View Full Version : Alvarez A800 year model
sumibuilt
Mar-08-2016, 2:13pm
Anyone have any brochures that could identify the year of this mandolin?
sumibuilt
Mar-08-2016, 2:21pm
144311
Bill Kammerzell
Mar-08-2016, 6:47pm
144311
Without knowing anything else, I would have to say 1st off, it is Japanese, because of the 2 screws and not 3 screws in the truss rod cover. Korean Alvarez mandolins have 3. I'm fairly certain the move to Korea took place around 1990 or so. Plus I never saw a Korean Alvarez with the Florida fretboard. All theirs as far as I know had 23 frets.
I will look around for some more info.
Bill Kammerzell
Mar-08-2016, 6:56pm
Anyone have any brochures that could identify the year of this mandolin?
Check this link.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1978-Alvarez-A-800-F-Style-Mandolin-A800-vintage-Japan-gold-plated-MIJ-/381554710223?hash=item58d66ed6cf:g:ZkoAAOSw~CRTrIS v
This guy says his is a 1978. They look very close, maybe identical even, including the case, other than the inside material cover.
Bill Kammerzell
Mar-08-2016, 6:58pm
Anyone have any brochures that could identify the year of this mandolin?
BTW, is the mandolin in your possession? There is a sticker inside the F Hole closest to the scroll.
sumibuilt
Mar-08-2016, 7:46pm
Thank you. It does say made in Japan and serial is 4 digit
darrylicshon
Mar-08-2016, 7:49pm
Check this link.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1978-Alvarez-A-800-F-Style-Mandolin-A800-vintage-Japan-gold-plated-MIJ-/381554710223?hash=item58d66ed6cf:g:ZkoAAOSw~CRTrIS v
This guy says his is a 1978. They look very close, maybe identical even, including the case, other than the inside material cover.
Wow they want alot for that one
sumibuilt
Mar-08-2016, 7:49pm
Saw that one, burst is very different, my tailpiece is gold and no viney headstock inlay
Bill Kammerzell
Mar-08-2016, 9:02pm
Wow they want alot for that one
He has wanted a lot for that one going back into last year. There are a couple at Reverb also. A-800 and A-700. They have been there for sometime. They have some ridiculous asking prices for Ibanez F style mandolins made in Japan back in the mid to late 1970's. They have been sitting around for months also.
Bill Kammerzell
Mar-08-2016, 9:04pm
Thank you. It does say made in Japan and serial is 4 digit
Most likely late 1970's to Early 1980's then. There are a couple at Reverb also, you can look at.
Bill Kammerzell
Mar-09-2016, 12:48pm
Thank you. It does say made in Japan and serial is 4 digit
Here is an Japan A-700 at Reverb from 1978 with a 4 digit serial of 3018.
https://reverb.com/item/1381939-alvarez-a-700-1978-3-tone-sunburst
sumibuilt
Mar-09-2016, 5:17pm
Here is an Japan A-700 at Reverb from 1978 with a 4 digit serial of 3018.
https://reverb.com/item/1381939-alvarez-a-700-1978-3-tone-sunburst
Yeah, he says mid to late seventies in the body of the ad. It's really just a crap shoot unless brochure pics and years are referenced. When I list it, I'm just going to say late 70's and call it good!
Bill Kammerzell
Mar-10-2016, 7:41am
Yeah, he says mid to late seventies in the body of the ad. It's really just a crap shoot unless brochure pics and years are referenced. When I list it, I'm just going to say late 70's and call it good!
There are some Ibanez catalogs on the internet. Haven't seen an Alvarez catalog to download though.