Alvarez 5034

my Alvarez 5034 was bought used in 1978 from Snidely Whiplash pawn shop in Lubbock TX. It was my first guitar, and being a larger size than most, and my being only 10 when I got it, it was a challenge to play at that point due to it's size. I am so glad that I never sold it, for now it is a dream guitar - great sound, EXCELLENT action and good all around. I have had many friends say that it is the nicest acoustic that they have played - easiest too due to the low action and no buzz. Mine is spruce top, tiger maple sides and back with rosewood neck and bridge. it is beautiful, yet simple. It does have a nice mosaic binding in middle of back and around sound hole, with perl binding on neck and around the body. Tuners are rather plain, but do the job well. This guitar stays in tune better than most and loves open tunings. The neck is shallow and not very wide, so is easy to play even for smaller fingers - the body size was the challenge when I was 10...

I play a lot of slid and finger picking, this guitar is great for both. It doesn't have a pickup stock, and I have never changed a thing on this guitar, so not great for live performance unless you have it well mic'd or have a pick up installed. It does have a huge body though and is very pronounced in its sound... there is absolutely noo buzz, even with the low action. The tone is bright and full - sounds better with heavier strings, as most do.

no additional comments other than what was stated above - the action is the best part of this guitar. The bridge adjusts to height, but not for intonation - the guitar doesn't seem to need adjustable saddle though, as it intones perfectly throughout the neck. The rise/drop of the bridge is nice for the slide.

I have owned my 5034 for 25 years now, and bought it used. I am not sure what year mine was made, assume sometime in the early 70's. I have not changed a thing on this guitar, and it made it through childhood, high school bands, college and adulthood - again, with no modifications other than regularly changed strings - the durability and reliability are not to be matched

never had it serviced, and bought it used - no comment here on Alvarez in general as a company or its customer service.

I have been playing for 25 years - and spend 70% of my time on either my Alvarez 5034 or my Orlando nylon string acoustic. I also have 5 other guitars (electric), including a '81 gold/gold Fender Stratocaster, a Gretsch Bo Diddley, a Les Paul copy, a conrad bass (Gibson SG style), and another small size acoustic (for my daughter). As I have matured, so has my taste in playing and music in general. Also, being a Texan, I do have a heavy blues/country bend to my taste now - so I love playing my Alvarez most. I would NEVER sell this great guitar, not even trade for a Martin!

Bought From Goldfish Pawn for $326.50, In Nr Perfect Condition My 1978, 5034 Alverez is undoughtabley the best japan made instrument i've ever had the pleasure to play. Its face could be more decrotive, and the Tunning Knobs could be less plain,But wow what craftmanship! This 6 String 21 Fret Wounder Has Pearl All over it! When it was bought i was told everything on this guitar was original with the exeption of the pick
protecter. The Neck is red tiger striped maple...A nice thin neck with pearl running down the sides. In traditional Alvarez exelelience this fine guitar is now mine. ( It comes Better With age)

Well I started out with head banging electric guitar's never realizing the surenity of sitting down piecefully to explore the fine sounds of acustic Art's Enters my alvarez. After grulingly learning to soft pick and finger pick i realized that this was for me. Though i still have alot to learn about playing the guitar i feel with this guitar i get better everyday... It sounds great for soft music,light rock, Melody, Rythem, and solo. Just what the docter orderd..Though its not the best for harder music...I never dare jeperdize my Alv's.....Condition.

Since it was a pawn shop Guitar I'll never know the pleasure of being able to open it up fresh from its box....But The Shop had it all out of tune till i nurtured it back to health with every loving tunning touch..lol Like i said when i bought it it was in near perfect condition... But there was a day that i made the mistake of letting a friend play it..and made a single indent at the bottom of it. (never again!) I have to rate it 9 cus of my mistake.

Live playing is a must. Countless people told me they just love to be right next to it...and perfer not to hear the recordings of my songs . Because It is not Electric....I would say i would almost have to play live. Its in tip top shape and seems like it will last forever. (if i have anything to do with it, It will) The finish is evenly coated and is in its prime condition. Strap buttons....HmMmMmmm? I only have one, but its not like im missing one there is just one strap button. I depend on it everyday to make music with me. Oh and im not good enough to play alone yet......(yet) But ill keep trying.

I never knew exactly where it came from originally, What person would pawn a fine piece of music history like this and not get it back?
Well i had to pawn it a couple times but never again......and it has always come back to my loving hands to play another day with me....So that has to tell you somthing.

Well i've Been Playing for about 4 years now, and i get better everyday but im just not where i want to be ( practice makes perfect ) And i play it everyday. I have a few elect's but rarely play them cus i love acustic sound. Anyway i own a Austin Elec. A Formaly known Fender squier. And a 75th anni.. Crate amp. If my alvee were stolen i would be Depressed because this guitar means so much to me it was a gift from my grandmother and i dont want to lose it. I love the light flowing sound it makes, the great condition it is in, and the smile it brings to everybodys face when i play it for them. It could be electric acustic, but besides that i hate nothing because of the sentimental value it holds to me. I tried other acustics and they sound to high pitched for me so ill just stick with this. Anoff said thank you for reading my thoughts.

Purchased new in '74, made in Japan. Spruce top, maple sides and back, rosewood neck. Piezo pickup added in 1978 (under bridge, endpin jack) along with Grover machines and bone nut/saddle.

When i want to fingerpick or play flatpicked bluegrass, this is the guitar i grab without question. Lovely bright clear sound, great definition. A little weak on the bottom, but i have other guitars for when i want to bash away. the first song i wrote that i was absolutely satisfied with out of the box (and still am) i wrote for this guitar on this guitar. If my sister thinx she's ever getting this thing back she's sorely mistaken.

I would have to say that this guitar was set up very nicely; i had to get pretty good at playing before i found any nits to pick (i.e. plastic nut & saddle, low grade tuners). The top is bookmatched well, the back even better (tiger-striped maple) and the soundhole is ringed with v. nice mosaic inlay, as is the seam up the center of the back. after almost 30 years, the only flaw in the finish is a nick int the neck that i take full responsibility for. I' m sorry...really, really sorry. I won't let it happen again.

This thing's been dragged a lot of places, and never a complaint. the original hardware is so long gone that i can't say anything about it, but as is, the Alvarez is a sturdy bugger.

This was a gift to my sister in 1974, from our grandparents. They asked their good friends who owned a music store to pick out the best guitar within a price limit for them. I first borrowed this guitar from my sister in 1976 when i was taking lessons from Al Racketti. My Stella was too brutal on my fingers. Once i had a real guitar of my own, i gave it back. When that was stolen, i borrowed it again. Then i got my Takamine. Back it went. When i moved back to Canada, i saw this thing sitting in my sister's house, in constant peril from rampaging toddlers, and i decided the time for borrowing was over. I therefore "liberated" it, and i have never regretted it. (She never learned to play it, by the way.) If it were stolen or lost, i would hunt down and kill the perpetrator faster than my sister would hunt me down. Sure, much of the value is sentimental, but i can't afford an equivalent replacement, either.