Alvarez Yairi DY-74

1978 DY-74 made & signed by K. Yari in Japan, bought new. Dreadnought, D-28 style. Very finely grained solid spruce top; laminated rosewood back and sides. No electronics built in. Not the cutaway model. Rosewood bridge and fretboard. MOP snowflake inlay. Abalone pin dots and logo on headstock. Strip binding. Herringbone strip on back. Adjustable rod in neck. Grover tuners. Thin neck; low action. Came new with an alternate brass bridge. Bridge and nut are ivory/bone, clearly hand-shaped.

I give it a 6.5 for build quality and materials. A 10 would be a solid brazilian rosewood Collings or H&D with an addy top. Let's get serious here. Build quality is good, though, it's not at all shabby, it is conscientiously hand made by a craftsman. That laminate back, regardless of its effect on sound, takes away points though.

The top is just a beautiful color now.

I started as a heavy fisted strummer and finger picker, and have moved on over 30 years to a somewhat more sophisticated right hand. I have played professionally and with very serious musicians. The sound is substantial; it's not a piece of junk at all. It is particularly sweet at the mid-to-highs, very very sweet highs. It's bass is just ok; it just doesn't have the round depth of a Martin or the woody richness of a Gibson. I think that's where the laminate back hurts. It's hard to emphasize how sweet the top end is, though. I'd pick it over the Martin or Gibson for a top-end figure in a piece I'm recording. It's great from the D string up, the A and low E are merely servicable. But it has a professional sound across the board and excellent intonation when set up correctly.

Very, very nice. Very low action. I use medium strings now and have had it set up for that. No problems with buzz. Very easy to play this guitar. Very thin neck, one of the reasons I bought it long ago when I was worried about small hands -- not very worried about that now, sometimes find the neck too small, depending on the song. Very nicely matched top.

In re: the quality of the workmanship, I had a major serious Martin repair guy do a neck reset a few years back (he liked the guitar, was less dismissive of the bass than I am). It almost killed him, though, the neck joint was so tight compared to a Martin. Took him forever to melt the glue and remove the neck. This is not a slapped together piece of work, it's very tight. Thirty years, it's still extremely playable.

I have played live with crazy people in some crazy places. It has some serious battle scars. It has been in heat and cold and dry and humid. It has done camp fire and beach and concert hall (no more camp fires and beaches, though, out of respect). No top cracks, no finish flaking, no build problems at all. This sucker is solid. A neck reset in thirty years, what you'd expect out of a well-built Martin. She's solid, probably tougher than me.

Bah! Never dealt with them.

I bought this because a Martin was twice the price. I like Martins. They are objectively better, as are a host of other guitars. And low-end guitars have gotten much better in 30 years, in the 70s there wasn't much worth plaing under $1k. Even today, though, You'd be hard pressed to find a $500 guitar that's as good as this one, much less one that will be around in 30 years sounding better. I have nicer guitars now, but I don't want to let this one go. It has its place. It's a fine guitar, good to look at, and fun to play. If you can pick up an old one in good shape for $500 or so, you've got a steal. Can't think of another guitar that sounds as good or is built as well at that price.

Made in Japan, 1985. Solid spruce top which is tight-grained and beautiful! Laminated rosewood back and sides. Neck is perfectly shaped (not fat or too slim) and fast action. No electronics/pickups. An all natural 10! Should be the same guitar as the ones that were reviewed below.

Sounds wonderful! Well balanced sound - not too bassy and boomy and not crazy on the high notes. Kinda Martin-ish. Mellow when finger-strummed and not too sparkly bright when pick-strummed. Not catchy like a Gibson sound, rather a Martin dreadnaught-like, but more modest.

Like I said, the neck is perfect for average sized hands and I'm sure smaller hands will be fine too. I've literally plays this guitar for hours and never had any fatigue that other guitars usually give me. Finish is still pretty just like when I bought it years and years ago.

Perfect ten here as well. Temperature differences don't have much effect, relatively, as other flat-tops do. Stays in tune and the neck is strong and mine hasn't moved much compared to my Martin. Bumped it here and there and no cracks on the wood - even at times I had it in compromising conditions - or anything on the finish. Even the dents aren't much. For some reason, this has got a tough shell.

Never dealt with them. No need.

Purchased it from a friend who was the original owner. He ran into financial problems so I helped him out but I got something well worth in return. Made this other musician who bought a newer J-45 for $1000+ look like an idiot. For whatever it's going around on eBay, it's got great value. Sounds even and mellow, yet has an underdog type tone, durable construction, well made, pretty, and easy to play. You can't ask for more on a guitar.

1992 Model. Purchased on ebay for $650. 20frets,solid spruce top, lam rosewood sides and back, ebony fretboard, chrome AY tuners beautiful spruce top and ugly ebony used for bridge, Gloss finished dread, came with OHSC. Decent rosewood used for back and sides. ebony headstock lam, Nice looks and mostly high quality materials,(very good for the price)

This guitar is LOUD! Mine has light strings on it right now and it is still loud. Nice balanced rosewood dread sound, not the bottom end of Martin but still good bluegrass guitar, it's pretty well suited to a lot of styles. Great sound, not as many overtones as an all solid rosewood but still they are there(this yairi guy know how to laminate the RIGHT way)Overall very pleasing sound, the sound is on par with all the snob brands like Martin, Taylor better than some of tlrs and mtns i've played and not as good as a few martins. and maybe 1 taylor i've played. Never played and high high end like santa cruz or collings but I imagine they are much more refined. BUT, for what you can get one of these things for Sound/Price is definately one of the best deals on the Market. even though this model is discontinued, I think

Action like all yairis is about the best you can find, although i'm not the original owner and he had some work done,(new bone nut) braces scalloped more,not sure why) top is very nice spruce save a few small inconsistancies it is perfect. Having some problems with bridge lifting and small crack on top but besides these terribe things it is a well executed instrument.

Don't know just got it.

Don't know. Couldn't get in touch with st.louis music

Playing like 2 1/2 years. sold my electric stuff, i'm going acoustic for awhile tired of looking for a good tone too much frigin cash. IF an acoustic sounds good it sounds good thats it. If it were lost i'd find another one on ebay(saw one the day after I bought this one for $425 argh) anyway i'd pay about a grand at most for a guitar of this quality(although this is better than MOST guitars at that price range) didn't want to compromise wanted a good yairi this model kicks butt. It was either this or a Larrivee D-03R. Didn't get to see or play either before I purchased but I'm sure the Larivee is a wonderful insturment as well. Definately happy with my purchase. If you need a good rosewood dread at a good price then these Dy-74s are a good option. so for what it is i'll give it a 10

Guitar was made in 92 and I bought it new the same year. Ssolid spruce top and gorgeous rosewood sides and 2 piece back with intricate inlay up the middle. "Craftsmanship" Ebony fret board with mother of pearl and abalone inly med. jumbo frets, mahogany neck and Alvvarez Yari logo in abalone on the headstock.

Crystal clear high and great voluminious bass with perfectly balanced mids. This guitar will raise the roof with no amplification at all. I would say as loud as any Martin or Gibson and with a much sweeter voice. This like all the yari guitars I have played has great action mine plays better than 90% of the electrics on the market. I have never seen or played a better acoustic neck. I had over $5000 to spend when I bought this darlin' and I picked this one. Nuff said!

Prettiest Dreadnaught I have ever seen. Not the fanciest but the prettiest. The guitar is superbly crafted not the slightest flaw except those I have given it. I am a seasoned player,I practice everyday and usually on my yari. I have taken good care of her and there are no signs of abuse but it shows signs of being played.

Never gig without her and she always shines. I mike her up with SM 57 and off we go. For as long as I have had this guitar and for as much as I play it, (An hour a day at least) She is real fine shape and just sounds better and better.

Never needed them. I don't know any body who has, they gotta be lonelier than those maytag guys!

I have been playinf for over 30 years. I own a custom Archtop, a vintage stratocaster, and a Traynor CV 80Q along with a lot of other misc. equipment. If ever it was stolen I would do everything I could to get it back, and failing that I would buy another one.
I love everthing about this guitar I have two close friends both Martin Hard Core, and they fight over playing my guitar. I compared it to everything out there and I bought this one. The thing I love most about this guitar is every year she gets better and better, and to me there is nothing finer than a great guitar. I got mine...

Yairi DY-74 made in Japan 1975, 20 fretts 17 reachable, solid spruce top, two piece back very pretty rose wood, grover machine heads, pick guard appears to be tortoise shell? very pretty design,neck triagular at head flattens at body.

When I bought it new the tone was brighter. Over the years it has mellowed, which is fine with me. My experience has been that a guitar that improves with age shows it was made from quality woods.

The action was a bit high. I replaced the nut and saddle with brass as suggested by a friend. I know he meant well, but I liked it's tone better with the stock ones. I did some file work, put them back, and that's the way it is still.
It had a circular shaped light colored stain on the top, like someone left a glass of water on the wood. I never minded it because it was like a personal birth mark. But it has since faded away with age. oh well, we all change appearance with age, huh?

This guitar is obviously durable. I have played it, not made it a dust collecting closet clutter. It has been many places and back. And now my son is playing and putting a lot more hours on it. It's his favorite acoustic of the ones we own, and will probably be his someday as I don't intend getting rid of it.

I haven't needed company support yet.I can't help you there, sorry

I've been playing for 38 years. I have 4 acoustics, 7 electrics.I played a few acoustics the day I bought this one, and picked it for it's tone. If it was stolen, I would miss it terribly.
I would tell you if you've been thinking of an Alvarez, it's a fine guitar for the price. Make sure you play a few first. They all differ from each other a little, being hand made. All have there own personality. I hope i've helped. Good luck, and keep pickin' always.

Just like everybody else's DY-74, a solid spruce top - which is just mesmerizing
and beautiful - laminated rosewood back and sides - which are beautiful too - and ebony figerboard. Craftsmanship is top notch. I was thinking of getting a used Gibson J-45 but I felt, generally, that the old Alvarez-Yairi was better-made, the sound had depth and richness, and the value was better - the newer Gibson's are too expensive for what you get : an OK-GOOD guitar. Mine was made in 1986, Japan, and like I said before, the solid spruce top has aged well and it looks like some 1960s solid spruce top acoustic.

No electronics. You just get that bare acoustic sound. Structurally, everything is in excellent shape. The neck is relatively slim and has a relatively shallow profile, which makes it easy and less stressful to play when one plays for hours and hours. The stock tuners are great and the strings stay in tune well. I can go on and on, but for $800US - which is what I paid - it was a bargain. There's nothing better than playing an excellent old acoustic guitar that you paid a bargain price for.

Just wonderful. The guitar could age more and get a better, warm sound, but still, I enjoy playing and singing with it. It sure beats those late-model Gibsons - but surely not the J-200s. I tend to play hard and this guitar has no problems screaming warmth to one's ears.

Action could be lowered a bit. This is just my preference. Finish is just splendid and compliments the quality woods used in this guitar. The neck is perfect for me too.

Solid construction.

No experience, and probably don't need it.

For those folks looking for a solid top acoustic and tend to just play and sing intimate numbers, this DY-74 is for you! Nothing fancy by the looks, actually it does look pretty but sounds just awesome! This guitar may even compliment your voice too! Gibson may sell guitars for their image, but these Alvarez-Yairi's are just so underrated!

Yairi DY74, Made in 1979 in Japan. Rosewood sides and back, bright spruce top. Bought it used in a shop with a trade for a 2 y/o Epiphone Hummingbird and $200. I feel this was a steal. Nothing electric. Great tuners, ebony fingerboard.

I play mostly buegrass. My Martin friends have given me the 2 thumbs up on this guitar. The richness, the volume, and the incredible tone. My brother in law has a 70's Martin D-35, which I used to lust over. This guitar leaves it in the dust.

The only problem with the action is that my little finger will slide off the fret board when I play a D. The fret board is slightly arched. The other day I played a Martin during a break in a jam session, and I realized just how hard I had to press the strings to chord the Martin, as compared to the Yairi. The Yairi is a pleasure to play. I had to pry my Yairi out of the hands of my Martin friends. The finsih is beautiful, the used guitar has a small scratch on the back, but it is just beautiful.

This 1979 guitar is a solid as anything new, on the shelf that I have tried. I have used it to play indoors, outside, on a drippy wet day, and it held the tone very well.

No comment, just purchased a used guitar.

I have owned an Ovation, an Epiphone Hummingbird and now this Yairi, it is simply the best in rich tone, voume and sustain...ever!! If I ever decide to move up, it will be for a better Yairi, perhaps a KOA body.

1978, made in Japan, solid spruce top, lam rosewood back and sides, I put a L>R>Baggs saddle pick-up I think it's the full bridge model, James Taylor uses.Mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard, rosewood overlay on the headstock , satin I guess finish Grover tuners.Yairi version of a D-28, but plays and sounds so much nicer.

I play acoustic/electric folk, contemporary, blues , blende of traditional ethnic musics. I've had people tell me it sounds sweeter than my L-09 Larrivee and it holds up better than any Martin I know.It's gotta be the best kept secret in guitar history. Awesome tone. I use a Trace Acoustic amp TR-35. Even balance with beautiful bass overtones. Harmonics are so sweet. I think of myself as a collector and this one is a keeper. Love it, love it, love it!!!!!!

Everything was ready to play, from the factory, unlike my Larrivee.The spruce top is as nice a top as any I've seen, if not nicer. It has aged so well.

I've used it at gigs alot more than my Larrivee. Extremely reliable.

Never needed Warranty

Been playing it for 25 years. Could never replace it's personal value.

solid spruce top and rosewood back and sides. ebony fretboard. basically a martin d-28 except it smokes every martin ive ever played. I got it used at guitar center for 1/2 off, 300.00. 1982 model that looks like somebody played it once and put it under the bed, in the case, for 22 years. Real rosewood pickguard and the sound is to die for.

The sound is to die for. absolutly perfect balance. warm deep lows and bright highs and Prfect balance. I read once that the japanese take what ever is great in the world and make it better and this a martin d28, only a lot better. easily a 300.00 guitar.

it plays like butter. ive got elixir 12's on it and you could play it for days without any wear on your fingers. The neck is perfect The finish is immaculate

22 years old and it looks brand new. incredible guitar.

ive been playing for 10 years. I own 11 guitars now, martin, taylor, gibson. This easily blows them all away.

Solid spruce top, rosewood sides and back. Made in Japan, 1992. Bought new in 1992. Best $500 I've ever spent.

Use Guild phos/bronze lights. Tone range- high to low is excellent. Projection/volume is as good as any with light strings. Stays right in there with the old Gibson's and Martin's!!!

Well constructed. Braced well. Close action. Did not require any set-up. Very good finish. Well matched wood- rosewood sides and back look identical, spruce top is identical with slightly wider spaced grain. No flaws that I can find. But I haven't used a magnifying glass yet...

Well constructed. Durable finish. Quality hardware. Played this one for 10 years now. As good as new.

N/A- Can't say because nothing has failed yet.

Been playing for 15-20 years. Bought this guitar as a "creek" guitar. Couldn't stand taking my old Gibson and Martin outside to play around the campfire and at parties as they cost approx. 5 times more! Bought this Yairi because it looked like it was well braced and could take the beating. It does. The big surprise is the sound and play-ability. Have grown very attached to this Japanese wonder. They are doing something right. Subsequently sold the Gibson and the Martin! For the money, you can't beat this Yairi as it sounds just as good and plays even better than the big names. I am a fan and intend to invest in one of their top-of-the-line, highly inlaid models. This DY74 is also called the Wellington. They should have called it "Sooooo Sweet", because it is. Another fact about this guitar- invaraibly, when I am playing out with friends, it almost always winds up in someone elses hands, who want to try it out. After break, I have to get to it first or they will have it on their lap again! What more need I say????

Made in Japan late 90's I believe.Also known as the Wellington, Very much like it's sister the DY-74C but without the cut away or electronics. Solid Spruce top(a wider grain Canadian), Mahogany neck with an ebony fretboard w/several different inlay designs, Rosewood bridge, and Brazilian overlaid headstock with abalony Yairi logo(tuners look like Gotohs with Yairi logos. Cannot be certin that no laminates were used in back and sides but doubt it. One thing for certin is that with the distinct wood grains that stand out(on this peticular one), it is one of the most beautiful insturments I have seen in 37 years of playing. Rating is actually 9.6

Rich, Full, Bright, Clear, Loud and balanced. What else is there?

Action, set-up, and playability is a 9.5
Fit is 9.5 and finish is a 9.9 I will give it a 10 in this category because 9 is too low and there are no choices in between.

To get the most sound out of a guitar you may have to sacrifice some structual strength. You could build one out of 2x4,s and 3/4" plywood that would really take abuse, But........
I think the DY,s are made about as solid as can be made without compromising sound quality.

???????good question,

37 years of playing, probably owned over 60 guitars. This is the best acoustic of the bunch. If you are looking for great guitar with quality features, you can pay a whole lot more money on some other top names, but you should check out a few Yairi models also because you could be throwing money away for something that is not noticibly better or even not as good. And no I do not work for Alvarez, I just own one. Overall 9.8