Alvarez Yairi Series WY1 Sunburst

A Little About Yairi

Wildwoodians, this Alvarez Yairi WY1 is a truly special instrument. If you're not familiar with Alvarez Yairi guitars, here's a quick primer: for more than half a century, Alvarez has had a small shop where an elite team of master craftsman (some of whom have spent five decades honing their craft) build guitars bearing the name Alvarez Yairi. Over the years, they've achieved lofty status in the world of acoustic guitars for their ludicrously amazing sound and supreme playability. One such player who fell under the Yairi spell was Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead, and this guitar is his signature model, which he designed many years ago with Kazuo Yairi, the shop's namesake. It's quite rare to find hand-built acoustic guitars at this price point, so it and all other Yairis are a tremendous value. Now, onto tone talk!

Sonic Evaluation

I'll be upfront about this: we were supposed to have two Alvarez Yairi guitars to post to the website, but when I went to evaluate the other one (a mahogany OM), I tuned it up and heard the strings all resonate together as I pulled the high E into tune and said "Oh, this is my guitar." Those words turned out to be prophetic. I took it home that evening, and I've since only taken breaks from playing it for food, water, and football. Even in the rarified air of Wildwood, Alvarez Yairis stand out.

Though I'm ultimately more of a mahogany guy, this WY1 is different from but equally magnificent as the one I made my forever guitar. It's a perfect example of why cedar and rosewood are a match made in heaven. You get world-beating dynamism and touch sensitivity from the cedar and all-encompassing richness from the back and sides. When you play softly, it has a round, warm, open sort tone full of subtle nuances and burnished bronze overtones. When you dig in, the guitar's voice gets sunny and lush as sparkling overtones pop out of the soundhole in droves. The musical compression you attain once you get the top moving at higher volumes is magical--it's the acoustic equivalent of a cranked Fender Deluxe. Whether you're playing softly or aggressively, the attack is quite springy and piano-like, and notes don't "break" even when you give it a good flogging.

Frequency-wise, it has great balance across the board, with deep, powerful lows along with punchy, overtone-laden mids and sweet, jangly highs. Each note has considerable presence and weight, even up past the cutaway on the high frets. Its clarity and articulation are also top-notch, and notes blend beautifully and harmoniously when you play complex chords.

I had a wonderful time playing the WY1 fingerstyle and with a pick, and I'd be hard pressed to decide which style it likes more. Its stout enough for heavy strumming but responsive enough for delicate fingerpicked passes, and single-note lines really sing.

We're proud to present this Alvarez Yairi guitar, and I have no doubt that if you take it for a spin, you'll want to join the Yairi Owner's Club with me!