Alvarez A500 Two Point Mandolin Mid-1970s - Original Hard Case

This is an Alvarez A500 mandolin. There are no visible markings to confirm that that this is an A500 or made in Japan or in the mid 70s though as I search online for similar items, the A500 is the most likely. The A500 appears to have been issued with F-holes or the oval sound hole like this one. Many, perhaps most, that I saw were red sunburst. Many I saw online had the double-A Alvarez logo in the headstock. I did not see others with this style headstock. My guess would be this was earlier toward the lawsuit times. It sounds as though the A500s were made in Japan through the 70s and early 80s.

This is in excellent condition considering it is around 50 years old. Very little play wear. Frets are excellent, no dings or cracks. The case is also in very good condition. It is all original except the tailpiece cover. I searched briefly for an Alvarez tailpiece but didn’t find one. It plays, sounds, and looks great. Spruce top, maple back and sides, 3-piece maple neck with 26-fret ebony fingerboard. I will ship with a set of D’Addario 11-40 strings.

If you are a fan of early Japanese instruments, this one is as good as they come.