Conference napalm::guitar

2129.0. "Alvarez Electric Guitars" by GOES11::G_HOUSE (MORE coffee!) Thu Feb 28 1991 15:20

    I saw a very interesting electric guitar at lunch.  I went down to my
    fav music store and one of the distributors was there trying to talk
    the people there into selling the line.
    
    The one I saw is an Alvarez (electric!) and the model is called "Dana". 
    It's got a small Strat-style body that reminded me a lot of a Jackson,
    just a little smaller,  but (get this), the lower cutaway extends into
    the body COMPLETELY BEHIND THE NECK!  That's right, you can get
    completely to all 24 (I think) frets, even from between the strings!
    
    It had two pickups, a single coil in the "middle" position (the access
    cut prevents a "neck" position pickup) and a humbucker in the bridge. 
    The "tone" control is actually an onboard aural exciter circuit
    control.  It's got one volume, a three position switch and the exciter
    control.  
    
    It has a Floyd Rose style locking tremelo system.  I was told that the
    body is made of maple, but it still felt light, probably due to the
    small size.  It's got a maple neck with a rosewood fretboard with pearl
    block inlays that sit horizontally and run the entire distance between
    the jumbo frets.
    
    The store manager is a friend and he was playing it when I came in so
    he handed it to me and said "check this out".  My comments were that it
    was a real nice feeling guitar, the access to the upper frets is the
    best I've ever played.  There's little or no heel hump where the neck
    bolts on making it nice to slide up there.  The small body felt real
    comfortable.  I thought the electronics sounded real nice.  I liked the
    exciter "tone" control, it was pretty, not harsh like some exciters
    I've played.
    
    On the negative side, the place where the cutaway curved up into the
    body (behind the base of the neck) was a little thin for my big hands. 
    I also thought the neck was a little thick ("clubby" feeling), it
    reminded me a lot of a Les Paul and I'm used to thinner necks.  The
    fretboard could have been a little wider for my current tastes, it's a
    lot like a Strat.
    
    All in all a very interesting guitar, sure to draw a lot of attention
    for anyone playing one.
    
    Greg

    
      I saw the ad for this guitar over the weekend. How do they keep the
    neck flexing to a minimum with that radical body cut? Has anyone played
    one of these yet?
    
                                    R.B.