(SOLD) K.Yairi Y-018B Parlour Acoustic Guitar 2001
K.Yairi Y-018B, made in Japan 2001, natural satin. K.Yairi guitars enjoy a loyal and enthusiastic following, they produce truly beautiful handmade instruments and those that know them, love them. It's a much smaller operation than the Ibanez and Yamahas of the world, which allows for a stellar commitment to quality and detail seldom seen today. Unlike most other acoustic builders, Yairi are known to mill and air-dry their own tonewoods, which combined with absolutely flawless craftsmanship, makes for guitars with an exceptionally balanced and sweet tone. This is a parlour size small body acoustic, the '0' size is smaller than both the more common 000 or 00 sizes, so it's almost comically small and light . It's deceptively loud and offers a warm, assured low end for such a small body, it's really quite remarkable. There's a certain midrange focus to the tone, as is the goal of a parlour sized body, so it's great for fingerstyle and blues playing as there's a sweet eloquence and punch to each note. That piquant midrange is balanced by the classic warmth and airiness all Yairi guitars seem to have, resulting in a sublimely balanced tone that exudes character and nuance. K.Yairi necks are one solid piece of tonewood, including the headstock, which makes for a stable and resonant feel in the hands, and the slim profile makes for an efffortless player. I'm a longtime fan of small body acoustics, and this is definitely one of the sweetest sounding and best playing examples I've ever laid hands on. The case is nice too.
Model: K.Yairi Y-018B
Made: Japan, 2001 (serial 68451)
Finish: natural satin
Body: solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides, '0' size (14th fret parlour)
Neck: mahogany one-piece inc headstock, rosewood fingerboard, dovetail joint, 25" scale, 15" radius
Weight: 1.525kg
Pickup: none
Mods: none
Case: Yairi branded hard case, great quality and condition
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has a few winder marks around the tuners and a couple of dimples on the back, no major marks. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, rub wear and minor dimples on the back only. The back has a few scuffs in the middle of the body and on the bottom edge, as well as a little dent in the elbow area up on the top edge, no major marks. The sides have some very light scuffs on the top shoulder, some little dimples in the elbow area around to the bottom shoulder as well as some rub wear from contact, no major marks. The front has a handful of small dimples on the shoulders, near the bridge and on the back edge, as well as a few little scuffs from play; no major marks. Overall: very good condition (8/10).
Playing condition notes: action is moderately low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. Frets look pretty even and in reasonable shape, 7/10 for fret life left. Wearing fresh 12/54 John Pearse strings.