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November 2004
Posts: 1374
| No it wasn't an Ovation.... sorry if I scared anyone. :D but I need some help identifying this..
she traded a year old epi sg special(IMO not too great, never stayed in tune) for this:
it is an Alvarez strat-like guitar, no model # or name anywhere on the guitar just Alvarez on the headstock and pu covers.
Says Alvarez Electric on the neckplate, Beautiful sunburst(Ash?) body, very heavy gloss finish(wood looks like tiger-eye stone) gold hw(looks like schallers marked w/alvarez caps), very nice heavy duty trem,(floyd rose?) and also a very nice roller nut assembly and gold string tree.(I've been dive-bombing this thing for about an hour now and it actually stays in tune pretty well).
The Body is very heavily sculpted and thinned.
looks like there is graphite or rods under the fretboard, the tone is really nice, pu's seem pretty hot, look like emg's but again marked Alvarez.
The Fit, finish, action and tone of this thing is better than ANY! Strat I've ever played Period!!
I have no idea how old this is but it's pretty minty, only a little belt-buckle rash on the trem cover plate, other than that it's really very, very nice.
cannot find anything at Alvarez's site on it or in any forums that I've been scouring for the last 3 or 4 hours.. I know it's not an Ovation but I'll tell you what I think she made out like a bandit on this deal.. can anyone help out? pics are in the members area under my name.
sorry for the OT but could use some help w/this and thought someone here who might be into the more obscure guitars could help.
Thanks in advance,
God Bless,
Glenn |
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May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | Who cares what it is if it's well made and plays well. It's all about tone, right?
Well, ok, no it's not. It's all about me. But, that's a different story! HAHAHA.
Seriously, is it an Alvarez Classic Custom? Like this thing? |
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November 2004
Posts: 1374
| already saw those on the website, nope but thanks,
no but close.... here it is:
maybe custom job? dunno, would like to find out tho... really nice Korean :eek: guitar!
again really nice but no id anywhere on the guitar.
the pics absolutely do not do it justice the finish and graining is deeeeeep.
thanks,
Glenn |
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Joined:
January 2003
Posts: 1498
Location: San Bernardino, California | The first time you change the strings, look under the pickguard to see if there is battery inside. Some of the Alvarez's have active electronics. |
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May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | Huh. Looks like the Classic body style, but the headstock is different and the pups sure look like they might be active. Nice looking guitar. |
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Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 1374
| everything on this guitar seems top-shelf, quality hardware,only plastic is the pickguard(3ply bwb),and the selector knob(also on very solid 5-position switch).
pretty heavy angle on the peghead too...
already checked the pots for push-pulls but no.
every screw is gold plated, absolutely no noise in the elx, smooth turning pots,...
anyway guess you all know by now I'm pretty impressed by this one. too bad tomorrow's sunday and I don't have any spare strings around right now or would answer the active elx question tonight.
will let you all know on monday. in the meantime if anyone can figure out what the model is let me know.
Thanks for the help.
God Bless,
Glenn
Time to play (autumn) for awhile as she'll be leaving soon.....hopefully moving in with one of my friend's here. :) |
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February 2002
Posts: 1817
Location: Minden, Nebraska | It looks like it might be one of the models with the 'Dana Scoop' Alvarez patented for easier access to the upper frets. |
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May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | I don't think it's a Dana, Paul. The Dana Scoop was a huge scallop that went all the way under the end of the neck. The neck pocket was connected to the body only on the bass side. I seem to recall that there was another Dana designed guitar, but it didn't have that Dana Scoop thing.
There's actually a black Dana Scoop for sale on the fleaBay right now, that looks to be in pretty good shape. Fortunately, it's not tempting me. ;) |
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December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | positively NOT a scoop |
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November 2004
Posts: 1374
| any ideas Al? I know it's not a scoop, brother had one (red w/graphite neck)(imo spoo but looked real cool everything went flaky w/it straight out ot the box)..asking on the alvarez site and they're all scratching their heads too.. about this one.
there is another one in their forums like this except silver hw and no trem/roller nut he's having the same id problems as well... so far consensus is(maybe) custom. maybe not.
Everyone seems to agree nice guitar guess that'll have to be good enough for now... and it is :D
thanks for the help tho guys.
God Bless,
Glenn |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | sorry glenn
alvarez is not my strong point |
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May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Squinting it looks like a cross between a jazz master, a strat and a carvin. |
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Joined:
November 2004
Posts: 1374
| well one of the local music stores was having a teen band clash today, so shannon is down there w/nick and picking up some strings...
gonna load it up w some D'addario 10's and see how it goes.
got the pickguard off no actives :(
but that's ok. like I said pickups are pretty hot and tone variations on this are pretty nice.
still no idea about model but by comparing others that I've found so far looks like early 80's maybe
even 85 or so.
there is a bass model called the villian that is identical in style(4 and 5 string) but can find nothing on a villian 6 guitar.
the headstock seems to be the kicker on this and another one mentioned on the alvarez forum. that one and this are the only ones i've found w/3on a sides.(looks like this one but not as deluxe no trem/roller nut, chrome hw instead of gold).
anyway she's all cleaned up polished and reassembled, hanging on the wall waiting for shannon to get home w/the strings.
polishing and primping the 1758 now.
with musical interludes between tasks.
BTW that black scoop on e-bay does look kinda nice... even the model dana endorsed b4 modulus got brought in.(w graphite neck model)
God Bless,
Glenn |
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OMG! Shannon traded her guitar w/o asking!!!
