1989 Alvarez-Yairi DY-97 natural

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-97 “Herringbone” model 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 (new serial # 161051) has the date 1989 recorded on the signed label; however, it also has an additional number imprinted on the neck block which, according to The Blue Book of Acoustic Guitars, indicates that it was made in 1988, the first year of Japanese Emperor Heisa’s reign (no, I’m not kidding). Since it also has the word “used” embossed on the headstock and “pre-owned” on the label, I assume that the new serial number was issued after this particular guitar was re-issued by the workshop in Japan. The production number suggests that only a very few were produced that year, and considering the painstaking craftsmanship and high-grade materials used this rarity is no surprise.

The DY-97’s top is solid Canadian Spruce with hand-carved bracing, while the back and sides are beautiful solid East Indian Rosewood. The bound 14/20-fret fingerboard is ebony with snowflake fretboard inlays; the ebony bridge has ivoroid black-dot pins. The neck is mahogany with a dovetail neck joint, while the Rosewood peghead veneer is set off by the abalone logo. Enclosed Alvarez-Yairi tuners complete the headstock, while a large tortoise tear-drop pickguard, maple binding, and herringbone purfling throughout complete the body. This is one gorgeous guitar, even without the abalone decorations of flashier models; the value is in the solid tonewoods, not the cosmetics.

Even more impressive is its playability and its huge sound. The frets have surprisingly little wear on them for a 20-year-old guitar. The neck—which has a small scraped area--is quite comfortable for my kind of small hands, measuring 1 11/16” at the nut, while the action is comfortably low and fast: 3/32” at the 12th fret low E. The years of seasoning of the quality solid Spruce 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. There also is a passive pickup for when you’re playing in Yankee Stadium—or dealing with an aggressive banjo player.

Structurally it is near perfect, as far as I can tell: flat top, solid bridge and neck joins, straight neck, tight tuners, and so forth. However, cosmetically it’s about an 8.9 out of 10, with the missing point+ deducted for a 2” ding along the bottom edge of the lower bout with a very small crack extending from it; this has been thoroughly repaired, but is still visible from some angles. There is also some buckle rash on the back which apparently has been touched up.

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 Alvarez-Yairi hard shell case is structurally and cosmetically in excellent condition as well. The hardware and the plush interior are near perfect, while the exterior shows very few signs of wear. More importantly, it fits this guitar like the proverbial glove, looks great, 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 offering to purchase it.

Thank you for your interest in this beautiful guitar.