The Alvarez-Yairi WY1 models are a worthwhile purchase for anyone looking for a quality acoustic electric instrument.
Alvarez Yairi guitars fuse old world craftsmanship with new world technology. They are handcrafted in a Japanese mountain village workshop under the careful eye of master luthier Kazuo Yairi. Made with hand-selected tonewoods, Alvarez Yairi guitars are still made in an old-fashioned workshop with naturally air dried woods, handcrafted into world-class instruments with hand-molded bracing and time-honored dovetail neck joints. The Alvarez Yairi WY1 models are made under such demanding conditions, and it shows.
Features
There are a variety of WY1 models available, including the WY1 Standard, WY1K, WY1M, and WY1TS, each with a different choice of world-class tonewood. The standard WY1 has a cedar top with rosewood back and sides. The WY1M uses beautiful flamed maple for the top, sides, and back whereas the WY1K is built using gorgeous Koa wood. The WY1TS relies upon a spruce top with figured maple back and sides. Though the WY1 models share a basic feel and build, the tonewood choice allows each model to have its own unique "flavor." The different models each feature their own style of binding and soundhole ornamentation as well.
Regarding the construction itself, Yairi's clever design innovations include an extended neck tenon, providing broader range of truss rod adjustment with no neck/body irregularities. A unique coupled bridge design removes the forward pull from the bridge itself. The result? Greater stability and lighter bracing leading to freer tone.
All of the above models come standard with the System 600T MK II electronics. Though the above models do not come standard with a condensor microphone, the MK II electronics provide for such expansion should the need arise. The electronics also include an onboard tuner.
Performance
The build quality on the WY1 models is universally excellent. The action is smooth and lends itself to a wide-variety of styles. The sound quality is first-class as well, with clearly pronounced highs, mids, and lows. Both fingerpicking and strumming sounded equally good. The 600T MK II electronics do an excellent job in translating the beautiful acoustic tones into quality electronic sounds.
The Bottom Line
The Alvarez-Yairi WY1 models are a worthwhile purchase for anyone looking for a quality acoustic electric instrument.
Name of Gear: Alvarez-Yairi WY1
List Price: $2,199.99 - $2,699.00
Manufacturer Info: Alvarez Guitars; alvarezgtr.com
Pros: Excellent playability; wide range of tones
Cons: None
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