Alvarez Serial Number Lookup

Posted : admin | On 11-05-2021

Alvarez is one of the leading acoustic guitar brands in the U.S.A. And around the world. Jan 24, 2020 The only serial numbers listed on Alvarez's website is for their Yairi guitars. The serial number is F408010225. It is on a paper label inside the guitar. My father passed away about two and a half weeks ago. Nov 15, 2011 FWIW: I have the same guitar, and it is around the same vintage as yours, with a 4 digit serial number and the headstock truss-rod adjustment. As you can see from the response from SLM, the headstock truss-rod adjustment was on the earliest Alvarez guitars. I have another Alvarez from 1981-2, that adjusts in the sound-hole. The only serial numbers listed on Alvarez's website is for their Yairi guitars. The serial number is F408010225. It is on a paper label inside the guitar. My father passed away about two and a half weeks ago.

Alvarez Guitar Serial Number Lookup
Alvarez Yairi Serial Number Lookup
Alvarez Guitars Serial Number Lookup
Alvarez Serial Number Lookup

DATING GUITARS AND MANDOLINS
BY REFERENCE OF SERIAL NUMBERS

Serial numbers can be useful in determining the year of manufacture of a guitar or amp.
But due to incomplete registrations and illogical serial numbers, its history is often unclear.
With the help of the serial number decoder, tables and instructions are the year and location
of the largest well-known brands.

Gretsch serials
Jackson serials
Squier serials

Potentiometer codes

Looking up the year of manufacture of a guitar or amplifier(Fender) is based on the format of the serial number of that brand.
Each brand has its own coding method that has changed regularly over the years. As a result, certain brands have the same serial numbers, but with a different coding method, which creates overlaps.
There are also brands that repeat a serial number every decade.
Then the external characteristics of the guitar are important to place the dating in the correct decade. Connoisseurs and specialists, who can be found in the various guitar forums, can be of service in such a case.

With no (or unreadable) serial numbers, the electronic parts of an electric guitar also give an indication.
For example, the production code of the potentiometers can give an indication about the year of manufacture
of the guitar.

ARCHIVED TOPIC: Help identify my Alvarez banjo please

Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/359946

soaf - Posted - 12/30/2019: 11:55:10

I have an Alvarez banjo and was wondering the year it was manufactured, as well as the model name/number. The serial number is 237144. I am also wondering what the value is. Thank you.

Blue20Boy17 - Posted - 12/30/2019: 12:10:56

Looks similar to my Alvarez Bluegrass Special. Can you provide more photos?

soaf - Posted - 12/30/2019: 12:32:17

...more pics.

soaf - Posted - 12/30/2019: 12:33:47

Alvarez Guitar Serial Number Lookup

And three more...

Texican65 - Posted - 12/30/2019: 18:20:27

Definately does not look like the early 70’s Japanese Alvarez masterclone that I have. I’m betting this is a later Chinese instrument. The better Japanese ones are good beginners banjos at best, $300-$400 in great shape. I wouldn’t imagine the Chinese versions being any better or brining more $$$.

mikehalloran - Posted - 12/31/2019: 13:15:47

Probably Chinese — late 1990s or newer.
What's under the head? If a rolled brass hoop, it's sold by many other companies in the $399 — $549 range new with many different inlay patterns; worth half that used (if you can get it). The Recording King variant is the Songster RK-R20 — it looks fancier because of the MOTS overlays but is the same under the hood (head in this case).

RK-R20 Songster
These can be set up to deliver a nice, crisp sound. Not a powerful instrument but certainly good enough to learn on and be a great backup banjo while you are looking for your personal Holy Grail.

soaf - Posted - 12/31/2019: 14:02:44

According to the serial number, it was made in 1990. Were they manufacturing in China that early?

mikehalloran - Posted - 12/31/2019: 15:59:09

quote:
Originally posted by soaf

According to the serial number, it was made in 1990.

Says who? Serial numbers on Korean made banjos are generally worthless as they are with many lines of Chinese made instruments.

Were they manufacturing in China that early?

That would likely be Korea. Without the banjo in hand, difficult to tell. The finish is the usual giveaway. The chrome plated Waverly Old Style is not something I'm used to seeing on Korean versions of this banjo — all the Chinese variants appear to have it.

Tuners are wrong for an inexpensive banjo from Japan.

Edited by - mikehalloran on 12/31/2019 16:01:22

desert rose - Posted - 01/01/2020: 04:39:09

Ill second Mikes comment, says WHO, there is no sequential order or data base to Alvarez banjos. Serial numbers wee for inventory control and not to be used for dating. This banjos is POST Japan, potentially Korea, likely China and MUCH newer than 1990
Scott

Alvarez Yairi Serial Number Lookup

soaf - Posted - 01/01/2020: 08:28:11

This is where I found the info...
ourpastimes.com/how-to-identif...5107.html
Identify the first one or two numbers in the serial number. These numbers correspond to year the banjo was made. In the years between 1970 and 2000, these initial numbers referred to the emperor of Japan at the time. From 1970 to 1988, the years of Showa and Alvarez began this sequence with 45 and ended it with 63. For example, if the first two numbers read '45,' your banjo was produced in 1970; if it is '46,' the banjo was made in 1971, and so on. 1989 saw the beginning of the Heisa era, which ended in 2000. Alvarez began this series of serial numbers with 1 and ended with 12. If the first number of your serial number is '1,' your banjo was produced in 1989. If it is '2,' your banjo was produced in 1990, and so on. In 2001, Alvarez discontinued their use of the Emperor date code and simply began assigning two digits which corresponded to the year of production. For example, '01' means the banjo was made in 2001.
Identify the final two numbers in the serial number. These numbers indicate the month of production and are between 01 and 12. They are in sequential order with 01 corresponding to January, 02 corresponding to February, and on through December with 12.
Tip:
There is no standard location for the placement of the serial number, but it will always be one of the most prominently displayed pieces on the back of the banjo.
To prevent the serial number from fading, keep your banjo in a dry and moderately cool room.

Alvarez Guitars Serial Number Lookup

desert rose - Posted - 01/01/2020: 18:16:49