Alvarez Acoustic Guitars : History of Alvarez Acoustic Guitars
Author: courtesy of Alvarez Guitars
An illustrious history of quality, reputation and tone.
In
today's market of high-tech
guitar manufacturing, one
objective still remains
constant: tone. At Alvarez, we
manufacture tone the old way:
by hand. Since 1965, Alvarez
Guitars has been building an
illustrious history of
quality, reputation and tone.
The Alvarez line stems from an
exclusive relationship with
Kazuo Yairi of Japan who's
family represents more than 60
years of hand crafting fine
acoustic guitars. Kazuo Yairi
is the last luthier of his
generation who continues to
build guitars by hand. This
attention to quality, detail
and tradition separates
Alvarez from other acoustic
guitar manufacturers.
The evolution of a new guitar
begins in St. Louis, Missouri
where production model ideas
are concepted and designed by
a development staff at St.
Louis Music, Inc. The Yairi
factory in Kani, Gifu-Japan
then takes these designs and
produces a limited number of
instruments, each with its own
individual characteristics.
The
absence of computer-based
production and automation
results in instruments that
are completely and inherently
unique: Different examples of
the same model will exhibit
sonic and cosmetic character
particular to that individual
instrument. The luthiers at
the Yairi factory are master
craftsman who build
instruments from start to
finish. As opposed to an
assembly-line manufacturing
facility, the Yairi factory
produces limited-run, detailed
guitars that feel and
sound...special. Guitars that
are hand-crafted for tone and
playability.
The production of an Alvarez
Yairi guitar begins with only
the finest select, tone woods
including: North American
spruce and cedar for tops;
well-seasoned mahogany for
necks and bodies; premium-aged
rosewood, mahogany, maple and
koa for bodies and
fingerboards, or top-grade
ebony for fingerboards and
rosewood for bridges. Other
exotic offerings from the
Yairi factory include: highly
figured Koa; quilted and
flamed maple; ovangkol; and
coral rosewood.
The
key to superior tone and
stability and the main
ingredient to the superior
tone of an Alvarez Yairi
acoustic is correct seasoning
of the wood. Woods are both
kiln dried and air dried for
extended periods...up to 15
years before pieces are
individually selected for use
in specific instruments. Backs
and sides are chosen from
these aged tone woods and
selected by the luthier for
tonal and cosmetic properties.
Bookmatched tops of high grade
spruce and cedar are also
chosen for tonal and cosmetic
attributes.
The Yairi luthiers hand shape
and scallop the top braces,
tuning the guitar to the
proper frequency for optimum
tone and volume balance while
ensuring structural integrity.
A maple bridge plate is used
for clear articulation and
structural support for the
top.The exclusive Direct
Coupled Bridge eliminates any
possibility of bridge lifting
and offers superior transfer
of string vibrations to the
top. On many Alvarez models,
genuine shell is hand inlaid
around the soundhole
Contrasted with modern,
"bolt-on" necks,
hand-fitted mortise and tendon
neck joints allow for a
perfect fit between the neck
and body and add to the tonal
balance of the instrument. The
exclusive "U
Channel" truss rod
assembly provides precise
adjustment of neck relief for
maximum playability and neck
stability. Nickel silver frets
are hand inlaid, then sanded
and filed resulting in a
fretboard that sings tone and
feels responsive to the
player. In addition to high
quality die cast tuning
machines, authentic bone nuts
and saddles are hand cut and
fitted for optimum sound and
playability.
Today's
acoustic guitar needs to be
versatile and as the most
advanced EQ system available,
the award-winning Alvarez
System 500 MKII is the most natural sounding
acoustic guitar reproduction
available with plus or minus
15dB of cut or boost on
individual bass, mid and
treble sliders and a
mid-contour control. The
System 500 offers superb sonic
shaping of the guitar's
natural tone when interfacing
with modern sound
reinforcement and recording
equipment. Inside the System
500 are two trim pots for
further adjustment of high and
low frequencies affording the
player unparalleled amplified
tonal control. The Alvarez
System 500 is exclusive to
Alvarez and is standard on
most Alvarez Yairi guitars.
The System 500 may also be
added as an option and
installed at our guitar shop
in St. Louis, Missouri.
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