How do I sell a hand-crafted "Alvarez" acoustic gu

[gazmcg]

I have a pristine condition 'Alvarez Artist' hand-crafted, acoustic guitar (AD60K), which I inherited some time ago. I would like to sell it. Can anyone tell me how to go about it please? I live in Dubbo, NSW, Australia.

[sebastiaan56]

Hi Gaz,

Try E-Bay, Trading Post, note in the shopping centre, etc. Im not so sure about the handcrafted bit, not at USD400......

[kiwigeo]

Someone had to operate the on/off switch on the CNC machine.

[xray]

hey all,
Gary is working in my post office and i had a look at his guitar the other day and it is very unusual, but beautiful, he explained how ebay was no good as he has already tried and i suggested he come on board to the luthier site. i will try and take a photo of the guitar, it has the same soundboard as well as back and sides. the thing is so well finished it really looks good. no scratches scuffs or anything. the only thing is i think it has its original strings on it. I would appreciate (after the photo of course) if you guys could help him out by word of mouth or keep your ears to the ground and post either gary or myself with any interested leads. thanks guys hope to hear from you soon.
xray

[kiwigeo]

This guitar retails for US$299 new in the US.

Details as follows:
The AD60K features Figured Dao on all body surfaces, back, sides and top with an equally stunning Rosewood fingerboard. The body and neck are bound in a white/black multi-layer motif with a White Pearl rosette.


The Alvarez Artist Series brings together an impressive array of models, offering a variety of colors and a wide range of styles. Brilliant sunbursts, figured Maple, and other exotic woods are finely crafted into guitars of uncommon beauty, in pure acoustic and acoustic/electric versions. Six-string, 12-string, cutaway, jumbo, classical the Artist Series has something for everyone.
Technical Info (my comments in brackets)
Body Style: Dreadnought

Back/Sides: Figured Dao <=== (Chinese sourced substitute for mahogany).

Top: Figured Dao <=== (looks like its just flat sawn to me but I could be wrong).

Fingerboard: Rosewood

Fingerboard Inlay: 12 F Diagonal

Body Binding: Multiple

Soundhole Rosette: White Pearl

Fingerboard/Headstock Binding: White

Tuning Machines: Nickel Die Cast

Finish: Natural

Electronics: None

I wouldnt be advertising it as hand made...IMHO youll scare away alot of potential buyers who know a bit about acoustic guitars.



Options for sale:

1. music shop.
2. notice board at local supermarket.
3. Newspaper or trading post.


Cheers Martin

[Ron Wisdom]

I, for one, hate to see these cheap Alvarez guitars. I have a real hand made Yairi Alvarez that I bought new in 1971 for $400. It is a Brazillian Rosewood dread. It's all I've played until I built the first of my own. I haven't had it out of the case for three years now.

Ron

[gazmcg]

Inside, next to the name and model, it states "Hand Made".

[kiwigeo]

With all due respect if Alvarez are selling "hand made" guitars for $299US then I dont know how the hell they hope to make a profit out of the exercise.

[hilo_kawika]

I wonder if there are two groups of Alvarez guitars? Some produced inexpensively for Alvarez alone and those produced in conjunction with Kazuo Yairi may be the answer.

Some years ago I had several opportunities to visit Gifu Japan and see the Yairi factory. It was quite an experience. When a great many Japanese guitar manufacturers were making capital investments in CNC machinery and other automating processes, Yairi-san bought wood instead. He has a considerable stash of really excellent instrument wood from all over the world, all stored in open warehouses and accessable to changes in temperature and humidity.

The only mechanical process that I saw in the factory was a series of side bending machines (4 or 5 I believe) that were all operated by a single individual. I think that Yairi-san employs about 30-40 individuals who range in age from their early 20's on up into their late 50's. Mostly each one specializes in 2-3 different steps in the process. I watched one craftsman shape a neck in about 5-10 minutes with his own homemade knives and planes. Pretty amazing stuff.

These guys work 6 days a week and take almost no holidays. But it's like a big family. In the early days, many of them lived at the shop and Yairi-san's wife did all the cooking for everyone.

Looking at a few places on the internet for Alvarez Yairi guitar prices, they ranged from the high hundreds to several thousand dollars.

Is there a date on the guitar or some other indication as to where it might have been made?

aloha,

Dave Hurd

[kiwigeo]

You are correct David. The top of the range Alvarezs are made either by Yairi or under his direct supervision. The rest of the Alavarez range I suspect are made in places like China.

How to spot the Yairi built instruments. The headstock logos are slightly different on the run of the mill Alvarez's and the Alvarez Yairi's....the Yairis have a Y included in the logo. Check out the Alvarez website and look at the two logos at top right:

http://www.alvarezgtr.com/products.php

The instrument in question is NOT built by Yairi and its not hand built.

[Ron Wisdom]

I'll post a photo of mine in a couple of days if I don't forget. Mine was built before they went to the monogram logo and just has alvarez inlaid in the headstock. The label identifies it as Yairi. I bought it new in '71, I think. I haven't had it out of the case in over three years, since I started building.

Ron

[hilo_kawika]

Ron,

The early '70's would have been a great time to buy a Yairi. At that time the Japanese yen to US$ exchange rate would have been about 350-375 (as compared with the current 100 +/- 20 number).

Dave Hurd

[kiwigeo]

I bought a K Yairi flamenco back in 73. Still got it and its a great little instrument...made from Japanese Cypress (Hinoki)