1979 K Yairi LEO-J4 Vintage Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar, Near Mint w/ Case & Tag, Japan

Up for sale, a 1979 K. Yairi LEO-J4 vintage dreadnought acoustic guitar in near-mint, 100% original condition and in perfect working order. Stunningly well-kept and crack-free, this Yairi is complete with its original hangtag and hardshell case. Prized for their tonal balance, considerable headroom, and hand-crafted artisanship, K. Yairi instruments are made in the mountains of Honshu, Japan to a very high standard. And in this era, production was under the direction of legendary Japanese luthier Kazuo Yairi. This model was crafted exclusively for Japanese and European markets. This dreadnought features a solid spruce top, solid chestnut/oak back and sides, and a mahogany neck capped with a bound ebony fingerboard. The guitar has a focused low end with ample clarity and sweet bloom as the notes sustain. The midrange frequencies have both depth and nuance, while the treble register has an inherent punch and sparkling, percussive character. Equally comfortable with sonorous melody lines and big, strummed chords, this Yairi weighs 4lbs 10oz, professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with 12-54 strings and comfortable action. The one-piece mahogany neck has a medium depth soft V-shaped profile carve, measuring .895” deep at the 1st fret and .905” at the 9th. The bound ebony fretboard features two-tone abalone/pearloid diamond inlays and stock slender fretwire. The frets have their full factory height, showing virtually no wear and playing cleanly up the 634mm scale (24.9”). The action is 8/64” at the low E and 6/64” at the high E, measured at the 12th fret. The neck is straight and the truss rod is responsive and optimally adjusted. The carved bone nut measures 1 11/16” in width, ensuring optimal note clarity and sustain. The bound headstock features the vertical K. Yairi inlay first seen in 1978, as well as lightly patinated gold K. Yairi-branded tuning machines which turn smoothly and hold accurate pitch. On the body, the ebony bridge sits flush with the spruce top on all edges and the saddle has minimal height, yet allows for easy-playing action in every register. The top is framed by herringbone binding, with an ornate rosette and a small K. Yairi brand on the treble-side lower bout of the guitar. Practically immaculate, cosmetic wear is limited to a few faint pick scuffs on the guard, and a stray finish scratch or two in the clear coat on the back. The semi-gloss finish on the neck profile is similarly pristine. The original hardshell case with raised K. Yairi badge is included, with a built-in hygrometer and the original Japanese warranty card.