Product: Alvarez 5082
Price Paid: US $385
Submitted
06/27/2004
at
09:17pm
by
billieg2
Features
:
9
A 1981 5082.. Cutaway thinline acoustic model. Sunburst finish, spruce top and maple sides.. Has a pezio type pickup in the bridge with a tone and volume controls. Passive system... Made in Japan. Looks like it was handmade and is solid.
Sound
:
9
I bought it new and played it solo for awhile. Plugged in it sounded good but acoustic it sounded small and not well defined. I put it in the case and didn't play it for 10 years... One day when moving, I thought I would sell it and got it out. Put new strings on it and WOW! in the 10 years it really opened up and sounded so full and rich I couldn't believe it... The highs were bell like and the lows booming.. For such a small guitar, it would surprise you. I compared it with my Gibson Dove and J-200 and it held it's own. Plugged in it is one of the most natural sounding acoustics (with a pickup) I have ever heard. The neck is great and the action low... This is one fine guitar it just took 20 some years for it to open up.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
8
Like I said, it looks like a hand made guitar because the binding looks like it was hand put on. In some places it doesn't quite match up but that makes it have character and the rest of the guitar is fine. In 23 years it still plays great, looks great and I have never adjusted the neck.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
23 years old and like new... what can I say?
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
never used them
Overall Rating
:
10
I have been playing since 1964 and have had many guitars. I now have a collection of over 60 guitars, 12 acoustics and this is my favorite one. The only acoustic that sounds better is my 1978 Guild D-55 because it's so much bigger... If you ever find one and want a great stage guitar, get it.. They are so undervalued as well as all the models and the Yari series.
