1981 K.Yairi YW-500P
Handcrafted in Japan | Solid Top | D-45 Style | Original Hard Case
£990.00
The K.Yairi YW-500P is a hand-crafted acoustic from 1981 from K.Yairi’s respected YW series, built during a period when Japanese luthier craftsmanship was reaching its golden era. Made in Japan and built in the famous Kani workshop, the YW-500P reflects K.Yairi’s dedication to tone, design detail and playability – now highly sought after by collectors and serious players.
This dreadnought features a solid spruce top with beautifully grained rosewood back & sides, paired with an ebony fingerboard, bridge and pins. The detailed rosette and multi-ply binding give it a refined, Martin D-45 style appearance, while the top shows natural aging and colour depth with a lovely vintage amber tone.
Tonally, it delivers a rich, open voice with great projection – the low end is warm and defined, the mids are musical, and the highs are clear and sweet. The ebony fingerboard and bridge help add extra clarity, attack and note separation, while still retaining the warmth and character of its aged spruce top and rosewood body. It responds beautifully to both strumming and fingerstyle, with excellent sustain and a mature vintage voice.
This example is in very good vintage condition with visible but honest signs of use (see photos). There is also a surface finish crack on the back of the headstock around the Low E and A machine head area. This has been carefully checked and confirmed to only affect the lacquer surface, not the wood underneath, so it does not affect stability or playability. The neck is straight, the frets have been cleaned and polished, and the action is set comfortably low at approx. 2.25mm on the low E / 1.5mm on the high E at the 12th fret.
🪵 Features
Year: 1981
Style: Dreadnought
Top: Solid Spruce
Back & sides: Rosewood
Neck: Mahogany
Fingerboard: Ebony
Bridge: Ebony
Pins: Ebony
Finish: Natural
Binding: Multi-ply binding
Made in Japan (Kani workshop)
✅ Condition
Very good vintage condition with visible playwear
Surface finish crack behind Low E / A tuner area (lacquer only, wood unaffected)
No cracks, repairs, or structural concerns
Frets and fingerboard have been cleaned & polished
Straight neck with healthy frets
Low action setup: L.E. 2.25mm / H.E. 1.5mm @ 12th fret
Original finish and hardware intact
🎁 Includes
Original hard case included
One latch missing near the end pin area
Case remains stable and secure when closed, with no wobbling
🎼 Why this guitar?
The K.Yairi YW-500P captures the tone and handmade character of early-’80s Japanese acoustic craftsmanship. With its solid spruce top, rosewood body, ebony appointments, and Martin-inspired styling, this guitar offers impressive tone, projection, clarity, and refined vintage aesthetics straight out of the box.
Whether you’re a seasoned player or collector, the YW-500P represents one of K.Yairi’s classic vintage designs – combining soulful tone, craftsmanship, and character that still shines today.
🔑 Hashtags / Keywords
#KYairi #YW500P #VintageKYairi #MadeInJapan #MIJ #1981Guitar #SolidTop #JapaneseVintageGuitar #DreadnoughtAcoustic #RooftopMusicUK
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