The Alvarez partnership with the Yairi family of luthiers in Kani, Japan is a cherished part of our 55-year history. Kazuo Yairi’s influence can be seen and heard in every guitar we make, from his innovations in bracing and instrumental architecture to his knowledge of tonewoods and their specific attributes and characteristics.

Alvarez-Yairi represents our flagship guitars, where each instrument is treated and prepared as a handmade work of art. Each brace is carved by hand, each neck is spokeshaved to perfection. Tonewoods of the highest grade are naturally seasoned for years to decades before being used in the production process.

We take the same deliberate approach to our finishes, which range from shimmering natural satin to breathtaking sunbursts and shadowbursts. Careful preparation and years of experience allow our craftsmen to keep the finish thin, allowing our high-grade tops an excellent rate of vibration and movement.

Alvarez-Yairi has its roots in classical guitars, and since the 1960s we’ve learned how to take full advantage of the seasoned tonewoods, structure and bracing of the classical shape, producing tone that has inspired some of the best players around the world. The Yairi workshop has been building concert classical guitars for 85 years and are renowned around the world for their exquisite quality.

The CY75CE features a solid AA grade cedar top and is finished in a beautiful natural gloss. It is fitted with the LR Baggs Stage Pro and Element pickup system.

The StagePro Element is a side-mounted preamp/EQ that offers easy battery access and a full chromatic tuner with three band EQ. Unlike common undersaddle pickups that are dependent on string compression for their sound, the Element Pickup was engineered to mirror the soundboard’s actual movement as you play, reproducing the natural sound of the guitar very closely.

Like all Yairi Standard Series, this guitar is made from premium tonewood that has been seasoned naturally for 5 to 15 years in the perfect climate of Kani.

Kani is in the prefecture of Gifu in the hills north of Nagoya. This wood preparation and environment for building guitars is very important to the structural integrity of the instrument and helps to ensure decades of stability and performance from your Yairi.

Experiencing an Alvarez-Yairi is to experience the very passion that drives us. These are truly marquis instruments and represent what’s at the heart of the Alvarez culture: Continual improvement and attention to detail that will give our players a lifetime of musical fulfillment.