Here for sale we have an absolutely beautiful S.Yairi YD-305 acoustic guitar in Gloss Natural finish. Yairi is a surname synonymous with high quality Japanese guitars, having been shared by three well regarded luthiers. Sadao and Kazuo were cousins who learned their trade from Kazuo's father, who had been a violin luthier before opening his own business. The two cousins went their separate ways and we now have S.Yairi & K.Yairi brands, both held in high esteem as excellent quality instruments. 
 
The YD-305 is based on the Martin D-35, and features a set-neck construction comprising a Solid Spruce top, solid 3-piece Rosewood back and Laminated Rosewood sides. The Mahogany neck is topped with an Ebony fingerboard which is bound and inlaid with Mother of Pearl markers. The body is double-bound, whilst the features multi-strip purfling and rosette. A set of Chrome Schaller sealed tuning machines complete a beautifully appointed and well made instrument. 
 
The Mahogany neck plays very well, with a rather pronounced 'V' shape profile with a volute. This is becoming a less common profile in a world of 'Low Ovals' and 'Slim Taper' necks, and is refreshing to play thanks to the ergonomic position it encourages you to hold your hand in. The Volute is pre-war feature which adds character to the playing experience of the lower register. The Ebony of the fingerboard is nice and dark in appearance, and with its traditional 16" radius is practical for a wide range of playing styles and techniques. 
 
The voice of the YD-305 is rich and beautiful, producing a clear and crisp tone which is surprisingly bright for a dreadnought. There is plenty of bass response which is warm without being too soft, but perhaps thanks to the natural ageing of the guitar over the years, the mid range and treble response has really opened up to provide a nicely balanced tone which is just as suitable for fingerpicking as it is for strumming. The large size of the dreadnought body clearly provides plenty of volume, but there is also a nice intimate tone to be heard when playing softly. A beautifully crafted instrument with genuine vintage vibe. 
 
Please be aware that for international buyers import fees are not included in our postage and packaging cost, this only covers the cost of the guitar being sent to you. Import fees will be charged by Customs upon the guitar's arrival in the recipient country. Due to Brexit, this also applies to EU buyers. We advise checking the total import cost with Customs as this is not information we are able to accurately provide.