How is a hand-made acoustic guitar different to a production guitar?

On this week’s show, we have two Parlors with the same specs: our brand-new Laureate LP70e and our 2024 Yairi Masterworks PYM70. Both all solid guitars with beautiful Sitka Spruce tops and Indian Rosewood backs and sides. But: one is hand-made by Luthiers, and the other is a guitar crafted in a modern production environment. Both are incredible instruments, without doubt. Are the differences between them perceptible? What are you receiving when you choose a handmade instrument? Come, be part of the conversation on Alvarez TV
0:00 Intro
0:18 Jam - “Major Bends, Serious Indentations”
2:31 What we’re playing
3:18 The Process: Tonewoods
6:20 The Process: Torrefaction vs natural curing
7:40 The people who build
9:33 Laureate and the luthier approach
11:46 “Luthiers listen with their hands”
16:02 Necks
19:15 We can Influence both ways
21:50 Listening to the difference
23:10 Wrap Up
25:05 DEMO: Laureate LP70e vs Alvarez Yairi PYM70
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#handmade #productionguitars #alvarezguitars #acousticguitar #laureate #alvarezyairi #benchmade #acoustic #alvareztv

[@triples4good]

I just revisited this video. I recently purchased a Laureate LP70e. It’s an amazing guitar, but wow, that Yairi just has something intrinsically magical in the tone.

[@roior]

Love Alvarez, Yairi's my favorites! Can't wait for you demoing FYM74ce ! A virtual tour on Yairi factory would be awesome 😎

[@scottfishkind5335]

I always appreciate the passion and transparency of your videos!

[@CameraLaw]

Really, this conversation hit the subject right out of the park. And the end playing comparison punctuated all the thoughtful observations. The Yairi imparts the soul of the builders, and perhaps the mountain air of Kani, in mystical ways. Yet the Laureate sounds rich, wonderful and, for many players, a parlor is not their main axe and may not justify a top dollar purchase when second best is first rate. While on the subject, Dee’s playing was first rate today, and Chris, you were really laid back and on it in the intro. Your videos are a treat, mates!

[@andrewhnorris1]

I have both a Yairi and Artist Mahogany Parlour. I've just bought a Yairi PYM66HD Parlour for around £3000 (imported) to go alongside my Alvarez AP66SHB Parlour £329. My main impression isn't how good the Yairi is (though it is a very good guitar), but how good the AP66SHB is for the money. The build quality is just as good - there are some imperfections in the Yairi which surprised me; the build quality of the Artist series is amazing really. The satin finish on the neck and back and sides is just stunning; I wish the whole guitar was satin. The tone of the Yairi is slightly more focused, but the Alvarez artist series has a lovely warm and appealing tone. I changed the tuners on the Artist for Grover tuners (Yairi comes with Gotoh). They are both lovely guitars but the Artist series is by far the best value. I'd say the cheaper Alvarez is best value guitar I've ever owned, and I've owned quite a few.

[@johnjones-uc3ni]

When Chris played the notes on the Laurette then the Yairi, there was an obvious difference in sound of these two guitars. The Laurette sounded really good. But the Yairi was clearly more pronounced and resonant.

[@jbsguitars8373]

Wow!! Even through the cell phone you can hear the gorgeous woody tones coming through

[@RR-mi5ni]

Again, a great, informative and inspiring video. You guys are outstandig! Many thanks for all the information and explanation.

[@waynzwhirled6181]

This is a wonderful show. Your shows are consistently excellent. Please don't change a thing. Thank you.

[@AlvarezGuitarsOfficial]

We love to hear this! Thanks for your kind words @waynzwhirled6181 👍

[@alisonk3148]

As an engineer, I really enjoyed this conversation. By the way, I stumbled across your channel when I was learning about different tonewoods while shopping for my first new guitar. I found it so helpful that I eventually brought home a sweet little AF70e ❤

[@lhvent]

This is a wonderful video. Some amazing guitars.

[@jasper_north]

Lovely playing… impressive!!

[@richardeckert1050]

Great video, it would been interesting to swap the instruments and repeat the opening stand. Thanks for the video.

[@ronchave6354]

Nothing better than getting truly honest, no nonsense information on the guitars made by Alvarez. A brand that stands out for quality and value for money. Thanks again Chris and Lee.

[@AndreRMeyer]

genial, so schön. Greetings from the sunny climes of Basle, Switzerland

[@triples4good]

Absolutely brilliant playing. Yairi and Alvarez very quickly becoming my favorite guitar makers and brands. Love that arrangement too!

[@AlvarezGuitarsOfficial]

Thank you very much, @triples4good. 🙌

[@lancemckinney914]

Thank you for all the VERY informative videos guys! I’ve seen all the Yairi factory videos and loved them. That being said, I’m a personal enjoyment player, and I could immediately tell the difference between those 2 parlor guitars! The Yairi had just a bit more “flavor” from the first strum.

[@Akapickles]

That Yairi has some great sustain for a parlor. There are some songs in those two instruments for sure. The difference between production and luthier built instruments has gotten smaller over the last 20 years but there is still a significant difference in so many ways. I would love to hear a Yairi built with the Laureate woods and a Laureate built from wood in the Yairi stockpile.

[@mk-wv6yv]

I have been sold on Yairi models for years. Currently my FYM66HD is my go-to for fingerpicking and its brother, the DYMR70SB, is my strumming machine. Both are extremely light weight and responsive. Can't wait to get my hands on a GYM74.

[@observingyt6159]

Would love to see a video with the new Masterworks MG60, The grand auditorium

[@brianhoey1107]

A great video dealing with sophisticated concepts as well as physical tonalities. It clarifies issues many of us have speculated on regarding guitars that come out of factories vis a vis workshops. Am I right in thinking that my wonderful Alvarez/Yairi FYM66HD is hand-made.

[@punsandriffs]

hey guys....I bought the MD70e and it will be arriving in a few hours. I have not seen a single video of it and I have not tried it but I just saw the woods y'all put on there and had to do it. Any chance a video is going up in a few hours? xD

[@davidhirst1661]

I have a md70bg and its my favourite acoustic guitar that I've owned. I feel it compares to the Martin D28 and D35 (which I've played extensively). The forward shifted X bracing gives it more resonance, and the bi-level bridge give it a bit of extra tension which has allowed me to lower the action a bit and still have a lot of punch (it was a bit too high anyway). For around £799 it compares to those guitars that are around £2000 tp £3000, truly! I actually like it better because of the resonance and string tension. I'm not a fan of saggy sounding guitars, I like a strong, punchy tone.

[@gui-texzan7477]

@alvarez guitars Do you know when the Yairi DYM74's will ship? I have on order with a local/regional shop and am anxious to get it home. Thanks for any info you can share!

[@lefthandpath1587]

I'd ping Jeremy Shepherd at Hometown Music if your local store is not responsive, he seems to be able to get his hands on Yairis. Or Kyle at MusiciansMadness (both small local shops, both excellent service and pricing - got my FYM60HD from Kyle)

[@gui-texzan7477]

@@lefthandpath1587 Thank you for the guidance - I appreciate it!

[@Big.E]

The note separation is clear both nice though

[@DriftwoodBeachMom]

So beautiful! What strings and gauge do you have on the Yairi Masterworks? I was impressed by the degree you were able to bend them.

[@lefthandpath1587]

from the website - D'Addario EXP16

[@aaronharter9592]

What constitutes a luthier built instrument? It’s not like Yairi is building each and every instrument one at a time by an individual luthier. They also use production line practices, just on a smaller scale. They aren’t a bench made instrument. They do have a custom shop, but these guitars aren’t.

[@kamarienedwards1757]

I brought up this same question about someone saying they won’t play a bourgeois touchstone (Eastman) because they’re made in china. They brought up how they technically aren’t affordable luthier guitars. Once they said this I questioned them about Collings and bourgeois guitars because we deem them as luthier guitars but they aren’t hand built by one person anymore. So what do you constitute as a luthier made guitar?I would love to hear your thoughts behind this:)

[@aaronharter9592]

⁠@@kamarienedwards1757 Wayne Henderson, John Greven, Bruce Petros, the list goes on and on. Both Bob and Dana both started off as luthiers and built a name into a company. I don’t know anyone around that wouldn’t agree that their early one off instruments were the cream of the crop. Although I will say that both companies produce far fewer instruments per year than Yairi does.

[@lefthandpath1587]

@@kamarienedwards1757 I think if someone is applying that as the standard - hand built by one person - you're talking about a 18k to 25K base investment and multi-year wait from a quality luthier. The guitar will be absolutely astonishing, but you're talking there about a guitar that is more a functional art piece, than simply a high quality musical instrument. Checkout Bashkin Guitars or Driftwood guitars for examples.

[@jed1166]

@@kamarienedwards1757I have been in the Eastman factory in Beijing, and the only power tools I saw were a few drill presses, sanders and buffers… no CNC machines. These guitars,(and mandolins), are essentially hand built. No, they are not built, Strat to finish, by one person, but the craftsmen do several functions, not just one. I spoke with two builders who had worked there for over a decade. They were rightfully proud of the excellent instruments they were building. Eastman is a Chinese company, building high grade, essentially hand made instruments in China. They are not Gibson, building $149 Epiphone Starlings on a Chinese assembly line. Big difference.

[@johnjones-uc3ni]

Yairi does not have the personnel to build assembly line guitars. They do make bench made guitars. Most of the luteriers have been there 30 or more years. They have dedicated their lives to the art of instrument making. Obviously you have no understanding of the Japanese pride that goes into everything they do. But keep spending thousands more for the name on American made guitars. And Yairi buyers will be laughing all the way to the bank.

[@user-do1cc7mo7m]

I have 3 AYs, and 5 KYs. Two of the AYs somehow ended up in Australia where I purchased them second hand, and one AY and another KY I imported from Japan, again used. These wonderful guitars more than hold their own against 10 Gibsons and 18 Martins in this household, both in terms of playability and tone, and definitely in terms of requirements for ongoing maintenance (yeah, looking at you Martin). My point is that only one of these guitars was purchased new in Australia, a 1981 K. Yairi YC-100. Here in Australia we do get some Alvarez guitars, but for all their undeniable quality, we only seem to end up with guitars from the budget range, and new K.Yairis are few and far between. Could you please consider supplying the marketplace in Australia with the full range of your guitars, especially including these wonderful top end Alvarez and Alvarez-Yairis.

[@winogod917]

Even just through the mobile phone speakers the sound is obviously different, the hand made guitar is fantastic. I have the alvarez Md90c. That sounds good. Miles apart to these. Best get a new one. Cheers.

[@charliewelch328]

I have MD90C bought new about 17 years ago. Great guitar.

[@jed1166]

It seems that it all comes down to one words,”choices”. The Alvarez contains no choices, and the Yairi may contain many, many choices, made by the luthiers to optimize each individual instrument. BTW, I am a BIG guitar guy, but those parlors both sounds gorgeous!

[@nicholascowie5944]

Through good speakers the difference in tone is quite noticeable, particularly the high end. But it is the difference is between excellent and outstanding, both also have remarkable bass for a parlour size. But sadly you don't sell Yairi in the UK

[@LegsON]

Can't believe this!

[@charliewelch328]

Hello fro Florida

[@heidih2887]

Yes, I can hear a difference between them.. but both are at such a high level of quality/sound that there is certainly no significant "let-down" with the Laureate! 😊 What impressed me the most, was how AWESOME they BOTH sounded, for being "smallish" parlor guitars! I've been drooling at the thought of adding a Laureate to my collection in the near future! 🥰 BTW, do you two fellows "gig" together, or record together (other than these videos)? I could listen to you guys ALL DAY, while grinning ear to ear until my face grew tired! 😍

[@AlvarezGuitarsOfficial]

Hey @heidih2887, thanks for your kind words! But no answer your question, no, the lads don't gig together or record just some jamming here and there. 👍

[@juliantaylor7663]

Depends what people define hand built these days Personally to me hand made means Using your hands more and you’re closer to the making process with even small adjustments not just every top back and sides having a set thickness every bit of wood is different. Hand carving the neck, thicknessing the top whether by hand or drum machine and actually checking stiffness and flex of a top and back and the pliability of the sides not just a general factory measurement. Tap tuning and brace carving by hand listening to it Not gluing pre-shaped braces and just sanding them and throwing it to the next person and hoping for the best. Bottom line no CNC unless it’s to do custom inlays or complicated headstock shapes. Big jigs that make it easier is ok if they are operated by hand not just push a button and step aside eg; bending jig, binding channel jig, neck joint jig ect All these jigs you’re actively participating in I think are acceptable

[@andymjflemming]

To the listener nothing👍

[@SeymourSunshine]

What a very dull video.

[@romanjelinek289]

Only Available in North America?? Shame on you Alvarez. Greetings from EU 🤨

[@AlvarezGuitarsOfficial]

Nobody more than us wishes they were available everywhere, hopefully one day!

[@hehe628]

Patiently waiting for the release of a left handed Laureate model 🗓️