Re: alvarez model 5046

: i have an alvarez 5046. i am unaware of the year and lacking a serial #.just trying to find some facts.

I have the same model, made 04/1972 - 6 string dreadnought, no cutaway. They were made in the 70's and 80's, and seem to only be worth around $150 or maybe $200 if pristine - but it plays pretty well and sounds absolutely fantastic. Used to be acoustic-electric when it was new, but mine lost the electronics somewhere along the line, and I've replaced most of the hardware on it with the help of a luthier that I know. I got it in a mostly unplayable state of disrepair, so it was sort of a learning fix-it project for me. After replacing tuning machines, frets, saddle, an interior support brace, re-gluing and adjusting the bridge, adjusting the nut, ripping out the dangling pieces that used to be the electronics, and sanding the crud out of the neck it still has a few issues but I have no doubt that if a professional luthier had restored it instead of my friend and I, it would be much better.

Overall, I think it's an average playing, great sounding, but fairly inexpensive guitar of reasonably solid quality.

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