Alvarez mandolin?

[chico12056]

Does anyone know anything about this Mandolin ? I've owned it for about five years now and all i know is its an Alvarez , but ! it doesnt look like any Alvarez i've ever seen. Especially the headstock logo . Also it's a little longer in length as i own other F -Models and in comparison this one barely fits in the case because the head stock is slightly longer. Check out the stamp inside the f- hole

[John Flynn]

This is just a crazy guess, but it might be an early incarnation of the A-900. The color of the body looks like a 900 and it does seem to be an upgrade of the 800, which is what the 900 was. The more recent 900s I've seen, though, had the "opposing A" headstock inlay and a vine fingerboard inlay. But they have messed around with the 800 design throughout its lifetime, so they may have had other 900 designs also. I would suggest sending those pics into Alvarez customer service and asking them.

[cooper4205]

you have a mid-70's alvarez A700. if the scroll is flat (no recurve) then it has a solid top, and laminate sides and back. it was made in japan. i owned one a few months back.


ibanez also made one that had the block inlays around the same time, but it was a much higher quality mandolin- all solid woods, and a carved scroll.



when i was looking for info on mine i contacted alvarez to no avail- they were really bad about keeping track of things back then is what the guy at alvarez told me

ibanez 523 (1975)



here's my old A700 and a old catalog pic




hope that helps

[cooper4205]

i know this is off topic but there is an ibanez F4 on e-bay right now just like in the catalog pic, first time i have ever seen one

[mikeo2]

A lot of those Alvarez & Ibanez japan made mandolins are very nice. I have a 513 (For sale w/ pic here)) that I love. If I wasn't needing some money for other purchases, I wouldn't dare get rid of it. Great tone and playability.

[cooper4205]

i have a 522 two-point like in the catalog pic above; it's a great sounding mandolin as well. the fit and finish on it are great, too

[Greenmando]

I have a nice Koa Alvarez guitar with the opposing A headstock. They have some nice instruments.

[Don]

Here is a pic of my 1980s A900.

[Don]

Try again.

[Don]

Seem to be having a problem with posting a picture.Hmmm.

[Don]

One more time.

[cooper4205]

use photobucket, works everytime for me

[Don]

One more try.Alvarez A900 from the 1980s.

[Don]

Alvarez A800 from the 1980s.

[Don]

Alvarez A800-made from about 1975 till about 1982.

[cooper4205]

the 800 and 900 series were the better alvarez mandolins, although i think they did make a solid-wood A700 at some point

[kymandolin29]

hello i have a a800.....serial#088478.it looks like the 800 here but mine is solid brown with no burst on it....its got a ton of finish but sounds good...i was thinking it was a mid 80s mandolin....i have the org case too...its red lined...anyone know what yr it is???? thanx mr

[Don]

You can tell generally when the A800 was made by the design on the peghead.See the above photos I posted for a reference.The 1990s(made in Korea) A800s had a fern inlay on the peghead.

[kymandolin29]

my a 800 has the reverse a on the headstock...what does that date it too.....mr

[Don]

Just the plain "reverse A" on the peghead,as is shown in the above photo would date it between about 1982-1989. The one in the picture above was brown,as you describe yours to be,if I recall correctly.It was a very nice mandolin.

[Don]

Well,guess I should just have looked at the picture and stop trying to recall.

[Hal Loflin]

I have one that looks very similar to the catalog pictures but it says "The Alvarez" on the headstock and has a flower pot instead of the fern. Also has block, ala Sam Bush model, fret inlays.

Anyone got an idea of what I have (year and model)?

I'll try and post a picture tomorrow.

THanks, Hal