Its no secret that we love Alvarez guitars at Hometown Music. In fact Hometown has been selling Alvarez guitars for almost 25 years. We genuinely feel they represent one of the best values in guitar at every level, but the craftsmanship and value found in the guitars carrying the Alvarez-Yairi label is another level all-together. The Alvarez-Yairi labeled guitars are the result a decades long relationship between St. Louis Music and K. Yairi Guitars, that dates back to the very first "Alvarez" guitars, which were made by Kazuo Yairi's factory in Japan.
Kazuo Yairi was famous for collecting wood. Some believe K. Yairi Guitars has one of the world's largest collections of tone woods. Apparently there is so much wood in the collection, they can't actually store all of it at the factory!
If you collect wood like Kazuo did, you're bound to find some really incredible things along the way, and that's the idea behind the Alvarez-Yairi "Reserve" guitars. The team has been searching through the stacks with the goal of creating guitars from some of the rarest and most unique woods in the collection.
The first two "Reserve" models were announced at NAMM 2024, and the first of those two models has finally made its way into the hands of dealers. But there aren't many to go around.
We are honored to be one of the dealers who received the first of these unique guitars offered by Alvarez-Yairi, The FYM-88 "Reserve"; and there are only twelve of them. Yes, you read that correctly, twelve. There are only Twelve (12) of these guitars in the world, and there is one right here at our shop in Harrisonburg, VA!
The Alvarez-Yairi FYM88 "Reserve" combines Japanese "Kahida" for the back and sides, with a German Spruce top, and rosewood binding. This guitar is incredible in every way. Its unique wood combination has a tone that makes it unlike anything else in our shop. But at the same time, it is familiar with its effortless playability and balanced sound that Yairi is known for. Chords are full and ring beautifully, single notes play with clarity and authority, and the Folk/OM body shape make it comfortable to hold and very articulate sounding. We honestly think it's the best guitar we've played this year! Considering the how crazy the guitar world goes over rare and unique instruments, the fact that this entirely hand-made instrument is offered at only $4999.00 is truly amazing. Most of the other twelve have already been sold, so we don't expect this one will last long either.
If you'd like to discuss this guitar, feel free to give us a call at (540) 434-4159, or drop us a line at talktous@hometownmusic.net.
