Alvarez MD80

Current model. This same review is provided for both the MD80 and MD90, as the only difference is the side and back material - MD80 is mahogany, MD90 is rosewood. Solid woods throughout. Non-cutaway dreadnaught, gloss finish body without pickguard, rosewood fretboard, decent plastic nut and saddle, Englemann spruce top, scalloped bracing. Alvarez proprietary tuning machines are OK. Tasteful appearance - a nice balance between simple and elegant with wood bindings, abalone ring, headstock symbol and 12th fret marker.

Amazingly good sound for the price - competes with any under-$2000 guitar. These guitars are somewhat mellow, but by no means dull. The best comparison would be to a good Martin D28 with a bit less thunky boom on the bottom and a bit more subtlety and character throughout. Very versatile - with light gauge strings they are excellent fingerpickers - with mediums they project a stronger attack. Overal tonal range, sustain, overtones, clarity and complexity is much like guitars at three times the price. The mahogany MD80 is somewhat more defined and maybe a bit brighter, while the rosewood MD90 has a bit mor low overtones and resonance.

Action is very good, about average for a finer acoutic guitar. Like many guitars, you may want to tweak it with a light fret evening, bridge and relief adjustment - but it's quite good from the factory. Neck width is the common 1 11/16". Depth is shallower than average and very comfortable. Overall construction is very good - this is a well made instrument. It is mass-produced and the polishing and detailing are not what you would expect of a $2000+ guitar. Otherwise it really is a lovely instrument - nice wood, inlay alighment and overall apearance.

Everything is well-made with no reason to suspect failures. Playing without a backup is your choice, but it would not be for any unreliability of this instrument. Tuners could be a bit better, but are easily replaced if you don't like the stock ones.

No experience with coustomer support. From what I can tell, there is no direct manufacturer contact - it is all through the dealers. Bought it used, so I don't know about warrantee.

I have been playing about 40 years and have owned more guitars, electric and acoustic, than I can count. This has included fine and vintage Martins, Gibsons and Taylors. If I did not have this one and needed a guitar, an Alvarez MD80 or MD90 would be at the top of my list. In fact it is such a satisfying instrument that I am parting with my rosewood Taylor, since I usually prefer to play the Alvarez. Everybody has their preferences and I am absurdly picky about mine. I would like a 1 3/4" neck, but this one is average width. There is a great deal to like about it - the sound is outstanding and the look is elegant. The general "feel" is light, balanced and vibrant - you can easily feel the woods vibrating at top and back. There are some other good guitars similar prices, maybe a bit more, from Tacoma, Martin, Larrivee, Guild. The MD80/90 seems to have a balance of qualities that add up to a more high-end sophisticated sound. They are exceptional guitars and an unusual value. A prince in pauper's clothing, if you will. Highly reccommended!

Made in China. Don't know what year but looks new. Came with extra strings, straps, picks, tuner and soft case. Other features, as stated above.

This guitar is great for rhythm/chords as well as fingerpicking. I use Martin light strings. Chords sound rich and well blended. It has enough sustain for fingerpicking up and down the neck. It doesn't fretted notes don't lose much sustain, so open and fretted notes can blend. Mine has a minor buzz on 3rd fret 1st string, but that can be easily adjusted by raising the contact between the first string and the nut. I tried all guitars under $500 at guitar center and they all sounded dull. The only one that sounded great was a Taylor. I got this off of ebay for 300 and it comes very close to a Taylor. I can't say that it sounds exactly as a Taylor but no other guitar comes as close.

The action is great compared to what i was playing before, which was a classical guitar. The finish is beautiful. This guitar stands out as a very expensive guitar. I love the rosette. I've never seen a rosette like it. Its understated and at the same time modern.

This guitar is solid. The finish is thick. I got this guitar used and it looks new. At an angle i can see alot of scratches up close but they are not noticeable because of the great finish

Dunno never needed to call them. They have a good site at www.alvarezgtr.com

I have played for 5 years. I have a Fender Stratocaster and a Jackson shredder type guitar. If someone stole this guitar I would break his hands so he would never play guitar again.

Body Style Dreadnought
Back/Sides Solid Mahogany
Top Solid Spruce
Finish Natural Gloss
Body Binding Maple
Fingerboard Rosewood
Fingerboard Inlay Green Abalone
Tuning Machines Nickel Die Cast
Bridge Rosewood
Neck width at nut 1-11/16"
The only thing I would have liked on this guitar was possibly an ebony fingerboard, but this guitar is simple and beautiful. I believe this are made in China, mine's a 2001 I think.

I play a combination of strumming, fingerpicking, and blues. For me this guitar sounds great in all styles. Other acoustics I have owned were an Ovation Celebrity, Ovation Elite, and an Alvarez Yairi DY-45. This guitar blows them all away in pure acoustic tone. The Ovation Elite had a great neck and sounded great plugged in, but suffered acoustically. I wanted somwething that sounded better unplugged and with a back that you could feel vibrate. While costing much more, the DY-45 just doesn't compare. I played many guitars before buying this so I wouldn't have to go looking again. These included Martin's (D-16, OM-15, 000-15s), Larrivee's, Tacoma's, and Taylor's.
The Martin's were disappointing until you spent nearly $2000. The Larrivee's are nice but don't have the warmth or crisp bass response of the MD80. Taylor's have a great neck but I just don't care for their sound. I was very close to buying a Tacoma DM-9 or DM-10 as these sound quite a bit like the MD-80. To me the sound can be described as wonderfully resonant and airy, with excellent balance and volume. It doesn't have the complex overtones as a high end Martin but as I mostly Travis style fingerpick and wanted something with tight balanced sound, but more volume than an OM style. The bass response on this guitar is the best for me of any acoustic I've played. When fingerpicking with a thumbpick it is sharp and resonant, not rounded or muddy like the Martin's I played. Very dynamic as well. And the neck shape fits my hand perfectly. I use Ernie Ball's Earthwood bronze med lights and the action is low with no buzzing. And you can play it all the way up the neck without losing tone. I have not yet played it amplified. I also don't play bluegrass so I can't comment on how well it's suited for that.

I purchased this guitar with a small crack in the back that was repaired. It has not been a problem and I am very pleased with the rest of the guitar. Beautiful tight grained solid spruce top and the mahogany sides and back are a gorgeous reddish brown. The neck is very smooth and the frets are smooth and even, maybe a couple sharp edges here and there that could have been dressed. As I stated before the action is great up and down the neck. Low enough for some blues noodling and yet still provides good volume without buzzing.

I have had it about three months and it seems very solid. I do not play out much though so I can't say how well it would hold up under constant gigging.

Nothing to report here - no problems.

For me this was a dream come true. I got this for a great price for the guitar alone, much less with the I-beam pickup and hardshell case. I was constantly trying out different acoustics before buying the MD80 but haven't played another one since. I am completely happy with this guitar and think Alvarez has a super guitar for the price. I would like to try an MD90 (rosewood) to see if it has the more complex overtones when strummed. I have been playing for 20 years, not professionally but I do record at home and play out occasionally.
Anyone I've shown this too have been very impressed, especially when I tell them what I paid. Even at the normal $400-$500 for these I think they can't be beat!

Body Style: Dreadnought
Back/Sides: Solid Mahogany
Top: Solid Spruce
Finish: Natural Gloss
Body Binding: Maple
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Fingerboard Inlay: Green Abalone
Tuning Machines: Nickel Die Cast
Bridge: Rosewood

I love the sound of this guitar, really bright, really stands out, esp on the treble...

Draw back: Buzzing sound on high E on 2 different frets... was there when I purchased, had repaired immediatly, and has returned (3 weeks later)..

The buzzing is not TERRIBLE and people listening probably won't notice, but I do... otherwise I would have given sound a 10

I love the action on this guitar, easy to hold/grip/jam... great...

but again, but guitar contained a flaw that causes this buzz i metioned above

Seems sturdy.

Playing about 5 years a strat and a lower end alvarez acoustic...to be honest this was a spur of the moment purhase, and besides the customer service of the store I purchased from, I am very happy with this guitar...

I paid $400 new on EBay...no case. Nice looking guitar, very clean workmanship and details per the other guys reviewing here.

Only negative is a minor quibble about a knot in the lower side bass bout...somebody was obviously not being too picky about wood when they built this guitar. Back's perfect, however, and the tops better than Guilds and Martins I've seen at arount 3X the price.

Sound's not as barky as I'd like. I don't like mellow guitars, and that's what this one is. Dullish bass even with big flatpicking heavies (I play Jack Elliott style or jazz, none of that r&r/folk stuff). No good at all for fingerpicking, but I don't like fingerpicking anyway and who'd use a dreadnaught for that anyway?

Sounds a LOT better (more bluegrass capable, if that's your thing), sharper bass, with my home-made coconut flatpicks. LOTS better, like a decent old D-18 maybe. Picks make a big difference with some guitars, and this is one of them. Maybe I should get a sawzall and make it into a Clarence White?

Everything perfect except that the nut and saddle are some kind of plastic. Beautiful finish.

Alvarez is especially hip in not sticking a pick guard on this instrument. Better sound no doubt, better looking. Who cares if it gets chopped up a little? Heck, it's made by slaves in China, not by sainted hillbillies in PA.

It's going to last forever, or until I somehow destroy it brutally.

I have a 1977 Yamaha 838S (jumbo, solid spruce, nato lam) that's louder by far, has a much better bass, and a more comfortable neck. The Alvarez feels a little skinny, neckwise, by comparison. The Alvarez is new, will get better...and it's got more complex and sweet tones...but the Yamaha blows it away, probably partially cause it's old and also cause dreadnaughts are dullards by comparison to good jumbos.

JK

Not sure what year it was made in, it was made in China. It has a solid top. The body is of very pretty Mahogany. It's got a fairly thin neck. It did not come with any accessories.

The sound of this guitar is very good, I liked it better than the more expensive guitars in the same line. It has a rich sound. This was the best sounding guitar they had at the music store.

There were no flaws whatsoever.

I think it would definately withstand live playing, it's very dependable, and I think you would do fine without a backup.

Haven't contacted Customer Support!

I have just started playing recently, but I'm picking it up very quickly! There isn't anything I wish I had asked before buying this guitar. If it were stolen or lost, I'd buy this model of guitar again! I did compare it to other guitars, some were much more expensive than this one, this one was by far the best sounding guitar in the store!

This a brand new 2001 Alvarez MD80, made in China. Dreadnought bodystyle,solid spruce top, solid mahogany back/sides and neck.It has rosewood bridge and fingerboard.This a good looking guitar,with a glossy finish.I like the neck on this guitar, its not to thin or to chunky,just about right for me.Its fingerboard is pretty plain with no dot markers on top,some kind of fancy inlay at the 12th fret is all.,but i like it!nice abalone inlay around sound hole and maple purfing.

It sounds great and is suited for all types of music. I have dean Markley medium lights on it and is still pretty loud. nice full sound on bass side and bright trebles.

The action was just about right for me , medium/ low.Tuners work smoothly and stays tuned! I beleive the frets could have been polished better, but nothing to complain about.The top is nicely bookmatched with tight grain the back and sides also are nice.

The guitar is built solid and seems to be holding up.I think its well suited for live playing.And wouldnt be ashamed to play it in front of a croud .

havent dealt with customer support!

i have been playing only for 3 or 4 years, but know a good guitar when i see one. Ive had many guitars. Lower end Gibsons,Guilds,Seagulls,Alvarez Yairi,etc.This has been the best one yet.In my opinion its the best you can buy for under $1000 bucks. Others just dont compare!If you can get over it being made in China, I would suggest you go out and try one.