The Alvarez system 600T is a decent pickup/preamp combo but I feel there are quite a few better options out there that are less intrusive and sound better. In addition, the hole that it makes is a unique size that would make replacing it a bit of a pain if it broke after the warranty was up (the electronics are only guaranteed for a year I think) unless you bought the exact same preamp.

[Treborklow]

I have a Yairi signed 12 string with electronics that I bought used because I thought it was the best 12 string I ever heard. I hate that it has electronics in it though.