Is there a resource for SLM made Alvarez guitars?

[Tmorg3d]

I am considering buying an alvarez 5236 but I can find very little information on it. I looks great but it is kind of far from me and the seller doesn't know much about it. there doesn't seem to be any designation as to where it was made. Some adds on reverb say japan and some say Korea. this looks to be a fairly recent model based on the celluloid binding and tuners. I would assume the older Japan made models have the standard cheap tuners.

Martin style paddle headstock with volute
pyramid bridge, celluloid tuner buttons and binding.

Thank you for any help!

[mdhttr]

My 5022 has SLM on the truss rod cover and says made in Japan on the back of the headstock and also on the label in the soundhole. I would say if it has none of the above it's probably Korean. Mine has standard tuners, but I've never had any problem with them.

[Earl49]

SLM - Sound Level Meter??

[Tmorg3d]

Originally Posted by Earl49

SLM - Sound Level Meter??

SLM is the distributor - maker of Crate, Ampeg etc.

[Earl49]

Thanks. Probably St Louis Music, IIRC. I need more caffeine....

[Tmorg3d]

Originally Posted by mdhttr

My 5022 has SLM on the truss rod cover and says made in Japan on the back of the headstock and also on the label in the soundhole. I would say if it has none of the above it's probably Korean. Mine has standard tuners, but I've never had any problem with them.

this doesn't say in the soundhole. looks like i can see residue of a label on the back of the headstock.

here is an example but different label

https://reverb.com/item/3381259-alva...hard-soft-case

[Tmorg3d]

Originally Posted by Earl49

Thanks. Probably St Louis Music, IIRC. I need more caffeine....

yes, that's it

[Reapprsr]

Hi -I bought mine on September 4, 1986 for a retail price of $279.50 but with the trade I made, my cash outlay was less. I still have the tag and receipt. My 5236 was made in Korea and set up at SLM by G.T. 6-86. Today is February 4, 2020 and I still love my Alvarez 5236. It is just a great guitar. My other acoustic is a Martin D-15M. -R

[Oldguy64]

There may be a number on the neck block.
If you send an e-mail or Facebook message to them they may be able to identify it.
If the sticker is gone, and there is no number on the neck, there may not be a way to definitively ID the guitar.

[Ralph124C41]

Just send an email to Tom Kruszka at STLguitarservice.com . He is the "point guy" for all things Alvarez and he will look up his arsenal of old catalogs, etc., and will tell you probably want you need to know. I've consulted Tom on each and every Alvarez I have bought ... and many I have not ... and he has always quickly (sometimes within an hour) answered my questions.

My last purchase was that RD20S with a case I got for $99 from Guitar Center's great used car lot of guitars. It was important to note, for example, that the "S" in the name stands for a solid-top guitar because most RD models were made of all laminates. Furthermore Alvarez's all-numerical model numbering system completely baffles me.

[Naboz]

Thanks for that contact, Ralph. I too cannot make out the rationale behind the 'old' numeric system, and getting in contact with Tom would have been very helpful when I was searching some used Alvarez on Reverb.

[Edgar Poe]

Avoid the made in Korea model, not just for Alvarez, but for Yamaha and the older Harmony Sovereigns also.

Ed

[Oldguy64]

Originally Posted by Edgar Poe

Avoid the made in Korea model, not just for Alvarez, but for Yamaha and the older Harmony Sovereigns also.

Ed

I’ve had three MIK Alvarez guitars. Still have two.
Both of them are great instruments.
The one I let go was good enough that I replaced it with the same basic model.