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If you’re searching for a guitar maker that marries modern technology with a sense of classic craftsmanship, look no further than Alvarez Yairi guitars. The guitars are made by hand in a mountain village in Japan under the guidance of Kazuo Yairi, the renowned master luthier.

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 guitars with hand-molded bracing and time-honored dovetail neck joints. The Alvarez Yairi WY1 models are made under such demanding conditions, and it shows in their quality.

Alvarez Yairi makes a number of WY1 models available for sale, each distinguished primarily by the type of wood used for the top and side. For example, the standard model WY1 uses cedar for the top and rosewood for the back and sides. The WY1M relies upon attractive flamed maple for the top as well as the sides and back. The WY1K is constructed using magnificent Koa wood, again for the top, back, and sides. Finally, the WY1TS uses spruce for the top with figured maple supplying the wood for the back and sides.

All guitars in the WY1 series have the same basic feel, owing to their common construction blueprint. However, the variety of tonewoods available allow each model its own distinctive sound. Furthermore, the different models all have their own unique style of soundhole ornamentation and binding. Still, various models share excellent playability and build quality. Because of their versatility, the guitars lend themselves to many different styles of playing, from flatpicking to fingerpicking.

All of the above guitars come standard with the System 600T MK II electronics, which do an excellent job in translating the beautiful acoustic tones into quality electronic sounds.

Though the above models do not come standard with a condenser microphone, the MK II electronics provide for such expansion should the need arise, a wise move on Alvarez’s part. The electronics also include a very usable and welcome onboard guitar tuner.

Regarding the construction itself, Alvarez 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.

If you’re searching for a high caliber acoustic-electric guitar with a variety of wood options and quality electronics, look no further than the Alvarez Yairi WY1.

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