Yairi guitar: Any information or opinion on

Subject: Yairi guitar: Any information or opinion on
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 03:38 PM

Have an opportunity to purchase a Yairi guitar. Any opinion or experience with this make?

Subject: RE: Yairi guitar: Any information or opinion on
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 03:49 PM

I heard one at close range, well played, and it was GORGEOUS - very clear and bright and bell-like. (These are my criteria in guitar tone: if you like a big-bash sound you might prefer a different make - I can't say.)

If I were buying a new guitar I'd seriously consider getting a Yairi. Barry Dransfield plays one (his was the one I heard, from about two feet away, and it convinced me.) It's also a fairly compact size, similar to Martin 000's.

Subject: RE: Yairi guitar: Any information or opinion on
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 04:31 PM

Steve Hicks (of Leicester and Atlanta) demonstrates them.

Steve is the best acoustic guitarist in the midlands - probably in Georgia too!

they do a Steve Hicks model!

I think you should check out Steve's website.

Subject: RE: Yairi guitar: Any information or opinion on
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 20 Apr 07 - 05:28 PM

I have a Yairi that I like very well. The only complaint I have is that it comes from an era (1988, I think) in which he used Epoxy to glue the neck. That means that while the neck is very stable, it's nearly impossible to do a neck reset. It might be worthwhile to do a little research to double-check the repairability of the instrument.

Other than that, I really like my Yairi, and we were able to achieve pretty close to factory specs on the action with set-up.

Dan Schatz

Subject: RE: Yairi guitar: Any information or opinion on
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 21 Apr 07 - 03:32 AM

There is more than one Yairi - it's a bit like "Smith"!

If your neck joint cannot be split for a neck set, remove fingerboard, and put a tapered blank, tapering from zero thickness at the nut end to whatever is needed at the other, onto the neck, shape it, then replace fingerboard with or without refret as necessary. Don't try this at home, but it can be very successful in the hands of of a skilled luthier, who can at the same time and in the same way correct excessive neck progression. I have a friend whose 12-fret 12-string was revived this way, and at the same time it was changed from a tailpiece guitar to being a pegbridge - all by Graham Noden in Denmark Street, London, for surprisingly little money, and it sounds magnificent, even though the neck is still enormously enormously enormous.

Subject: RE: Yairi guitar: Any information or opinion on
From: kendall
Date: 21 Apr 07 - 07:06 AM

I've seen a couple of these guitars and have been impressed with them. Dan, ANY guitar would sound good in your hands.

Subject: RE: Yairi guitar: Any information or opinion on
From: Dan Schatz
Date: 21 Apr 07 - 05:56 PM

Thanks for the advice! I'll remember that. And Kendall, all I can say is - Awwww, Shucks.

Dan

Subject: RE: Yairi guitar: Any information or opinion on
From: GUEST,steve benbows protege
Date: 22 Apr 07 - 05:08 PM

I have had one for ten years. Plays like a dream and compared to my Gibson I know which one I go for everytime - the Yairi. It has become my workhorse and that is their strong point. My plays whatever style I throw at it and responds beautifully.

My guvnor (God rest his soul) tried to buy mine off me at least thirty times and he had a guitar collection to drawl over ( Gibson L4 & 175, Martins, Hofners etc) and everytime he came to my house he demanded to play my Yairi.....

I don't like the new ones with the funny two piece tailpiece but the older ones (Mine has the K. Yairi signature on the front) are a real beauty. If i had the money I would buy at least another three, including the twelve string model!

Well thats my honest opinion.

Pete.

Subject: RE: Yairi guitar: Any information or opinion on
From: Ebbie
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 01:50 AM

lol I'm not sure of my reaction if someone "drawled" over my guitar.

Subject: RE: Yairi guitar: Any information or opinion on
From: pirandello
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 11:35 AM

I played a Yairi 000 style way back in the early 70's and I remember it as a well built and good sounding instrument. There is another brand called Alvarez-Yairi but I have no idea if there's any connection.

Subject: RE: Yairi guitar: Any information or opinion on
From: michaelr
Date: 23 Apr 07 - 06:26 PM

Kazuo Yairi is a master luthier. He has designed (collaborated with/licensed -- not sure which) the Alvarez-Yairi line. (I believe he designed the two-piece "moustache" bridge.) I had one of those for years but sold it when I got my Lowden. Great guitar!

He also makes K. Yairi guitars in a shop in Japan.

http://www.alvarezgtr.com/products.html
http://www.yairi.com/gtrsktor/gtrintro.html

Cheers,
Michael