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Marty Robbins performed 50+ years ago on television and live at the Grand Ole Opry with a Martin parlor-sized guitar. Light-colored back & sides suggest mahogany. No pickups at that time, but nor was he mic’d up, most likely a prop that grounded him. He didn’t use a guitar strap either - nimble on stage. He was a showman in his day, yet his legacy are the lyrics he wrote, rich in Texas cowboy lore, sucked the listener right onto the scene as it unfolded, and likely inspired (I’d like to believe) strumming a parlor guitar that lived beside his sofa. Boys, as usual, well-done again on your video. We all need an Alvarez parlor to be inspired and play a set at Rosa’s Cantina in El Paso.

I purchased all three for my J-45 SJ Gibson. I can’t wait to try the tusq on my guitar. Thanks great video.

I always look forward to your videos! As always this is a very honest and transparent discussion. With the AB samples you can definitely hear the superior tone of the Yairi, it’s a different level! However the Alvarez still sounds great not only for the money, but at any price! It’s wonderful these days how many affordable guitars are out there that are beautifully built with an excellent sound! The Yairi FM66HD is definitely a guitar that I would love to eventually add as my dream OM. I already have my dream Grand Auditorium from another builder (though I’m sure the Yairi GA’s are comparable) and if I’m in a position in the future to get the FM66HD I definitely will!

Why did guitars not move before?

4041 sound brilliant, just a magical and whimsical sound to it if you listen carefully. but at the end of it all an average person listening to this most likely couldn't tell the difference.

My family and I toured the K. Yairi workshop in Gifu over Memorial Day weekend. After the tour, I played a YS120LS "Highend" that absolutely blew me away (so did the small body YS120KM). I asked them if I could order it with a custom 44mm neck and with their very best materials. They said they already use their best materials, but if we would go get lunch and come back they would take me up to the wood shop where I could hand pick everything. I said, "Great! Now we just need to figure out where to have a vegetarian lunch out here." They answered, "The curry place across the street is good; we''ll call them for you." Let me tell you, the curry was amazing, and I will never forget hand picking my own tone woods with the help of Yairi's amazing staff. Now I have to figure out how to contain myself for about six months. It truly was an experience of a lifetime. In other news, I saw lots of 2024 mahogany models getting ready to go, so keep your eyes peeled!

Is the new bracing system more responsive and touch sensitive than the previous bracing ?

Mahoganies are also my preferred back and sides wood.... The trebles aren't ice-pick harsh... too much bass is over-rated imo... and it has CHARACTER - lots of mid-range growl and grunt. A good player doesn't need a room full of overtones - but good mahogany with a well matched top can produce just enough wonderful overtones. I agree - preferable to rosewood.

How bout Philippine mahogany?

Great history lesson!!

Great episode! Manufacturers are all over the map on mahogany. Martin has “genuine mahogany” for its D-18 and models above that, while the D-15 and the like are “mahogany” which can be either genuine, sipo, or khaya. Mahogany for Breedlove is all khaya. So it goes. Not to leave Alvarez out of the confusion game, I have an ‘89 DY-90 which I believe to have been made of laminated Brazilian Rosewood but the catalog from that time called it “Heartwood Jacaranda”. Lovely instrument whatever it is. As is my ‘16 Martin 000-15SM with some type of unspecified mahogany.

I just ordered one of these. I love alvarez and lr baggs......i have a rd20 i bought in my early 20's loved it playability wise). I also have a 2001 pd100 tree of life with a lr baggs anthem i installed. Love it as well. ..cany wait to get this one. I also have a taylor 110 with the lr baggs element pickup......but alvarez is the best work horse guitar for a full time giging musician....will post back after it get it friday, but im sure its gonna be awesome!!!

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.

Love listening to JP. Such a master picker.

why are yairi guitars not available in germany?

Awesome JPC and awesome Alvarez guitars

I have been playing guitar since 1961. My first guitar was a 1939 Martin 00-17.. all mahogany. I have owned a considerable number of guitars since, some rosewood, but have remained loyal to Mahogany. Currently have a Martin 0000-1 and a 00-18V. In another life... 1980s) I hustled (sold) wood specifically for instrument makers. I still have a sizeable stash of wood to include mahogany, all from the 80s or earlier. "Genuine", Honduran from Belize, and humilis, brazilian, khaya, sapele and others from Guiana and around the Caribbean. I was in Belize scouting for wood. While there around Monkey River I met a dugout boat maker, Godwin. . His boats were all hand hewn from Mahogany. They were called Monkey River Dories. He was the last boat maker. By good fortune he needed to get another tree. As a native of Belize he was allow a $12 permit to take a tree. My host was an American living just south of Monkey River and a good friend of the boat maker, which led to me my friend and three others to go on a tree hunt. We took a 25 ft boat up the river and moored it. Then off on a long hike with chain saws, axes and other equipment. After a half day, Godwin led us to the tree he had previously tagged. The tree was massive, stately, tall and straight and stout. We set to taking it down. When felled we cut it to 2 4 20 ft lengths .. then the fun began in hollowing as much wood as possible to drag/float it down a stream to the river. I have the photos. Me sitting on this tree with an ax.. yup ax work. Godwin is gone, my friend moved to Argentina, Monkey River is now ruined by tourists, they are no more Monkey River Dories, but luckily the mahogany trees are protected and off limits. The new fad of "sinker" mahogany keeps the poaching down. I quit wood hustling and occasionally build an instrument. I gift wood to local luthiers. Florida once had mahogany forests, all gone. Swietenia was named after Dr. Gerard Van Swieten 1700-1772. He was born and lived in the Netherlands and moved to Austria where he founded a Botanical Garden. Nikolaus Joseph Von Jacquin bestowed that honor to Dr Swieten. In France anything that looks like mahogany is called "acajou". I suspect one day an "enterprising" person will be selling ACAJOU as the latest wonder wood for guitars. The word ACAJOU came from Brazil which was the name for cashew trees which were a similar color to mahogany. And then there is Mountain MAhogany hich is not a mahogany but a meber of the rose family. % types in the Sierra Mts, Eastern Washington and Oregon down to Arizona. There is a rare type on Catalina island. This tree/large bush, when dried, which is difficult, will sink in water. As to using it in musical instruments, .. tail pieces and pegs for violins.

Love your program, your music and all the things guitar your share... I have owned and love my Alvarez Yairi D-45 mahogany since 1986. Blessings to you...

I went to try a Taylor 114ce but compared the Alvarez MF60ce in shadowburst it blew the Taylor out of the water. Really singing trebles and lovely deep woody base notes. I use it mainly for fingerstyle. Not to say that Taylorsarent amazing guitars and when im a better player hope to get one of their expensive models. However in the £1000 price range, the Alvarez was much better value for money in my humble opinion.

Confusing as to whether Honduran Mahogany or Khaya is used in Alvarez guitars. At 11:30 Chris Meikle states "we use Honduran Mahogany" but at 12:48 he states "the version of which we use is something called Khaya" and then goes on to say the reasons Alvarez uses Khaya is because the grain pattern, color, hardness and density are very similar to Honduran Mahogany. Clarification would be appreciated.

Wonderful episode. Your shows are my favourites. Thank you very much!

Your videos reveal the depth of knowledge that goes into manufacturing Alvarez guitars. My other favourite brand, Taylor also give detailed information about tonewoods on their website and are very innovative. I own both. Alvarez cost a lot less. OK they come from China rather than California or Mexico, but there is no denying that the standard of workmanship in the Alvarez factory is at least the equal of the American brands, if not better.

Do you think Alvarez will ever change that smiley-two piece bridge and go classic?

Mahogany is like having your EQ in a U-shape and singing inside the outer peaks. (D18)

Interesting stuff! I’m a wood nerd so I love this kind of information. I really want one of the Honduran/Adi Yairi Dreadnaughts….just have to swallow hard and spend the money.

Maybe you should try Panama Mahogany.

Great content as always!! Thank you for sharing your knowledge and passion !!

Chris, I am still waiting for the Book! The History of Tonewoods, tonal sound, guitar shapes and differences Bracing etc. Another great video, thanks.👍👍🎸🎸

Sapelle is an interesting wood. It is very strong and heavy but has a grain that alternates each way in the stripes and is difficult to thickness plane and easy to get tear out unless you have very sharp planer knives. It needs to be thickness sanded down for finishing guitar sides. I’ve built several acoustics using it and it makes a very strong body. Looks nice lacquered. 🎸

I just bought one, very slightly used for a good price. Beautiful guitar. Can't wait to get back into guitar playing.

Can you guys do the same video for Black Walnut used on your Master Works Elite

Wow, your timing is amazing! I just picked up my MG66CE Custom yesterday, so a discussion of Mahogany is quite relevant to me. This guitar plays wonderfully, the action set up from the factory is quite low. I may actually need to raise it a bit with the truss rod. It's encouraging to hear that the tone of Khaya is similar to Honduran Mahogany, so even though my guitar is not quite at the Yairi level, I can still enjoy something like that same tone. I am still getting used to it not being quite as loud as Spruce, but I really like it. And I have already tried listening to the Hi Fi system at home with headphones and it is incredible. Add a little reverb and chorus and **mwah** chef's kiss. By the way, thanks for including an installed battery!

I have bee watching y'all religiously for a year or more . This was one of my top three favorite episodes. Very informative. Info I can use in my buying decisions. I thought my collection of three guitars all had mahogany back and sides.... when actually, now I believe I have none. Eye opening. Keep it up!

I have an Alvarez AD66SHB that sounds great.

Yes, the Brits (my wife was born there and I had Scots relatives-love that country), took Jamaica in 1655. But it took five years to expel the Spanish. I have a mahogany and it’s nice.

Remember the 70's when everyone was sick of furniture being made by mahogany? Found the video a tad boring though guy's, needs something to make it more interesting i think 🤔

I can't wait to get my Yairi 66,I bet Honduras mahogany has great tone and sustain!.I learned a lot about mahogany's History today.😊 Woody sounds so cool!.

Great info, thanks!

Mr Cormier Have You Heard Of A U.S. Made "Tone Bar" If So What Do Think Of Of This Idea. No Bridge Pins Needed!! Thankyou. AUSTRALIA.

When will the Chinese Factory getting moved to Mexico

My wife recently gave me a PYM66HD. Wow! Beautiful look, even better sound.

I really enjoyed Chris’s description of the process. I had a Materials Science professor years ago, who always joked that an undergrad’s answer to most questions was, “you heat it up,” meaning that we didn’t always understand the nuances of a process. Chris clearly does, and his connection to the manufacturing process reflects well on the whole brand.

I’m curious about how the Direct Couple bridge is achieved by that I am referring to the piece of Ebony that the strings and bridge pins go into. I mean how is that piece of Ebony put into the top ? Is it just glued on top of the top or however it is connected to the top wood?

💥 "promo sm"

I love my OM model Martin. But I have had a boat load of Alvarez' over the years and would give my eye teeth for the FYM66HD !!! They are the absolute best on the market for price.

Great for 3 notes per string ascending. What do you do for 3 notes per string descending?

Mahogany always sounded less articulate and more muddy to me. The frequencies sound fatter, and less raspy than Rosewood. I always say Mahogany sounds "pillowy" and rosewood sounds "raspy" or "spicy".

Love Parlor Guitars. Please make a Parlor size, 14 fret to the body, with a cutaway. I don't see any major manufacturers making one.

Play the guitar!!!

I just bought a used AD60L and it is an amazing guitar and the top has the most amazing silking. I was shocked to find such a fine top on such an affordable guitar. Thanks Alvarez for making great guitars from the best materials.