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I'm always looking for one of these - smaller than a parlor guitar - only hand built one at a time by the Master, Kazuo Yairi, in his workshop. Hand marquetry, really lovely old growth woods, in this case solid Jacaranda back and sides, ebony appointments. They're so resonant and sweet sounding. A couch guitar for sure. If you had a young child and gave them this to take their lessons on the teacher would be constantly playing it.
Enjoy
Last edited by BigMikeinNJ; 02-15-2018 at 12:15 PM.
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02-13-2018 05:44 PM
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These are really hard to find because they were made for the Japanese market (thus called K Yairi not Alvarez Yairi) and there were not that many made. Kazuo-san was in his hey day making DY96s, lute guitars like my OY80 Leo and others, all by himself, no power tools... the workmanship is a reflection of decades of hard work and pure talent.
Big
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Mickey,
Congrats for this outstanding little guitar. I am also a big fan of Kazuo Yairi guitars. I used to have several of them but now I have reduced my herd. I still own a nice G1F, a parlour model. They are crafted so well and the sound is always there. Largely underrated, at least here in Europe.
Cheers.
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Our dirty little secret Fred.
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I applaud you BM for continuing to appreciate all available guitars, not simply the expensive ones
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Kool little guitar, Big! I have a K. Yairi classical that is awesome. Congratulations, and play it in good health!
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a little guy for the big guy!
this reminds me a lot of the nylon string my dad had made back in buenos aires in the 70s. would love to hear it some time.
i'm new to small guitars (got my first last year) and yairis (got one the year before that) but they are both awesome and have given me a good deal of pause regarding how i thought and felt about guitars. have often considered chasing down another yairi or to because they are relatively cheap. even the new alvarez ones. but there is so little concrete info on them out there, and it is very much a dice roll, though one you probably don't feel that bad about.
the ones that have caught my eye of late are recent masterbuilt parlors and nylons, and anything that drops below a certain price on reverb
does jacaranda go by another name in the guitar world? i've only heard that used in spanish. makes it hard to look for guitars because the names and species don't translate exactly between languages. curious about the rough dimensions of the thing, especially the waist. maybe i should get a guitar that small so i look buff. and hope they gave you a discount for those missing frets.
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Mikey, that guitar is as unique as you are.
Your appreciation for stuff beyond the surface continues to blow me away. I feel almost immature when I listen to your stories about the guitars you buy.
I have much to learn. You open my mind every time I talk with you.
You are awesome Mike.
Joe D
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?Well here's a fella playing a higher model number GL600, I have one of these and it's a soulful little guitar to accompany those romantic moods one has from time to time.
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?Today I dug out the GL600 and though it is overcast I did some office shots, nothing like a pair of hotties on Valentine's Day to cheer up an old coot like me... The GL180 is on the left, the GL600 the right. Everything seems the same except the woods used for the back and top. The GL180 has a much lighter top (can that be spruce) and the GL600 noticeably darker (cedar). They're both very resonant and sweet sounding. Great late night pals...
Big
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So in the 70's the Japanese were rockin' more than just great jazz archtops! Check out those backs!
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Mike, I have a pair of Yairi classical guitars my dad came back from Tokyo with in '62 and '63. Yairi really had it going on in the 60s and 70s.
Love the Jacaranda on your guitar.
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Just a point: They are actually "Romantic" period parlor guitars, not Renaissance guitars. See the difference:
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Interesting that you say that. K Yairi did do a run of guitars more like the 2nd one you posted. It's easier for me to spell Romantic Period that try to get Renaissance spelled right. THANKS !!!
Originally Posted by Woody Sound
Just a point: They are actually "Romantic" period parlor guitars, not Renaissance guitars. See the difference:
It's warm enough here today I may get really fast photo ops on the porch, will update photos of these and the '40 L5 - they deserve really good photos. The wood and work is just so wonderful...
Big
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I had an Alvarez Yairi regular classical model. Solid cedar top, lam jacaranda back. Awesome bang for the buck.
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I have an S Yari classical guitar on back load at the moment. The label has 1969 written on it. It's waiting for repair at the moment.
It's has a really nasty neck break that's been poorly glued with epoxy resin but it still sounds quality!
It was handed to me when I was running a small scale local repair service for musicians in deepest darkest West Scotland.
It was languishing in a wardrobe in an attic for 20 odd years but still tunes up and sounds good despite the poor repair.
The owner just didn't want it.
I have to 'melt' the epoxy glue and clean the break ready to fix with hide glue. It's a major arse ache as paintstripper is the preferred method for softening epoxy and the guitar French polish lacquer is in really good Nick.
<sigh>
It's value? I wouldn't know. Is S Yari a cousin or something? I can't remember.
Funny thing I had a K Yari steel strung OM style for a clean, new nut and set up. That was a peach of a guitar. The owner had the mindset it was a cheap Asian guitar! But playing it after the work with a new set of strings (nearest music shop was a round trip of 120 miles away) he changed his mind.
So if anyone can fill me in on the S Yari relation please let me know.
Cheers
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Sado and Kazuo Yairi are/were brothers. Until the mid-60s they worked in the same shop.
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50 Degrees here but foggy, dang boys I thought I was back in Pacifica (Gitfiddler !!), But I figured I'd run it out there and shoot. Who do I see but the father of a young catholic school kid I gave a nice Ibanez electric to, the boy is 8 years old and can really play classical. I told his Dad when it's warm they can set a spell on my porch and his son can play both... Giving is far more satisfying than I can explain guys... Anyway I hope these shots seem better. Looking at the forecast I might get another warm day, hopefully with sun next week...
Last edited by BigMikeinNJ; 02-15-2018 at 06:42 PM.
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Originally Posted by Woody Sound
The AY Classical guitars are really good bang for the buck guitars. In my travels I had a chance to bid on a very early example of a CY140, which typically is laminated Jacaranda - this one was not - it was SOLID Jacaranda, very, very special. Back in my Jersey days - a more prosperous forum member outbid me on it. It was a little beat like "Trigger" but he said it sounded so fine. The CY140 is still their best commercial classical... I hope to see another example of a solid one I'd bid to win now...
Big
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Jazzbow,
The S Yairi are different. Many people used to ask on the old Yahoo Groups AY Forum about them. Not that well known, some of the older classical guitars were purportedly made with solid rosewood, they would be the most resonant, but also most prone to cracking and damage...
Big
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"just a box of rain"
cheers
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BM, why on earth did you ever leave Pacifica!? That's like God's country, with a real estate appreciation to boot. What year were you there? Don't tell me it was the 70's.
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hah..it was quite the sleepy burgh way back then..pumpkin and garlic fields..not much goin on Originally Posted by 2bornot2bop
gods country indeed tho!!..still, by compare
cheers
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1979-1981 and then 1998-2007
its changed and the ocean is gradually reclaiming blocks that were there in 1979
if you know where Manor Drive is El Niño’s keep taking more and more of the street closest to the water.
like San Francisco it’s foggy where I lived 9 months of the year. It gets old.
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Yes, CY140 is what I had! Originally Posted by BigMikeinNJ
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