The comparison was beautifully done. Thanks for that; different shades of great and it comes down to preference. If a grand auditorium is somewhere in between , that'd be my bent. Cheers, Ross
I grew up on dreadnoughts and love their sound, I now mostly play 000 or OM guitars because: 1) they're more comfortable to play sitting on the couch at home; 2) better clarity and high mids; 3) I think they project single notes better at jams, and for bluegrass the stand up bass provides the bass sound better than a dread anyhow. As I relayed to J. Hayes after buying both a sitka FYM70 and a red spruce-topped FYM72, I think Alvarez and Yairi should make the F (Folk) body guitars with a 25.4 or 25.5 inch scale length instead of the current 25 inch scale. The 25 inch scale works on the red-spruce topped FYM72 but sounds too quiet and mellow (uninspiring) to me on the sitka-topped FYM70. Strings that are in-between light and medium help.
The dreadnought always conjures up the folk music of my youth. The OM has a Dustbowl Woody Guthrie vibe. What stands out in this, as in other videos of yours, is just how marvelous the two sound together. I find it interesting that Dee plays lead on the dreadnought while the rhythm has Chris on OM. Counterintuitive, yet perfect.
Not sure we thought about it, tbh - Chris normally gravitates to the Dread. Worked out well this time! Thanks so much for your kind words, we really appreciate it. Dee
I definitely prefer the sound of the dreadnaught in this comparison, but it was all heavy strumming. It would be great to hear a comparison with fingerpicking, too. I usually play an OM because it is more comfortable.
Noted! For more detailed comparison please check out our Compare Tool alvarezguitars.com/compare-guitars/ incidentally, this very thing came up this week and from now on all AB comparisons on shows will feature fingerstyle too. Thanks for watching! All the best. Dee
Every guitar has its own voice, and each inspires its own music. When I revisit my four guitars which are in a humidified room and always watching me as I walk on by until, finally, i must pick one up and play. I just revisited a 31-year-old song I wrote and played it on a lovely 2006 Martin J40, which is a Sitka Spruce top and East Indian Rosewood b&s. This jumbo is a wonderful guitar that I never thought could be beat, until I I was blown away by the Yairi 6-string with the 50-year-old naturally aged Mahoghany b&s and a 4A Adirondack spruce top. The Martin is still a mainstay, but the Yairi's voice is purer, more articulate, whereas the Martin wins when I get into really aggressive strumming and am looking for a cannon because my base layer didn't show up! (lol) I also have a lovely 1996 Taylor 514C (Mahoghany b&s wi/Red Cedar top) from 1996, which I used to bottom out far too easily when I got into my heavy percussive rhythms. It's impossible for me to do that with the Yairi or the Martin but, to my great surprise, after "borrowing" it back from my daughter, since she has another lovely guitar and is primarily focused on piano, this 28 y.o. Taylor can now handle far more percussive strumming that ever due to the natural aging it has gone through. I can now play it medium-hard, without turning into a cardboard box! The sound on this grand auditorium is tied for best with the Yairi but has a delicate touch and gentle spirit all its own. The 4th guitar is a 1996 Yairi 12-string that is made out of mahogany b&s and a reddish top, that I'm not sure what it is. It's a very nice guitar but I've been spoiled by some of the best 12's. A 1971 Martin D12-28, and two Taylors, a K65, and 955, which, again, were magical in their own way due to the wood combinations. If you have the money, buy the guitars that make you smile from the deepest recesses of your heart and store them properly. If not, buy the best one you can afford that will allow you to play ALL of your styles. If you are a beginner don't start off with a $3K guitar, there are plenty of GREAT intermediate instruments for under $1K, and some pretty decent ones under $500. Don't be afraid of age... the old ones, if still in good shape, sound better! Unless of course, you buy one of those brand new 50-year-old Yairi's with the naturally aged Mahoghany b&s that K. Yairi had put back to the great surprise of those who took over after he passed away. I was fortunate to learn of these BEFORE they hit the market and waited 6-months to get mine. That was one of the best decisions of my life!
All I know is dreadnaughts aggravate a repetitive strain injury in my right elbow, but OMs are just fine. There’s a point in life where the sound doesn’t matter if I physically can’t play! So it’s been OM and smaller for me for 10 years.
Absolutely beautiful guitars. Alvarez has been killing it, and it looks like more and more people are starting to notice.
Two beautiful looking and sounding guitars. Well played.
The comparison was beautifully done. Thanks for that; different shades of great and it comes down to preference.
If a grand auditorium is somewhere in between , that'd be my bent.
Cheers, Ross
Yairi and Alvarez Guitars are legends in the world of guitar. They are only getting better.
Love these guitars , so satisfied with mine. A good gift from God
I grew up on dreadnoughts and love their sound, I now mostly play 000 or OM guitars because: 1) they're more comfortable to play sitting on the couch at home; 2) better clarity and high mids; 3) I think they project single notes better at jams, and for bluegrass the stand up bass provides the bass sound better than a dread anyhow.
As I relayed to J. Hayes after buying both a sitka FYM70 and a red spruce-topped FYM72, I think Alvarez and Yairi should make the F (Folk) body guitars with a 25.4 or 25.5 inch scale length instead of the current 25 inch scale. The 25 inch scale works on the red-spruce topped FYM72 but sounds too quiet and mellow (uninspiring) to me on the sitka-topped FYM70. Strings that are in-between light and medium help.
The dreadnought always conjures up the folk music of my youth. The OM has a Dustbowl Woody Guthrie vibe. What stands out in this, as in other videos of yours, is just how marvelous the two sound together. I find it interesting that Dee plays lead on the dreadnought while the rhythm has Chris on OM. Counterintuitive, yet perfect.
I forgot to mention my dreadnought experience is on a 1989 Alvarez-Yairi DY-90 Canadian Spruce / African Jacaranda.
Not sure we thought about it, tbh - Chris normally gravitates to the Dread. Worked out well this time! Thanks so much for your kind words, we really appreciate it. Dee
I have the Alvarez AF60 OM - it’s very boomy with ample low end for an OM sized laminate instrument. It’s a spectacular guitar for under $509
Interesting about the difference in scale length.
I definitely prefer the sound of the dreadnaught in this comparison, but it was all heavy strumming. It would be great to hear a comparison with fingerpicking, too. I usually play an OM because it is more comfortable.
Noted! For more detailed comparison please check out our Compare Tool alvarezguitars.com/compare-guitars/ incidentally, this very thing came up this week and from now on all AB comparisons on shows will feature fingerstyle too. Thanks for watching! All the best. Dee
How can scale length make for lower pitch if the guitar is tuned properly?
If I could only have one, it would be the dread. Both of them are excellent.
Every guitar has its own voice, and each inspires its own music. When I revisit my four guitars which are in a humidified room and always watching me as I walk on by until, finally, i must pick one up and play. I just revisited a 31-year-old song I wrote and played it on a lovely 2006 Martin J40, which is a Sitka Spruce top and East Indian Rosewood b&s. This jumbo is a wonderful guitar that I never thought could be beat, until I I was blown away by the Yairi 6-string with the 50-year-old naturally aged Mahoghany b&s and a 4A Adirondack spruce top. The Martin is still a mainstay, but the Yairi's voice is purer, more articulate, whereas the Martin wins when I get into really aggressive strumming and am looking for a cannon because my base layer didn't show up! (lol)
I also have a lovely 1996 Taylor 514C (Mahoghany b&s wi/Red Cedar top) from 1996, which I used to bottom out far too easily when I got into my heavy percussive rhythms. It's impossible for me to do that with the Yairi or the Martin but, to my great surprise, after "borrowing" it back from my daughter, since she has another lovely guitar and is primarily focused on piano, this 28 y.o. Taylor can now handle far more percussive strumming that ever due to the natural aging it has gone through. I can now play it medium-hard, without turning into a cardboard box! The sound on this grand auditorium is tied for best with the Yairi but has a delicate touch and gentle spirit all its own.
The 4th guitar is a 1996 Yairi 12-string that is made out of mahogany b&s and a reddish top, that I'm not sure what it is. It's a very nice guitar but I've been spoiled by some of the best 12's. A 1971 Martin D12-28, and two Taylors, a K65, and 955, which, again, were magical in their own way due to the wood combinations.
If you have the money, buy the guitars that make you smile from the deepest recesses of your heart and store them properly. If not, buy the best one you can afford that will allow you to play ALL of your styles.
If you are a beginner don't start off with a $3K guitar, there are plenty of GREAT intermediate instruments for under $1K, and some pretty decent ones under $500. Don't be afraid of age... the old ones, if still in good shape, sound better! Unless of course, you buy one of those brand new 50-year-old Yairi's with the naturally aged Mahoghany b&s that K. Yairi had put back to the great surprise of those who took over after he passed away. I was fortunate to learn of these BEFORE they hit the market and waited 6-months to get mine. That was one of the best decisions of my life!
Sounds life Softly by Gordon Lightfoot. Nice!
The Dreadnought has more punch. I am more used to that added punch.
All I know is dreadnaughts aggravate a repetitive strain injury in my right elbow, but OMs are just fine. There’s a point in life where the sound doesn’t matter if I physically can’t play! So it’s been OM and smaller for me for 10 years.
sounds like the song called there she goes
I'm considering an alternate shape to compliment my dreadnaught. The OM sounds like a winner.
Dang, if you'd kindly build a lefty I would buy one tomorrow. No higher-end lefty from Alvarez.
They're here! Laureate lefties have been released alvarezguitars.com/laureate/
I went to buy an Alvarez artist series today. Unfortunately it was Chinese manufacture. Didnt buy it.