Alvarez Yairi DY-40

This isn't a flashy looking acoustic. It's a dreadnaught cutaway with solid spruce top and mahogony side. It is claimed by the manufacturer K. Yairi that all their wood is naturally aged and has been at their factory since the late 60's. It has built in pickup that's one of the better I've heard. The nut and bride are made of bone rather than plasitic. The strings mount to the body rather than the bridge with the impied effect of transferring more sound to the top plate of the guitar. It has average machine heads and came with a grey solid case that is both unique looking, and attractive although I suspect it will pick up dirt easily since it is not the standard black.

I can't beleive the sound at the price point. I played guitars that were $1000 more than this one, and had a budget to buy that was $1000 more than that yet. I had never heard of Yairi (Alvarez is really just the distrubutor), but once I played this guitar it was very quickly evident the sound was superior. There is warm bass, yet a great brightness to the highs. Many of the more well known brands seemed to excell at one or the other, but this guitar did (does) both. I play everyday for 6-8 hours in the evening and sometimes I get truly giddy at how great this thing sound and gets better as the wood opens up.

I'd be giving this a 10 as well except that it is just a little plain. What is there is authentic. Real Mother of Pearl inlays in the head, around the hole and at the 12th fret. The action is quite good. It does not take great pressure to make bar chords ring clear and the tuning is true at both high and low frets. According to the manufacturer, these guitars are hand carved and finished. I've looked closely and cannot find any flaws at this time.

The warranty is lifetime. Although I've great stories of how commited the companies support is, I don't have personal experience so I'll leave no opinion for now.

I've been playing for 22 years. I've owned dozens of guitars including Seagull acoustics, Gibson Electrics. I've borrowed dozens more guitars including Martin and Taylor. I directly compared this guitar to a Similarly priced Larrivee, and Martin's and Taylors that were about $800 more, but I don't have the model numbers of those.

If this guitar were lost or stolen I would buy another Yairi, although I might splurge and get something with more bling, but I don't think the sound can get much better.

The guitar I'm writing on is a DY40C to be exact. It's a dreadnaught with cutway. It has mahogony back and spruce top. It features the System 600T Mk II electronics. It has white pearl around the sound hole. It also features a pick guard that is nearly invisible to the naked eye allowing the finish of the wood to show through. I gave 10 because I think the dressing is quite nice considering the price point. Yes there are guitars with more inlays out there, but not at this price.

I spent much time researching the guitar I wanted online first. I had it narrowed down to several Larravee, Martin or Taylor models with the possiblity of a Gibson. Of course sound is subjective, and more so as you reach these upper middle class models. You have to buy a guitar and even strings to suit your style. I myself switch styles and tunings often so was looking for a "best all around" rig. I played each of the models and they were all fine on the fret boards. I've played so many guitars that unless a fret board is bad, I would not judge it on the first few plays because I know I'll adjust. I had the sales person play each of the models. The Martin had a great low end. The Taylor nice and bright, the Larravee was seemingly mid range. All sounded good. I was humming and hawing when the sales person picked up this Alvarez which was not on the list I compliled and he started playing. I was very surprised to hear most of the bass of the Martin and most of the bright of the Taylor coming out in a single guitar. It was not the guitar I had gone to pick up at all, but it's what I walked out with. I DIDN'T EVEN TRY THE ELECTRONICS yet. When I got home I played for a couple of hours to get the strings where I like 'em. I then plugged it into my recording rig and was just blown away. The electronics don't look particularly special, but what great reproduction on the sound. I can't say I've had electronics that sound so good on accoustic.

I wish I could give a 9.5..... 10 seems a little much, but a 9 not quite enough. I have to experiment with some different strings, but the one tiny action thing I notice is that when making a Bm bar chord, then lifting the middle finger for a pull on/off effect there is an ever so slight buzz. This is a weak spot in my playing that a really good guitar makes up for. This guitar fixes it about 80% where the Larravee seemed to compensate just a little more. It is a pretty minor thing... and.. it could simply be stock strings. Finish an look were PERFECT.... and I bought the floor model so it would have had some abuse. I just love the Alvarez inlay on the head.

If you look closely at pictures of this guitar, you will notice there is no actual bridge. The strings mount right into the body of the guitar. I would think this is why it gets a more well rounded range of sounds. I was first concerned about this and that it may warp the body over time. I did much investigation into the issue and found that there is no issue. I had contacted a fellow with a model he purchased in 1980. His comments were that he still played it everyday and it was still the best sounding guitar he's owned. (I forgot to ask what else he's owned.. duh)

The shop I purchased from does all their own support and actually free guitar setup for the first 5 years so..... I doubt I'll ever contact Alvarez directly. It is however a limited lifetime warranty. Always good to go register them thar warranties so they have you on file.. and they can then verify any insurace claim you may make in future.

Are there better guitars.. .I'm sure there are.... at this price point though... It's getting pretty subjective. Listen to the guitars you are considering. Yes play them for a couple minutes to make sure they are comfortable and have the action you desire... but then get the sales person to play similar licks on all the models you are considering and listen for the fullness, brightness etc. In my opinion, unless you are going to stick to a very specific style, the Alvarez is right there with Martin, Taylor, Larrivee and others for an all around versatile intrument.

Solid spruce top, high gloss finish, dreadnought, direct coupled bridge, circa 2003 or so, Japanese hand made. No electronics (only thing I may add), rosewood fingerboard, minimum mother of pearl appointments.

Sound of this guitar is very good. Notes inside chords are distinguishable, and it sustain goes forever. The blending of notes is really good. Individual notes and lead work flows. Tone is rich, and continues to sound a little better every day. When strummed hard, the bass suffers a little, and can't keep up, indicative of a Taylor. This thing projects like no other. Hammer ons and pull offs are effortless, and each one projects and does not sound muted at all.

Action is great. Super fast with a great feeling neck. Any lower and you would start to get a buzz. Most riffs as effortless as an electric. You start to notice it's an acoustic around the 12th fret, but still a dream to work over, and a joy to break in. Finish is beautiful, The matched top has some great depth to it for spruce, and the finish brings it out beautifully. Machine heads/Tuners are very good, and hold well, even with minor adjustments.

Hardware all around on this is top quality. Quality of pieces chosen should lend itself to lasting a very long time. The bracing is a good design, the bridge and saddle is high quality. The frets are holding up very well. I picture the guitar nut as having to replaced first. One compliant that is true with all spruce tops is the ease of divots. Don't know how to get around that one though, with any acoustic.

I have been playing about 10 years, some professionally (paid for my college). For this latest guitar, I looked at Talyor 410, a couple of Martins, Breedlove AC25, and some other misc. ones. I love the Yairi. I would definitely get it again. I should say that I don't really like Alvarezes, but Yairis have always impressed me. I gave a lot of '9's because there are guitars that are better, and would warrant the 10, but at 3-4 times the price. If you want to spend 300% percent more to get that last 10%, go ahead, pay for a name. Depends on who you are tyring to impress. For tone, playability, resonance of both notes and chords, and projection, this is an incredible guitar. I got it as my primary player, not a museum piece, and it fits the bill wonderfully.