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
Dating Alvarez Guitar Serial Numbers
No image yet | ALVAREZ 5002 MAHOGANY CLASSICManufacture of the Alvarez 5002 MAHOGANY classical guitar ended in 1998. |
No image yet | ALVAREZ 5004 ARTIST ROSEWOOD (ROSEWOOD CLASSIC)ALVAREZ stopped making the 5004 ARTIST ROSEWOOD classical guitar in 1998. |
No image yet | ALVAREZ 5014 ARTIST FOLK (MOUNTAIN FOLK)ALVAREZ made the 5014 ARTIST FOLK (MOUNTAIN FOLK) between 1995 and 1998 |
No image yet | ALVAREZ 5019 AVRead more |
No image yet | ALVAREZ 5019 MIDNIGHT SPECIALThe 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. |
No image yet | ALVAREZ 5020 C Mountain DeluxeManufacture 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. |
No image yet | ALVAREZ 5020 MThe 5020 M was discontinued by ALVAREZ in 1995 - essentially it was a 5020 Mountain with a laminated mahogany top. |
No image yet | ALVAREZ 5020 MOUNTAIN DELUXEALVAREZ manufactured the 5020 MOUNTAIN DELUXE acoustic guitar between 1991 and 1995. |
No image yet | ALVAREZ 5020 SB Mountain Deluxe SunburstThe 5020 SB (sunburst) Mountain Deluxe Sunburst was discontinued in 1998. |
ALVAREZ 5021Introduced 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. | |
No image yet | ALVAREZ 5038The 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. |
ALVAREZ 5040 KOAThe 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)'. | |
No image yet | ALVAREZ 5043 BURGUNDY (BURGUNDY ARTIST)The 5043 BURGUNDY (BURGUNDY ARTIST) was made between 1994 and 1998 |
ALVAREZ 5047The Japanese made Alvarez 5047 acoustic was introduced sometime in the 1970s. | |
ALVAREZ 5055 BLUESMANALVAREZ 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. | |
No image yet | ALVAREZ 5072 C BKRead more |
No image yet | ALVAREZ 5072 JUMBO (ARTIST JUMBO)ALVAREZ produced the 5072 JUMBO (ARTIST JUMBO) between 1994 and 1998 |
No image yet | ALVAREZ 5088 C (FUSION DELUXE)Production of the 5088 C (FUSION DELUXE) began in 1994 and ended in 1998 |
No image yet | 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. |
No image yet | ALVAREZ 5088/12 12-StringRead more |
No image yet | ALVAREZ 5220 CThe 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. |
No image yet | ALVAREZ 5224The first 5224 was discontinued by ALVAREZ in 1988 |
ALVAREZ 5225 ROSEWOODThe Alvarez 5225 Rosewood was the rosewood back and sides version of the Alvarez 5224. | |
No image yet | ALVAREZ 5227 ROSEWOOD SPECIALThe 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 |
No image yet | ALVAREZ 5237 CURLY MAPLEALVAREZ discontinued the 5237 CURLY MAPLE acoustic guitar in 1995. |
Specifications:
Model | Image | Finish colors | Number of strings | Binding | Finish effects | Made in | Scale length |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ALVAREZ 5002 MAHOGANY CLASSIC 1998 | No image yet | natural finish | 6 strings | - | - | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5004 ARTIST ROSEWOOD (ROSEWOOD CLASSIC) 1998 | No image yet | natural finish | 6 strings | - | - | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5014 ARTIST FOLK (MOUNTAIN FOLK) 1995 to 1998 | No image yet | - | 6 strings | black and white binding | sunburst finish | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5019 AV 1994 | No image yet | - | 6 strings | - | - | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5019 MIDNIGHT SPECIAL | No image yet | black finish | 6 strings | black 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 yet | natural finish | 6 strings | black and white binding | sunburst finish | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5020 SB Mountain Deluxe Sunburst | No image yet | - | 6 strings | - | sunburst finish | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5021 1970 to 1993 | natural finish | 12 strings | - | sunburst finish | Japan | 25.625 inches scale-length | |
ALVAREZ 5038 | No image yet | - | - | - | - | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5040 KOA 1982 to 1998 | natural finish | 6 strings | 3-stripe body-binding, tortoiseshell binding | - | Japan, Korea | - | |
ALVAREZ 5043 BURGUNDY (BURGUNDY ARTIST) 1994 to 1998 | No image yet | - | - | - | - | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5047 | - | 6 strings | body binding, neck binding | - | Japan | - | |
ALVAREZ 5055 BLUESMAN 1995 to 1998 | - | 6 strings | cream binding | sunburst finish | Korea | 25.625 inches scale-length | |
ALVAREZ 5072 C BK 1995 to 1998 | No image yet | - | - | - | - | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5072 JUMBO (ARTIST JUMBO) 1994 to 1998 | No image yet | - | - | - | - | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5088 C (FUSION DELUXE) 1994 to 1998 | No image yet | - | - | - | - | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5088 C BK (Fusion Deluxe) 1994 to 1998 | No image yet | - | - | - | - | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5088/12 12-String 1994 | No image yet | - | - | - | - | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5220 C | No image yet | - | - | - | - | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5224 | No image yet | - | - | - | - | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5225 ROSEWOOD 1981 to 1992 | natural finish | 6 strings | - | - | - | - | |
ALVAREZ 5227 ROSEWOOD SPECIAL 1981 to 1985 | No image yet | natural finish | 6 strings | - | - | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5237 CURLY MAPLE | No image yet | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Model | Body back material | Body sides material | Body style | Body top material | Soundhole rosette | Soundhole | Pickguard material | Body shape features | Body depth | Body width |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ALVAREZ 5002 MAHOGANY CLASSIC 1998 | mahogany body back | mahogany body sides | classical style body | laminated spruce body top | wood inlay rosette | round soundhole | - | - | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5004 ARTIST ROSEWOOD (ROSEWOOD CLASSIC) 1998 | rosewood body back | rosewood body sides | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5014 ARTIST FOLK (MOUNTAIN FOLK) 1995 to 1998 | mahogany body back | mahogany body sides | folk-style body | laminated spruce body top | black and white ring rosette | round soundhole | tortoiseshell pickguard | - | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5019 AV 1994 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5019 MIDNIGHT SPECIAL | mahogany body back | mahogany body sides | dreadnought-size body | laminated spruce body top | abalone rosette | round soundhole | black pickguard | - | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5020 C Mountain Deluxe | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | single cutaway | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5020 M | - | - | - | laminated mahogany body top | - | - | - | - | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5020 MOUNTAIN DELUXE 1991 to 1998 | mahogany body back | mahogany body sides | dreadnought-size body | laminated spruce body top | synthetic shell rosette | round soundhole | tortoiseshell pickguard | - | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5020 SB Mountain Deluxe Sunburst | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5021 1970 to 1993 | mahogany body back | mahogany body sides | dreadnought-size body | Solid spruce | - | - | - | - | 4.75 inches body depth | - |
ALVAREZ 5038 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5040 KOA 1982 to 1998 | koa body back | koa body sides | dreadnought-size body | laminated koa body top | - | round soundhole | brown pickguard | - | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5043 BURGUNDY (BURGUNDY ARTIST) 1994 to 1998 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5047 | laminated body back, rosewood body back | rosewood body sides | grand-concert style | spruce body top | - | round soundhole | - | - | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5055 BLUESMAN 1995 to 1998 | mahogany body back | mahogany body sides | jumbo-style body | laminated 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 back | rosewood body sides | dreadnought-size body | spruce body top | - | round soundhole | - | - | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5227 ROSEWOOD SPECIAL 1981 to 1985 | rosewood body back | rosewood body sides | dreadnought-size body | laminated spruce body top | - | round soundhole | - | - | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5237 CURLY MAPLE | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Model | Body fret | Neck joint | Neck material | Number of frets | Peghead (headstock) | Tuner layout | Headstock inlays or logos | Neck width |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ALVAREZ 5002 MAHOGANY CLASSIC 1998 | Neck joins body at 12th fret | set neck | nato neck | 19 fret | veneer headstock | three-each-side | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5004 ARTIST ROSEWOOD (ROSEWOOD CLASSIC) 1998 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5014 ARTIST FOLK (MOUNTAIN FOLK) 1995 to 1998 | Neck joins body at 14th fret | set neck | - | 20 fret | black face headstock | three-each-side | pearl headstock inlay/logo | - |
ALVAREZ 5019 AV 1994 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5019 MIDNIGHT SPECIAL | Neck joins body at 14th fret | set neck | nato neck | 20 fret | - | three-each-side | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5020 C Mountain Deluxe | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5020 M | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5020 MOUNTAIN DELUXE 1991 to 1998 | Neck joins body at 14th fret | set neck | - | 20 fret | veneer headstock | three-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 fret | set neck | nato neck | 20 fret | veneer headstock | three-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 fret | black face headstock | three-each-side | pearl headstock inlay/logo | 1.69 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 fret | set neck | nato neck | 20 fret | - | three-each-side | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5227 ROSEWOOD SPECIAL 1981 to 1985 | Neck joins body at 14th fret | set neck | nato neck | 20 fret | - | three-each-side | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5237 CURLY MAPLE | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
Alvarez Serial Number Checker
Model | Bridge | Bridge 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 bridge | white with black dot pins |
ALVAREZ 5019 AV 1994 | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5019 MIDNIGHT SPECIAL | rosewood bridge | pearl dot pins |
ALVAREZ 5020 C Mountain Deluxe | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5020 M | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5020 MOUNTAIN DELUXE 1991 to 1998 | rosewood bridge | pearl dot pins |
ALVAREZ 5020 SB Mountain Deluxe Sunburst | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5021 1970 to 1993 | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5038 | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5040 KOA 1982 to 1998 | rosewood bridge | pearl dot pins |
ALVAREZ 5043 BURGUNDY (BURGUNDY ARTIST) 1994 to 1998 | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5047 | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5055 BLUESMAN 1995 to 1998 | rosewood bridge | white 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 bridge | pearl dot pins |
ALVAREZ 5227 ROSEWOOD SPECIAL 1981 to 1985 | - | pearl dot pins |
ALVAREZ 5237 CURLY MAPLE | - | - |
Model | Fingerboard material | Fingerboard inlay material | Fingerboard position markers | Inlay 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 fingerboard | pearl fingerboard inlay material | dot fingerboard position markers | stylized bird wings 12th-fret-inlay |
ALVAREZ 5019 AV 1994 | - | - | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5019 MIDNIGHT SPECIAL | rosewood fingerboard | pearl fingerboard inlay material | dot fingerboard position markers | stylized bird wings 12th-fret-inlay |
ALVAREZ 5020 C Mountain Deluxe | - | - | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5020 M | - | - | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5020 MOUNTAIN DELUXE 1991 to 1998 | rosewood fingerboard | pearl fingerboard inlay material | dot fingerboard position markers | stylized 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 fingerboard | pearl fingerboard inlay material | dot fingerboard position markers | stylized bird wings 12th-fret-inlay |
ALVAREZ 5043 BURGUNDY (BURGUNDY ARTIST) 1994 to 1998 | - | - | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5047 | - | - | - | - |
ALVAREZ 5055 BLUESMAN 1995 to 1998 | rosewood fingerboard | pearl fingerboard inlay material | dot fingerboard position markers | stylized 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
Model | Pickups configuration | Pickups brand and model | Preamp |
---|---|---|---|
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 | - | - | - |