Hi all,
I was wondering if anybody could help me with their opinions or thoughts on a Yairi Flamenco. I am looking at a 1992 Yairi model GF 350 signed by H. Yairi, sp/cy construction, it has a red stripe down the middle of the headstock. It appears to be Rosewood and it matches the binding. It has a Gopeador that is wore out and in fact someone overlaid another Golpeador over the old one, not sure why but it needs to be removed. It has a few dings and dents as it was owned by a pro. The current owner is asking $3,000 and it sounds muy Flamenco however I think the price is a bit high based on its general condition. Any input would be great!! Thanks in advance for your help...

I have never seen or even heard of a Yairi Flamenco guitar. K. Yairi and S. Yairi classical and folk acoustic guitars were widely available at low prices (a few hundred U.S. Dollars) in Japanese musical instrument shops years ago. A Tokyo shop owner told me that K. and S. are brothers who had a workshop in a small Japanese mountain village. Another shop owner told me years later that their guitar making business went bankrupt and that they moved it to Korea. However, that is second-hand information. I don't know whether it is true.

I saw a few classical guitars in Japan that were signed by H. Yairi. The construction looked identical to the K. and S. Yairi's I had seen, so H. Yairi may have been another relative who worked in the same shop. However, that is mere speculation.

None of the Yairi classical guitars I played were high-quality instruments. They looked and sounded like typical student guitars worth a few hundred dollars. Of course, it is possible that Yairi also made high-quality guitars and that the shops I visited only carried student models.

However, based upon the Yairi guitars I played and the condition you describe the guitar you are looking at to be in, the $3,000 seems grossly excessive.

-Bob

Yes, Yairi made several flamencos and not sure when he started but probably in the 60's. They were part of the Alvarez line. I had the opportunity to play on one in 1972 and it was alright, but not for the new price. I think the price is because of the rarity. For $3000 you can get a good used handmade Spanish guitar or put a few more bucks with it and get a new Shelton-Farretta http://www.shelton-farretta.org/ This link might help http://reviews.harmony-central.com/revi ... F-250/10/1 more links http://www.guitarsite.com/database/Guit ... /450.shtml

More owners of the Yairi flamenco think highly of them and they appraise high but I still feel it is based on rarity.

Thanks to all for your quick replies... I just checked the instrument out last night and on closer inspection it is a K Yairi not "H" and it is a Flamenco model #GF350 which it says is handmade and it is constructed of Cypress back and sides with a Cedar top. I believe they also make a GF500 which is top of the line. This was owned by a Canadian professional Flamenco player and someone applied a Golpeador right over the factory one which I assume was worn out from playing. Not sure why you would do that but perhaps a touring pro wouldn't really care about this instrument as it was a working guitar. Overall the guitar is in good shape and it sounds good but the top could use a refinish. I doubt I'm going to persue this instrument any further especially due to the asking price however It projects very well and does sound very good...
Sig--

The double golpeador would increase the effective thickness of the sound board. That probably degrades the sound, but removing and replacing a golpeador can be difficult and risky.

As Manos Lentas said, for $3000 you could buy a good used Spanish made guitar that probably would be better.

Alvarez,
Thanks for your reply, I agree with your assessment and Manos Lentas' as well...

My Yari is from 1972. Cyprus back and sides with a Cedar top. Peg head, it was the only flamenco guitar that I owned until 2003. I love it. $3000 sounds very excessive, but I just bought a DeVoe a year ago, so it might be a bargain (not likely though).

Al

Kazuo Yairi has made quite a few flamenco models~ The K. Yairi GF Series, flamenco models included the GF80, 100,
200, 250, 350, and the GF-500 (these are the only models I've seen). The only ones sold in the U.S. were the 5027 (all laminate and not made by Kazuo), 5017, 5018, and 5019. The 5017 through 5019 were the same as the GF80, GF250 and GF500 (top of the line).

The 1970's 5017 was traditional style with viola style tuning pegs of choice Ebony, precision set so that they turn easily and hold firm. The fingerboard is Ebony with nickel silver frets. Action is set low, fingering is light and especially adjusted for flamenco left hand techniques. Close grained, aged solid Spruce top with thin tapping plates and solid cypress back and sides. Early 70's sold for $349. now usually goes (depending on condition) between $350 and $650.

Regards~
yl