NGD: Alvarez MSD1 Mini-Dreadnought

Talk about all other types of guitars. Jazzmasters and basses go here!

Moderated By: mods

Post Reply
User avatar
Will
Up on his Whore Lore
Posts: 5328
Joined: Wed Dec 20, 2006 5:40 am
Location: MADTOWN RAT 2011

NGD: Alvarez MSD1 Mini-Dreadnought

Post by Will »

Image

Feel kinda silly about this one. I stopped at Wade's Guitars on my way back from the library and fell in love-at-first-strum. It's a Master Series mini-dread from a few years back, lightly used (case is beat, guitar looks untouched), about the size of a Baby Taylor. Made in China, but the finish actually feels fantastic.

Englemann Spruce with Mahogany - all solid
22.75" scale, 1 5/8ths nut, V-shape neck
I think the neck is 3/4 size and the body is 1/2 size
aftermarket pickguard, which I think is perfect looking

I tried it out against a 1937 Kalamazoo Sport (Gibson LG-1), a couple 1920s parlors, and another new MSD1. All sounded great, but this had way more volume and projection. Even more than the much larger Kalamazoo. It has just as much volume as the Master Series folk-size I tried it out against. Really astonishing. The neck is short and narrow, but plays effortless. I can really dig-in because of the lower string tension. I love it.

$215 with case. It doesn't need a single tweak of adjustment.

Image
Top
User avatar
serfx
ss.o bastard son
Posts: 6411
Joined: Tue Jan 15, 2008 11:34 pm
Location: Edmonton Alberta
Contact:
Contact serfx

Post by serfx »

the neck looks really wide.. i kind of scares me.
Top
User avatar
Mages
súper crujiente
Posts: 7454
Joined: Wed Mar 26, 2008 8:34 pm
Location: MD
Contact:
Contact Mages

Post by Mages »

whoa, that looks really cool.

serfx wrote:the neck looks really wide.. i kind of scares me.
I think it's just that the body is small. :)
cogito ergo sum...thing or other...
Top
User avatar
Will
Up on his Whore Lore
Posts: 5328
Joined: Wed Dec 20, 2006 5:40 am
Location: MADTOWN RAT 2011

Post by Will »

TINY is more like it. It's 35.5" long and 12.25" at its widest.

You know when you go through a self-closing door with a guitar case and you have to do that little foot move to open the door wide enough? Or get the whole guitar through first? You don't even have to do that with this - just walk through. It's that tiny.
Top
User avatar
Will
Up on his Whore Lore
Posts: 5328
Joined: Wed Dec 20, 2006 5:40 am
Location: MADTOWN RAT 2011

Post by Will »

MY FINGERS ARE BRUISED BLUE FROM PLAYING THIS THING FOR 6.5 HOURS STRAIGHT.
Top
User avatar
Gabriel
.
.
Posts: 3178
Joined: Sun Apr 11, 2010 8:46 pm
Location: NYC

Post by Gabriel »

Will wrote:You know when you go through a self-closing door with a guitar case and you have to do that little foot move to open the door wide enough? Or get the whole guitar through first? You don't even have to do that with this - just walk through. It's that tiny.
I just had to do that with my AC30 :( wasnt fun

I just got back from rehearsal btw I don't carry my amp around for kicks :lol:
Top
User avatar
Josh
The Curmudgeon
Posts: 5010
Joined: Mon Nov 17, 2008 7:11 pm
Location: George
Contact:
Contact Josh

Post by Josh »

Will wrote:MY FINGERS ARE BRUISED BLUE FROM PLAYING THIS THING FOR 6.5 HOURS STRAIGHT.
hahaha same here, (i just got some first act full size dreadnought acoustic yesterday)
Top
eclipsegems
.
.
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Jul 06, 2010 12:43 pm

Alvarez

Post by eclipsegems »

Hi Will,

What is the width of your Alvarez?
I am trying to by the padded soft travel bag that comes with an Alvarez, any suggestions?
Top
User avatar
Will
Up on his Whore Lore
Posts: 5328
Joined: Wed Dec 20, 2006 5:40 am
Location: MADTOWN RAT 2011

Re: Alvarez

Post by Will »

eclipsegems wrote:Hi Will,

What is the width of your Alvarez?
I am trying to by the padded soft travel bag that comes with an Alvarez, any suggestions?
It's 12.5" at its widest.

As for the bag, no ideas there. Maybe find an Alvarez dealer?
Top
Post Reply