This is an early, pre-export Yairi Gakki classical guitar, handmade in Nagoya, Japan in 1962. These early ’60s Yairi instruments were built well before the Alvarez partnership and represent some of the finest work from the company’s formative years.
The guitar features a solid spruce top paired with solid maple back and sides, giving it a clear, focused voice with excellent projection and articulation. The maple back shows beautiful natural figure that has deepened with age, and the instrument remains lightweight and responsive, as you’d expect from a hand-voiced classical of this era.
The mahogany neck has a comfortable traditional classical profile, with a rosewood fingerboard and bridge. Original slotted headstock with vintage tuners. Simple, elegant rosette and period-correct bindings complete the understated aesthetic.
Cosmetically, the guitar shows honest wear consistent with age — small dings, scratches, and finish wear throughout — but no major structural issues. It has clearly been played and cared for, and it resonates freely with a warm, articulate tone.
Early Yairi Gakki guitars like this are becoming increasingly difficult to find, especially examples with solid maple construction from the early 1960s.
A wonderful piece of Japanese guitar history and a great player for anyone looking for a unique vintage classical.
Just cleaned and restrung and sounds great!
Case: Hard
Scale Length: 650mm
Nut Width: 51.2mm
Fret Wear: 10/10
Action at 12F (6th): 4mm
Action at 12F (1st): 3.5mm
Weight: 1299grams
Overall Condition: 8/10
Cool Factor: 11 out of 10
USA Seller, check my feedback to see how I value my customers and see my other listings for more rare Japanese Guitars and other unique gear! I use recycled packaging for reduced environmental impact and ship all items 100% insured against loss or damage.
Internal Use (Bin) - PA-9
This is an early, pre-export Yairi Gakki classical guitar, handmade in Nagoya, Japan in 1962. These early ’60s Yairi instruments were built well before the Alvarez partnership and represent some of the finest work from the company’s formative years.
The guitar features a solid spruce top paired with solid maple back and sides, giving it a clear, focused voice with excellent projection and articulation. The maple back shows beautiful natural figure that has deepened with age, and the instrument remains lightweight and responsive, as you’d expect from a hand-voiced classical of this era.
The mahogany neck has a comfortable traditional classical profile, with a rosewood fingerboard and bridge. Original slotted headstock with vintage tuners. Simple, elegant rosette and period-correct bindings complete the understated aesthetic.
Cosmetically, the guitar shows honest wear consistent with age — small dings, scratches, and finish wear throughout — but no major structural issues. It has clearly been played and cared for, and it resonates freely with a warm, articulate tone.
Early Yairi Gakki guitars like this are becoming increasingly difficult to find, especially examples with solid maple construction from the early 1960s.
A wonderful piece of Japanese guitar history and a great player for anyone looking for a unique vintage classical.
Just cleaned and restrung and sounds great!
Case: Hard
Scale Length: 650mm
Nut Width: 51.2mm
Fret Wear: 10/10
Action at 12F (6th): 4mm
Action at 12F (1st): 3.5mm
Weight: 1299grams
Overall Condition: 8/10
Cool Factor: 11 out of 10
USA Seller, check my feedback to see how I value my customers and see my other listings for more rare Japanese Guitars and other unique gear! I use recycled packaging for reduced environmental impact and ship all items 100% insured against loss or damage.
Internal Use (Bin) - PA-9
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