Alvarez Yairi WY1 Acoustic-Electric Guitar, Solid AA Western Red Cedar, Natural

The WY1 is a benchmark model for Alvarez-Yairi. It was originally designed for (and with) Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead, hence where the “W” came from in the model number, and was a unique body size for Yairi when it launched.

The AA Western Red Cedar top paired with Rosewood works for all playing styles and its body size, being deeper than our stand OMs, provides more air volume and projection while still being a very comfortable size.

The WY1 has an extended dovetail neck construction that maximizes the energy transfer between the neck and body. It also allows for a wider range of rod adjustment and decreases the risk of any neck/body irregularities.

Further innovation comes with the Direct Coupled Bridge. This system displays the craftsmanship with which these guitars are made. The DC Bridge means the pins actually go into the top of the guitar, taking the vibration to the heart of the soundboard and simultaneously increasing the break angle from the saddle to the top. This increased down pressure raises string tension, giving the guitar a very responsive feel and adding quality to its volume and sustain.

Like all Yairi Masterworks, this guitar is made from premium tonewood that has been seasoned naturally for 5 to 15 years in the perfect climate of Kani.

Kani is in the prefecture of Gifu in the hills north of Nagoya. This wood preparation and environment for building guitars is very important to the structural integrity of the instrument and will help to ensure decades of stability and performance from your Yairi.