Alvarez Yairi DY-68

My wife's DY68 was made in 1974 in Japan. Mahogany back and sides, solid spruce top, rosewood fingerboard. No pickups or electronics. Dreadnaught. White binding, tortoise-shell pick guard. Neck is wider than my six-string steel, but narrower than my nylon-string classical. Spruce top is fairly dark compared to others I've seen. Gloss finish.

The range of tones this guitar produces is amazing. You can play it soft and it will sound like an autoharp or make it ring out. Excellent volume and very easy to play with a low action.

Hard to say how well the factory set it up after all those years. This DY68 spent the last 16 years in Colorado, where it's relatively dry, before being shipped out to Hawaii, where it isn't. After it arrived and we put new strings on it, the bridge started to lift off the top -- not surprising given the age of the guitar and the radical change in humidity. We took it to a shop and had it repaired under Alvarez' lifetime warrantee -- 30 years after it was orginally purchased! When it cam back from the shop, it was set up perfectly. Except for pick marks and a few dings from its early days, it's in great shape.

The DY 68 has stood up well. It spent a few summers at camp back in the 70s, playing songs around the fire, so it's not in pristine condition. The finish is still in good shape, though. There are no cracks, binding is still perfect. There are some pick marks from enthusiastic strumming, but they didn't penetrate the finish. Strap button is solid.

We emailed the company when we encountered the problem with the bridge separating from the top. Didn't hear from them right away, so we took it to a local luthier to have the bridge reglued -- an authorized repair shop for Martin, Gibson, Alvarez, etc. After about a week, Alvarez got back to me and agreed to pay for the work under warrantee, which was pretty cool after all those years.

I've been playing off and on since the 1960s. Own an Ibanez Artwood 6-string, a Yamaha classical and a Martin uke. The Yairi is the best of the bunch. It stands up well in terms of tone and playability with the Martin a friend of mine bought recently. I saw one sell on eBay recently for $395, which was a great deal for that buyer.

1976. DY68 12 string Dreadnought. Canadian spruce top, mahogany back/sides, ebony fret board.

A wonderful sounding 12 string that can be played finger style or with pick. Either way it sounds great.

Don't know about factory setup. Action is very good, easy to play. Neck a little wider than I'm used to (to accomodate 12 strings). I have another 12 string (Lowden), and its neck is a little more to my liking, fits my small hand better. Yairi was 26 years old when I bought it and there were a few nicks here and there, but the finish was holding up very well, outstanding in fact.

I expect it to last for many years. Pickguard is coming loose, but I haven't done anything about it. I'll leave it alone until it falls off. There is a one-half inch long crack on the top running from the fretboard to the sound hole. It has been perfectly stable for the past two years, and it doesn't affect the playability or tone of the guitar at all, so it hasn't created any problem for me. I've seen one other DY68 which also showed a crack in the same place. I have used it on gigs without backup. I play it often. No problem.

Never had to use customer support

Have played for over 50 years. Also own a Lowden 032 12 string which is a much nicer and more expensive ($3,000) guitar. Of course the Lowden is better, but the DY68 also sounds good. There's really not $2,500 difference. This was my first Yairi, but it won't be the last. Have just bought a FY95C for about $1,400. It compares favorably with the Lowden. Also own a Gibson LG2 which I bought new in 1950, a great little guitar. Yairi makes guitars like Honda and Toyota make cars, with attention to finish, detail, and functionability. I don't believe one can go wrong with a Yairi.

9-9-1975 - Spruce top, but I am not sure of the other features, I bought it new when I was 15 years old. Of course both of us are much older now!

In 1975, we were playing a lot of music which was perfect for a 12 string. This was my first "good" guitar. Perfect for everything from John Denver to the Eagles. I now play local-professional in a duo and play this 12 string on every song. It now has a Martin thinline gold plus pickup in it and I plug it into a high-impedance jack on a Yamaha EMX660 amp. This combination produces a rich/full sound.

Dislikes - the A string feeds back, so I have to use a feedback filter. Not sure if it is the pickup installation or the guitar itself. Not a big problem though

I have played other 12 strings at music stores etc. and I am amazed how low the action is on this guitar. Keep in mind this guitar has never been adjusted.

I use D'Addario Medium strings (.012 to .052) It took some time to get use to them. A lot of people ask me how I can play a 12 string for a 4 hour set, I am not sure if I am just used to it or the action is so easy or both. I change strings every two weeks, depending on upcoming gigs

The finish is still great, but I have placed a few nicks in it over the last 27 years (wow, 27 years!)

Flaws. I need to either re-tighten the tuners or replace them. My low-bass E string tuner actually came apart a couple of months ago, but all I had to do was remove it and screw the insides back together

The bridge is very very slightly rising, so I keep it tuned in E flat now and will never tune it in E again.

I play 4 hours sets 6-8 times a month on this guitar. It continues to stay in tune. See note above on the tuners.

Never had to do anything to this guitar except install a pickup.

I can't remember if they told me to keep it tuned in E flat or lower when I bought it. When I had the pickup put in, I was told to keep it in E flat forever (maybe D if the bridge starts to rise)

I will never get rid of this guitar since I have had it all my life. Hopefully it will stay in the family after I am gone.

My favorite feature - the rich sound when I am plugged in (especially the deep sound of E minor)

04-07-1979 japan. signed by Kazuo Yairi. Hard shell case. Ebony fingerboard. Solid spruce top. Mahogany sides and back. Thin Rosewood neck. Rambling dreadnought style.

I like playing softly on the strings, and it is amazing how this guitar picks up my soft playing style to create and nicely blended rich sound. When wanting a full loud sound just bang on the strings and you got it, trouble is that is becomes overbearingly loud and can drown out some of the subtle sounds I like to add when chording. I enjoy playing Beatles, Zepplin, CSNY, Dylan and my own creations.

Easy to play. the action is wonderful and the sound is great. Not to heavy on the bass, lends itself well to the midrange sounds. I love it. Straight neck that has never needed to be worked on.

This guitar is solid! the finish has no cracks and has aged beautifuly. After 23 years of pickin and strummin it is getting close to having to be re-fretted. The fingerboard is slightly groved in places. My Alvarez guitar is like a Timex watch, It takes a licking and keeps on pickin. The hard shell case had warped out of shape, making it hard to close and open, but with the use a some muscle and and hammer I managed to put it back into shape.

never needed help, the guitar is still after 23 years of strumming in excellent condition, normal wear after thousands of hours of playing.

I have played guitar for 32 years. Have owned many guitars. Today I have a Martin D-15 wonderful sound. A martin packpacker for travel OK. a Gibson Les Paul, beautiful. and the Alvarez Yairi 12 string, priceless in my opinion. Two things I plan to pass down to my children, is my Martin D-15 and my Alvarez DY-68. There are no others guitars I will ever need. I hope Jesus has a Alvarez I can play while he backs me up on Gods Martin.

This is a 12-string Guitar that I bought in 1979 from a member of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. It was made in Japan in November 1978. The style is Dreadnought. It has Mahogany sides and a two piece Mahogany Back with a solid spruce top and a tortoise pick-guard. The neck is Rosewood, and the fingerboard is ebony with a 1 7/8" nut. It has bindings that are white on the sides and abalone on the top - the sound hole also has abalone trim. It also came with a hard shell case that seals in the temp and hum. This guitar is beautiful.

This is the best sounding 12-string I've ever played. It is bright, ringing and full when strumming and the sound is easily controlled. It is not as loud as some 12-strings I have played. And it tends more toward the mid-tone and treble (although the bass is fine. This suits my style becouse the bass tones are not overwhelming and it is not so loud that the notes become garbled. I also do a lot of flat picking on it.

This guitar is the absolute best playing 12-string I have ever played. Anybody who has played it agrees. Most people are very jealous - I have three other guitars and have had many others - none has ever elicited such a unanomous response. I looked at 12-strings for a long time before buying this guitar. I looked at Martins, Gibsons and Guilds (Taylors weren't big at the time). None of these other guitars could touch the Yairi in terms of playability - it plays like butter. The only complaint I have is that it needs to be retuned when using a capo.
When I first saw this guitar, the bridge was pulling up from the top. This raises all kinds of flags for me because I have had 12-strings that have become completely useless after the bridge pulled up and the top became warped. Since it came with a lifetime warranty, I suggested to the owner that she bring it back and have it fixed. She did this and called me about a month later. They did a perfect job. Since I bought it 22 years ago, I have had no problem. I do however tune it down to D as a precaution. Since this category combines action alonf with fit and finish, I have to give it a ten.

This guitar has withstood the test of time. The top has mellowed beautifully. The finish is still perfect - there is not one sign of surface cracking. The entire guitar has maintained it's integrity with no warping, cracking, splitting, etc. I have never had to adjust the neck, bridge or have the action changed in any way. I do not abuse the guitar so it has no scratches except for some barely discernable scratches on the back. The sound has become better over time.

I've never dealt with the company, But based on the experience of the previous owner (see above), I give it a ten anyway.

I've been playing guitar for 33 years. I have a Martin DC-1E, a Yamaha Classical, and a borrowed Tele-caster knock-off (which is excellent by-the-way.) This guitar is easier to play than the Martin but is not as loud and bassey. If it was lost or stolen I would be devastated because it is probably irreplacable. I will put this guitar in my will. There are many excellent six string guitars and they are usually easy to find. This is the ONLY twelve string guitar in its class. I have played in churches and small gatherings (I play JT, Tom Petty, Boss, Dylan type things.)