Alvarez Serial Number Search

This is a list of Alvarez Artist Series guitars (with 4 digit model numbers) that are no longer in production. Alvarez used 4 digit model numbers for pre-1999 Professional Series guitars. From 1999 they used two letter and two number model names.

You know the model number and seriel number so the manufacture date of this instrument can be determined. There are some threads on the Alvarez message board, but they are not always answered. The thread below from the Alvarez message board does contain some good replies.

Alvarez Yairi Serial Number Lookup

Alvarez yairi serial number lookup

Dating Alvarez Guitar Serial Numbers

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ALVAREZ 5002 MAHOGANY CLASSIC

Manufacture of the Alvarez 5002 MAHOGANY classical guitar ended in 1998.

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ALVAREZ 5004 ARTIST ROSEWOOD (ROSEWOOD CLASSIC)

ALVAREZ stopped making the 5004 ARTIST ROSEWOOD classical guitar in 1998.

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ALVAREZ 5014 ARTIST FOLK (MOUNTAIN FOLK)

ALVAREZ made the 5014 ARTIST FOLK (MOUNTAIN FOLK) between 1995 and 1998

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ALVAREZ 5019 AV

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ALVAREZ 5019 MIDNIGHT SPECIAL

The Alvarez 5019 Midnight Special was a mid-range dreadnought acoustic guitar, with spruce multi-ply soundboard. The back and sides of the body were made from mahogany and the neck was nato. At the twelfth fret the Midnight Special had distinctive bird wing style inlays.

Manufacture of the 5019 MIDNIGHT SPECIAL started in the mid 1980s and ended in 1998.

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ALVAREZ 5020 C Mountain Deluxe

Manufacture of the 5020 C Mountain Deluxe ended in 1998. The 5020C was the electro-acoustic version of the Alvarez 5020 Mountain and it also had a cutaway.

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ALVAREZ 5020 M

The 5020 M was discontinued by ALVAREZ in 1995 - essentially it was a 5020 Mountain with a laminated mahogany top.

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ALVAREZ 5020 MOUNTAIN DELUXE

ALVAREZ manufactured the 5020 MOUNTAIN DELUXE acoustic guitar between 1991 and 1995.

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ALVAREZ 5020 SB Mountain Deluxe Sunburst

The 5020 SB (sunburst) Mountain Deluxe Sunburst was discontinued in 1998.

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ALVAREZ 5021

Introduced sometime in the early 1970s, the 5021 was an acoustic dreadnought style 12 string guitar, with a solid spruce top bound with w-b-w-b-w-b top purfling and black pickguard. The back, sides and neck were made from mahogany. The round sound hole had an attractive synthetic shell rosette. It had a rosewood fingerboard with pearl dots (some later versions had a bird wing inlay at the 12th fret). Rosewood veneer peg-head overlay with a mirrored 'A' inlay (or a script Alvarez logo in early models), 6-a-side chrome open-gear tuners. It came in natural or sunburst finish.

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ALVAREZ 5038

The Alvarez 5038 model had a Wildwood Cutaway, Cedar top, Ovangkol back and sides. Maple body binding and wood multi-layered top inlay.

The rounded cutaway was designed for easy playing. Deluxe gold die cast tuning gears with amber buttons. Satin finish.

The recommended retail price in 1984 was $325.

Earlier (1970's) models of the 5038 featured maple sides and back, and a spruce top. No cutaway.

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ALVAREZ 5040 KOA

The Alvarez 5040 KOA acoustic guitar was introduced in the early 1980s and is now discontinued. These had distinctive figured Koa tops - which were laminated. Examples made around 1982 have a brass plaque on the back of the headstock with the serial number stamp which reads 'ALVAREZ ARTIST, MADE BY ALVAREZ, COMMEMORATING THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF SLM (1922-1982)'.

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ALVAREZ 5043 BURGUNDY (BURGUNDY ARTIST)

The 5043 BURGUNDY (BURGUNDY ARTIST) was made between 1994 and 1998

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ALVAREZ 5047

The Japanese made Alvarez 5047 acoustic was introduced sometime in the 1970s.

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ALVAREZ 5055 BLUESMAN

ALVAREZ made the 5055 BLUESMAN between 1995 and 1998. The Alvarez 5055 Bluesman was a flat topped, small bodied acoustic with two f-holes. This model should not be confused with the Alvarez 5055 model from the 1970s which was a J-200 copy. The 5055 Bluesman was replaced in 1999 by the similar looking Alvarez AD65 model.

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ALVAREZ 5072 C BK

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ALVAREZ 5072 JUMBO (ARTIST JUMBO)

ALVAREZ produced the 5072 JUMBO (ARTIST JUMBO) between 1994 and 1998

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ALVAREZ 5088 C (FUSION DELUXE)

Production of the 5088 C (FUSION DELUXE) began in 1994 and ended in 1998

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ALVAREZ 5088 C BK (Fusion Deluxe)

ALVAREZ made the 5088 C BK (Fusion Deluxe) between 1994 and 1998. Without a pickguard and in white finish this model was called the Alvarez 5088 C WH.

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ALVAREZ 5088/12 12-String

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ALVAREZ 5220 C

The Alvarez 5220C is a single cutaway dreadnought acoustic. It has a spruce top with three ply binding around the body and a black pickguard. The back and sides are mahogany. The nato neck has a 20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays. The bridge is rosewood bridge with black pearl dot pins. It came in natural finish only. Manufacture of the 5220 C model ended in 1995.

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ALVAREZ 5224

The first 5224 was discontinued by ALVAREZ in 1988

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ALVAREZ 5225 ROSEWOOD

The Alvarez 5225 Rosewood was the rosewood back and sides version of the Alvarez 5224.

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ALVAREZ 5227 ROSEWOOD SPECIAL

The Alvarez 5227 ROSEWOOD SPECIAL was the laminated spruce topped version of the Alvarez 5225 Rosewood dreadnought. Both models had rosewood back and sides. It was made from the early to mid 1980s

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ALVAREZ 5237 CURLY MAPLE

ALVAREZ discontinued the 5237 CURLY MAPLE acoustic guitar in 1995.

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Specifications:

ModelImageFinish colorsNumber of stringsBindingFinish effectsMade inScale length
ALVAREZ 5002 MAHOGANY CLASSIC
1998
No image yetnatural finish6 strings----
ALVAREZ 5004 ARTIST ROSEWOOD (ROSEWOOD CLASSIC)
1998
No image yetnatural finish6 strings----
ALVAREZ 5014 ARTIST FOLK (MOUNTAIN FOLK)
1995 to 1998
No image yet-6 stringsblack and white bindingsunburst finish--
ALVAREZ 5019 AV
1994
No image yet-6 strings----
ALVAREZ 5019 MIDNIGHT SPECIAL
No image yetblack finish6 stringsblack and white binding---
ALVAREZ 5020 C Mountain Deluxe
No image yet-6 strings----
ALVAREZ 5020 M
No image yet-6 strings----
ALVAREZ 5020 MOUNTAIN DELUXE
1991 to 1998
No image yetnatural finish6 stringsblack and white bindingsunburst finish--
ALVAREZ 5020 SB Mountain Deluxe Sunburst
No image yet-6 strings-sunburst finish--
ALVAREZ 5021
1970 to 1993
natural finish12 strings-sunburst finishJapan25.625 inches scale-length
ALVAREZ 5038
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ALVAREZ 5040 KOA
1982 to 1998
natural finish6 strings3-stripe body-binding, tortoiseshell binding-Japan, Korea-
ALVAREZ 5043 BURGUNDY (BURGUNDY ARTIST)
1994 to 1998
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ALVAREZ 5047
-6 stringsbody binding, neck binding-Japan-
ALVAREZ 5055 BLUESMAN
1995 to 1998
-6 stringscream bindingsunburst finishKorea25.625 inches scale-length
ALVAREZ 5072 C BK
1995 to 1998
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ALVAREZ 5072 JUMBO (ARTIST JUMBO)
1994 to 1998
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ALVAREZ 5088 C (FUSION DELUXE)
1994 to 1998
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ALVAREZ 5088 C BK (Fusion Deluxe)
1994 to 1998
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ALVAREZ 5088/12 12-String
1994
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ALVAREZ 5220 C
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ALVAREZ 5224
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ALVAREZ 5225 ROSEWOOD
1981 to 1992
natural finish6 strings----
ALVAREZ 5227 ROSEWOOD SPECIAL
1981 to 1985
No image yetnatural finish6 strings----
ALVAREZ 5237 CURLY MAPLE
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ModelBody back materialBody sides materialBody styleBody top materialSoundhole rosetteSoundholePickguard materialBody shape featuresBody depthBody width
ALVAREZ 5002 MAHOGANY CLASSIC
1998
mahogany body backmahogany body sidesclassical style bodylaminated spruce body topwood inlay rosetteround soundhole----
ALVAREZ 5004 ARTIST ROSEWOOD (ROSEWOOD CLASSIC)
1998
rosewood body backrosewood body sides--------
ALVAREZ 5014 ARTIST FOLK (MOUNTAIN FOLK)
1995 to 1998
mahogany body backmahogany body sidesfolk-style bodylaminated spruce body topblack and white ring rosetteround soundholetortoiseshell pickguard---
ALVAREZ 5019 AV
1994
----------
ALVAREZ 5019 MIDNIGHT SPECIAL
mahogany body backmahogany body sidesdreadnought-size bodylaminated spruce body topabalone rosetteround soundholeblack pickguard---
ALVAREZ 5020 C Mountain Deluxe
-------single cutaway--
ALVAREZ 5020 M
---laminated mahogany body top------
ALVAREZ 5020 MOUNTAIN DELUXE
1991 to 1998
mahogany body backmahogany body sidesdreadnought-size bodylaminated spruce body topsynthetic shell rosetteround soundholetortoiseshell pickguard---
ALVAREZ 5020 SB Mountain Deluxe Sunburst
----------
ALVAREZ 5021
1970 to 1993
mahogany body backmahogany body sidesdreadnought-size bodySolid spruce----4.75 inches body depth-
ALVAREZ 5038
----------
ALVAREZ 5040 KOA
1982 to 1998
koa body backkoa body sidesdreadnought-size bodylaminated koa body top-round soundholebrown pickguard---
ALVAREZ 5043 BURGUNDY (BURGUNDY ARTIST)
1994 to 1998
----------
ALVAREZ 5047
laminated body back, rosewood body backrosewood body sidesgrand-concert stylespruce body top-round soundhole----
ALVAREZ 5055 BLUESMAN
1995 to 1998
mahogany body backmahogany body sidesjumbo-style bodylaminated spruce body top-2 f-holes---16 inches wide body
ALVAREZ 5072 C BK
1995 to 1998
----------
ALVAREZ 5072 JUMBO (ARTIST JUMBO)
1994 to 1998
----------
ALVAREZ 5088 C (FUSION DELUXE)
1994 to 1998
----------
ALVAREZ 5088 C BK (Fusion Deluxe)
1994 to 1998
----------
ALVAREZ 5088/12 12-String
1994
----------
ALVAREZ 5220 C
----------
ALVAREZ 5224
----------
ALVAREZ 5225 ROSEWOOD
1981 to 1992
rosewood body backrosewood body sidesdreadnought-size bodyspruce body top-round soundhole----
ALVAREZ 5227 ROSEWOOD SPECIAL
1981 to 1985
rosewood body backrosewood body sidesdreadnought-size bodylaminated spruce body top-round soundhole----
ALVAREZ 5237 CURLY MAPLE
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ModelBody fretNeck jointNeck materialNumber of fretsPeghead (headstock)Tuner layoutHeadstock inlays or logosNeck width
ALVAREZ 5002 MAHOGANY CLASSIC
1998
Neck joins body at 12th fretset necknato neck19 fretveneer headstockthree-each-side--
ALVAREZ 5004 ARTIST ROSEWOOD (ROSEWOOD CLASSIC)
1998
--------
ALVAREZ 5014 ARTIST FOLK (MOUNTAIN FOLK)
1995 to 1998
Neck joins body at 14th fretset neck-20 fretblack face headstockthree-each-sidepearl headstock inlay/logo-
ALVAREZ 5019 AV
1994
--------
ALVAREZ 5019 MIDNIGHT SPECIAL
Neck joins body at 14th fretset necknato neck20 fret-three-each-side--
ALVAREZ 5020 C Mountain Deluxe
--------
ALVAREZ 5020 M
--------
ALVAREZ 5020 MOUNTAIN DELUXE
1991 to 1998
Neck joins body at 14th fretset neck-20 fretveneer headstockthree-each-side--
ALVAREZ 5020 SB Mountain Deluxe Sunburst
--------
ALVAREZ 5021
1970 to 1993
--mahogany neck--six-per-side tuners-1.875 inches wide at nut
ALVAREZ 5038
--------
ALVAREZ 5040 KOA
1982 to 1998
Neck joins body at 14th fretset necknato neck20 fretveneer headstockthree-each-side--
ALVAREZ 5043 BURGUNDY (BURGUNDY ARTIST)
1994 to 1998
--------
ALVAREZ 5047
Neck joins body at 14th fret--20 fret-three-each-side--
ALVAREZ 5055 BLUESMAN
1995 to 1998
Neck joins body at 14th fret--22 fretblack face headstockthree-each-sidepearl headstock inlay/logo1.69 inches wide at nut
ALVAREZ 5072 C BK
1995 to 1998
--------
ALVAREZ 5072 JUMBO (ARTIST JUMBO)
1994 to 1998
--------
ALVAREZ 5088 C (FUSION DELUXE)
1994 to 1998
--------
ALVAREZ 5088 C BK (Fusion Deluxe)
1994 to 1998
--------
ALVAREZ 5088/12 12-String
1994
--------
ALVAREZ 5220 C
--------
ALVAREZ 5224
--------
ALVAREZ 5225 ROSEWOOD
1981 to 1992
Neck joins body at 14th fretset necknato neck20 fret-three-each-side--
ALVAREZ 5227 ROSEWOOD SPECIAL
1981 to 1985
Neck joins body at 14th fretset necknato neck20 fret-three-each-side--
ALVAREZ 5237 CURLY MAPLE
--------

Alvarez Serial Number Checker

ModelBridgeBridge pins
ALVAREZ 5002 MAHOGANY CLASSIC
1998
rosewood bridge-
ALVAREZ 5004 ARTIST ROSEWOOD (ROSEWOOD CLASSIC)
1998
--
ALVAREZ 5014 ARTIST FOLK (MOUNTAIN FOLK)
1995 to 1998
rosewood bridgewhite with black dot pins
ALVAREZ 5019 AV
1994
--
ALVAREZ 5019 MIDNIGHT SPECIAL
rosewood bridgepearl dot pins
ALVAREZ 5020 C Mountain Deluxe
--
ALVAREZ 5020 M
--
ALVAREZ 5020 MOUNTAIN DELUXE
1991 to 1998
rosewood bridgepearl dot pins
ALVAREZ 5020 SB Mountain Deluxe Sunburst
--
ALVAREZ 5021
1970 to 1993
--
ALVAREZ 5038
--
ALVAREZ 5040 KOA
1982 to 1998
rosewood bridgepearl dot pins
ALVAREZ 5043 BURGUNDY (BURGUNDY ARTIST)
1994 to 1998
--
ALVAREZ 5047
--
ALVAREZ 5055 BLUESMAN
1995 to 1998
rosewood bridgewhite with black dot pins
ALVAREZ 5072 C BK
1995 to 1998
--
ALVAREZ 5072 JUMBO (ARTIST JUMBO)
1994 to 1998
--
ALVAREZ 5088 C (FUSION DELUXE)
1994 to 1998
--
ALVAREZ 5088 C BK (Fusion Deluxe)
1994 to 1998
--
ALVAREZ 5088/12 12-String
1994
--
ALVAREZ 5220 C
--
ALVAREZ 5224
--
ALVAREZ 5225 ROSEWOOD
1981 to 1992
rosewood bridgepearl dot pins
ALVAREZ 5227 ROSEWOOD SPECIAL
1981 to 1985
-pearl dot pins
ALVAREZ 5237 CURLY MAPLE
--
ModelFingerboard materialFingerboard inlay materialFingerboard position markersInlay at 12th fret
ALVAREZ 5002 MAHOGANY CLASSIC
1998
rosewood fingerboard---
ALVAREZ 5004 ARTIST ROSEWOOD (ROSEWOOD CLASSIC)
1998
----
ALVAREZ 5014 ARTIST FOLK (MOUNTAIN FOLK)
1995 to 1998
rosewood fingerboardpearl fingerboard inlay materialdot fingerboard position markersstylized bird wings 12th-fret-inlay
ALVAREZ 5019 AV
1994
----
ALVAREZ 5019 MIDNIGHT SPECIAL
rosewood fingerboardpearl fingerboard inlay materialdot fingerboard position markersstylized bird wings 12th-fret-inlay
ALVAREZ 5020 C Mountain Deluxe
----
ALVAREZ 5020 M
----
ALVAREZ 5020 MOUNTAIN DELUXE
1991 to 1998
rosewood fingerboardpearl fingerboard inlay materialdot fingerboard position markersstylized bird wings 12th-fret-inlay
ALVAREZ 5020 SB Mountain Deluxe Sunburst
----
ALVAREZ 5021
1970 to 1993
rosewood fingerboard-dot fingerboard position markers-
ALVAREZ 5038
----
ALVAREZ 5040 KOA
1982 to 1998
rosewood fingerboardpearl fingerboard inlay materialdot fingerboard position markersstylized bird wings 12th-fret-inlay
ALVAREZ 5043 BURGUNDY (BURGUNDY ARTIST)
1994 to 1998
----
ALVAREZ 5047
----
ALVAREZ 5055 BLUESMAN
1995 to 1998
rosewood fingerboardpearl fingerboard inlay materialdot fingerboard position markersstylized bird wings 12th-fret-inlay
ALVAREZ 5072 C BK
1995 to 1998
----
ALVAREZ 5072 JUMBO (ARTIST JUMBO)
1994 to 1998
----
ALVAREZ 5088 C (FUSION DELUXE)
1994 to 1998
----
ALVAREZ 5088 C BK (Fusion Deluxe)
1994 to 1998
----
ALVAREZ 5088/12 12-String
1994
----
ALVAREZ 5220 C
----
ALVAREZ 5224
----
ALVAREZ 5225 ROSEWOOD
1981 to 1992
rosewood fingerboard-dot fingerboard position markers-
ALVAREZ 5227 ROSEWOOD SPECIAL
1981 to 1985
rosewood fingerboard-dot fingerboard position markers-
ALVAREZ 5237 CURLY MAPLE
----

Alvarez Serial Number Lookup

ModelPickups configurationPickups brand and modelPreamp
ALVAREZ 5002 MAHOGANY CLASSIC
1998
---
ALVAREZ 5004 ARTIST ROSEWOOD (ROSEWOOD CLASSIC)
1998
---
ALVAREZ 5014 ARTIST FOLK (MOUNTAIN FOLK)
1995 to 1998
---
ALVAREZ 5019 AV
1994
piezo-transducer bridge--
ALVAREZ 5019 MIDNIGHT SPECIAL
---
ALVAREZ 5020 C Mountain Deluxe
-Alvarez System 500 pickup(s)System 500 electronics
ALVAREZ 5020 M
---
ALVAREZ 5020 MOUNTAIN DELUXE
1991 to 1998
---
ALVAREZ 5020 SB Mountain Deluxe Sunburst
---
ALVAREZ 5021
1970 to 1993
---
ALVAREZ 5038
---
ALVAREZ 5040 KOA
1982 to 1998
---
ALVAREZ 5043 BURGUNDY (BURGUNDY ARTIST)
1994 to 1998
---
ALVAREZ 5047
---
ALVAREZ 5055 BLUESMAN
1995 to 1998
---
ALVAREZ 5072 C BK
1995 to 1998
---
ALVAREZ 5072 JUMBO (ARTIST JUMBO)
1994 to 1998
---
ALVAREZ 5088 C (FUSION DELUXE)
1994 to 1998
---
ALVAREZ 5088 C BK (Fusion Deluxe)
1994 to 1998
---
ALVAREZ 5088/12 12-String
1994
---
ALVAREZ 5220 C
---
ALVAREZ 5224
---
ALVAREZ 5225 ROSEWOOD
1981 to 1992
---
ALVAREZ 5227 ROSEWOOD SPECIAL
1981 to 1985
---
ALVAREZ 5237 CURLY MAPLE
---