Alvarez-Yairi DY-75

1979 - purchased new for $500. Signed by Yairi. Listed for $895, but the store was closing and the owner who put up with the pesky teen called me to offer it to me. Spruce top, mahogany sides and neck, ? on the back (mirror split, dark, large grained wood - beautifully done). Ebony fingerboard and saddle. It has fat diamond abalone fretboard inlays and abalone boning around the spruce top and the sound hole. The AY symbol on the neck is also abalone as do the center dots on the string pegs. There is white boning down the fingerboard/neck joints. I added a Martin Thin-line bridge pickup with direct plug through the end strap.

I play all styles of music (rock, folk, jazz, slack key, etc). This guitar can handle every tonal mode. It has rock hard bass, a robust middle, and clear ringing high tones. It lacks that "soft boom" bass that you get with Martins - that's about the only thing I could say it lacks. Under strong attack it projects and cuts through accompanying instruments with ease. You can chunk it down with low funky bottoms or rip shredding high notes like a Strat! You can finger pick it as sweet as JT on a river boat. It expresses an absolutely direct extension of the feeling you put into your playing. I've pretty much stuck with medium gauge strings (12-56). D'Addario 80/20 phos/bronze have been the mainstay. I tried Elixirs but didn't like the short lifespan. I've since discovered Thomastik Enfields and I'm hooked... Also - Pyramid medium picks. Sounds crazy - but they're polished and they are the cheese.

Guitar was flawless at delivery. Low action down the board, no buzzing. Perfect intonation. Required no set-up.

Its played more than its share of gigs with great results - and no back up has ever been needed. Its a bit tempermental in colder temperature extremes - but locks in once its temperature stabilizes. I did have to upgrade the tuners in the late 80's as the originals were slipping badly. The finish in and of itself is fine - but the guitar has some wear. A friend borrowed it for one night and shredded the spruce-top from the sound hole across and down to the lower bout joint. He cut right through to bare wood. Don't remind me... The finish around the lower sound hole is worn away to wood from so much active duty. A bee stung me once and my reaction caused the strap to come off the front and the guitar fell, landed on the front lower bout and caued a 1 inch compression fracture / delamination. I had it repaired from inside. Lastly - the frets are soft and they eventually wore out. I was VERY concerned about the boning along the neck given the style of fret. Under a DIFFERENT friend's recommendation, I had it refretted and you can't tell it was ever done - immaculate work. No changes in tone or anything - but a renewed feel - not changed - just sort of rebirthed. Its awesome. She's held up remarkably; all things considered.

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Been playing 33 years. I have a 1974 Gibson SG custom, a 1992 Strat Ultra (this axe is INTENSE!), a Yamaha APX-10 acoustic-electric-classical (single cutaway) (Amazing electronics), my original Yamaha FG-75 acoustic, and an Ibanez bass. For amps, I've got an original 1975 MusicMan 210-65, a Line 6 Spyder, a Peavy bass amp, and an AER Acousticube II. The Yairi played through the AER is ASTOUNDING.
I love that people with Martins love my Yairi more than their Martins. I've turned down countless offers to sell. Never. If I lost it somehow - (God forbid) - I would have to start life over - no way I could replace the guitar in form or relationship.

My DY-75 was manufactured in 1992. It was sold to me by a friend who owns a music store. I had damaged the Ovation I had played for 20 years and he thought this Yairi would be a good repacement. He was right. He added a pickup and I was ready.

I play folk, light rock and worship music and it suited my needs very well. It has a very rich sound with beautiful resonance. I always felt like it could use a little more on the low end. The overall sound is less harsh than a Gibson and less mellow than a Martin of similar body style.

The action on this guitar was great from the start. I have no complaints there. It always played true up the neck. It is very solid in it's construction. Very durable.

For many years it was the only guitar I had and I played many concerts and led a lot of worship. It never let me down.

Never had the need.

I have been playing for 35 years. I don't own this guitar anymore but not because I didn't like it. I'm doing more with a classical guitar now. As fas as steel string guitars go, I've had a Gibson, Martin, Ovation, Goya, Takamine, Yamaha and overall I liked this one best for payability and sound. Like I said before, it was not quite what I like on the low end--but close. I still haven't found my all-around perfect guitar and if I ever did I probably couldn't afford it.

This Yairi was mfg in 1981, and I've owned it since then. I have since added a LR Baggs bridge pick up (no pre-amp, straight out through butt peg). Tuners are the original grovers. The S/N is 38712 and stamped "Second" but every professional/guitar shop I have shown this guitar to cannot locate the reason for it's second status. Patina is incredibly fine for a 22 year instrument and getting better.

The acoustic guitars I currently own are Martin D-28, Guild DV 52 HD, Guild D-6, Guild D-50, Dean "Performer", and a Yamaha APX-5A. Of all these (outside the D-28 and DV-52), the DY-75 plays best, sounds best, and outperforms all others. No buzzes, fine inlay and fret work, smooth action on the neck and always stays in tune.

Neck is low profile and the veneered rosewood back and sides are simply beautiful. Spruce top puts out a quality bright fat sound. The guitar was set up almost perfect when purchased with just a few tweaks from me since. As mentioned, the patina is just beautiful, especially on the spruce top. All the original hardware is still funtioning as if it were new. This is a QUALITY built instrument and that's coming from a solid Martin player.

I have used the DY-75 for many gigs and shows. It always responds flawlessly. The guitars finish is quality and should last for many many years if properly stored and cared for.

I can't give any input on customer support because I never needed to call or have anything done to the instrument. The only thing I have done is to add an LR Baggs bridge pickup with a straight out 1/4-inch butt peg jack.

I've been playing guitar since 1969 and have a collection of fine instruments both acoustic and electric. I could not replace the quality of this instrument unless it was with another Yairi of similar vintage. By far, this guitar plays as well as ANY high end guitar I currently own or have played. If you get a shot at purchasing one of these that's been taken care of . . . BUT IT!

Just purchased an Alvarez-Yairi DY-75. The guitar was manufactured in 1986. The emblem is signed by Kazuo Yairi. The top appears to be cedar and has a red colored "tortise shell" style pick guard. Has chrome high quality tuning heads. The back and sides appear to be rosewood. I'd say the neck is maple, but is finished dark. The nut and bridge saddle appear to be bone. The bridge and fingerboard are rosewood or ebony. Sorry I'm not better at determining wood varieties The instrument has binding on the front and back, probably maple.....it definitely looks like wood. Has mother-of-pearl "dot" position markers at the 3,5,7,9,15,17 positions, with a special design marker for the 12th fret.

I fell in love with the guitar the first time I heard it. It sings! Chords are full-bodied with excellent projection and sustain. I immediately replaced the old strings with Martin Acoustic SP lights. .012-.054 Sound is excellent. It's a great guitar to play blues with....ala..Clapton/Unplugged. No string buzz. Medium low action. Stays and plays in tune.

The action is great! You could play for hours without much finger discomfort. No string buzz. Looks great despite it's age. (1986) Has a few battle scars, but nothing really ugly. Came with a plush hardshell case. Case in great shape other than some rust on the latches. Workmanship quality looks very good. The frets show very little if any wear. Fingerboard too!

The overall condition of the guitar is very good. No visible structural defects. Nut, neck and bridge look great. The guitar came with the original truss rod wrench. Great shape for a 16 year old instrument. I see no sign of warping or top deformation. If kept clean and maintained, I believe the instrument would last for generations.

I bought the instrument this July (2002) from my brother. I paid him $500.00 for it. It has the appearance and quality of guitars selling for many times that. I would have guessed new it cost close to a thousand dollars. I'm probably wrong about the "new" price, but still I feel I got a great professional quality instrument for the money I paid.

My brother bought the guitar from a neighbor. The neighbors wife played the guitar but had to quit because of health reasons. It was sold to my brother for $200.00 My brother doesn't play much, but he thought it was a great deal. I wanted the guitar from the first day I saw it. I thought it was a much more expensive instrument then it acutally is. I've seen $1500-$2000 Martins and Taylors that don't look or sound any better. Excellent instrument for the money I paid.

A very well-made guitar with a strong resemblance to a Martin dreadnought. Chrome Grover tuners on a thick neck with beautiful rosewood back and sides. I've read that this is a laminate, but I doubt you could tell at a glance. Solid spruce top with a nice grain. Made in Japan in 1983.

Sorry to pull the numbers down, but what features do you expect on a big, booming, acoustic guitar?

What an instrument for acoustic blues and chording. This was my very first guitar over ten years ago, and only now can I appreciate the deep resonance in the bass, the chime of the treble notes, and the comfort of the neck. These are things paid little heed by a sixteen year old...

As this is an true acoustic instrument, you can't hear it on a stage over a noisy crowd without standing right up against a microphone, but for quiet afternoons on your couch, or in a studio, this delivers a nice, warm sound with good projection of notes and an admirable amount of sustain.

I bought (okay, told my folks I wanted to learn guitar and bugged them until they bought me one) this used, so I can't comment on how it's action was set up from the factory. I've never touched the truss rod on this one, but it's held up a comfortable action for the ten years I've had this. The spruce top is pretty uniform. The bridge may require some attention in a few more years, but for now it's still holding up. Grovers are holding up just fine.

As little as I've played, this one has always been with me and seen action. I've also loaned this to my friend in my theater days and it has always stood up to hard, aggressive strumming. The finish has marks all over it, as I've dropped it a few times, it's tipped over from the guitar stand, things have bumped off it. It's held up time and again, and despite the scars, it's proof how much I love this guitar. While it's held up well, I now treat this guitar much more gently than I used to. Respect the instrument, folks. If I head back out on the stage, I'll use my Ovation Celebrity Deluxe, if only to amp my sound and to keep this one safe at home. I did in fact break a string just before an open-mike night, and no, I didn't have a backup. Did I feel like a fool? Oh my yes...

Have never dealt with the company. Everything was second hand.

For the price I paid back then, for the quality and reliability of this instrument, this guitar is a fantastic value. For sentimental value, it is priceless, as you never get rid of your first guitar. It's seen me through a couple of bad times, and seen some great times. I wish I took better care of it when I was learning. I've tried other dreadnoughts since, and nothing matches the sound and feel of this one. Mind you, my sound is always changing, so my next acoustic will be a smaller concert sized instrument, but when I want some Neil Young-sized acoustic strumming, I bring out this baby and hammer away.

Label says 1985. Solid spruce top. Uncertain of whether the sides are laminated or solid. Rosewood I believe. Gold grover tuners. Maple bound body and neck. Headstock looks covered in a walnut veneer. Ivoroid bound headstock. Marquetry inlay on the inside of the binding. Nato neck, I'm guessing. Rosewood bridge. Saddle and nut appear to be plastic. Purchased used from ebay.
Neck is very narrow. 12 frets to body. heavy duty case.

I've tried it with strings of several guages and have settled on elexir lights. I was very surprised that the sound seems improved with these much lighter gauge strings. I was not at all surprised that the action was tremendously improved.

Guitar was purchased used and 15 years old. In great shape. Some minor dings. Only significant issue was a crack in the bridge which is stable after 3 months of playing and does not seem to affect intonation or sustain.

Fairly tough seeming finish. No experience playing live. Hardware in good shape with exception of bridge crack and one loose tuning machine. Strap buttons solid. Seems dependable

Works great for me

Just puchased a 1983 Yairi DY 75. It is hand made in Japan and signed by K. Yairi. Specs are Beautiful Solid Spruce top, Laminated African Rosewood Back and Sides, Ebony Bridge and Fretboard, Bone nut and saddle, Maple binding, Mosaic purlfing,Maple bridge pins,Martin D-28 style neck, Chrome Grover tuners, Mosaic inlay around sound hole, Two piece back with mosaic center strip,Maple bound neck and head plate, ( All mosaic inlay is very similar to Martin D-45 back strip inlay.)

I was amazed at the sound when I picked it up at my local music store. It has tremendous base and a great blend when you play just about any chords. The neck is a little narrow but since I have always played a Gibson any neck seems narrow.All in all it is a fantastic sounding guitar. After 20 years of mellowing it has really blended well.

The action on the guitar is fantastic. It is very low and no string buzzing. There was no wear on the fretboard at all. It looks like it has been kept in a case for 15 years or more. The Top is so dark that you would think it was cedar. The only problem which is nothing was a small ding in the binding ( since it is real maple binding it will ding unlike plastic.)

Well since it is 20 Years old and in dead mint shape, I guess the reliability would be excellent. I dont know if I would play it on stage since I would hate for anything to happen to it. But as long as I have enough light to see ( Yeah I would love for people to see me playing it live !!!)

Well it is used and I dont have any warranty but I did call Alvarez and they helped me very quickly and effectively.

I truly love this guitar. I have owned Gibsons, Martins, Corts, Epiphones, Yamahas, and this is the best acoustic guitar I have ever owned hands down. I am really interested in meeting any other Yairi owners. I am sure there are plenty out there. If any body else owns a D-75 email me. I am always interested in hearing other people's stories or just swapping guitar tricks.