Alvarez 5222

My 5222 is killer! High gloss top. Dates back to 1978, made in Korea. First off, I LOVE Korean, Mexican, and Japanese guitars. They are best available. All solid mahogany, nicely matched woods. The tuners are okay but I will replace them with Schallers. You can tell that this was a student-model guitar buy some extremely slight sloppiness in the craftsmanship, but it plays as good as any Martin or Gibson I've tried. Originally, I wanted a cedar top guitar, but this is way better. Nice rosewood fingerboard and head-cap. Mine, for some reason, has an ebony bridge (not black plastic! trust me, i inspected this close!!)

I get such a warm, mellow sound out of this guitar. That's exactly what I've been wanting. And the notes are crisp and clear. No muddying effects from overly-bassy strings. This, in my opinion, is exactly how an acoustic guitar should sound. I cannot wait to do some recording with it.

Okay, the action is a tad high. I think this was caused by the previous owner, who, quite obviously, had the nut replaced. You can see where there's an extra piece of wood fitted in behind it. Maybe he had some trouble with buzzing? Other than that, absolutely great. The neck is a soft-v dhape, and feels great. I play a very ambient, alternative acoustic rock style of music and this guitar gets the job done, and then some! Responds well to capo-ing. I love the finish because of the age. The gloss finish is wearing off, the neck and fretboard are worn nicely, the black binding has all of the expected check marks in it after almost 30 years, and there are the always true nicks and dings! Absolutely perfect, because I am obsessed with vintage instruments!

I am an Alvarez lifer! I have owned many Alvarez guitars. Compared to the Fender, Takamine, and Taylor acoustics I've owned, this one is far superior. Alvarez builds their instruments well, and tiem proves their durability!

Always friendly to deal with and answer any questions about my guitars.

If this guitar were stollen, I'd be ticked off! If were broken, I would cry. When it dies (as all do), I shall keep this in fond memory and search for another! But this will stay in it's case. Something this beautiful and rare you just don't get rid of!

dreadnought alvarez 5222 goldfinch...all mahogany guitar...except bracing and fretboard....spruce and rosewood respectively

plastic nut, bridge, strapposts

no name tuners but sealed and holds tune pretty darn well
nice-ish plush case...not super solid but better than most

not many features

this baby really opened up after about 8 years
an incredibly rich, full warm sound unlike the spruce tops that abound out there...tho those are nice as well!

sounds very similar to koa...maybe close to cedar but there is something different...great mellow mids, clear highs and a woody low tone
i play pop and jazz...older rock and its...well its perfect for this

very nice setup, probably the best looking acoustic i have ever owned and this is due to the great finish and matched woods...a beautiful guitar

no flaws at all...very rare to say this, frets are amazing...just dont like plastic so this knocks it down from 10 though thats not a flaw so much as unwanted feature

great in all respects though again.....plastic just does not last...i address this at end...other than this, its held up better or as well as any 17+ year old guitar (this ones 1990)

no idea

ok, you get this if you see it, its fairly rare and the sound will blow you away....but make it into a many martin d-15 mahogany top killer by adding bone bridge, bone nut and better string bridge pins...WOW!

I never even had it set up as it all came together so easily...but as it is, it gets played more than my breedlove or seagull....and thats saying a LOT
a unique tone you just cant get with most acoustics...look into mahoganys history...martin used to make only mahog. for a bit...dylan played one etc...this sound is coming bac,...very complex and earthy...wont fatigue your ears like some (solid spruce top etc...) bright gits

Korean made. Mahogony wood, dreadnought body, I bought it in 1987. Has a slim v-shaped neck which is real cool. Came with lightweight tuners which I replaced with Grovers. I'm not sure if this is solid wood or not. Scroll shaped pearloid inlay at 12th fret. No serial number. Chipboard case thrown in with purchase

Good sound, warm and deep, especially after changing the tuners. THis is a joy to play. I use bright phosphour bronze strings (John Pearse, then Earthwood, now Curt Mangan) on it and it sounds great.

The action was slghtly higher than desired, but I adjusted it myself. No flaws in the workmanship. The mahogany finish is kind of flat.

I've played this live many times. I've had it about 20 years and I'll probably have it 20 more. It was dropped once or set down hard in the chipboard case and there is a small crack on the edge of the back body and it still sounds great.

Never needed it.

Definitely recommend upgrading the tuners on this guitar. I've been playing mostly casually for about 30 years. I've kind of said this is my campfire guitar, which gives me license to treat it rough, but I don't have another guitar better laying around. My other acoustic is a Fender Telecoustic which is at the other end of the guitar tone scale than the Alvarez.

Made in 1978, in Korea, Mahogany top, sides and back. It looks and sounds like it's all solid wood. Dreadnought. Bought it used, but in pretty good shape. The workmanship on this guitar is pretty good, it's held up for almost 30 years. The guitar doesn't look (almost) 30 years old. It looks and sounds as though it were just recently broken in. This is an Alvarez Regent model and I am impressed by the workmanship, craftmanship and sound of the instrument. The woods are dark and rich. The sound is pretty mellow. The low bass notes are not heavy but warm. The overall sound of the guitar is warm. This is my first Alvarez. I own a Takemine acoustic and a Fender Electric. I am impressed by the Alvarez line. I can see why they have such a following.

Sound is warm and rich.

The action on my guitar is pretty low, very similar to an electric, it's very easy to play. The finish is beautiful, dark wood, thats held up very well over the years.The nut and saddle seem to be original and are pretty nice.

So far the guitar appears to be as strong as they come.

N/A

Overall rating is a 7. I'm a tough rater. Some Martins that I've played I'd rate lower.

My alvarez ends my quest for a all mohogany acoustic. Yep! top, back and sides are a dark brown mahogany that is really quite nice. Very few guitars are other that cedar or spruce tops. From what I can gather the model is circa 1979. I have never seen one on ebay but one of my students walked in with the exact model, I think these guitars are rare though.

Everyone Loves the sound of this guitar...The highs sing with a clarity and timber as sweet as any other but the guitar does not have boomy bass but has a balanced, very pleasing to the ear tone and blends well with other acoustics.

High strings but had it set up whith 12's to try to vibrate the top more.
finish is top notch but i think mine was a reject because there is only a model# but hads no Serial# and sports a way off center dot on the side of the fretboard at the third fret.

Looks brand new and is 26 years old

Has its own voice very nice sound, would play next to anyones guitar.