quote:

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Originally posted by paul:
Just spotted a Yairi Ragtime guitar in the local music store, small bodied with a great sound. I've never seen or heard of them, any recommendations from you knowledgable folk? It was going for £600 of our Queens pounds, is this good value?

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I couldn't believe that it was under $200. I went home to read up on
the guitar but I couldn't find anything on the model. The store owner
told me that the guitar was built in 1983. If there is
anything wrong with the guitar it's the action being too low. If I
strum hard there is a lot of buzzing, and the guitar lacks some low
end. I still don't know why it was priced that low, so I decided to
buy it.

Regardless of it being a steal in my eyes, the guitar is great
sounding. Had the guitar examined the other day and found out it's solid on ALL
sides. Intonation is perfect and guitar has excellent tone.
Rosewood fretboard. Any information on this guitar model would be helpful to
me. I know it was built in 1972 and it's a Sadao Yairi 9108 AD__ but
that's about it. I still remain puzzled at the price and am still
deciding if I want to put further work into the guitar such as raising
the action, putting in a mic, studs for a strap, etc. Is it worth it?

tried the ragtime one.it's like a parlour... shrunk. and a real fun of a killer too.
enough now, tho I'd like to tell some other little thing about it...
and
"obviously" I may post some clips...

and as always forgive my english,ok?

[This message has been edited by georgeguitar (edited 09-27-2006).]

[This message has been edited by georgeguitar (edited 09-27-2006).]

Do you have any idea what your guitar is worth? Like I said, I purchased mine for under $200 and it's the best guitar I've ever played. There isn't anything wrong with it and I understand that one of the reasons it was low is because the owner didn't know too much about Yairi, and believed the guitar was from the 80's. How much did you pay for yours back in the day? Used or new? I'm going to be posting pictures of it soon on the Yairi group on Yahoo! Groups, which is a very active message board by the way if you are looking for further information on your guitar as well:

http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/yairiguitars/

Thanks for responding to my previous post.

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Originally posted by wildbillw:
George, what model is your Yari? I've been playing a DY-62C and know what you mean about warm and playable.

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hi wildbillw,

had to check...(I never remember these details, really)...so mine is a WY-1 from 1997...

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Originally posted by Oldtimefingerpicker:
To disagree with all that has been said in praise of Yairi guitars.... Check out the new Blueridge vintage style ooo size guitars from Saga Musical Instruments 100% solid woods. scallopped top braces and great tone and volume. List prices start aroud $650.0 US Dollars. I own a pre war 000-Martin and think these Blueridge models are great, especially when compared to new similar Martins.
Ed Old Time finger picker

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a couple of friends of mine told me the same...I haven't checked yet, really. They told me that blueridge is as good as a martin, and much cheaper,
but the kind of sound and overall feeling of the yairi is not modeled on the martin shape or sound .at least not the model I got.so comparing them is really impossible.
just like comparing a wooden dobro with a all metal one ...

quote:

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Originally posted by Leslie_r11:
hello all.
I'm looking to sell an alvarez professional series 12 string acoustic. The model number is 5221, which makes it circa 1977? I bought it used from the original owner in the 70's. know anyone who might be interested? I'm in Indiana.

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I have owned a Yairi DY61 for going on 10 years. I just seems to get better as time goes on. It is a signature model, slope shouldered dreadnought with a solid spruce top with book matched solid burled mahogany back and sides (gorgeous and 3 dimensional), wood binding, mother of pearl inlays, a mahogany neck, an ebony fretboard and gold hardware. I love this guitar. There is no plastic anywhere on it. The nut is bone....

yesser,BIGDAVE,

I think that I'll get one DY- model like that if I can...it's my favourite at the moment...tried at my satisfaction...longer diapason than what I been used to lately,what's quite challenging,and... I'm soo craaazy about that burled mahogany too
GIO'

[This message has been edited by georgeguitar (edited 09-28-2006).]

[This message has been edited by georgeguitar (edited 09-28-2006).]

quote:

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Originally posted by georgeguitar:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Big Dave:
[B]Hi folks,

I have owned a Yairi DY61 for going on 10 years. I just seems to get better as time goes on. It is a signature model, slope shouldered dreadnought with a solid spruce top with book matched solid burled mahogany back and sides (gorgeous and 3 dimensional), wood binding, mother of pearl inlays, a mahogany neck, an ebony fretboard and gold hardware. I love this guitar. There is no plastic anywhere on it. The nut is bone....

I think that I'll get one DY- model like that if I can...it's my favourite at the moment...tried at my satisfaction...longer diapason than what I been used to lately,what's quite challenging,and... I'm soo craaazy about that burled mahogany too

[This message has been edited by georgeguitar (edited 09-28-2006).]

[This message has been edited by georgeguitar (edited 09-28-2006).]

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George...Mine is a DY-62C, 2002 I believe. The burled mahogany on mine you would think is alive in 3-D. You just can't get a guitar like this for the $$$$ IMHO. I like the satin finish also rather than the gloss. The intonation is perfect, and it stays in tune. Some of the burled guitars are better looking than others.

quote:

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Originally posted by georgeguitar:
agreed and also about the satin finish...im having another gas attack, because o this thread!!

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Buy one quick before it passes! You won't regret it.

quote:

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Originally posted by William Sykes:
Hello All,

I have owned a Yairi DY-74C since I bought it new in 1979. It has aged well and the tone is really well balanced yet projects really well. It is a cutaway model, spruce top and I believe rosewood sides and back, ebony fretboard on mahogany neck. It is an acoustic model. I paid $550.00 w/case at the time and think it would probably compare to an 800.00/900.00 equivalent at todays prices. At the time I played everything in the store, Guilds, Gibsons, Fenders, Ovations and Martins but for the money I thought the Yairi out performed the others in sound quality and playabilty. All Yairis' are hand made by the master luthier himself or at least overseen by him throughout the construction. Not all Alvarez guitars can make the same claim.
I recently have been looking at upgrading to a higher end acoustic in the $1500.00 price range. I played several Taylors and Martins that didn't seem to sound as good as I thought they should for the price tag. However in my search which is still on going, I came across a Larrivee and heard some relly great tone and clarity for the same price as the Taylor/Martins. I use my Yairi as my reference point in sampling these acoustics and it still holds its own against these other more expensive models.
A relatively inexpensive guitar that has been a delight to play.
Play On!

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quote:

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Originally posted by paul:
Just spotted a Yairi Ragtime guitar in the local music store, small bodied with a great sound. I've never seen or heard of them, any recommendations from you knowledgable folk? It was going for £600 of our Queens pounds, is this good value?

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I don't know anything about the Ragtime, but a few years ago I bought an old 1980's DY-46 for a couple hundred dollars, and it's the best instrument purchase I ever made. Beautifully made, plays like the proverbial butter, first-class materials, and has its own very pleasant sound.

This is a siilar situation to what later happened with Avalon except for the amicable part.

Lowden/Yairi history: http://www.georgelowden.com/lowdenguitars/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=13&Itemid=32

quote:

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Originally posted by georgeguitar:
now, tnx tricky...that's really clarifying, i always thought my model of yairi had some resemblance to lowden's.but had no idea...tnx again,

[This message has been edited by georgeguitar (edited 11-20-2006).]

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I did some further research on this via the Lowden Yahoo group: http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/Lowden-L/

Seems that Yairi badged some Lowden design guitars with their own name and sold them in Japan. This was totally without the knowledge of George Lowden and came as a surprise to him when some told them about the model Yairi they had and showed a picture. No-one is quite sure how many they did this with.

The rep's English was good but not great, so it left me having to interpret a bit from the content. I gathered that the "S. Yairi" guitars are those of Sadao and the "Sada" guitars are those of Sada Yairi. The "Yairi & Son" guitars were produced when father and son were working together before Sada's death. There were a couple (rarely seen) other variations on the name that I can't remember at the moment, but I'm pretty sure about the three names I have detailed here.

I've owned several K. Yairi guitars, a couple of S. Yairi steel-stringed guitars, and one Sada steel-string. All were excellent, but the Sada was the best of the lot--wish I hadn't sold it in a weak moment. The K. Yairis are also delightful guitars--wonderful sounding, very well bullt and highly collectible.

To digress, several years ago I had to clean out some of my vintage guitars to make room for those I've made, and I offered our best friend his choice of all the guitars in my vintage collection--as a gift for a lifetime of great friendship and music that he's given to my family--and the world. He picked a '76(?) 12-string Kuzao Yairi--forget the model number. There were about 15 guitars to choose from, including two other old 12-string guitars (a rare, very-expensive Tama 12-string in minty condition, and a delightful 1954 Goya 12-string which was all solid woods, made in Sweden). He played them all for a few days and chose the K. Yairi. He's one mean finger picker, a professional who has been playing forever. He's so mad about the Yairi that he virtually abandoned his old Martin D-28 and has been finger-picking that Yairi 12-string relentlessly (and exclusively) ever since he got it, and it just sounds better and better the the longer he owns it. Says it's the best-sounding guitar he's ever played.

Sada Yairi
Nagoya
Made in Japan

The labels inside, on the headstock and at the nut all say S.Yairi but there is no Sadao name anywhere on it.

I purchased this very nice guitar as my very first steel string when I was about 14 yo for about AUD$600 (All paper round money @ AUD$12 a week). I'm now 36. It's been great. I'd love to know what it's worth now and what timbers are in it. It has a solid spruce top and a matchbook 3 piece back with a lighter coloured timber in the back centre. The sides and back look a bit like rosewood from the inside but look redish coloured from the outside which is gloss lacquered. The label inside says Yairi Guitar No.780 1975. Anyone know the model and/or value today?

While I've never played a Yairi to have a basis for comparison, I've owned a 1971 Sada model 857 for the last 25 years. A friend who is a serious guitar player and collector found it up for me after I loved playing his Ramirez. He picked it up for an amazing price when the vendor had no idea what he had. Afterwards, he told me that I should ask at least $800 (25 years ago!) if I ever decided to sell the guitar and he wanted first shot at it. The sound board is worn (possible Flamenco use in a past life) but the tone is amazing. My friend's Ramirez has slightly more volume but my Sada has a sweeter, richer tone. Over the years, a number of relatives and friends have picked up the Sada to play it when visiting. The list of who wants first shot if I sell it grows every time. My son will inherit it some day though so they're all out of luck unless they live long enough and can talk him out of it. Good luck with that.

Anyway, does anyone know anything more about these guitars? I have been unsuccessful in finding much about Sada guitars. Lots about Sada Yairi but virtually nothing about Sada. I've looked over the years for values for insurance purposes with no luck.

Thanks,
Ian

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Originally posted by barefootdesigns@charter.n:
I am a professional luthier and collector of (mostly) vintage Japanese high-end guitars. After searching for information for several years regarding the various Yairi names, I finally reached Yairi's North-American representative in Japan. He told me (in an email), with typical Japanese restraint, what he could reveal about the family--that Sada, a master luthier and primarily a violin maker, was Kuzao's father and teacher and that Sadao Yairi was a cousin who opened his own guitar business and produced them under several name variations before ultimately going out of business. All were excellent, but the Sada was the best of the lot--wish I hadn't sold it in a weak moment. The K. Yairis are also delightful guitars--wonderful sounding, very well bullt and highly collectible.

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a couple weeks ago I compared my k y with a taylor 914 and a martin paul simon at some friend's place.I was eager to try their instruments since long...
no way
lol!
weell, the paul simon was great and plugged was really lovely and amazing ,still...

I was as surprised as they were,honestly didn't imagine...tho i already had quite some evidences of the superior quality of my guitar
should I take better care of her...i bang into things like that...jees!?!

then they enjoyed my instrument playability and i suggested some minor adjustments in their instrument's assett.
after those "corrections" we'll check again if those two beauties can be compared to mine...

My first "good" guitar purchase was a Alvarez Yari DY62C. I have often thought that I needed a
1-3/4" nut width for better fingerstyle, but your playing indicates otherwise, and your sustain is very nice.

the model is a 1997 WY-1

My sweetie has a 1970's S. Yauri steel string which is also lovely. But he is favoring his new guitar, a top of the line Epiphone masterbilt which does have a purer simpler sound.

I just wanted to let you know that there is a Yairi for sale for $75 on Craigslist in the SF/Bay Area.

Yairi Acoustic Guitar and Hard Case - $75 (concord / pleasant hill / martinez)
Reply to: sale-362551650@craigslist.org
Date: 2007-06-28, 4:06PM PDT

Yairi (Japan) vintage acoustic guitar, made around 1960. Uses nylon strings, and the original hard case is included.

The guitar is in fair condition with no splits in the spruce top. The back has an open seam along the center spine. This was caused by wood shrinkage but it does not affect the sound.

The fretboard and neck show wear but no warpage.
Cash only, please.
email or call (925) 672-3189.

* it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

PostingID: 362551650

hope this helps ciao for now