K.Yairi FY-5EC Travel Size Acoustic/Electric Amber 1990
K.Yairi FY-5EC, made in Japan 1990, amber finish. I love Yairi stuff, they do such beautiful work. They do everything the time tested way: air dried timbers, dovetail neck joins, hand scalloped bracing, hand carved necks... slow, but careful, and the results speak for themselves. These days everyone makes little travel guitars, but the idea wasn't nearly as widespread back in 1990. The body is a similar shape to a Takamine New Yorker or a Martin 0, a small parlours style with a 14th fret join, but it comes with a handy cutaway. You get a nice little pickup too, which sounds pretty natural and translates nicely. The tone is beautifully balanced: even across all the strings, clear attack, measured sustain, complex blooming mids and a sweet, succinct treble. I enjoy this more than the usual offenders by Maton, Taylor and Martin in this body size, I feel it's a much more balanced tone and a better feel. Plus, the amber shaded top has a nice look too.
Model: K.Yairi FY-5EC
Made: Japan, 1990, Gifu workshop
Serial: 38930
Finish: amber top, natural back and sides, satin poly
Body: solid sitka spruce top, Indian rosewood back and sides, 333mm across, 95mm deep, parlour/travel size
Neck: mahogany, rosewood fretboard, 44mm nut, 632mm scale
Weight: 1.710kg
Mods: none
Pickup: NB Ducer PR-400 piezo and preamp system
Accessories: basic gig bag
Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock has some dimples on the end and a couple of small dents on the bottom edge. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, dimples and some rub wear on the back. The back has rub wear along the top and bottom edges. The sides have rub wear in the elbow area, dimples near the jack and some dimples and rub wear on the bottom shoulder. The front has dimples along the back edge, elbow area and around the bridge and some rub wear on the shoulders.
Overall: excellent condition (8.5/10)
Playing condition notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good. Setup with 11/52 Moonshiners strings.
Fret Life: 8/10, minor wear only