1992 Alvarez-Yairi DY-90 "Super Abalone" Very Good, Original Hard, $1,295.00

When Kazuo Yairi began designing and hand-crafting his steel-string guitars in the 1960’s, he was deliberately competing with Martin, Gibson, and Guild for the higher end guitar market in the U.S. This DY-90 “Super Abalone” is the same dimensions as a Martin D-41 and features many of the same abalone trim designs. It is an example of the superb quality and sound which Yairi was able to produce using the highest grade materials, the best Japanese craftsmen, and his own modifications of the best American designs. Today, the prices of the Alvarez-Yairi acoustic guitars range from $1200 to $5000 and beyond, and owners testify they’re worth every penny!

This guitar (serial number 39091) was made in 1992 according to the label. It also has an additional number (0404 008) imprinted on the neck block which, according to The Blue Book of Acoustic Guitars, also indicates that it was made in April of 1992, the 4th year of Japanese Emperor Heisa’s reign (no, I’m not kidding). The production number suggests that only about 20 were produced that year. Considering the painstaking craftsmanship and high-grade materials displayed in this model, this relative rarity is no surprise.

The DY-90’s top is solid Canadian Spruce with abalone purfling, while the back and sides are beautiful East Indian Rosewood (Note: this guitar obviously has the impressive three-piece back which appeared on the later versions). The bound 14/20-fret fingerboard is ebony with large abalone fretboard inlays quite similar to Martin’s top of the line D-45’s. The ebony bridge has black abalone-dot pins, while the body and sound hole have beautiful abalone inlay. The neck is mahogany, while the rosewood peghead veneer is set off by the abalone logo and also fully bound. Enclosed gold-plated tuners complete the headstock, while a large black tear-drop pickguard (with its own abalone A-Y inlay) and additional tasteful abalone inlay on both sides of the fretboard extension completes the body.

This is one gorgeous guitar, but cosmetically it is not quite perfect, with a visible 1” scrape in the lower bout, a scratch at the waist, and some slight pick wear below the pick guard; I would say it’s about an 8.5 out of 10. On the other hand, it has lotsa bling—thus the label “Super Abalone”—and with the gold tuners and the full binding, I don’t even notice the dings.

Even more impressive is its playability and its huge sound. The frets have surprisingly little wear on them for a 19-year-old guitar, the top is flat, the bridge is tight, and I see no sign of cracks or repairs (with the exception of what looks like some kind of shim behind the saddle). The neck is quite comfortable for my kind of small hands, measuring 1 11/16” at the nut. The action is set up at a fast and comfortable 3/32” at the 12th fret low E, and it’s ready to play.

The years of seasoning of the quality solid top and rosewood back and sides make this about as resonant a guitar as I have played, with great big bass and clear ringing trebles. However, for your gigs at Yankee Stadium or if you have a particularly obnoxious banjo player, there’s a jack in the bass end to the excellent Alvarez-Yairi System 500 electronics which should solve the problem.

I can’t resist including one quotation from a very enthusiastic on-line Alvarez-Yairi player:

I've never met a Yairi I didn't like and own a number of them - dollar for dollar they are the best value in the marketplace - particularly some of the older examples. This guitar is truly inspiring sonically. It sounds sort of like a harpsichord when it is strummed (incredibly complex harmonics and overtones) and each string is in balance - it is level across the entire sonic spectrum all the way up the fret board to the 14th fret. Not too bright, not muffled in any way, but the trebles are really crystalline and pure. Truly a profound instrument for the fingerstylist, bluegrass picker, and even sounds great playing some classical pieces (heresy, sheer heresy).

A bit much? I don’t know: it’s an awfully nice guitar....

The original hard shell case (I assume, since it has the Alvarez logo on the top) is structurally and cosmetically in solid condition. The hardware and the plush interior are near perfect, except for a missing key for the locking latch. More importantly, it fits this guitar like the proverbial glove, looks good, and certainly provides 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 egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please check out the pictures and ask any questions you might have before bidding.

Thank you for your interest in this beautiful guitar.