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My all-time favorite guitar!
By: Clark
Submitted: 10/5/2023
1 person found this review helpful.
Product Rating
Product Review
This is an amazing guitar! It's a great deal! Best 1
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Fantastic Guitar for the price
By: Jeremy
Submitted: 7/25/2021
3 people found this review helpful.
Product Review
This was my first really nice guitar, and I researched quite a lot before settling on the Yairi. One of my biggest concerns was that no where carried the guitar near me, so I was ordering based on all of the positive reviews I had read for this instrument. AMS also has a very generous return policy, so I figured I was covered either way. Well, if you are in the market for one of these and are having similar concerns, just put them to the side and make the purchase. The guitar looks amazing, sounds amazing, and was delivered in a really timely manner. I would definitely recommend this guitar, as well as shopping through AMS.
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More than a guitar for me
By: Austin
Submitted: 3/6/2021
3 people found this review helpful.
Product Review
My father had a yairi he had purchased when i was a kid. I was amazed at the sound that came from it even at a young age. Over time it has aged so well and still releases such a clean sound. I brought it home after his sudden passing 2 months ago. I've found it difficult to play his and for that my wife surprised me with my own. I cannot believe how well it resonates. The tobacco sunburst is so beautiful and I Have yet to find a single flaw. The craftsmanship is outstanding, and I am thrilled to call it mine. This was my first time receiving a guitar through the mail, and upon arrival the packing was in great condition. You can definitely see that they care about the safe transportation of their products. I highly recommend this guitar aside from the sentimental value it has for me it really stands out and would win over Taylor or Martin in my opinion. Many many thanks!
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YOU WILL NOT REGRET IT
By: IbanezGuy
Submitted: 11/4/2020
12 people found this review helpful.
Product Review
I picked up a "blemish" model and I literally cant find the blemish. Guitar feels and sounds amazing, the case is really nice as well. Worth every penny.
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Beautiful to see and to play!
By: Davis Stillson
Submitted: 10/27/2020
5 people found this review helpful.
Product Review
I've wanted a Yairi made Alvarez acoustic for some time. Finally, I took the plunge and bought this guitar, I chose the Sunburst version and since I first played it, I was impressed.. But, it just keeps sounding better the more I play it.. I wanted a cutaway because I do play all over the fingerboard. The action is wonderful and the tone reproduction is the most even sound I have ever gotten. Rich lows and brilliant highs. The craftmanship is evident in every detail of the inlays and finish.. Best guitar I have ever owned! I have had Taylors, Washburns, Gibsons, and Martins, this guitar tops them all.. nuff said!
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Amazing neck
By: Mickey two notes!
Submitted: 8/19/2020
4 people found this review helpful.
Product Review
I’ve owned this Yairi WY1 for a week now and I have to say “wow” the closest comparison is to my Taylor 314 ce same body shape and playability. But the warmth of the cedar top is remarkably beautiful no more tinny highs and exaggerated boomy lows, it’s more balanced than the Taylor. And the fit and finish is spot on, if I were to lose or damage this guitar I would replace it in a heartbeat. It inspires me to play more, enough said I’m starting to bragg, once again thank you AMS for making this purchase possible. ????
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Beautifully Balanced Instrument
By: Rich
Submitted: 5/26/2020
3 people found this review helpful.
Product Review
I absolutely adore this guitar. Like many Alvarez Yairi guitars I’ve played before, this WY1 has such a unique and beautiful tone. It’s playability is something you would expect from a guitar twice it’s price. It projects loudly when you dig in and ask it to, and whispers perfectly with a gentle touch. I’ve already had several players do a double take in sessions where they heard the guitar in action (as they checked the headstock to see what the brand was). It plays like a professionally setup guitar right out of the box.
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Absolutely stunning quality
By: Matthew
Submitted: 4/20/2020
2 people found this review helpful.
Product Review
I've only had this guitar for a few hours, but it is such a fantastic axe that I had to write a nice review. It arrived packed well and in its very beautiful and sturdy wood case, which is covered in a khaki cloth with brown leather accents. Finding an extra ebony bridge pin with abalone dot along with the truss rod wrench was a surprising bonus, especially when the case was so pretty and solid to begin with. The guitar itself was tuned down a half-step and almost perfectly in tune after being ground shipped from Mississippi to Oregon, and all the humidity changes that entails. Only the B string needed a minor tweak up to perfect pitch. While this model plays like a dream and sounds absolutely divine, the most stunning part of the experience is that the fit and finish of this axe rivals Gibsons, Martins and Taylors I have played costing well over $3,000. It is a fairly loud guitar for its size, and the rosewood and cedar combination make for a very balanced sound that is not far off from an old rosewood/spruce Breedlove I have, although the spruce seems to resonate in the higher frequencies a little more than this Yairi's cedar top. The guitar responds instantly to dynamics, is well suited for both light fingerpicking and bold strumming, and will get loud or quiet depending on your attack without feeling like you are either fighting for more volume, or wondering if you're going to damage the instrument. This is one solid piece of lutherie, and like those much more expensive Gibsons and Martins, the responsiveness and lively feel of the guitar make you want to keep on playing more and more. Have I mentioned how freaking gorgeous this axe is? Again, you'd have to drop well over twice the price to get abalone binding, purfling and headstock inlays, walnut neck binding, ebony cap on the headstock, et cetera, from other manufacturers who oftentimes are selling you laminated back & sides, as opposed to Yairi's all solid wood construction. I've owned and played some very fine guitars over the last 41 years, but in my opinion, this is the best value on the acoustic guitar market today, hands down. If you are hesitant about buying this Yairi, don't be - you'll be as thrilled as I am by everything about this guitar.
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Gorgeous and plays like a dream
By: Matt Eldredge
Submitted: 4/9/2020
10 people found this review helpful.
Product Review
After searching my whole playing life for an acoustic to blend playability, tone and beauty. This amazing instrument takes the prize. Thank you Alvarez.
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Amazing guitar
By: Tom F.
Submitted: 3/15/2020
4 people found this review helpful.
Product Review
This guitar is the most beautiful sounding guitar I've ever played, bar none. The tonal qualities are rich all across, and up and down the fret board. The neck feels wonderful. I really cannot find anything I don't like about this guitar...heck I can't find anything about this guitar that I would even call average. As georgous as the guitar is, it plays and sounds even better. This is one of those guitars that will make you stop wishing for a different one. So glad I pulled the trigger on this beauty!
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Great customer service during the sale and on time delivery.
By: Daniel L Shealy
Submitted: 2/26/2020
2 people found this review helpful.
Product Review
Craftsmanship and attention to detail with the construction and finishes. There are no dislikes at all.
Less than 4 days and it's proven itself to be a great addition to my guitar collection. It meets and exceeds my all of my expectations. Thank You AMS
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Beautiful in every way
By: Ocoddball
Submitted: 10/26/2019
4 people found this review helpful.
Product Review
First off, it’s a beautiful guitar. More importantly, it sounds as good or better than any guitar I’ve ever played and I’ve been playing for nearly 40 years. The guitar arrived set up perfectly and to my amazement was even in tune. Sounds just as good through an amp as it does acoustically. Case fits perfectly and looks classy. I bought this when my 1st granddaughter was born and expect it to play and sound just as well when she inherits it.
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(WY1TS) This is a PLAYER'S perfect guitar
By: Sean
Submitted: 10/6/2019
8 people found this review helpful.
Product Review
The Alvarez WY1 (more specifically Tobacco Sunburst model) is one of the best guitars available, PERIOD. The slightly narrower neck and smooth fret board makes this guitar comfortable to play for hours at a time. The body is on the small and thin side of the scale. This makes it an ideal choice for anyone using it for work or gigs. On stage there is little or no feedback and the true tone of this beautiful instrument is... almost... "reflected" through a PA due to the high quality pre-amp and EQ already onboard. This guitar is essentially just plug and play.
In my experience, there is not a more expressive or intuitive guitar made today. It reacts to every input and nuance from your playing. It really is a magical experience once you get to know the guitar.
And from one player to another...you will definitely have to get to know it. This guitar is not like anything else you will ever play. It is ALIVE and you will realize that the moment you pick it up.
Some negatives:
1. It comes set up generically. An instrument like this can appeal to MANY styles of playing. While concert bodies in general are considered good for fingerstyle, fingerpicking, and more percussive playing, I promise you that this guitar will become what you want it to be. Just get it setup by someone who lives and breaths this stuff. Trust me.
2. It will NOT be OK just left out hanging on a wall or resting on a stand. You need to take care of it. Condition the fret board, maintain a consistent ambient temp, and for Pete's sake don't let the wood dry out!!!! Again, I promise it will be worth your time. Even though it is beautiful to look at...KEEP IT IN THE CASE STANDING UPRIGHT.
This is my second WY1TS. The first one was lost in a fire.
Even though Kazuo Yairi din't personally place his hands on it, the craftsmanship speaks for itself. American made guitars of this quality will cost you $3000 plus. And even then, I'd still rather my Japanese Alvarez.
In conclusion... if you are a guitar player then you want this guitar.
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A fine hand-made instrument that is made with genuine care and excellence.
By: Cymaticoustic
Submitted: 5/26/2019
5 people found this review helpful.
Product Review
Alvarez Yairi acoustic guitars are absolutely phenomenal. The Yairi series are handmade by master luthiers near a remote village in Japan that has been manufacturing world-class guitars for about 82 years. I encourage anyone who is considering spending $2,000+ on an acoustic guitar to consider watching the Yairi factory tour video on YouTube. As you will see, every Yairi is a one-of-a-kind guitar. The braces are hand-scalloped to perfection and then secured to the top with animal glue. The scalloped braces makes for a tight bass sound and clear treble. As a result, the balance between the treble and bass is outstanding. The raw wood is seasoned for up to 20 years before it is shaped into a guitar. The wood is air-dried naturally rather than being cooked in an oven or kiln. Everything about this guitar is incredible. I have owned and played an Alvarez Yairi WY-1 for the last 20 years and is unlike any acoustic guitar that I have ever played. Thanks to the incredibly well-balanced tone I have been able to develop a unique form of fingerstyle guitar music that is tuned to cymatic frequencies. This is the only guitar that has held its tune for me while tuned to low cymatic frequencies. Its also the only guitar that I've played which does NOT drown out the high tones while tuned low. Feel free to search "Cymaticoustic" on YouTube and listen to "Resilience" if you want to hear my WY-1 in action!
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Absolutely love it!
By: Tomas Alvarez
Submitted: 3/29/2019
2 people found this review helpful.
Product Review
This is one amazing guitar. I have owned some of the best guitars out there and this yairi is no exception. Perfect in sound and build quality. It is one of my main gigging acoustics. If you have ever wondered what guitars are worth the investment be sure to add this one to your list. No regrets here!
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Incredible!
By: TRedd
Submitted: 6/6/2018
6 people found this review helpful.
Product Review
I played my Taylor, then picked up my Yairi and I was blown away! It was like playing a piano! Every note projects!
This guitar is a bargain and I would put it up against any guitar! Super easy to play!
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Wish it was perfect
By: Bob
Submitted: 9/24/2017
5 people found this review helpful.
Product Review
Like the guitar overall quite well. Amplified sound good, sustain great. Not as happy with the factory set-up. Didn't expect to need a visit to a luthier with a piece of this quality.
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My new main acoustic guitar!
By: Alex O.
Submitted: 3/20/2017
3 people found this review helpful.
Product Review
Great tone & projection. The sustain on this guitar is amazing! The craftsmanship and attention to detail is what one can expect from Yairi. I've been looking a long time for a replacement for my faithful but beat up 23 year old Ovation Elite. This guitar sounds as good as guitars twice the price.
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Unbelievable
By: John T. Walsh Jr.
Submitted: 5/24/2016
4 people found this review helpful.
Product Review
Of all of the upper end Acoustic Guitars that I've owned, Martin, Gibson, Guild etc. this is w/o a doubt the finest guitar that I've ever wrapped my hands around. The craftsmanship built in to it is virtually flawless.
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Best guitar
By: Ryan
Submitted: 4/30/2016
4 people found this review helpful.
Product Review
I have owned mine for around ten years and this is the greatest guitar I have played. I own 2 martins and a Taylor and this guitar plays better and has great set up from the factory. These guitars are hand made from natural dried woods and come at a great price. It sounds great plugged in or unplugged.
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My new favorite acoustic!
By: Stratback
Submitted: 12/4/2015
6 people found this review helpful.
Product Review
Great craftmanship,no flaws,a real beauty.Plays easy, and sounds great. Looked at this for months before I bought.Case is awesome, made in Japan , not China.Considered Martin & Taylor, wanted something different but same or better quality. This one is right there.Projects well for folk size body.