1979 Alvarez-Yairi DY-45 "Wood Ridge" Very Good, Original Hard, $695.00

When Kazuo Yairi began designing and hand-crafting these guitars in the 1960’s, he was deliberately competing with Martin, Gibson, and Guild for the higher end guitar market in the U.S. This DY-45 “Wood Ridge” model is an example of the quality and sound which he was able to produce using the highest quality materials, the best Japanese craftsmen, and his own modifications of the best American designs. Today, the prices of the Alvarez-Yairi acoustic guitars range from $1200 to $5000 and beyond, and grateful owners will tell you they’re worth every penny.

The label clearly says that this guitar is a Model DY-45, which was manufactured from 1975-1998. The number on the neck block—54120620—means that it was the 20th guitar made December 6th of the 54th year of the reign of Japanese Emperor Showa, which was 1979 (No, I’m not making this up!). This model is sometimes referred to as the “Wood Ridge,” but obviously this particular label doesn’t include the term.

This guitar (serial # 34464) has a dreadnought style body with a solid spruce top and a mahogany back, sides, and neck. There is full binding on both top and back, a multi-stripe inlaid rosette, a black tear drop pick guard, a rosewood bridge with black white-dot pins, a 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays and a 25.5” scale, and a mahogany headstock set off by the inlaid pearloid Yairi logo and chrome enclosed tuners. This is definitely an impressive guitar for the money.

Even more impressive is its playability and its huge sound. The neck is surprisingly comfortable for my kind of small hands, measuring 1 11/16” at the nut. The thirty-eight years of seasoning of the quality solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides make this about as resonant and dominant-sounding a guitar as you will find for anywhere near this price, with great big bass and clear ringing trebles.

Unlike most 38-year-old guitars that have been played, there are very few dings in the top or elsewhere, only light buckle bruising on the back, a scratch above the end pin, and I see no cracks at all. However, the excellent condition is probably due to what was apparently the re-finishing of what is usually a sunburst top, leaving it clean but kinda funky-looking. Other than that, there are no cosmetic or structural issues with this guitar: the neck’s straight, the top’s flat, the tuners are tight, the action is set at 3/32” at the 12th fret low E, and it is ready to play.

The vintage original hard shell case is structurally solid and in good cosmetic shape. The hardware all works (although one end of the handle is taped), and the plush interior naturally fits this guitar like the proverbial glove. It has a few dings and wear on the edges to prove it has been doing its job, but obviously they don’t detract from the protection the case provides for this valuable instrument.

Buyer pays a flat rate of $55 for insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. Payment by Paypal is preferred; cashier’s checks are acceptable, but checks must clear before the guitar will be shipped.

I have tried to be perfectly clear and accurate in describing this instrument, so its return will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please check out the pictures and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy it.

Thank you for your interest in this fine vintage guitar.