Alvarez...the good or the bad

[donlyn]

Alvarez...the good or the bad


Toucan,

I say good.

I've had my Alvarez AJ60S for about fifteen years. Was looking for an inexpensive guitar, played most of the acoustics in a small to medium size shop one day, and this was the second best sounding one in the shop behind a 3K Taylor at a tenth of the price. No electronics or cutaway, none needed. Bought new and never regretted it. Didn't need a set-up and still sounds great today. It's a medium size jumbo, 16.25" lower bout with a bit of a waist to it. It has a 1+11/16" nut width, a standard scale (25.5"), and is currently strung with Elixir Lights. It chose the gauge during tryouts. I fingerpick all my instruments using my nails as picks.

With laminate back and sides, it gets a lot of use when in overly humid weather, as my larger body solids get a bit muffled in extremely humid conditions. I have played out with it and it answers the bell every time.

I wish I had seen a 12 string version in a store sometime. There is one on YouTube.

Don,
.

[jaymarsch]

I have had excellent experience with Alvarez guitars - both their laminates and all-solid wood models. A search should yield quite a few threads where there are positive responnses.

Best,
Jayne

[Twin Six]

I had an Alvarez 6-sting once upon a time which was excellent. I then also bought the Alvarez Yairi 12-string that I still have which is exquisite.

[NotveryGood]

I have an Alvarez AP70. It seemed an affordable way to dip into a small bodied slotted headstock, wider 12 fret neck to see if it suited. Its a great guitar, I haven't felt the need to "upgrade" , it holds its own.

[Willie_D]

I think of Alvarez and Yamaha as being kind of similar. I have a high opinion of both.

Jam around a while and you'll meet someone who says, "when I went to buy myself a really nice guitar I played a bunch of Martins, Taylors, Gibsons, and this (Yamaha or Alvarez). And I liked this one just as much as any of them. So I saved some money and got one I'm happy with."

Alvarez make some great ones.

[roylor4]

I have owned a couple of Alvarez guitars. They are one of the more reliably built and good sounding import guitar brands (IMO).

[grinningfool]

I own two Alvarez guitars. The first one is a 1980 Model 5013 which is an all laminate dreadnought, made in Japan. I bought it from a co-worker in 1985 for roughly $75, I’m not exactly sure, but I know it was less than a hundred bucks.
I can tell you I have played that guitar A LOT in the last 35 years. After all these years it still plays great, and to hear it, you would never believe it’s a plywood guitar. It sounds fabulous.
My second Alvarez is an MD60BG that I bought just a few weeks ago. This guitar blows me away. What a great value, all solid wood guitar for $599. I own a couple other much more expensive guitars, but I can honestly say neither plays or sounds better than than that Alvarez Masterworks. I would not hesitate to recommend Alvarez guitars to any player at any level.

[TiffanyGuitar]

I have had several Alvarez guitars. Including a 1983 Alvarez Yairi, which sounded nice. I hold them in high regard EXCEPT, both my Yairi and my 1982 5021 12 string were in need of a neck reset. Both had epoxy glued neck joints...making that impossible. The Artist line and Masterworks guitars today still use epoxy in their neck joints and bridge glues. Yairi today uses hide glue, making that kind of repair possible. I now steer away from epoxy glued guitars, including Seagull (and I have had two of those). Just a thing for me I guess...

[FLRon]

I owned a couple back in the 70’s. Good beginner(which I was at the time)to intermediate guitars that wouldn’t break the bank. The Yairi line were on par with the big three back then. I still lust after a Yairi 9-string!

[Oldguy64]

I have 13 guitars.
Six of them are Alvarez.
I keep buying them, because frankly, they sound amazing.
And they don’t cost anywhere near their value.

[JBCROTTY]

No bad. All good.

[Andromeda]

Alvarez is my favorite brand of acoustic guitar. Within the next several weeks I plan to add two of them to my collection.

[Yamaha Man]

I have an Alvarez 12 string that sounds and plays great. It's one sweet guitar.

[Wellington]

All I know is the modern Alvarez's bridges make me want to gouge my eyes out . . . but if it's your thing then all the power to you!

[F_Gator]

The Alvarez Masterworks models punch well above their weight. Their price/performance is probably even better than Yamaha, and that’s really saying something. Best way to buy one is when they’re on clearance - after new models come out (which isn’t every year).