Cured my scroll envy

[cooper4205]

well, being new to the mando game i have been pounding away on my 380s for a few months. #i really like the kentucky, but i have hade a little scroll envy. #well, i saw a '70s model alvarez f-hole mandolin for cheap and jumped on it. #here is a pic, i'll post more when i get it.

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/wesb4217/mynewmando.jpg


i figured i could at least get my money out of it, i have never seen one go this cheap before, hope its not too good to be true #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Aran]

I have to sympathise with you as I started on $50 plywood A's and had scroll envy too!!

As Oscar Wilde said: "The only way to beat temptation is to give in to it!"

Hope your new mando plays nicely

[jim_n_virginia]

I too can relate. I started out with a plywood Pac-Rim pawn shop A style mandolin and quickly upgraded to a Mid-Mo but I just wasn't satisfied until I got me some "scroll" http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

I know that there are some guys (and gals) who keep saying ... "it don't matter about the scroll, it's only for looks" ... but I have made an observation that these are the same people who say "money can't buy happiness". LOL! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[AlanN]

I always liked those Alvarez from the 70's. Pick it purty.

[Nolan]

Cool case too!

[cooper4205]

thanks guys, this MAS has no stop, but its not bad for $350, eh? what do these old alvarez mando's usually go for, it's hard to find anything on the net. this one kinda reminds me of Hoss, wonder if it would hurt the value to cut off the extension?

[mandobob]

cooper,
Price sounds very good to me, I'll take it:D .
I just got ordered a bottom feeder F myself (Rover 75), but I think that will only whet my appetite for the scroll. Those older MIJ instrumnets are usually excellent.

[cooper4205]

those MIJ mandos do have more "character" ,so to speak, than the pac-rim mandos today do in my opinion

[Fliss]

Congrats on the new mando! I like the way it looks, and also like the case too!

Hope you get a lot of enjoyment from it.

Fliss

[bgmando]

You got a good price on a good instrument.

My brother has owned one since the 70s. We did a swap for several years, my banjo for his mando. And on that instrument I learned and mandolin became the instrument I most often played in band settings.

The fact that the instrument played well and sounded good made it all possible. And the scroll made me feel like a pro.

Enjoy yours.

[pickinNgrinnin]

That's a very good price for a 70's Japanese made Alvarez mando. I've seen these selling for much more on Ebay. When you decide to upgrade (and you likely will) you should be able to get your money back out of this one and more. Enjoy the Mando and the scroll http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[cooper4205]

i'm also looking at an oval hole 2-point (2 in one week!) i have my eye on an #another old (A500-early 70's, stamped "handmade") alvarez, but was curious about the aria two-pointers. #

if you can get a japanese or korean aria are they good mandos? i saw specs for one on elderly but it didn't say if it was solid wood or not. #would anyone here know? #

also, can anybody i.d. the year of the one pictured above or tell me more about the Alvarez Fs and A's of this era (whatever one it is) it would be greatly appreciated. if anyone has old catalogs or pdf's i'd be interested in seeing them. #you guys have been great so far, thanks.

[B. T. Walker]

I played one like yours that belongs to an acquaintance. Nice mandolin; may you enjoy it until MAS inevitably strikes. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[cooper4205]

got a couple more pics, the back looks nice...

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/wesb4217/Picture-030.jpg

http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h75/wesb4217/Picture-009.jpg