K Yairi YF20 1983

The YF20 is part of K. Yairi’s “Folk/000” family of small-body, responsive steel-string acoustics. These were hand-built in the Yairi workshop under Kazuo Yairi’s direction and exported widely under the Alvarez-Yairi banner.

80’s YF models are known for tidy craftsmanship, stable necks, and a comfortable, fingerstyle-friendly feel. This 1983 example has quite a bit of playwear with scratches and small dings, but nothing structural or alarming.

Importantly, it sounds really good acoustically, with a lot of body and volume for such a small body. The wide 47 mm nut gives extra room for right-hand dynamics and clean left-hand fingering, especially useful for open tunings and fingerpicking.

The guitar has a passive Fishman Natural 1 pickup installed. Weight is 1800g.

SPECIFICATIONS

• Year/Model: 1983 K. Yairi YF20
• Origin: Japan
• Finish: Natural gloss
• Body Style/Size: Folk / 000-inspired, 12-fret
• Top: Solid spruce, X-braced, hand-finished
• Back & Sides: Mahogany, laminated, as all Yairis are
• Neck: Mahogany, traditional dovetail set-neck
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Bridge: Rosewood, compensated saddle
• Scale Length: ~650 mm / 25.6″ (period typical)
• Nut Width: 47 mm
• String Spacing @ Saddle: ~58 mm (approx.)
• Frets: 19
• Truss Rod: Adjustable
• Nut/Saddle: Bone
• Tuners: Die-cast sealed, chrome
• Electronics: Fishman Natural 1 undersaddle pickup, endpin jack, passive
• Weight: 1800g