K.Yairi G-1F parlour, sunburst, made in Gifu Japan 2001. This is a gorgeous little guitar, I'm very fond of it. Kazuo Yairi began making guitars in the late 60s, continuing to run as workshop-style builder with handpicked staff, an on-site timber milling and drying facility and a preference for time-honoured hand techniques to this very day. This guitar is a good example of why Kazuo's hands-on approach to sourcing, air-drying and selecting tonewood pays off: that cedar top is outrageous. The grain lines, each representing a yearly growth ring of a giant red cedar, are spaced at around 0.5mm all the way from the centre to the outside of the bookmatched top.... that's a very tight grain, which you only get on the highest grade soundboards. The resulting tone is balanced, rich, full and expressive. There's plenty of natural brightness and sparkle, a feature of only the finest cedar top guitars, paired with a nuanced midrange brimming with complex harmonics and a percussive, defined low end. There's heaps of natural volume on offer for a smaller body too. The neck is comfy and slim, and the small size lightweight body is very easy to get your arms around... it's very easy to get along with indeed. Needless to say it looks good too, the subtle fade of the sunburst is perfectly executed. This is a beautiful handmade instrument, destined to become your family heirloom, right?

Model: K.Yairi G-1F
Made: Japan, 2001 (serial 70727)
Finish: sunburst, high gloss
Body: solid cedar top, mahogany back and sides, '00' size
Neck: mahogany one-piece inc headstock, rosewood fingerboard, dovetail joint, 25" scale, 15" radius, 14th fret price
Weight: 1.600kg
Pickup: none
Mods: none
Case: basic hard case

Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has some minor scuffs on the end. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor dimples on the back only. The back has some minor scuffs around the outside edges and middle of the body, no major marks. The sides have very light scuffs around the whole body and some dimples on the bottom corner. The front has has some dimples along the back edge and shoulders, some rub wear in the elbow area as well as some standard play scuffs around the soundhole. Overall: very good condition (8/10).

Playing condition notes: action is moderately low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. The frets have minor wear only, 8/10 for fret life left. Wearing fresh 11/52 John Pearse strings.