Alvarez dating
 

Hi all.

Just bought a used Alvarez RD20.
Trying to date it and finding some anomalies.
Serial number S98060080.
Bridge design more similar to late 90's models and odd label design.
This is a beast of a well set-up guitar with added Buffalo bone saddle and graphite nut. I love it and only paid £50.
Can anyone please help me to find out what it is and when made?

Many thanks.

Basil9981

Is the label inside light brown and rectangular? Or is it white and square, with a large circle surrounding the printed details?

I once dated a girl named Sheila Alvarez. The key is to get her dad to like you, then you're home free.

You can see I own several Alvarez guitars and I've never made any sense of the dating numbering system ... or even very much about the model names. Some of the guitars had an "S" in the name (such as my RD20S) but others didn't have the "S" and still had solid tops.

What I always do is contact Tom at St. Louis Music, which owns or works with Alvarez guitars. He always consults his materials and tells me, often within an hour, of any information I need about a particular guitar.

Btw, the RD20 has a laminated spruce top with laminated mahogany back and sides. It has AFAIK some sort of plastic bridge pins. I think it was probably the best selling of the RD series which were aimed basically at students. It has a 1 11/16-inch nut width. Mine, however, feels a lot fuller but that may be because of the neck profile.

I thought this reply would come in first or second. :)

I agree that contacting Alvarez directly is your best bet.

Best,
Jayne

Btw 1, the person you need is Tom Kruska

My RD20S starts with F2121. The "F" means it was made in the Farida factory in China and Tom said the factory also sold some guitars under the Farida name.

So I'm guessing your guitar was made in another factory but I'm certain Tom can help you if you reach out to him. I have his email if you care to P.M. me. I really like Alvarez and I got that RD20S with OHSC for $100 used at Guitar Center. I think it sounds better than my slightly more expensive Alvarez AD30.

I also suggest contacting Tom, either by email or via the Facebook page.
You will have an answer inside of 72 hours.
I’ve only recently figured out the numbering system.
The dating system has only made sense with my 5013.
It has the date stamped on the label.