K.Yairi YF-40, vintage natural, made in Japan 2001. Kazuo Yairi began making beautiful acoustic guitars by hand in the 1960s. The operation never got much larger than a workshop size, and even today all K.Yairi guitars are made by a small team of skilled craftspeople. They air-dry and mill their wood on site, which is both very unusual and hugely advantageous. This little beauty is based off the classic Martin 000-28, so you get a slim, smallish body made with a sitka spruce top and Indian rosewood back and sides, paired with a comfy slim neck. This sits on your lap very nicely. it's the perfect size for the couch, but also makes things a lot easier if you're playing long sets. The tone is bright, clear and open, with excellent balance across the strings and a tuneful voice that happily switches between fingerstyle and strummed parts. As always with Yairi, the woodwork is excellent: that bookmatched spruce top is gorgeous, and the thing has that certain liveliness to it you only get with quality stuff. If you're after a classy small-body that looks and sounds a lot pricier than it is, here's a beautiful buddy.

Model: K.Yairi YF-40 
Made: Japan, 2001, Gifu workshop
Serial: 69672
Finish: natural, vintage tint, gloss poly
Body: solid spruce top, laminate rosewood back and sides, 000 shape, X braced
Neck: mahogany, Indian rosewood fretboard, 24.9" scale, 12" radius, slim C shape
Weight: 
Mods: none
Pickup: none
Accessories: Yairi hard case

Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has minor dimples on the end and both edges. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples and a bit of rub wear on the back only. The back has dimples on the bottom shoulder and some scuffs in the elbow area, back edge and bottom corner. The sides have scuffs in the elbow area and bottom corner and some rub wear on the bottom shoulder. The front has dimples on the back edge and elbow area and some play wear on the guard and shoulders.
Overall: very good condition (8/10)

Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good. Setup with 12/54 strings.
Fret Life: 8/10, minor wear only