Alvarez A800 F style

**State** · Aug-01-2015, 2:44pm

I have been playing the mandolin for a few months now (a Santa Rosa I got for next to nothing) and I am looking to upgrade. I recently found one for sale that I am considering.

This is the information given in the ad:

"Alvarez A800 F-Style Mandolin w/ hard shell case. No serial number on it so I'm not sure of the year. It's in VERY good condition. Had a pro setup and new strings just put on. Very sweet tone."

$425

Is this a good deal? I will, of course, play it before I buy it but I would need to travel nearly 2 hours away to get it. I need to know if it would be worth the drive.

Several pictures are posted with the ad:

http://atlanta.craigslist.org/nat/msg/5147338056.html

What do you think?

**allenhopkins** · Aug-01-2015, 5:17pm

Here's a used one at $550. Other listings seem to be in the $350-400 range. The TKL case for this one is a selling point.

Solid woods, apparently the second-best Alvarez F-model offered. There seem to be a fair number of them around, and Big Joe Vest of Cafe´fame says an A-800 was his first mandolin, and he liked it until moving to Nashville and hearing better ones.

Probably worth the drive, and you can dicker with the seller, maybe get a few bucks off. From the pics it appears in excellent condition.

**darrylicshon** · Aug-01-2015, 7:50pm

I saw the same ad and if i had the cash i would buy it. If you ever want to upgrade you can sell it without loss or very little

**Timbofood** · Aug-01-2015, 9:40pm

If memory serves, that model came out about 1977. Looks pretty clean that's for sure! If I had the money, I'd buy it!

**jhammond** · Aug-03-2015, 9:56am

If you like it buy it! I have had one of these from the 70s as well as an Ibanez built around the same time. They are well built and sound pretty good. As long as it is structurally sound and the fretboard is straight it will be a good one. Mine had a problem at the 12th fret. Once fixed it played great. You will enjoy it. And then MAS will strike again.