Alvarez Yairi DY-74C

10
1984
japan?
i can stand on the case

acoustic rock
no effects just the sound
we can sound like anything

seemed set up fine
no flaws
have not done anything to it but restring and play
and keep it shiny

it does not need electricity
rich enuff
like i said done nothing to it
20 yrs

my 1975 plain old yairi before they went with alvarez was stolen in 84
see i replaced it
i played all in the store at the time in 75 and that ole yairi blew me away
steal this one and ill get another yairi

The guitar is a standard dreadnought cutaway with rosewood sides and back and a mahogany neck. Made in 1996. All solid woods.

It gets a little shaky if played very hard but that seems to be due to the low action. Very nice tone that has gotten better with age. Somewhat bright for a rosewood guitar.

Definately my favorite guitar I own. I am planning on getting Taylor 6 and 12 string guitars in the hopefully near future but will never sell this one.

Perfect setup. No flaws that I can find.

After 7 years, it is still perfect. May something to do with me being anal-retentive. Guitar can seem a little light on the construction. Similar to a Taylor. What I've found is that heavy feeling guitars don't sound that great acoustically. Ovations which are heavily built sound fine plugged in but don't breath well at home.

Fantastic! Made in 1996. I had a 1991 model that cracked under intense dry conditions while stationed in Korea. I sent the guitar to Yairi and they replaced it with a new 96 model. The 96 was much better. Better finish, sound and the action is comparible to any taylor.

Been playing 25 years. Own a 81 Ovation Legend that is a great guitar and a 2001 Ovation Custom Elite that is only average.

I love Taylors and that will be my next guitar. The DY74C is not made anymore but I considered them one of the best Yairi's ever. If I was buying a dreadnought bodystyle I would not hesitate to buy this guitar. I prefer OM or Grand Auditorium Styles now, so I would probably go with a different box.

MIJ - 1984. Spruce top, rosewood back and sides, mahogany (?) neck, ebony fretboard. Snowflake pearl fretmarkers. No electronics (when purchased). Going on its fourth refret job. A-Y tuners. Bought it for what it is, a decent acoustic guitar (since added a Fishman pickup).

First off, I string my electrics and acoustics with the same gauge strings, currently Elixir 11's (these things stay bright forever). I'm primarily a blues player, so I do a lot of bending, and running a heavier steel gauge on my acoustic allows me to bend easier (although the longer scale length of the A-Y makes things a bit stiffer). Overall, the sound is clear and well- balanced. Not super loud or boomy or chunky. Just right and very versatile (I do a concert-tuned, single guitar version of Zeppelin's "Rain Song" on this thing that just floors people). I recently installed a Fishman pickup, and this setup works well through my AxSys 212, with appropriate EQ to limit feedback (even when I overdrive the c**p out of it).

Since I bought this beast at serious mark-down (cosmetic damage, poor setup - mostly from dealer mishandling - thanks, Bowen Bros.), I wasn't too concerned about fit and finish. Once I finished the setup, it played, and plays, like a dream (a lot of players who've tried it have asked me how I managed to get an acoustic to play slicker than most electrics). The only factory flaw I've seen is glue seepage around the inlays on the freboard that wasn't removed. Otherwise, everything was (and still is) tight and well-finished (which is more of a testament to the luthier's skill than any kid-glove treatment on my part).

I originally bought this thing as a beater in 1986 (didn't want to take my Martin M-36 onboard ship - I was in the Navy at the time). Three years later, pulled the Martin out of storage and hated it. Sold the Martin, kept the A-Y. This thing has played clubs, malls, arenas, jams, studios, laundromats, parks, parking lots, on board ship; below-freezing to 140 degrees in the shade; it's been around the world, literally. And it's still the most agreeable guitar I've ever played. I'm going to be buried with this guitar.

Never had any dealings with the company.

Playing for 30-odd years. More gear than I care to remember. My current rig is pretty stripped down; a couple of highly mod'ed Strats, a hybridized Line 6 AxSys 212 (don't ask...) and the A-Y. If my A-Y was stolen, I'd replace it in a heartbeat (with no chance that I'd ever find exactly the same vibe...). It's been a constant and reliable friend for 17 years. (I'm working on a new electric that will have the same neck profile as the A-Y, it's that sweet.)

This guitar was built in the late '90's and is has all the important features, plus.
The cutaway give ample access to those hard to reach frets.
It is a good looking guitar with nice snowflake inlays on an ebony fingerboard and abalony/mother of pearl on the headstock.
It has the 500 series pickup.
It has a solid spruce top, rosewood back and sides.
Tuners are alvarez, they look a lot like shallers.
The neck has a more narrow profile than many guitars I have played.

In this price range this is about the best sound for the money.
Not as destintive as Martin, but sweeter and clearer.
There are more exclusive guitars like Marler if you are looking for unequalled sound, but for a semi-production type guitar (these guitars are hand made by one luthier start to finish in Japan under the supervision of Yairi, but in a productionlike fashion, ie Martin, Taylor.)the sound is as good as any.
It is a balanced sound with a close and harmonious quality.
I can be used for any style of play and is not going to be the center of attention, but hangs in there with you.
One of the challenges here is that in it's own catagory it probably deserves a high rating, but against the exceptional guitars, if they are a 10 then this is a 6 as would a Martin or Taylor.

All very acceptable and clean for a production guitar.
Easier to play than a Martin, smooth action and well executed.
It is not a piece of art nor a statement of achievment as some guitars are today.
But well done for the money and what it is intended for.
The pickup is adequit. Remember this is an accoustic guitar with a hookup, not an electric

This guitar needed to have the bride reworked by a local luthier. It was breaking strings like crazy.
The factory acknowledged the problem and affered to fix it ( lifetime warrantee) but by the time you pay for shipping and live without the guitar for months, it was easier just to handle it myself.
Other than that, dependable and as reliable as any similar guitar.

Helpful, curteous, friendly and it takes time.
Not as efficient as you might want.
Lifetime warranty and it looks like it will last with care.

I have played for 35 years. Folk, blues, contemparary.
If I were to replace this guitar I would pay extra and get a Marler.
Like many things ie:cars, motor cycles, wines, I started with less expensive ones and moved up.
In looking back I think it's better to step up to the best in the beginning. It's probably cheaper in the end and so much more satisfying.

1998, hand-made in Japan, 20 frets, Solid bookmatched spruce top,
Rosewood sides and back, ebony fretboard with snowflake pearl inlays.
Pickup is the Alvarez system 500 MKII.
Dreadnaught cutaway. Bridge is also ebony. Saddle is a set of 6 (bone) individually set in a housing for each string.

The tone of this guitar is the most amazing I've EVER heard.
Nothing compares to this. Full bodied lows, searing highs, bold midrange. Unplugged or plugged this is truly world-class.

Yairi's are hand-made by one luthier and this one was built by a true artist.

Used for hundreds of gigs, still going strong... Gets better with age.
stays in tune for HOURS of playing...

N/A

Playing over 25 years, I've played them all! And I mean ALL. This is by far my favorite. A world-class guitar at half the price of its American counterparts. I also own an Ovation Legend and a Martin D-28, both of which are superb instruments. I like the Yairi best of all...

I purchased my DY 74C in 1997. The dreadnought, cutaway, guitar is hand-made in Japan and features a solid Canadian Spruce top, mahogony back and sides, and an ebony fingerboard (love the ebony fingerboard). Abalone snowflake inlay is featured on the fretboard and the Alvarez - Yairi symbol is also in abalone on the headstock.
The guitar features the Alvarez 500A pickup system with EQ, volume, and contour controls.
Tuners on this guitar sport the Alvarez - Yairi trademark symbol (A superimposed on the Y), and maintain tune fairly well.

Sound is where this guitar shines.
My style varies from acoustic rock to celtic fingerstyle and the guitar is very well suited sound wise for all styles that I play.
This guitar has a very well-balanced sound, not being too bright nor too bassy. This guitar doesn't possess the volume of some other guitar's in its price range, but I feel this is made up for in the sweeter tone.
The Alvarez 500A pickup system is very good, but is the only area that is a bit lacking compared with the overall quality of the rest of the instrument. My other stage acoustic guitar features an Equis gold which far outshines the Alvarez 500A, but the 500A is still a very solid pickup. I hear no complaints when playing live on the quality of the 'plugged in' sound, and receive the highest compliments on the unplugged sound (from Martin and Taylor players alike).
The sound is definately one of the strong points of this guitar.

The Yairi guitar is handcrafted by the same Luthier from start to finish and I could see no flaws in the craftsmanship.
The action on this guitar went from being very good to excellent after replacing my factory strings with elixirs. I've played other guitars costing twice as much and it is my opinion that this guitar is the finest playing acoustic guitar I've laid my fingers on.

I often use this guitar at gigs without a backup. I have never had a problem with the electronics system and the hardware seems solidly in place.
My one problem that I've had with this guitar is that approximately 9 months after I purchased it the back started to warp and separate from the sides at the bottom of the guitar. Since that time I feel like I have to treat the instrument with 'kid gloves'.
The repairs to the back / sides were completed 2 years ago and I have not had a problem since.

When the guitar was sent to St. Louis music it was under warrenty, but took approximately 2 months for the repairs to be made.
This guitar carries a lifetime warrenty.

I have been playing acoustic guitar for almost 15 years and this is my 'dream instrument'. At the time I bought this instrument I was willing to pay what I needed to pay to get the finest. I played Martins, Taylors, Gibsons, etc. in order to find my dream guitar and the salesman brought me this instrument to try. It was love at first play. The sound and playability of this guitar are truly amazing. I would highly recommend it for those looking to take the 'next step' and purchase an upscale, handmade guitar.
I would without doubt get another DY-74C for my workhorse if this guitar was stolen and I have subsequently purchased other models from the Alvarez - Yairi line since 1997 due to my utmost satisfaction with this instrument.