Alvarez Japan

[dagdred]

Some may have been made in the K. Yairi factory but unidentified

1970s Alvarez Made in Japan models without Yairi name on the label, certainly laminated back and sides, and many may be laminated top, is that right?

Does a 40 year old laminated top age into some good sound?

Are the Alvarez instruments from Japan 1970s known for good sound?

 

[silverfox103]

Hi dagdred

Besides Guilds, I like Alvarez Yairi Guitars, great quality and value. Over the years, I have had probably 10 and currently have 2, all classical guitars.

I think you are mixing apples and oranges together. S. Yairi Guitars and K. Yairi Guitars are made and sold in Japan. I believe S. Yairi is not in business anymore. To sell them in the US, K. Yairi linked up, in a business deal, with The St Louis Music Co., who must own Alvarez Guitars. In the US they are sold as Alvarez-Yairi. Do not confuse Alvarez guitars with Alvarez Yairi guitars---two different animals. Yairi's do not make Alvarez Guitars, but Alvarez-Yairi Guitars

Tom C.

 

[Brad Little]

Does a 40 year old laminated top age into some good sound?

General consensus is that a laminated guitar sounds as good as it's gonna be when it rolls off the assembly line. I don't think I've ever owned a laminated top guitar, and if I have, not long enough to know from experience.
Get one and let us know in 40 years :wink:
Brad

 

[dagdred]

No need to wait a few decades, 40 years old is available.

No confusion on Yairi. Though my mortal prose may not have been crystal.

One question is: who made Alvarez guitars in Japan? A vague reference somewhere in a forum said that one of the Yairi factories may have done.

Are you sure that it was S. Yairi who joined up with SLM?

Look at K. Yairi catalog at Yairi.co.jp

 

[silverfox103]

Are you sure that it was S. Yairi who joined up with SLM?

No, it was K. Yairi. I should have made that clearer, actually I did now by editing my original post.

Tom C

 

[kyguild]

Does a 40 year old laminated top age into some good sound?

General consensus is that a laminated guitar sounds as good as it's gonna be when it rolls off the assembly line. I don't think I've ever owned a laminated top guitar, and if I have, not long enough to know from experience.
Get one and let us know in 40 years :wink:
Brad

The only exception that I know of when it comes to laminated tops is old Yamaha FG guitars with the red label, that were made in Japan. I have an FG-110 that I bought new in 1972 (40 years ago, in fact) that keeps improving with age. Must be something in the glue they used for the tops, but it definitely sounds better now than when it was new.

Ky

 

[Brad Little]

The only exception that I know of when it comes to laminated tops is old Yamaha FG guitars with the red label, that were made in Japan. I have an FG-110 that I bought new in 1972 (40 years ago, in fact) that keeps improving with age. Must be something in the glue they used for the tops, but it definitely sounds better now than when it was new.

Ky

Maybe it has more to do with 40 years of practice :wink:
Brad

 

[SFIV1967]

Some Yairi info here: http://www.jedistar.com/jedistar_vintag ... ting_y.htm
Some Alvarez and Alvarez-Yairi info here (scroll down): http://www.jedistar.com/jedistar_vintag ... ing_a1.htm
Ralf

 

[roughdiamond]

..couple of unplugged Alvarez's with Al and Mr David Pulkingham. David uses his really well on tour http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jch_W7Oe3fk