Alvarez Yairi YB-1

Here are the spec's from the website:

Jumbo baritone long-scale guitar
Solid spruce top
Rosewood back and sides
Bound ebony fretboard and headstock overlay
Multi-ply body binding
Clear pickguard
Abalone rosette
Gold die-cast tuners
27-1/2" scale length
1-11/16" nut width

First I want to say to say that I have been reading these reviews for years to help me gain a better grasp of an instrument before I buy (of course that is why your here!) and now I want to finally give back by giving a few reviews. With that being said one of the things that has jaded my faith in many of the reviews given here is the fact that many reviews of particularly mid to higher end guitars are too skewed. What I mean is that it seems to me that everyone who pays a pretty penny of their hard earned cash for that new guitar or amp really want it to be the holy grail of what they were looking for and lean too much toward giving a raving review. What would be interesting is to hear from folks who have used the item for at least 6 months to a year. How many of you have too many things setting in your closet now collecting dust because it seems lacking now of your initial expectations? (A particular Taylor T5 of mine comes to mind)

With that said, I have owned this wonderful baritone for a few months and feel I can give a somewhat objective review. I bought it with full intentions of returning it during my 45 trial days given by Musicians Friend if unhappy. I had been looking high and low for the right baritone for my application and if you have been looking you know that there are not many makes nor models available to choose from in the first place.

I needed a 27" scale guitar that I could put 12-54 strings on and tune down from an E standard tuning to a D standard tuning to accomodate my depper voice yet give me the ability to play in chord voicings that many songs are meant to be played in.

As far as features go I give an 7. No major WOW factor here. She has the standard features of great quality that you would expect from a Yairi made Alvarez. She is a standard rosewood/spruce jumbo style guitar and fit that bill well. The only real ding I give is the cheapo plastic bridge pins that was installed. Cmon..... How much could really be saved by putting these dime store guitar type pins in? It was the first thing I switched out. I put a set of new pins that came from Taylor on her.

Like I said I needed a guitar that could give me a great sound at a standard D tuning. It could be no more than a 27.5 inch scale neck as I am putting on 12-54 strings which are considered too light for a baritone guitar. Tuning down a normal scale acoustic down to D standard does not always give you a satisfactory sound or playability especially when you need to do a quick capo down two frets to get back to a standard E tuning.

I took a chance and ordered this gem sight unseen. When it came in I immediately replaced the baritone strings with some Elixir Nanowebs 12-54. Tuned her up and let me tell you! I could not have dreamed for a better sound. Many of even the better guitars today do not give a decent articulate 6th string note, open or fretted. Not htis guitar! I was very impressed by how well every string rings out and resonates at the same level incuding the 6th string! The bass notes are crystal clear as well as the mids and highs. She has plenty of volume as well!

You will not... I repeat will not... get the same response with the heavier baritone strings that Alvarez has installed. I was NOT impressed initially. Only until I installed the new Elixir Nanos did I get the sound I wanted from her!

Again this guitar is not for everyone... and.... I am not treating her as a true baritone guitar using baritone strings and tuning her down to a B or A tuning. I can not give an opinion as to how she stacks up as a true baritone played as a baritone but if you just need a guitar that can be tuned down a half to one and a half steps down from standard E tuning or you want to experiment with deeper alternate tunings then this guitar is excellent for just that! It sounds as good or better than the Martins or Taylors that I currently own in thier own standard tunings.

I give her a 9 here as 10 is always reserved for the perfect Holy Grail of guitars and I dont many people have one.

Again this gem has the quality expected from a Yairi. No real flaws to speak of. The action was a tad high for my style of play but was easily fixed with a truss adjustment and a minor bridge shave.

I will say that the fret edges were a bit protruding giving an ever so slight sharp edge feel running your hand up and down the fretboard. No real big problem that a fret dress could not take care of! I think the guitar set a bit in a dry storage area a little too long and the fretboard may have shrunk a tad.

As good as any guitar sold in her price range. She is a solid guitar that I plan on playing for a long time in many settings and I have no reservations that she will endure it!

Have not had to deal with them yet.

I have been playing for 30 years now. Wow how time flys! I have a Martin HJ28M, a Taylor 310ce limited, a 514ce and a Godin 12string, Larivee LV-O5, Rainsong WS1000, and not to mention the several electrics and bass guitars. My wife is officially classifying me as GUITARDED. That is having way too many guitars than you do common sense!

I play acoustic/electric rhythm in a contemporary pop/rock setting (Dave Matthews, Hootie, GooGoo Dolls)which does require some finger picking but then would inevitably go into some solid strumming.

I have installed an LR Baggs Dual Source pickup system and what a great compliment to this guitar! I could not be much more pleased. This guitar is a great compliment to other standard guitars as well as a stand alone instrument.