1976 Alvarez-Yairi DY-78 "Herringbone Tri-back" Very Good, Original Hard, $895.00

When Kazuo Yairi began designing and hand-crafting guitars in the 1960’s, he was not trying to create a “mid-range” alternative to the best American guitars; he was consciously competing with Martin, Gibson, Guild, and the “boutiques” for the higher end guitar market in the U.S. This DY-78 “Herringbone Tri-back” model is an example of the quality and sound which he was able to produce using the highest quality materials, the best Japanese craftsmen, and his own modifications of the most effective American designs. Today, the prices of the Alvarez-Yairi acoustic guitars range from $1200 to $5000 and beyond, and as A-Y players will tell you, they are well worth the money.

This guitar has a dreadnought style body with a solid Canadian spruce X-braced top, rosewood sides and three-piece back, and a mahogany neck. There is ivoroid/walnut marquetry binding and purfling on the body and rosette in a gorgeous herringbone pattern, a burled thuya wood tear drop pick guard, an ebony bridge with black abalone-dot pins, a 14/20-fret ebony fingerboard with pearl snowflake inlay and a 25.5” scale, and a burled thuya veneer on the headstock set off by the inlaid Yairi logo and the chrome enclosed tuners. This is one impressive-looking guitar.

Even more impressive is its playability and its huge sound. The serial number (18248) on the signed label inside indicates that it was built in 1976; this date is confirmed by the number imprinted on the end block (51110679) indicates that it was created in November of the 51st year of the Emperor Showa’s reign (1976—and no, I’m not kidding). Whenever it was finished, the frets have relatively little wear on them, the neck is surprisingly comfortable for my kind of small hands (measuring 1 11/16” at the nut), and the action is fast and comfortable—3/32” at the 12th fret. The forty-one years of seasoning of the quality solid spruce top and rosewood back and sides make this about as resonant a guitar as I have ever played, with big bass and clear ringing trebles.

All of this is purely acoustic; there is apparently an under-saddle passive pickup accessed through an end pin jack, but the saddle is cracked and the amplification is inconsistent at best. Unfortunately, a previous owner first tried installing an external pickup; now that it has been removed, there are three small holes above the bridge and two small holes in the treble side lower bout (these are visible in the pictures). Like most 41-year-old guitars that have been played, there are a few other cosmetic dings and flaws. The most obvious one is a crack below the bridge which the previous says has been professionally repaired. In addition, there are two repaired cracks, one on each side of the fretboard extension which are totally solid. Other than that, there are no structural issues with this guitar: the neck’s straight, the top’s flat, and the action is set up at a fast and comfortable 3/32” at the 12th fret low E. It’s a solid and beautiful vintage guitar from one of the world’s top makers.

The original brown thermoplastic hard shell case is well-used but structurally perfect. The hardware all works (although it’s not very shiny); the plush interior is suitably fuzzy and naturally fits this guitar like the proverbial glove. It looks very professional and certainly offers outstanding protection for this valuable instrument.

Buyer pays a flat rate of $55 for insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. Payment by Paypal is preferred; cashier’s checks are acceptable, but checks must clear before the guitar will be shipped.

I have tried to be perfectly clear and accurate in describing this instrument, so its return will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was somehow misrepresented in this listing. Please check out the pictures and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy this fine guitar.

Thank you for your interest.