What if i had kept my old alvarez?

[FrDNicholas]

I was looking at mandolins on Ebay and saw a couple of Alvarez mandolins from the 80s. I had one in the late 70's that lasted until I got my Gibson in 1984. Does anyone have an Alvarez from back then, and, if so, how does it sound now after many years? Has it held up well?

[fatt-dad]

I think some were much better then others (or the reverse if you are a half-empty kind of guy). I had one (MIJ) where the top was WAY too thick and the sound was just not there. I've had and sold others that were just fine - really nice actually.

f-d

[Hal Loflin]

I have a 1976 F style MIJ Alvarez. It does not have the deep chop that better quality mandolins have but it plays like a dream. The neck is small and the strings are set up real low. It is very easy to play.

Just like what Fatt-Dad says, the top is a little thick and that gives it a mellow, somewhat thin, sound. I use it when I travel and play it from time to time. I paid $175 for it about three years ago...bought it from a friend that took it on trade for some plumbing work. He just wanted his money from the job.

If anyone posting knows what these are worth I would like to hear. I don't plan on selling it and keep it for a second mandolin.

[Timbofood]

I got mine new in June 1975, I has just out of high school and working at Homespun Music, What a great job! anyway, Mine has been played pretty hard through the time and had MONSTER heavy gauge strings for a while and then back to stock Mediums, top has slightly sunk but no worries, I watch it. There are several people that have made great positive noise about it's sound. When I get my new one from Billbows (What is the temp. in Hades getting to?) this will get the "Get up John" tuning and I'll finally really learn that tune! I have no plans of ever parting with this one...I suppose it may go on loan to my grandchildren should they show interest.