kazuo yairi

[beren3001]

hey guys, i just bought a k yairi handmade guitar, mmm mmmmm! i think it is absolutely beautiful! (plays nice too! LOL) what does everyone think of these instruments?

 

[64Firebird]

First I've heard of it. Got a link?

 

[JohnWaynesTeeth]

Is it a classical guitar? 64 Firebird, think Alvarez-Yairi, the Yairi is Kaz Yairi. They are very nice guitars, and often overlooked because the Yairi's are mostly known for nylon string guitars I think. I had a friend who had a high end yairi steel string acoustic in that $1000-$2000 range and it sounded sweet. It was a very pretty guitar as well, and never went out of tune. Anybody asking about what guitar to get should check out the nicer Alvarez-Yairi's in the $750-$1000 range. Nice guitars, don't confuse them with the low end Alvarez's

Pete

 

[beren3001]

just look up kazuo yairi in google theyve got a website. mine isnt an alvarez its straight from japan the guys a bloody genius craftsman. alvarez make up designs and get him to make them for him (alvarez yairi they are called) mine is a k yairi accoustic steel string $1000 but well worth it! its got rosewood back and sides, spruce solid top, mahogany neck, ebony finger board, with inlay consisting of mother of pearl, turqouise, abalone and synthetic tortoiseshell binding. if you ever get a chance to try one out, you should!

 

[64Firebird]

Sounds like a nice guitar! But, that price is way outta my league. I prefer really cheap pawn shop acoustics with a really bright tone. Then I put eletric strings on em and play slide.

 

[JohnWaynesTeeth]

Hey beren, I didn't mean to imply that your's was an alvarez, but I figured more people would register the name if they thought "Oh, Alvarez-Yairi" anyway, $1000 for a handmade Yairi? Is that Aussie dollars and if so what is the conversion? If that's US dollars that sounds like a hell of a deal to me. That's a nice guitar.

 

[beren3001]

its $1000 new zealand dollars. im not sure of the conversion. i think its a 1998 guitar that hasnt sold and thats why it was so cheap. im thrilled! its not second hand though. unless the music shop are just doing a really good deal, im not sure.but i aint complaining either LOL!

 

[Databoy]

I've got a 1976 K. Yairi CY120 classical that my parents bought for me in highschool (26 years ago, yikes!). It's a handmade guitar with solid rosewood back and sides, a cedar top and ebony fingerboard. The original receipt was for $575 american. I'll never sell it.

 

[beren3001]

beautiful instruments arnt they databoy?

 

[tdukex]

I prefer really cheap pawn shop acoustics with a really bright tone. Then I put eletric strings on em and play slide.

64firebird,

You've peaked my curiousity. Can you provide more detail on the type of guitar (size, body style), price range, tone, setup technique you use. I was thinking about buying a cheap lap-steel and trying my hand at slide, but you pose an interesting alternative. How do they record?

 

[SteveMcB]

I also have a K Yairi acoustic - I paid about $800 NZ for it. The NZ dollar buys about 48.9 US cents at the moment...

I blew my first paycheck on it 2 1/2 years ago, and it sounds and plays great. My understanding was the the K Yairi's were marketed in the US as Alvarez-Yairi, but the same designs are used with the same model numbers even.

They're not Taylor or Martin level (or nearly T or M price), but for the money (well for my money anyway) it was the best acoustic in Auckland for under $1500 when I bought it (and I played 'em ALL). Good luck with yours,

Steve

 

[64Firebird]

64firebird,

You've peaked my curiousity. Can you provide more detail on the type of guitar (size, body style), price range, tone, setup technique you use. I was thinking about buying a cheap lap-steel and trying my hand at slide, but you pose an interesting alternative. How do they record?

The guitar I'm using now is a Montana, it's from Korea, so it's likely made by Samick. I put GHS Nickle Rocker strings on it (.011). The sound is NOT what you'd want for anything other than playing slide! It doesn't have the warm tone some many people want out of accustics. This one is very bright and "tinny" sounding and the eletric strings add to that. I like to tune it in open G most of the time which also adds to the banjo type of sound. I also like to use metal finger picks on it and a big, heavy brass slide. I'm looking for a really nasty, wire on a trashcan sound.

About the price, I've never paid more thar $50.00 for an accoustic and I've bought them for as little as $15.00. Besides Pawn shops, try looking around in secound stores (sometimes they've got guitars and have no clue what they're worth).

I left the setup on this guitar as it was when I got it. High action is good for slide, but I also like to finger some chords sometimes, so I don't want it too high. They do make a thingy that you can put on top of (over) the nut if you want REALLY HIGH action like a lap guitar.

As far as recording goes, I'm not set up to record any accoustic stuff. I do all my recording with my J-Station (too bad it dosen't have a Dobro patch) right into the sound card. But, if your set up with mics and you already record that way I don't see why this wouldn't work the same way. Just put a mic at the sound hole and your ready to go. I have no idea what kind of pickup to suggest, but it would be worth looking into.

Cheap guitars just sound better for playing slide, accoustic or eletric (IMHO). At any rate, This is a very cheap way to try out playing slide. Slide guitar came to me very naturaly to me, but I've spoken to many other players that have a hell of a time trying to learn it. You have to think of it as one finger, fretless guiter. But, at leasts you can play a chord!

 

[tdukex]

64Firebird,

Thanks for the detailed reply. I'm going to keep my eye out for a cheap-ass acoustic and give this slide thang a try.