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s Yairi guitar
Posted by John Nicholas on Sat, 04/27/02 - 13:21:50.
Anyone know anything about 'S YAiri' or 'Syairi' acoustic guitars? I just bought a dreadnaught model YW 12 (not a 12 string)on eBay - probably should have checked first but got caught up in it and assumed it was a 'Yairi' guitar. Turns out that "K" Yairi is the maker of the higher end Alvarez-Yairi line. The headstock clearly says "SYairi", the seller claims it is has a solid spruce top and mahogony sides and back but knows nothing else about it's vintage.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, John
Re: s Yairi guitar
: Anyone know anything about 'S YAiri' or 'Syairi' acoustic guitars? I just bought a dreadnaught model YW 12 (not a 12 string)on eBay - probably should have checked first but got caught up in it and assumed it was a 'Yairi' guitar. Turns out that "K" Yairi is the maker of the higher end Alvarez-Yairi line. The headstock clearly says "SYairi", the seller claims it is has a solid spruce top and mahogony sides and back but knows nothing else about it's vintage.
: Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, John
Re: s Yairi guitar
Sada Yairi was a cousin of K. Yairi; and in most guitarists opinions a much better guitar maker. His small company went out of business in the early 1980's. They are high quality well-made guitars, and are starting to become somewhat collectible.
Re: s Yairi guitar
: Anyone know anything about 'S YAiri' or 'Syairi' acoustic guitars? I just bought a dreadnaught model YW 12 (not a 12 string)on eBay - probably should have checked first but got caught up in it and assumed it was a 'Yairi' guitar. Turns out that "K" Yairi is the maker of the higher end Alvarez-Yairi line. The headstock clearly says "SYairi", the seller claims it is has a solid spruce top and mahogony sides and back but knows nothing else about it's vintage.
: Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, John
John,
S. Yairi split from the K. Yairi guitar making family in Gifu, Japan about 10 years back. I'm unsure of the two's exact relation, but I did hear that S. Yairi worked in the family run guitar factory for more than 20 years before striking out on his own with his sons and a couple friends.
The reason you've never heard of S. Yairi is that, as far as I know, the guitars are only sold in Japan. However, they're every bit as good as K. Yairi (aka Alvarez Yairi).
S. Yairi doesn't make as many models as the main family, but all his guitars are quite nice - all handmade, solid woods, etc..
I'm not sure which one you have, but an S. Yairi would sell between $800 and $2000 new here in Japan (and not much less than that used if it was in top shape.)
Dan
Re: s Yairi guitar
: Anyone know anything about 'S YAiri' or 'Syairi' acoustic guitars? I just bought a dreadnaught model YW 12 (not a 12 string)on eBay - probably should have checked first but got caught up in it and assumed it was a 'Yairi' guitar. Turns out that "K" Yairi is the maker of the higher end Alvarez-Yairi line. The headstock clearly says "SYairi", the seller claims it is has a solid spruce top and mahogony sides and back but knows nothing else about it's vintage.
: Any help would be appreciated. Thanks, John
John,
I'd gotten the translation mixed up when I talked to a worker at a local music store here in Japan. I wish to nulify my previous post and answer it correctly.
K. Yairi, as many guitarists know, are very nice, hand-made, and somewhat expensive guitars. They're sold in the U.S. as "Alvarez Yairi" and in Japan as "K. Yairi." "S. Yairi" is Yairi's lower price line sold in Japan and factory made in Korea. They are good guitars, but certainly not of the caliber of a K. Yairi. In the U.S., the factory made guitars are sold as "Alvarez." So the guitar you bought on e-bay is similar to, or a little better than an average Alvarez. They are usually priced between $400 and $800 here.
By the way, I played a K. Yairi, Bob Weir 12 String at a music store, and was it ever nice! Absolutely the best 12 string I've ever had my hands on. Unforetunately, I can't afford the $1500 price.
Hope this info helps.
Dan
Re: s Yairi guitar
I purchased an S Yairi Guitar Model #9107 new in Northern California (Bay Area) in 1974. It is a standard acoustic design. The music store owner told me a story similar to Gary's - S Yairi was related to K, but struck out on his own. Most of his guitars were marketed in Japan, but some were made for export to the US. (Mine has a manufacturer's tag inside the box written in English). The store owner really appreciated the quality of S's workmanship and felt they were a better buy. I've owned mine since new (30 years now!), and it has certainly withstood the test of time. The guitar still plays beautifully, sounds awesome, and now my teenage daughter is beginning to use it. I'm trying to decide if I need to pick up another guitar to protect the S Yairi from a beginner, but heck, I learned on it and it didn't come to any harm!
Anyway, I hope you enjoy yours as much as I do mine. I think we paid about $225-$275 for it new in 1974.
Mark
Re: s Yairi guitar
:I recently bought a s yairi from a pawn shop for 300 in great condition its a 1974 730 12 string and by the look of it and from what i have read about them this price was a bargain if any one has info on the 12 string model i would lovee to hear about it
re: S Yari Guitars
I recently sold my 1974 S Yari 6 string to a Music store in WI and the guy behind the couter or the owner of the shop kept saying it was a Alvarez copy made in Japan. S Yari was with the family business which was hand made violins in Japan. Their family started producing hand made guitars what year I dont know. The family started Mass producing guitars and because of cost couldnt keep up with the market in price. S Yari made all of his own guitars (hand made) until and through 1974 and refused to mass produce. With that said he went out of business and discraced his family. I paid in 1974 with the case $135.00 My guitar was well played and had some damage to the body. I was as good sounding as any accoustic that I ever played. Including Gibson. Fender, Alvarez and Martin.
S Yairi Guitars
There is a lot of misinformation in the posts above. The story, in greatly abbreviated form, is as follows:
Prior to Sada Yairi's bankruptcy, sometime in the mid 1980's, and since sometime in the 1930's S. Yairi Guitars of Nagoya were the absolute epitome of Guitars manufactured by Japanese Luthiers.
The deservedly well respected K. Yairi Guitars are a faithfull echo both in design and in quality to the older S. Yairis. After Sada Yairi’s bankruptcy his assets and brand name was sold off. and although a relationship to Sada Yairi is claimed, no relationship can be discerned in the quality of any S. Yairi product offered from the late 1980’s onward. Luthier Sada Yairi was born in Japan over 105 years ago.
Pre-bankruptcy S. Yairi Guitars are as masterfully made as any you may find.
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