Alvarez

“In the small town of Kani, nestled in the hills north of Nagoya, Japan, lies the renowned K. Yairi guitar factory.  They have been crafting guitars here for over 80 years.

Alvarez and Yairi have enjoyed an uninterrupted 55-year partnership in producing exquisite guitars, made by hand, from naturally seasoned woods with an unwavering commitment to quality and design.  Every neck is spoke shaved by hand, braces are carved, and tops are tuned to perfection.  The attention to detail and quality of the build are impeccable.

Kazuo Yairi and his loyal team of luthiers created an incredibly efficient and innovative workshop.  Being able to work with such a lineage of master builders is very rare.  Some of the luthiers have been at Yairi for over 50 years.  Their skills and experience are shared with younger luthiers to form a multi-generational team who have chosen guitar building as their livelihood and dedicated their working lives to the craft.” – From the Alvarez Website.

The perfect marriage of form and function, a Yairi guitar is always a sought after commodity.  Meticulously crafted in Nagoya, Japan, this FYM500V is dripping in Paua Shell purfling and inlays which bring class without being ostentatious.  These adornments compliment a guitar that features some of the most sought after woods in an acoustic guitar, from its AAA Sitka Spruce top and Indian Rosewood back and sides to its Ebony Bridge and Fingerboard, with extensive maple binding throughout. 

This particular piece sounds every bit as decadent as its looks would imply.  An ideal folk style guitar, equally capable of keeping up with strumming and fingerstyle playing, notes leap from the fretboard and develop swiftly with tonal complexity denoting shimmering, chimey highs, and a balanced and present low end that adds a depth of character seldom seen in instruments that don’t boast a larger top. Its smaller OM-shaped body and 12-fret joint lend an open and woody character with inviting harmonic bloom and make for a comfortable playing experience for players of all body types.

This guitar was exceedingly well-kept through its 20+ years but does show some subtle signs of wear. The most notable of this would be some finish chip-out around its bridge pins (which are also a bit scarred, likely from a previous owner using pliers to pull them out).  There are also a few extremely minor dents on the body and headstock with some faint scratches on the back. We would rate this in EXCELLENT+ Condition.

• AAA Sitka Spruce Top
• FST2 Scalloped Bracing
• Solid Indian Rosewood Back & Sides
• Maple Body Binding
• Paua Shell Top Purfling
• Two Ring Rosette with Paua Shell Outer Ring
• Gloss Body Finish
• Mahogany Neck
• Semi-Gloss Neck Finish
• Slotted Headstock
• Ebony Fingerboard
• Maple Fingerboard Binding
• Paua Shell Fingerboard Purfling
• Paua Shell Vine Fingerboard Inlay
• Rosewood Headstock Veneer
• Maple Headstock Binding
• Abalone/Paua Flowerpot Headstock Inlay
• Paua Shell Headstock Purfling
• Ebony Direct Coupled Bridge
• Gold Gotoh Vintage Style Tuners with Butterbean Buttons
• Bone Nut and Saddle
• Faux Tortoiseshell Pickguard
• 25 1/2” Scale Length
• 1 ¾” Nut Width

Alvarez Hard Case (Near Mint)