Alvarez Yairi DY55, Dreadnought Acoustic, Hardshell Case - Used
Kazuo Yairi began building guitars in Kani, Japan in the 1960s with a single clear ambition: to compete directly with Martin, Gibson, and Guild for the serious acoustic guitar market in the United States. He achieved that ambition by doing things the way the great American makers had done them during their finest years — hand construction, quality tonewoods, careful attention to voicing and bracing — and selling the result at a fraction of the American retail price. The guitars that came out of his workshop became quietly legendary among players who found them, and the Alvarez Yairi brand developed a devoted following that persists today. The DY55 is a dreadnought built to the same design principles as the best American flat-tops of the era, and the 1989 examples represent the mature expression of that work.
This one is a particularly attractive example. The darker, more figured back and sides — rosewood or jacaranda, the grain is deep and complex — are bookmatched and beautiful. The solid spruce top has aged to a warm natural patina and the ebony fingerboard and bridge are in good shape. The guitar has that airy, balanced dreadnought tone that good Japanese construction from this era consistently delivers — clear and present across the full frequency range without pushing too hard in any one direction. Setup at spec and playing great.
Two cosmetic details worth calling out honestly. The nut and saddle show green staining from string corrosion that has been absorbed into the bone — we attempted to clean it and the color is in there to stay. It is cosmetic only and does not affect playability, tone, or function, but buyers should know. Additionally, the finish on the back and sides has begun to develop a light fogginess consistent with lacquer oxidation on a guitar of this age. Again, purely cosmetic. Neither of these is unusual for a 35-year-old instrument, and neither affects how the guitar plays or sounds. Check the photos carefully for both. Condition is Very Good overall, with only minor play wear beyond the above.
- Make: Alvarez Yairi
- Model: DY55
- Year: 1989 (dated on interior label)
- Builder: Kazuo Yairi, hand-built in Japan
- Country of origin: Japan (MIJ)
- Body style: Dreadnought
- Top: Solid spruce
- Back and sides: Rosewood or jacaranda (darker figured grain — solidity unconfirmed; verify before posting)
- Bracing: Scalloped X
- Binding: Ivoroid and black with black/white/black purfling
- Neck: Mahogany
- Fingerboard: Ebony, 12" radius, pearl dot inlays
- Headstock: Rosewood veneer, inlaid Yairi logo
- Bridge: Ebony
- Bridge pins: White with abalone dots
- Nut width: 1.75"
- Scale length: 25.5"
- Frets: 20 (14-fret neck join)
- Pickguard: Tortoise teardrop
- Tuners: Chrome enclosed Alvarez-Yairi
- Electronics: None
- Nut and saddle: Bone, green staining from string corrosion — cosmetic only, does not affect function
- Finish: Back and sides showing light lacquer fogginess consistent with age — cosmetic only
- Modifications: None confirmed
- Includes: Original hardshell case
Ships carefully packed and insured for full value.
International buyers are welcome — please contact us for a shipping quote before purchasing.
About Mill River Music
Mill River Music is an independent, human-powered music shop located in downtown Northampton, MA, run by a team of players, enthusiasts, and certified repair technicians. Every piece of used gear we sell is personally inspected, tested, and set up before it ships — we don't list it until we'd be happy to play it ourselves.
As Martin and Taylor certified techs, we hold our guitar work to a high standard, and we're committed to full transparency about the condition of everything we sell. No surprises.
When you buy from Mill River, you're supporting an independent local business that genuinely cares — about gear, about players, and about doing things right. We're here every step of the way. Reach out anytime.
