Does anyone own an Alvarez? I just bought a RF8. I have played nothing but dreadnaughts for years so, but have recently been interested in a folk style body shape. I looked at one of the Taylor 200 series in that body style and I couldn't tell it from the Alvarez in quality, looks and (I kid you not) sound. When I found out it had a solid spruce top I was sold. Also, it was 1/3 the cost of the Taylor. I will use it for a back up and practice guitar. Nothing against Taylor as I own and perform with one. This is advertised as an entry level guitar, but it seems much better than that, and w/ a hard shell case included, it is a no brainer.
cottontop

Alvarez guitars have always impressed me quite a bit. I saw a nice muted sunburst dread in a store and picked it up to see what it sounded like (which was a million bucks, as it turned out). I looked at the tag and it was just a shade over 200 bucks. I was really amazed.

I'm happy with mine. I tweeked the setup as usual but that's all.

I found an old beat up 1976 #5053 model, which is an intresting guitar-D45 inlays on the fretboard-old Gibson style adjustable bridge-here's the kicker-brazilian rosewood back and sides with a D35 style wedge of flame maple.I picked the guitar up for 250 dollars!! The guitar was originally sold through Saint Luis Music, and I found it put up for sale by the widow of a guitar player-who had several great guitars, but you could tell this was his "Player".After playing on stage at Uncle Dave Macon Day's last year one of the judges stopped me and said,"WHAT kind of guitar is THAT?? That thing sounds incredible!!" I couldn't agree more, however my 16 yr. old daughter has it on permanent loan...out of every guitar in the house, it's her favorite! Here's a link to the same model, as you can see by the price, I did pretty good!
jvguitars.com/showproduct.pl?id=1067116290

Isaiah 38:20

Edited by - pastorharry on 04/21/2009 20:23:51

Tell Ya what Harry You and I must have something going on in the mind! HA!
D-18V's and 70's series dreads. I have a "Bently" from about the same era.
I got as my first guitar Serial # 5111 which was mad in Japan and was Manufactured for St.Louis Music also. The binding, pic guard, rossette is all the same. Mine isn't an alvarez but looks a lot like yours and even has the adjustable
bridge with the same screws. I'm in the process of getting the bridge,saddle,and
nut changed because the bridge is cracked between each hole. I getting it fixed up for the sentimental value and I will become my camping beater.
What do ya know. Sold my D-15 and still saving for the D-18V custom.



~ Brad~

I have an RD20S Dreadnaught that I bought new for around $300 a few years back, and I love it like I never thought I could love a Chinese guitar. Even though I was prepared to spend $500 it was the best sounding guitar I found in that price range. I never expected it to be my main lifetime guitar, but I've played few guitars since that just sound head and shoulders better. I played a Martin D18 Authentic awhile back, and that convinced me that it''s going to take 4 grand or so to find something that sounds enough better for me to make the jump. For the time being I just don't tell anyone I'm playing a plywood guitar. A friend has a late 70's Alvarez-Yairi Dreadnaught (I think it's a D85) with 3 piece burled mahogany back and sides that's just beautiful and sounds great.

I had a 505?, built in '76. Basically the same woods and spec as a D-28. Great guitar! Didn't have the near punch of a '28, but sounded great. Guess just the differenced between a 2 G guitar vs. a 5 C dollar guitar. Sounded and played great though

I wanted a "beater" to take to festivals. I found a 1981 Alvarez Yairi DY45 with a shaded, satin top. It also came with a bone nut and saddle. A really nice guitar that was virtually un-played. I put on a Greven pickguard, had the peghead cut down to resemble the Martin headstock (removed the tacky "AY" logo and put on a dark satin peghead veneer)), and added some inexpensive "butterbean" tuners. After all the work (including a fret dress and leveling) I have a total of $690 in it. It gets a lot of second looks. I tell people it's a 1939, sunburst D-18 that the "Martin" logo came off of.

Love my Alvarez acoustic-electric. It's a model 5080N. Cutaway,contoured back. Shallow top and bottom bout. The headstock is lute shaped. The inlay is the mirrored A.
The newer guitars all have that clunky square head, but still sound great.

"To become old and wise, you have to survive young and stupid"

I've owned three at different times, all excellent guitars. The last was a nice RD-20 that I set up to play very nicely. I sold it to a friend who liked it, and within a few days he gave it to his minister's wife - apparently it was "Pastor Appreciation Month" at his church. He is a generous guy. I believe it now sits in a closet.

Bill

I have an Alvarez nylon string that is very loud for a nylon string and I like it a lot.
A pastor at a church I was visiting for a while has an Alvarez dreadnought, and I was very impressed.
Somehow it had clarity like a Taylor but warmth like a Martin.

Michael

I have an Alvarez RD20SC. Nice guitar for the money. Used to sound great. A few weeks ago I bought a Blueridge BR-40 and Martin DX1 RGT. Now the Alvarez sounds like it has a pillow stuffed inside! May need a string change, but that probably isn't going to remedy the situation totally. The tuner is great...and it sounded good plugged in (haven't tried it lately) so i'll still use it at church.

It came with Elixir's, but i'd like to go less expensive. Any advice?

My wife's 5-yr. old RD20S dark sunburst is a really good sounding guitar. Quality tuners, good play-action, and strong mids with good trebs and commendable bass. No, it doesn't sound as good as my PSD-10 Stanford (all solid wood), but it certainly is above average sounding.

Jeff

Good Evening, new to the forum, I have 2 Alverezs one is a AD80ssb (rosewood back and sides) and a 1976 5043also rosewood ( its a copy of the D-35), both have there on sound the 5043 is in the process of a bone nut and saddle , not as powerful as some of the higher end bluegrass regulars but can hold their own, in tone, love both of mine.

Edited by - 2005picker on 12/10/2009 17:35:53

I have a Alvarez Yairi DY77, sounds and plays as good as a 28 to me !

>>I have a Alvarez Yairi DY77, sounds and plays as good as a 28 to me !
The Yairi models are an entirely different ball game. Definately pro level instruments..

I had an Alvarez 12 string dred with a solid top and laminate mahogony back and sides. Nice guitar, very very playable and well made..good tone too. Decided 12 strings didn't do it for me so I sold it. The six stringers I've played have been every bit as good as the Blueridges and Recording Kings people that seem to be the hot imports these days. Their quality control seems to generally be up there too. If I was in the market and one spoke to me, I'd not hesitate. I almost bought a solid mahogany topped one recently but wasn't in the mood to buy something on impulse. By the time I had second thoughts it was sold.

I have a discontinued model, a used, near-mint Alvarez Masterworks MD80-12. Solid woods, top and back/sides, Englemann and ribboned Mahogany. It looks great, very good fit and finish, with a shallower neck than you'd expect in a 12-string. It took a little work to get it to playable specs, new saddle/nut, shaved bridge, some fretwork, etc. But it plays very well, and has an excellent sound, especially when dropped a half step. It was definitely worth the money.

... JT

Interesting thread. I never thought I'd say this but I have a Martin dred-cutaway and considering selling it to buy an alvarez - the jumbo cutaway 12-string with rosewood back/sides and violin finish. They also have a 6 string version. Any experience/thoughts on these?

thx,

I have had a Dy-87 I bought in 78 in Virgina, I love that baby. The sounds from the six strings make the twelve resonate, it takes time to get use to it but what a sound it has. I'm looking for another Alvarez at this time and it will have to be an older version it seems I'm spoiled.

Anyone played a RF20SM? (Now the RF300)

Agree with all the good things that you all have said about alvarez guitars.

I'm a big fan of alvarez guitars as well. in my opinion, they are indeed one of the best acoustic guitars around.

Check out this resource site for more info on the guitars
alvarezguitars.org

My son plays an Alvarez Regent which was my guitar when I was a kid. No idea how old it is but I’ve owned it for over 20 years. We recently had it professionally set up (new bone nut and saddle, new frets, etc.) which really improved the tone and playability. It projects nicely and has no problem cutting through the mix. Replacing the plastic nut and saddle with bone really made a difference. There are better guitars out there obviously but you won’t hear me saying anything bad about Alvarez, I think they’re great for the money.

Here are some vids of him playing it:

youtube.com/watch?v=WXmTa0K4GmU

youtube.com/watch?v=9YMBSwcOkEE

youtube.com/watch?v=AclPE5U2O5M

I run across the older Korean made solid tops from time to time and am always impressed. I bought a late 80's model 5224 Professional Series dirt cheap on ebay a while back which turned out to be one of the best recording guitars I've ever had. Like a dummy I sold it to fund something else but if I ever find another one I'll buy it on the spot.

Edited by - flattopper on 09/09/2010 22:07:08

I played my cousins, and hers was incredible. The tone was crisp and clean. And it just felt right in my hands. It coulda be a glorious fluke, or the Alvarez guitar is just plain good.

Great topic, super posts! I first ran into these guitars while down in florida on vacation on the coast. Just to pass some time and look around. They had a few models of these guitars so I tried them and they just melted in my hands. Played them long side some Takamine's and maybe Taylor., and they had it all over them. The one I really liked was about 440 bucks. Then another model a bit more decked out was 100 more. I could have shiped it back for 35 bucks, but figured I find one up here. Should have got it!
I ended up seeing one up here in NH but it played a bit stiff, nothing like other ones. But the sound was great. Florida one didn't really cast out a lot of sound, but would be a great practice picker or favorite house guitar. So the guy up here at Daddy Junky sold me on this one saying ti would break in and its a really well made guitar. Its called the tree of life or p100. It has broken in and I love it, one set up so far after a few years. Paid 650 with out a case. Now they run about 800, and I didn't feel the same quality in the new ones at this store. For the money I think they are fantastic.