SLM Semi - Hollow electric

So I just won an ebay auction for an Alvarez Semi-Hollow SLM electric. I'm hoping someone here can identify it or lend any details about it they can. I think I'm fairly good at researching a guitar, but can find no info on any semi hollow from Alvarez anywhere - no evidence they ever made one, or no example of any other.

What I do know is Alvarez took over the westone line and continued a few models (Rabin, Dana, etc) and then produced a line of strat & tele types in the early 2000's. So this guitar is a mystery.

I've been keeping an eye out for a non gibson (too expensive) 335 style guitar and the Rainbow was on the list but they are pricey these days too. So I found this one on ebay and saw the SLM truss rod cover and thought why not give it a shot. What I don't know is if this guitar is actually any good. It looks nice, but maybe it's crap - we'll see in a week or so when I get it.

I sent Tom P an email asking about it, but I know he is busy and may not hear back. I also emailed support at Alvarez, and they replied saying that have little to no (scraps of catalogs) about the electric lines as they stopped making electrics years ago and focus on acoustics.

So here are a couple of pics from the ebay add, and I'll add some new ones when I receive it. Hopefully someone here knows about the SLM Alvarez's or some direction for me to look into.

BTW - looks pretty friggin nice:

It looks so much like an Electra...gumby headstock, Electra peace sign on truss rod cover, looks like a brass nut. I bet this dates to the Electra days of SLM.

colt933 wrote:It looks so much like an Electra...gumby headstock, Electra peace sign on truss rod cover, looks like a brass nut. I bet this dates to the Electra days of SLM.

Hmmm, you have a great point Colt - it does look electra like. But I thought the Electra name was long gone before Alvarez came into the picture with SLM. But there is no denying the electra looks. Isn;t there an electra forum? I will look into it.

Double +1 to colt's comment. That is definitely the "wave" style headstock of an Electra and the body line reminds me of their slimline jazz models. Look at the archives at rivercityamps.com and check the pics of the 2221, 2227 & 2228. Perhaps a reissue of sorts under a new brand name?

Good call folks - the headstock is definately Electra based - i will hit their forum - but a mystery still is how it skipped the westone generation and ended up on an alvarez - a mystery eh

Ok -- I feel stupid -- how do you register here?

http://www.rivercityamps.com/electraforum/index.php

Ugh - there is no 'register' link that I see on the Electra page. But this is an interseting query. An Electra design, that skipped the Westone line, and ended up an Alvarez. That's a big gap in time eh. Could this be a prototype? Or someone at SLM that couln't push it during westone time as they had the Rainbow and got it through when it went to Alvarez? I'm stumped. Intrigued. And think I got a one off perhaps. Nice.

If the registration link is gone, you'll have to email the site owner. He generally keeps it closed to keep out spam accounts. As for the guitar, it looks like an Electra that had the logo replaced with the Alvarez one. Perhaps, like with Rabin's rebadged Pantera, it's a featured artist's instrument that SLM wanted rebadged with the current brand at the time? The inlays look right for an Electra as well, not to mention the clear pickguard.

Ok looks like this is it:
http://www.rivercityamps.com/electrapage/comments.php?y=07&m=09&entry=entry070921-203622

X410 Jazz Strad. Has the tortosie binding, maple top, inlays and that link says the flag headstock started about 77.

What I like is this comment on that page: "This beautiful archtop hollowbody represents the flagship of the Electra line and of the highest quality of japanese guitars of this period. It is comparable in quality with any of the best vintage guitars of this type."
Sounds like this is one of their high end guitars - nice!

I think I did good on this ebay gamble eh

sarcaster wrote:Ok looks like this is it...I think I did good on this ebay gamble eh

I would say you done good! But it still isn't exactly the same is it?
The "Gumby" headstock on the Electra site has a hard stop tail hinting that it's more closely mimicking an ES-335 (solid through the centre), but the trapeze tail seems to be associated with the "open book/Gibson" headstock and presumably an ES-330 (hollow).
Yours is a hybrid of the two. Strange.

Georgious! I immediately thought of the Elektra Strad!
SN? What on earth are those 2 eneven spaced holes behind the stoptail bridge??
Two different kind of hb's. What are they?
Do you ever make photographs in daylight?
Please do!
Nice man, great score!

jim wrote:Georgious! I immediately thought of the Elektra Strad!
SN? What on earth are those 2 eneven spaced holes behind the stoptail bridge??
Two different kind of hb's. What are they?
Do you ever make photographs in daylight?
Please do!
Nice man, great score!

Not my pics - they are from the ebay ad - but I'll take some bright ones when I get it.

Here is the link to the ad if you would like to see more pics:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&rt=nc&nma=true&item=110699581075&si=m0uRhGDZa0gVr2%252F4fS0LatVlpOg%253D&viewitem=&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWAX%3AIT

looks like the bridge did used to be a trap type and the HB's are not original.

Not my pics - they are from the ebay ad - but I'll take some bright ones when I get it.

Great!

looks like the bridge did used to be a trap type and the HB's are not original.

Trapeze type like on the Elektra strad (Emperor styled) wouldn't be fitted like that or am I wrong?
And they weren't kept with the guitar. What a shame! But what a nice find.
Plus a fine sturdy Epiphone case.
Excellent !.
(and thanks for the link I couldn't find it in Google's cash!)
Well done Sir!

Those tortoiseshell bindings on such a guitar must look absolutely fabulous and classy when seen in broad daylight!
Unbelievable that he turned up with such bad pics for the auction. I wonder what the flame and bookmatching will look like,
but reckon it is very well built.

I just can't stop, those will never surface in Europe. Seems yours is from Jan. 1977
The one (Dan Taylor's) on the Elektra site dates Dec.1976! How very close!
http://www.rivercityamps.com/electrapage/comments.php?y=07&m=09&entry=entry070921-203622

Looking again, I can't help but think that it might be so that it does have the original bridge setup, but the former owner tried to mod it.
with a bridge he thought more suitable. Unpleased wth the result, he decided to restore it to the original, and now it's left with two holes...
My bad.
By all means take it outside to photograph it.
And don't forget the f-hole label.
I'll keep my head up to find more info on this one.

I'm not sure if it is 77 or 87. Alvarez didn't start making electrics till about 85? I'll be posting on the Electra forum and see if someone is in the know there. Currently waiting for my registration approval. This is certainly one I would like Tom Presley to take a look at - I think he would know exactly what I got.

1987?
just wait till Frenchie finds out what you got!
You Sir, did so very well, you'll have to live with it.

Well done, you: always good to see a brother pull a rabbit out of the hat!!

Haven't been here in a while, had computer problems but i'm back.

Wow, what a score that baby is. It sure does look like an Electra with a Alverez label (prototype?). The tuners have the Electra peace sign on them as well. Beautiful guitar!! Seems a bit of a mystery but i think we all agree who made it. I'll bet its a 1977. They will dig this on the Electra forum (and hopefully have info) - just email the site owner like Warn said to join.

hobster wrote: just email the site owner like Warn said to join.

All signed up there and posted - hope to get some good feedback

At the Ibanezforum years ago, about an Elektra Strad. Notice the back of the headstock.
Link .

Seems often early Elektra models like the Phoenix can be had relatively cheap in the US Link (only the last 2 photo's are super size) Not hard to see where the Westone shapes came from.

[quote="jim"] Notice the back of the headstock.quote]

Wonder what the 'k' stands for. Mine has an 'A', I assume for Alvarez, but I'm not familiar with the Electra serial system.

sarcaster wrote: Wonder what the 'k' stands for. Mine has an 'A', I assume for Alvarez, but I'm not familiar with the Electra serial system.

Most likely represents the month as for Westone:
Scroll down to "Letters in the serial number"

I bet it dates from '77 as well. Am I right that it has a brass nut? That feature, which of course could have been fitted at any time, would have nearly been passe by '87.

I bet it's a great guitar.

colt933 wrote:I bet it's a great guitar.

Just got it earlier today - and it is amazing. The neck is crazy good. This thing plays sooo easy.
It does have a brass nut and does look like a 77. There is some tarnishing on the hardware,frets and needs a general good cleanup, but so far this thing is gonna be my primary for awhile. It plays even better than my PRS Swamp Ash Special which has long been "the" guitar of my collection. I haven;t cranked it up loud yet but will certainly this weekend. I'm not sure what kind of pickups yet - I changed the strings and was so anxious to play that I didn't bother to look, but will on the next string change.

Here are some pics:

Notice the FedEx tag on the case!!! The seller did not ship this in a box. He just brought the guitar in the case to fedex and off it went.
Case wasn't even locked. I can't believe it mad it across the country like that. I yi yi.
I can just picture the guys in the warehouse of the shipping center passing around the guitar and playing it on their coffee break.

You did good, Sarc - real good!!

Notice the FedEx tag on the case!!! The seller did not ship this in a box. He just brought the guitar in the case to fedex and off it went.
Case wasn't even locked. I can't believe it mad it across the country like that. I yi yi.
I can just picture the guys in the warehouse of the shipping center passing around the guitar and playing it on their coffee break.


Ouch!! What was he thinking I'm glad it made it there OK. Looks even better in the new pictures! I'll pick my jaw up off of the floor now.

Very nice looking guitar.

What's happening with the 'A' string? It's heading for the 'E' peg and vying off. Not a straight pull if you get my drift.
Is it just trapped? after you changed the strings.
Do like the tort. binding, smart.

Wow Westbone I hadn't noticed that - good eyes. It is just hung up on the end of the E string.

Look at you 2 with those beautiful Panteras in your Avatars. ENVY!

Oh that is just gorgeous. Love the book matching.
Thank whomever that it arrived in one piece! What a dumb ass to ship it like that.
I'm well and truly bubbling with newly acquired GAS now. Thanks a lot Sarc!

Notice the FedEx tag on the case!!! The seller did not ship this in a box. He just brought the guitar in the case to fedex and off it went.
Case wasn't even locked.

Unbelievable!!!~Silly ignorant basterd.

Thanks for daylight pics lookin' good. Congrats!
(why am I wondering if the x360ma guitar in your avatar came from the same seller...)

jim wrote:Thanks for daylight pics lookin' good. Congrats!
(why am I wondering if the x360ma guitar in your avatar came from the same seller...)

Whoa!! That would be a rare bird, eh?