1980 Alvarez-Yairi DY-45 Very Good, 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—55050050—supposedly means that it was the 50th guitar made in May of the 55th year of the reign of Japanese Emperor Showa, which was 1980 (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 # 35308) has a dreadnought style body with a solid spruce top and a mahogany back, sides, and neck in a cool glossy Antique Sunburst finish. 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 one impressive-looking guitar for the money.

Even more impressive is its playability and its huge sound. The frets have been professionally replaced, but the neck is surprisingly comfortable for my kind of small hands, measuring 1 11/16” at the nut (which was also replaced). The thirty-six 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.

Like most 36-year-old guitars that have been played, there are a few dings in the top or elsewhere, some buckle bruising on the back, and some chips at the corners of the headstock (which has a kind of funky finish), but no cracks at all. The end pin is a kinda funky but functional replacement as well, apparently filling an over-sized hole for a now-removed end pin jack. 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 about 4/32” at the 12th fret low E (with the new nut, new saddle, and truss rod available for any adjustments necessary), and it is ready to play.

The vintage hard shell case is structurally adequate, and possibly original, but not in terribly good cosmetic shape. The hardware all works, and the plush interior is okay and fits this guitar like the proverbial glove. However, it does have dings and wear on all the edges to prove it has been doing its job; they don’t detract significantly 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; cashiers and personal 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 ask any questions you might have before bidding.

Good luck!