K Yairi Guitars Serial Numbers
Number system until his third guitar, serial #0372. Seven guitar serial numbers are follwed by the letter 'A'. Example: archtop guitar #23891 and #23891-A are two separate instruments even though both are numbered the '238th.' From Robert Benedetto’s Archtop Guitar Serial Number Log-book. Further information and a full serial number list can be. Apr 15, 2019 One of Bozo’s most popular designs was the Bell Western, and a small number of these were hand-built by K. Yairi in Japan, complete with the ornate design work. Later—and admittedly outside the general scope of this article—Yairi also license-built some guitars for George Lowden, and these, too, are much admired. All K.Yairi’ guitars are handmade instruments originating from the small community of Kani, located in the Honshu mountains, Japan. The ‘K.Yairi’ guitar company is the brainchild of Mr.Kazuo Yairi,for decades a highly respected luthier internationally. Sadao was uncle of Kazuo Yairi who built guitars mostly under his own brand, K. Yairi have been marketed under a few names in the United States, including Yairi & Sons, Kohno, Shelly, and Wilson. They also build guitars for other labels like Alvarez and, in the 1980s-1990s, for Irish brand George Lowden.
Yairi is the surname name of three Japaneseluthiers associated with quality handmade acoustic guitars.
In the 1960s and 1980s, Sadao Yairi made guitars under the S. Yairi brand. His son Hiroshi Yairi made acoustic guitars under Sadao's supervision (usually signed and/or stamped as by S. Yairi). Sadao was uncle of Kazuo Yairi who built guitars mostly under his own brand, K. Yairi.
S. and H. Yairi have been marketed under a few names in the United States, including Yairi & Sons, Kohno, Shelly, and Wilson. They also build guitars for other labels like Alvarez and, in 1980-1985 for Irish brand George Lowden.
For decades, the top-of-line Alvarez acoustic guitars are sub-branded Alvarez-Yairi, handmade in the same factory as K. Yairi guitars, and sold in the United States exclusively by Alvarez.
External links[edit]
- Kazuo Yairi Interview NAMM Oral History Library (2011)
Alvarez Yairi Acoustic Guitars
K. Yairi
The most beautiful Martin D-45 copies in the world, a 1976 K. Yairi YW-1000
I’m extremely happy with the two Morris I have and think that Terada is one of the better acoustic guitar builders in Japan. Having said that, I think everyone that is in to Japanese acoustics dream of owning a K. Yairi, at least I do. Unfortunately they are a bit too expensive for me, I’m sure they are worth it but you can get an old Martin, Gibson or Guild for that money. One thing that I really like with Yairi is that they use the year of the Emperor of Japan to determine the production year of their instruments, how awesome is that. See the list below.
Good materials are hard to find so it’s better to make guitars through limited production by hand instead of mass production. Trees are very important “precious” things so we should make good use of them. Guitars made with “heart” are the best use of trees. Kazuo Yairi
When was my Yairi made?
By reading the number stamped on the heel block of your Yairi, you can tell in which year it was made. The first two numbers correspond to the year of the Emperor of Japan at that time, see chart below. The second two numbers refer to the month of production. Taken from The Fellowship of Acoustics
A.D. Emperor Year
1970 Shōwa 45
1971 46
1972 47
1973 48
1974 49
1975 50
1976 51
1977 52
1978 53
1979 54
1980 55
1981 56
1982 57
1983 58
1984 59
1985 60
1986 61
1987 62
1988 63
1989 Heisei 1
1990 2
1991 3
1992 4
1993 5
1994 6
1995 7
1996 8
1997 9
1998 10
1999 11
2000 12
End of Emperor Date Code
2001 01
2002 02
2003 03
2004 04
etc.
K Yairi Acoustic Guitar
Emperor Shōwa and future Emperor Heisei on 10 April 1959