Alvarez Yairi DY-45

I'm the original owner of a 1978 Alvarez Yairi DY45 tobacco satin finish Dreadnaught guitar. I've played the heck out of this guitar and have been told that I'll have to replace the neck at some point, which I am loathe to do because I fear it will change the incredible tone this instrument has aged to. It seems to get better each year, just like me! I believe it's a solid top with laminated sides/back. I've added a Fishman natural acoustic pickup and had a hole cut in the side of the guitar for the pre-amp. Great sound when plugged in.

I'm a finger-picker with my own style. I studied classical but prefer to pick with 2 fingers. You can hear my style at www.asimplechristmas.com , where I pick out the melody while also playing the accompaniment notes. The thinness of the neck on this guitar make it so much easier to play than most!

I've found no flaws so far. The tuners are excellent, even 25 years on. I added ebony bridge pins and that really helped the tone. I recently added an ebony shoulder rest because I was hitting the nerve by my elbow when playing, and this makes it a rounder surface and keeps your arm off of the guitar, letting it resonate more. I think it's a handsome, unique guitar, and I put it on my album cover instead of a picture of me-it's better looking!

I play about an hour a day plus gigs, and have for some time. I've played this guitar on live TV, the Blue Bird Cafe, and anywhere else they would let me! Brownie has never let me down.

never dealt with the company, although the guitar came with very nice documentation

I've been playing guitar for 35 years (since I was 12). I've played Martins and Taylors that don't come any where close to the sweet sound and big bass of this guitar. The Martins and Taylors do sound a little better balanced between strings, though. I've altered my playing to make the guitar balanced, which became apparant when I played a guitar that didn't need 'artifical balancing'

Made in Japan in 1986. 20 Frets. Dreadnought Solid Spruce top with Satin Finish. I added a Fishman bridge Pickup and use a Fishman Preamp.

We play Christian / Folk-Style / Original music (Third Day, Almand Bros.) When Recording, we use Digidesign w/Alesis stuff. The other guitar players use Martin 28's (you know what they cost) and my Yari holds its own with them.

I have my Yari adjusted professionally about once every two years and it maintains very well. Easy to play both Lead and Rhythm.

I've played this guitar for 18 years and hope to play it another 20. I'm sure the guitar will be ready then, but will I?

Never needed Alverez, but I understand they're still in business.

I have a Fender Telecaster, an Art and Lutherie 6 string(great price to sound) and a Seagull 12 string(anybody need a 12 string). If it were stolen, please don't send flowers to the funeral, kindly make a donation to the thief's favorite charity. This guitar sounds as good as others costing thousands, that's right THOUSANDS more. I know, because my friends are avid Martin fans. When I bought this guitar, I didn;t know sh*% about one guitar from another. I just liked the way it sounded. Call it a super trained ear or blind dumb luck, but I found a guitar that I've stayed with longer than any woman. (Honey, if you read this, I LOVE YOU, too)

1979 Model #: DY45 - Wood Ridge Sunburst
Body Style: Dreadnought
Back & Sides: Sunburst Mahogany
Top: Solid Spruce, Scalloped Braces
Finish: flat dark brown stained (Sunburst Mahogany)
Fretboard Material: ebony
Bridge: ebony
fishman matrix hot pickup (added later)
grover tuners (added later)
No frills, not fancy
came with a hardshell case

sounds great, bought it new in 1980, had it ever since. Play with an ART DST-4 preamp thru a Fender Rivera model concert amp. It rings, rich & full, not too bright. Only guitar I ever played that I thought sounded better was an old 1970s something Martin 000.

Had a pro-refret job done after about 15 years of play. It's been great, like a best friend or loyal dog or something. No complaints. However, it's a flat finish no frills guitar, not lots of fancy inlays or anything.

25 years old. I've mistreated it some over the years out of ignorance but it's took a lickin' and kept on tickin'

Never needed any, see reliability score above

Started on drums in junior high, got a guitar in college. Been playing about 25 years or so. I've got an Alvarez 12 string solid top, Gibson SG, Fender Strat, Gibson ES-125T (1959) and my kids have assorted acoustic & electric guitars too. If I could only keep one, this would be it.
Don't know about their new stuff but if you can find an old one in good shape, grab it!

Made in Japan in June, 1979. Serial # 31024 Label inside looks like it was signed by the man himself. I believe it has a solid top. The neck looks like ebony but I read that it may be rosewood stained black. It has a dreadnought(I am not clear on what dreadnought actually means) body style 4 inches thick at the neck and 5 inches at the base & 15-3/4 inches wide at the widest part of the body. I do not know what kind of tuners it has but they have little A/Y on them. It stays in tune perfectly.
I do not like the color of the top because it looks like it has been stripped and poorly restained and does not match the rest of the guitar (that's why I give it an 8).

I only started playing a few years ago and I know NOTHING except that the sound of this guitar is rich and full and sounds wonderful. I am trying to learn blues/rock songs and eventually gospel/bluegrass with a smattering of country. Everyone who plays my guitar loves it but, "What happened to the top? Did you refinish it?"

I believe the action to be very good on this guitar as it appears to be in tune at all pionts of the neck. It is possible to reach past the body and play on the lower frets.

The bridge started pulling away from the body slightly and I had it repaired at Action Sound in Liberty City Texas and I have not had a problem since. I bought it used and I do not know how it was treated before I took ownership. There is a small dent in the side of the body and some slight cracking of the clear coat 1 inch from the dent running vertically for about 7 inches next to where the bottom is attached to the side. Do not know how or why...

N/A - I have not contacted the factory.

I have only been playing for a couple of years now but I really love to play my DY 45. Since I am still in the begining stages, it is really exciting when someone who is really good plays my DY45. It is like going from mono to stereo when a good player gets on it.

The only thing I would like to change on this guitar is the finish on the top. I purchased it because of the wonderful tone and as an investment (Handmade/collectible). My other guitars are a Honer G3T electric and a Steinberger electric. I looked at a lot of guitars including a regular Alvarez when I 1st started learning the guitar. The regular Alvarez also had wonderful tone but I did not know enough about guitars so I passed it up (asking price $250-DOUGH!). Of all the guitars I generally play around with in stores, I am usually in the $600+ range when they start to match my DY45 tone and sound. There are exceptions of course. A relative is giving me a pre-70 Yamaha FG 180 this week. It has great tone and its FREE!