Alvarez Yairi WY-1 MH Mahogany body, Ebony Fretboard RARE!!!

Near Mint Alvarez Yairi WY-1 MH

Gorgeous stage-ready guitar!

This is the famous Alvarez-Yairi stage acoustic designed with The Grateful Dead's Bob Weir, RIP. "W" in the "WY" stands for Weir. The size is a "Deep OM" -- slightly smaller than OM/000's but also slightly deeper.

Pristine! The workmanship on this guitar is impeccable. There is a tiny chip on the top of headstock (5th picture). That is about it.

Solid Cedar top makes for deeply warm tones.

This is rare, special edition MH model. "MH" pairs it with Mahogany back and sides for punchier, warmer midrange focus. Also, fretboard is an upgraded ebony instead of rosewood.

It is paired with Yairi B-Band SYS650 with a 3 band EQ. The cool part is that the internal mic system can go out through an XLR connection, while the piezo bridge pick up goes out through a 1/4 inch jack. You can mix the sound onboard with the pre-amp, AND you can mix the sound through 2 channels on your external board. Why? The result is great control over your amplified sound.

Comes with a non-original Martin case. (Please note while it is in fine condition, but one of the latches have broken.)

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The K.Yairi WY-1MH is a mahogany-variant of the iconic WY-1 "Stage Folk" acoustic-electric guitar, originally co-designed with Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead. While the standard Alvarez-Yairi WY1 relies on a cedar and rosewood combination, the "MH" designation explicitly denotes a Mahogany build configuration. 

Core Specifications & Features

The WY-1MH deviates from the typical model line by utilizing a mahogany body profile: [1]

• Tonewoods: Features a solid Cedar top paired with Mahogany back and sides, and a Mahogany neck.
• Fretboard: Built with a premium Ebony fretboard (distinct from the standard rosewood boards found on the baseline WY1).
• Body Shape: Uses the proprietary Yairi Stage Folk / Deep OM (Orchestra Model) shape with a soft Florentine cutaway. This design is slightly deeper than a standard OM, offering enhanced air volume and robust projection while remaining compact and comfortable.
• Electronics: Equipped with a classic Yairi 650 System 3-band EQ preamp system tailored for live performance.
• Origin: Hand-crafted at the legendary K. Yairi factory in Kani, Japan. 

Design Distinction

The WY-1 series is highly regarded for its Direct Coupled Bridge system. In this proprietary layout, the string pins anchor directly into the top of the guitar soundboard rather than through the bridge block itself. This structural choice significantly increases the break angle over the saddle, driving more vibration into the wood for enhanced resonance, quick response, and better sustain. Combined with the mahogany back and sides of the MH variant, this offers a punchier, warmer midrange focus compared to the brighter, overtone-rich profile of rosewood counterparts