The St. Louis Music Supply Company was originally founded in 1922 by Bernard Kornblum as a violin shop. In 1957, Gene Kornblum (Bernard's son) joined the family business.
The Alvarez trademark was established in 1965, and the company was the earliest of Asian producers to feature laminate-body guitars with solid wood tops. Initially, Alvarez guitars were built in Japan during the late 1960s, and distributed through St. Louis Music.
St. Louis Music also distributed the Electra and Westone brands of solid body electrics. St. Louis Music currently manufactures Crate and Ampeg amplifiers in the U.S., while Alvarez instruments are designed in St. Louis and produced overseas. In 2005, LOUD Technologies, Inc. purchased St. Louis Music, Inc. and all of their trademarks. With this acquisition, the headquarters based in St. Louis was moved to Woodinville, WA. However, the guitar repair and set-up shop was still located in St. Louis. In 2009, Mark Ragin moved Alvarez guitars back to St. Louis Music in St. Louis that included management and distribution. For more information, contact Alvarez directly or visit their website.
Instruments currently manufactured in China, Japan, and Korea. Distributed by St. Louis Music Inc., in St. Louis, MO.

ALVAREZ Acoustic Guitars Models

ALVAREZ 5020 MOUNTAIN DELUXE (MOUNTAIN) Image

ALVAREZ 5020 MOUNTAIN DELUXE (MOUNTAIN)

- dreadnought style, laminated spruce top, round soundhole, multi-layer black/white body binding, synthetic shell rosette, black pickguard, mahogany back/sides/neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay/stylized bird wings i...

ALVAREZ 2531 Image

ALVAREZ 2531

- single round cutaway classical style, spruce top, round soundhole, wooden inlay rosette, bound body, mahogany back/sides/neck, 19-fret rosewood fingerboard, rosewood wraparound bridge, three-per-side chrome tuners with plastic buttons, pi...

ALVAREZ RD 6 Image

ALVAREZ RD 6

- dreadnought style, select spruce top, mahogany back and sides, round soundhole with acrylic pearl soundhole rings, maple body binding, 14/20-fret rosewood fretboard with acrylic dot inlays, covered three-per-side tuners, rosewood bridge,...

ALVAREZ 5210 SATIN Image

ALVAREZ 5210 SATIN

- dreadnought style, laminated spruce top, round soundhole, bound body, three-stripe rosette, tortoise pickguard, mahogany back/sides/neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, rosewood bridge with white pins, three-per-si...

ALVAREZ PD 85S Image

ALVAREZ PD 85S

- dreadnought body, solid cedar top, solid rosewood back and sides, abalone soundhole rosette, maple/herringbone body binding, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with 12th fret diagonal inlay, chrome die-cast tuners, rosewood bridge, optional...

ALVAREZ 5032 TIMBER RIDGE Image

ALVAREZ 5032 TIMBER RIDGE

- dreadnought style, solid spruce top, round soundhole, tortoiseshell pickguard, wood body binding, wood inlay rosette, mahogany back/sides/neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, stylized bird wings inlay at 12th fret,...

ALVAREZ AC460C Image

ALVAREZ AC460C

- similar to the AC460, except has a single cutaway and System 600TMKII electronics, available in Natural finish, mfg. 2009-present.

ALVAREZ MC 1000 Image

ALVAREZ MC 1000

- classical style, solid western cedar top, solid Indian rosewood back and sides, round soundhole with mosaic rosette, tortoise body binding, ebony fingerboard, slotted headstock with three-per-side open-style tuners, ebony bridge, availabl...

ALVAREZ FCF7503 Image

ALVAREZ FCF7503

- single cutaway chambered folk mahogany body, koa top, multi-ply body binding, mahogany neck, 14/20-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with 12th fret three-piece Alvarez inlay, multi-ply bound headstock with rosewood overlay and Alvarez logo,...

ALVAREZ RB 30SC (RB 30C) Image

ALVAREZ RB 30SC (RB 30C)

- cutaway Jumbo Bass body, spruce top, mahogany back and sides, 17/23-fret rosewood fingerboard with acrylic dot inlays, round rosette soundhole with black and white rings, white/black multi-layer binding, chrome die-cast tuners, rosewood b...

ALVAREZ 2532 Image

ALVAREZ 2532

- single round cutaway dreadnought style, spruce top, black pickguard, three-stripe bound body/rosette, maple back/sides, mahogany neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, rosewood bridge with white black dot pins, three-pe...

ALVAREZ RD 8 Image

ALVAREZ RD 8

- dreadnought style, spruce top, mahogany back and sides, round soundhole, black/white soundhole rings, black pickguard, multi-layer black binding, 14/20-fret rosewood fretboard, rosewood bridge, acrylic dot inlays, covered three-per-side t...

ALVAREZ AD 60S Image

ALVAREZ AD 60S

dreadnought body style, spruce top, mahogany sides and back, White Pearl soundhole rosette, ivory/black multi-body binding, rosewood fingerboard, rosewood bridge, chrome die-cast tuners, optional System 500 MK II (disc. 2001) or System 600...

ALVAREZ 5212 REGENT SPECIAL Image

ALVAREZ 5212 REGENT SPECIAL

- dreadnought style, laminated spruce top, round soundhole, multi-layer black/white body binding, three-stripe rosette, tortoiseshell pickguard, mahogany back/sides/neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlays, rosewood bridge with...

ALVAREZ PD 85SC Image

ALVAREZ PD 85SC

- similar to the PD 85S, except has a single cutaway and standard System 600T Mk II electronics, mfg. 2005-08.

ALVAREZ 5037 WILDWOOD 12-STRING Image

ALVAREZ 5037 WILDWOOD 12-STRING

- dreadnought style, solid cedar top, round soundhole, five-stripe bound body/rosette, mahogany back/sides, nato neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, 12th fret has stylized bird wings inlay, rosewood bridge with whit...

ALVAREZ MD 60 Image

ALVAREZ MD 60

- dreadnought style, solid cedar top, mahogany back and sides, round soundhole with abalone shell inlay, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard, 12th fret diagonal inlay, die-cast nickel three-per-side tuners, Indian rosewood bridge with white pin...

ALVAREZ FD 60 S Image

ALVAREZ FD 60 S

- cutaway thin dreadnought body, solid spruce top, maple back and sides, pearl rosette, ivory/black body binding, rosewood fingerboard with 12th fret diagonal position marker, three-per-side gold die cast tuners, rosewood bridge, standard S...

ALVAREZ RD 8C Image

ALVAREZ RD 8C

- similar to the RD 8, except is a single cutaway and has standard electronics with a two-band EQ, mfg. 2002-08.

ALVAREZ PD 90 S Image

ALVAREZ PD 90 S

- dreadnought body, rosewood back and sides, solid spruce top, scalloped bracing, rosewood fingerboard with 12th fret diagonal position marker, abalone soundhole rosette, ivory/herringbone body binding, chrome die-cast tuners, rosewood brid...

ALVAREZ 5045 MOUNTAIN Image

ALVAREZ 5045 MOUNTAIN

- dreadnought style, solid spruce top, round soundhole, wood body binding, wood inlay rosette, mahogany back/sides/neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, stylized bird wings inlay at 12th fret, rosewood bridge with whi...

ALVAREZ MD 60C Image

ALVAREZ MD 60C

- similar to the MD 60 except has a single cutaway and standard System 600T Mk II electronics, mfg. 2006-08.

ALVAREZ FD 60 Quilted Maple Image

ALVAREZ FD 60 Quilted Maple

- similar to the FD 60S, except has a quilted maple top and standard Alvarez System 500 Mk II (disc. 2001) or System 600T Mk II (2002-08) electronics, available in Cherry Sunburst, Tobacco Sunburst, Trans. Amber, Trans. Black, Trans. Blue,...

ALVAREZ AD 60SC Image

ALVAREZ AD 60SC

- similar to AD 60S, except in a single cutaway body style, standard System 500 Mk II (disc. 2001) or System 600T Mk II (2002-08) electronics, available in Natural finish, disc. 2008.

ALVAREZ RD 9VP VALUE PACK Image

ALVAREZ RD 9VP VALUE PACK

- dreadnought style, select spruce top, mahogany back and sides, round soundhole with acrylic pearl soundhole rings, maple body binding, 14/20-fret rosewood fretboard with acrylic dot inlays, covered three-per-side tuners, rosewood bridge,...

ALVAREZ 5214 REGENT DELUXE Image

ALVAREZ 5214 REGENT DELUXE

- dreadnought style, spruce top, round soundhole, multi-layer black/white body binding, black/white ring rosette, black pickguard, mahogany back/sides/neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with dot inlay, rosewood bridge with black pins, th...

ALVAREZ AD 60S-12 Image

ALVAREZ AD 60S-12

- similar to the AD 60S except in 12-string configuration, optional System 500 Mk II (2001 only) or System 600T Mk II (2002-08) electronics, mfg. 2001-08.

ALVAREZ PD 91S Image

ALVAREZ PD 91S

- dreadnought body, solid cedar top, rosewood back and sides, ivory/herringbone body binding, scalloped bracing, abalone soundhole rosette, rosewood fingerboard with 12th fret diagonal position marker, chrome three-per-side tuners, rosewood...

ALVAREZ MD 65 Image

ALVAREZ MD 65

- dreadnought style, solid cedar top, ovangkol back and sides, round soundhole with abalone shell inlay, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard, 12th fret diagonal inlay, die-cast nickel three-per-side tuners, Indian rosewood bridge with white pin...

ALVAREZ FF 60 Image

ALVAREZ FF 60

- similar to the FD 60, except has a folk style body, available in Tobacco Sunburst (2004-05) or Wine Red finish, mfg. 2004-08.

ALVAREZ RD 10 Image

ALVAREZ RD 10

- dreadnought style, spruce top, mahogany back and sides, round soundhole, black/white soundhole rings, single black binding, 14/20-fret rosewood fretboard, rosewood bridge, acrylic dot inlays, chrome covered tuners, Natural finish, mfg. 20...

ALVAREZ AD 60SCL Image

ALVAREZ AD 60SCL

- similar to the AD 60S, except has a cutaway and is in left-hand configuration, standard System 600T Mk II electronics, mfg. 2004-08.

ALVAREZ PD 100 S Image

ALVAREZ PD 100 S

- dreadnought style, solid spruce top, round soundhole, abalone/ivory body binding, abalone rosette, black pickguard, rosewood back/sides, mahogany neck, 14/20-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with fancy pearl leaves/vine inlay, bound peghea...

ALVAREZ 5054 (GOLDEN CHORUS) Image

ALVAREZ 5054 (GOLDEN CHORUS)

- dreadnought style, solid spruce top, round soundhole, herringbone bound body and rosette, tortoiseshell pickguard, rosewood back/sides, nato neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, 12th fret has stylized bird wings inl...

ALVAREZ MD 70 Image

ALVAREZ MD 70

- dreadnought style, solid cedar top, Indian rosewood back and sides, round soundhole with abalone shell inlay, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard, 12th fret diagonal inlay, die-cast nickel three-per-side tuners, Indian rosewood bridge with wh...

ALVAREZ AD 60 K Image

ALVAREZ AD 60 K

- dreadnought style, koa top, round soundhole, black pickguard, ivory body, white pearl rosette, koa back/sides, mahogany neck, 14/20-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with stylized Alvarez slash inlay at 12th fret, three-per-side chrome tune...

ALVAREZ RD10VP Image

ALVAREZ RD10VP

- similar to the RD 10 except comes with a gigbag, strings, winder, strap, picks, tuner, and polish, mfg. 2001, 2004-06.

ALVAREZ PF 90 S Image

ALVAREZ PF 90 S

- similar to the PD90S except has a folk body, optional System 500 Mk II (disc. 2001) or System 600T Mk II (2002-present) electronics, available in Natural finish, disc. 2004.

ALVAREZ 5040 KOA Image

ALVAREZ 5040 KOA

- dreadnought style, laminated koa top, round soundhole, three-stripe bound body and rosette, brown pickguard, koa back/sides, nato neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, stylized bird wings inlay at 12th fret, rosewoo...

ALVAREZ 5062 WILDWOOD (WILDWOOD NATURAL) Image

ALVAREZ 5062 WILDWOOD (WILDWOOD NATURAL)

- dreadnought style, solid spruce top, round soundhole, five-stripe bound body/rosette, mahogany back/sides, nato neck, 14/20-fret rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays, 12th fret has stylized bird wings inlay, rosewood bridge with whi...