Alvarez Yairi CY-127CE

See alvarezgtr.com for full specs. Solid cedar top, cutaway, thin body, and electronics are what stand out to me. Electronics blend into the guitar seamlessly...volume and tone knobs tuck away! Battery is hard to get to though. Other than C/E and thin body, it is a fairly traditional classical (ebony board, rosewood b/s, cedar top)....a "modern" classical.

BEAUTIFUL SOUND. If you heard one you wouldn't think it was a slimline. Low E lacks a little punch, but otherwise amazing. Trebles ring on for days. Projection is impressive. Louder than my loud big baby taylor. I haven't had a chance to run it through a PA or acoustic amp for full range, but it still sounds great through my Randall Warhead. :)

Bought used off of E-bay. Probably 10 years old. Action, fit, and finish are fantastic. Had a couple buzzes, but had it worked on. Neck is slim all the way up to the heel. Very pleasant to play. Tuning pegs still very tight. Cedar top looks great...as well as the understated rosette.

As I mentioned...at least 10 years old and still looks and feels solid. The letters on the knobs have rubbed off, but the knobs and the fixtures are all tight.

Been playing for 15 years. Mainly thrash and classical. I've owned two other classicals...the high-end Takamine CD132SC and the low-end Ibanez GT60SCE. The Ibanez frankly sounded like a muddy ukelele and I returned it after 2 weeks. The Tak was great, but this has a more comfortable neck (if that is possible), a little more clarity, and just as much projection...all in a smaller package. I am highly impressed. I still can't get over the fact this is a thin-body. It also makes it much more comfortable to hold and play. Combined with electronics, this makes for a very versatile guitar. Could hold it's own on the classical stage unplugged and yet cut through the band amplified. Even though I got it for a third of MSRP, I feel this guitar is worth paying full retail for. Though solid wood would be nice, I doubt there would be a perceptible difference in sound... there would, however, probaby be a painful difference in price. Check ebay first, otherwise try online...I've seen them for about $1300 ($1800 list).

1987 Alvarez-Yairi made in a japan, 18 exposed (and reachable)frets, which is particularly rare for a classical guitar. This thinline cutaway guitar features an ebony fretboard over solid rosewood and spruce.. it is STUNNING to look at but its real strength comes with its features. The CY-127CE is part of the Yairi classics series and features and beatiful active peizo pickup system controlled by 3 hide-away control knobs. push to open-turn-push to close. This allows for the incredible electroinics in this guitar to be totally hidden, it appears to be acoustic only, adding to its beauty. The acoustic construction is impeccable and features hand scalloped rosewood braces. The guitar feartues a unique sloping back and comes with a custom hard case to fit it. The bridge features individual hight adjustment for each of the strings and the tuning alomost never goes out. the neck speed is incredibly fast and smooth as well/

Played acoustically, the sound is near flawless, the harmonics ring seemingly forever, especially impressive for a classical nylon string guitar. PLugged in (in Marshall Valvestat 30) it played fantastically well in clean mode and distorted I'd have sworn that i was playing a gretch electric. VERY VERSITILE.

The set up from factory is quite good, but the strings sound better with a harder gaudge. My guitar had a small scratch on the face, but short of the the glossy finishg is gorgeous. Also the nut for the plugin was somewhat loose and i had to tighten it. Action is amazing!

It did not come with a front strap peg, and so I had one installed. With periodic fast fret, especially in moist weather, the finish should stay nicely. I have on many occasions used it as by only guitar on a gig. Rock Solid... but use your head.... its a classical, not a steinberger.

Alvarez was very helpgul the one time I ever needed it looked at, Good customer service, they obviosly take pride in their guitar.

I've been playing for 10 years, I have 6 guitar. Martin, Fender Grand American 78 Strat. Yamaha.... this is my favirite of all of them. I looked at the Yamaha APX 6na and APX 10na, and this guitar blew both of them right out of the water!!! If this was stolen or lost... when I was done crying, I'd scour the earth to see if I couldn't find another one!