Alvarez Yairi DY-59

Dreadnought, satin finish. Fine spruce top, coral rosewood back & sides (bookmatchd. Boy, I had to research some to identify the timber). Rosewood fingerboard & bridge, bone saddle & nut. Made in Japan, label signes by K. Yairi. Built 1987. Neck may be mahogany, but not sure. Good quality tuners (maybe Gotoh brand). Beautiful neck... slim. shallow C profile.

My music style is varied, from jazz to country. As this instrument has very good sound/tone balance, it suits my styles very well. I use a DiMarzio quick-fit soundhole pickup, and it sounds great. The guitar has breat sustain and all overtones are crystal clear. Intonation is dead on accurate. I don't much like the lack of cutaway, but that's a minor problem. The guitar sounds very gutsy... with D'Addario EJ16 strings it's just plain LOUD. Beautifully so. It will cut through even raucous vocals. I have had it 19 years and the sound has aged very well.

The action was fairly high. I adjusted the neck (i.e. truss ros) about as far as possible and then shaved down the saddle. The action is now as low as most electrics, so it plays effortlessly. The fit and finish are perfect. The satin finish is really nice and subtle (I hate shiny dreadnoughts).

It's a heavy-duty guitar and will last a lifetime if not banged around, dropped or sat on. The finisg is tough, the strap buttone solid. I have bnever needed a backup.

Never needed repairs... can't comment.

I've been playing 40 years, and have a cheap strat copy as well as a Cort jazz-box "The Source". If this guitar were stolen, I'd buy one again as it's really a brilliant instrument. I compared it with a Maton Messiah (about $4000 Australian at the time ... mine was $800 Australian) and I believe it's better. I wish it had an extra few frets and a cutaway, as the top notes are very loud and bright.

satin finish dreadnought;thru body bridge; solid top; a-y tuners;made in 1987/Japan;20 frets;no pickup;

This is the fullest sounding guitar I have eever played. I recently bought a Martin cutaway e/a; (RTGE16)....it pales in comparison to the AY-DY59

Action is superb...No flaws at all.

This guitar will last as well as my vintage Gibson and any other 'Big' name.

Never needed any repair !!(therefore I can not answer as to how well a warranty claim/repair was attened to).

I have been playing for 40 years. I own a 2003 Martin cutaway in addition to the Alvarea-Yairi DY-59

My friends, it appears you also have this most fine Guitar! 1987 Anniversary Dreadnought DY59 from Japan, sealed Alvarez tuners and that clean and strong compound rosewood bridge... ivory nut and bridge (which I shaved down even closer, and it the thin 20 fret neck holds arc well, with weather adjustments, though I've now grooved half the fretboard up to the 12th! It has the most gorgeous split grain mahogany (is it?) back and richly alive sides... solid bottom and top, and I love the soft deep spruce Without the pick guard! It's shinier now, and richer, because I bought it New in '87 for $500 and a case. I'd had Guild before and loved the neck action, but one listen and this Guitar rang true... still does 20 years later. How could I rate it any less than great? It's got all a great acuoustic guitar could have, plus a great neck, a clever bridge... is beautiful and lasts 20 years only getting better? It's the softest, cleanest guitar I know of, meant as in a simple grace... let the music be the loud sparklers.

Maybe one of the few guitars that could match my own sound, this one is true across the harmonics, the octaves, the heights and depths, and rings forever. The bottom is a bit weak, I know (because I can't be heard around all that other thrashing!) but I play alone, and use extra lights, and push the bottom as much as tinkle or ring the top. It always sounds just like I'm looking for. I'm impressed. Because I write songs, I use a capo often, and I find I have to retune the basses a tad... this is frustrating. Perhaps a finer Yaira would solve this, I dunno... it was only a mid-range guitar after all.

Funny, the Action is what I love most about it, and yet there were two things involved. One, both nut and bridge were set very high up, making the strings sharper and stiff to play with. I dropped them both. They stay true, even 20 years worth, with a crank now and then to stabilize it. I love this neck, the width (2 5/8 or so), the frets, the action and response. Because I use my fingers a lot, to both pick and strum both up and down, and nearer and further from the bridge, I find myself on top of those 20 frets down there, and they weren't seated into the fretboard all the way, so they catch my fingers. I haven't solved this completely, but I need a fret and board and all Makeover anyway! gee... it could look 10 years old again! Is it the unbound fret board, or are these frets not fully set in? I dunno.

I have used this on gigs for 20 years, and I have no backup! If I didn't have this guitar, I might not even play. It's that good. The matte finish shines here and there now, and I ding it with my fingers below the board, but not as much as would chip a hole in it (I had a guild I did that with before... I changed my style a bit). There is no seam, finish, surface, peg, tuner nut nor neck that's ever gone wrong with this thing (knock on solid wood). And at Songwriter's... it still stands out as the richest tree sitting there, even before the tone melts their souls! 'course, I don't take it to the beach caseless, and leave it around the campfire either. It's a precious tool. It still is.

no dealings
would like to get an even richer one, if they exist
(but price isn't the indicator... playing it is!)

Get a gibson, if you want the blue grasses, and get a martin, if you can wait 10 years to see if it mellows out, and sample the innovative or the traditional guitars, the rich and the shabby ones, and yet I believe these Yairis, even if not this model I have as the finest one, will stand out more and more. They are rich, and versatile... maybe not bottom heavy but with more ring and resonance than most. When I look at guitars, I can only feel them. The outside needs to be clean and subdued, sure... let my Shirt have the sunbursts and opals and dragons... but the neck and the song that comes out, is really all that matters. I knew nothing of Yairi before I touched this one, and I haven't yet, 20 years later, found one I would replace it with. Is it that unique, or are all these models the same? Thank you K. Yairi, for a very fine instrument.

My DY59 was made in 1987. I bought it new with a case for $500 out the door. I needed a guitar for bluegrass festivals and jam sessions but didn't have the money for a vintage Martin. I immediately add an imitation tortise shell pick guard because I scratched the top at the first festival.

This guitar has very good sound quality and good volume. I think it gets better and better the longer it's played. It doesn't have the punch that my 1972 D28 has for bluegrass but it sounds great when played by itself.

The action is the best I've seen from the factory. I spent alot of money on my Martin to make the action as good as the Yari. It's a joy to play. I use it to learn all of my leads and for practice. The fit and finish was exceptional. It looks as good today as the day I bought it. It was put away for several years and when I got it out I was pleasantly surprised at how great it looks.

I have played this guitar at many festivals and contests. It has held up very well. It has been in cold and hot weather and even a little rain a time or two.

I would rate this guitar right below my D28. Only because in a jam session the DY59 doesn't have quite enough punch. I have been playing for 30 years and played lots of guitars that cost a lot more that didn't have what this has. However, I wouldn't rate my D28 as exceptional either. I have played some that were better.

1989 Japan, I bought this guitar from a pawn shop that didnt know what they had it was setting with some other guitars worth about a total of $50. the previous owner had added an ugly redish brown pick guard which i have now grown to love. Under the pick guard is the start of a willie nelson hole. 20 frets thin neck, alvarez yari tuners, yellow orange spruce top mahogany sides and back. has a strang bridge where the the stings come through the body and then rise over the bridge which is about 3/4 inch away(have heard that is bridge style can come loose, mine is sucure)

best sounding guitar i own and i have yet to hear one i think sounds better. i own to yari guitars the other is a kazuo Yari signature guitar that still doesnt have the warm tone that my DY59 has. does well with lead and Rhythm.

action is great very easy to play also has thin neck and low frets. this guitar plays as good or better than any other high end guitar i have played

holds tune very well, but is very susceptible to damage my body has dings and nicks all over it.

i dont speak Japanese so it was hard to get what i wanted, im just kiding i never called

i have been play about 12 years and this is my favorite of my 8 guitars. i bought it in 1998 and will have it until it falls apart. its the guitar i payed the least for and its one of my best, great value.

I have a DY59 made in 1987. Single ply spruce top, nice tight grain. Tortise shell/ivory binding on body and soundhole. No pickguard. Beautiful Mahogany back and sides. Ebony fingerboard.

These models have what Yairi calls a direct-coupled bridge where the string ends go over a bridge and down into the body. No pulled bridges. Nice set up.

The top and binding on mine have ambered over the years, and the top appeares to have a very subtle tight flame to it at the right angle.

This guitar excells in this category, and has improved in time-like many fine acoustics. I utilize a lot of open tunings and alternate tunings and this allows me to gauge the sound quality of this instrument very accurately. In standard tuning, it really projects the sound for bluegrass style leads and runs, as well as chording. Perfectly balanced with a really warm tone in the upper frets and unwound strings. If you find a pre-owned Yairi-grab it. No better made or sounding guitars for the $$.

Very nice fretwork. Early on-maybe after 2 years of buying it new, I had one of the braces work loose from the top, caused a bit of a rattle-type sound. Had it fixed up quick-never another issue with anything. Really very high quality workmanship, and attention to detail. Again, these "older" Yairi's are superior to any of the Martins, Guilds, Gibsons of the same era. Certainly way above anythiong at a comparable price point.

Solid boild quality, sounding better yaer after year (18 years old now), original frets, barely had to adjust the neck all hallmarks of reliability.

Never dealt with them.

I must say here that I traded my 1987 "Original Classic Limited Edition" Reissue Marshall 100 watt head and Angled 4x12 Cabinet, both in army green with basket weave black/white grill for this guitar and a smaller tube amp. I wish I still had that set-up now.....anyway, at the time it felt right...that said, I am glad I own this guitar. It is my only 6-string acoustic and I don't even shop for another. I love it. Everyone who sees it and plays it is blown away by its physical appearence and quality of wood and the sound.

Made in 1988 in Japan. This guitar has a satin finish, and is nicely done, but not as fancy as many high end guitars. They sold it with a nice hardshell/velvet case, a nice wide soft leather strap, and an extra set of strings.

It has a good all around sound that fits any acoustic style of music, and plays lead nicely. Not a loud guitar, but a nice rich tone.

I found no flaws on the guitar and the body is fit perfectly. I have made no adjustments since purchase.

The satin finish is not as durable as a thick gloss, and the lack of a pick guard makes the finish vunerable. The guitar is otherwise well made and durable.

No dealings with the company.

My DY59 was made in 1988, and I bought it new that year. I played about 20 different guitars that day, and fell in love with the tone and action of this satin finish DY59. The only thing I've done to it, (and I prob. shouldn't have done it), was add a strap button at the base of the neck. I prefer this guitar to the Martins I've played, and I will never part with it. It's not fancy, but it is a well made and smooth sounding guitar. I've been playing for 30 years now, and have owned a 65 Fender Mustang, an Epiphone Sheraton, a late 80's Strat, and a sweet Gibson Floyd Rose 3 PU SG, among others.

I bought my Alvarez Yairi DY59 in 1988 at a small guitar shop in Pittsburgh that was going out of business. I believe it listed in the $700 range, but was able to buy it for $450. I hadn't heard of Alvarez Yairi, but liked the balanced sound and neck action. I wasn't crazy about it's yellowish spruce top, with no pick guard, but I loved its sound and price range. It has darkened over the years. And while I can appreciate some of the top end guitars over $1000, I don't see the same price value for the sound and action. I frequently play with a guy who has a Martin D18. While his has that deep Martin sound, I feel my AY has a more balanced sound sound and better action. I haven't played any other AY's that sound as good as this one in guitar shops. This was an anniversary limited edition. I'm no expert on guitar woods etc, but I think this was a find. Does anyone have one and/or insight to the value of this guitar?

Bill

I use this guitar primarily for 70's folk rock. It fits perfectly and has great lead action. It has great sound, but it is not loud. I had to put 11's on it to get more volume. It has a clean balanced sound with no special deep nor high tone. I would like to add a pick guard to it, in that I'm scratching up the top. I'm afraid it may impact the resonance. I rationalize that it now has a little character.

Beautiful rosewood finish.

I've never had problems with it since 1988.

No experience. None required.