SaintFishy’s Music Stand has announced the addition of Alvarez brand products to its Web site and showroom. In an early February press release, Robert Fisher wrote, “My wife, Kelli, and I are very excited about this addition, since I grew up in my father’s music store selling Alvarez instruments. We already have several models in stock, and offer the entire catalog for ordering that exact model. Please visit our site to see all the current models.”
Alvarez has been a prominent acoustic guitar brand in the U.S. and around the world for more than 45 years, developing an image associated with quality and value. Its instruments are known for their tone and feel. Some of the most prominent artists over the last five decades have enjoyed the brand and its guitars. Alvarez was established in 1965 by St. Louis Music. In the late ’60s, the company began to develop what turned out to be a valuable relationship with the Japanese Master Luthier Kazuo Yairi.
Since 1935, the Yairi factory had produced high quality, concert classical guitars and then, in the late ’60s, it began working with St. Louis Music to produce steel string acoustics. The marriage between Yairi’s handcrafted excellence and SLM’s knowledge of acoustic instruments and the music business was a good fit, and the brand grew quickly into one of America’s most recognized acoustic guitars.
Guitars are still made in that very factory in Kani, Gifu, Japan. Kani is a small town tucked up in the hills near Nagoya and, at 80 years old, Kazuo Yairi is still involved in the running of the factory on a daily basis. The bond between SLM and Yairi is underpinned by the desire to produce fine guitars; new construction techniques and models are in constant development.
Musicians such as Johnny Cash, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Carlos Santana, Paul McCartney and countless others have played Alvarez over the years, and there is no sign of that changing anytime soon.
According to Kelli Saint Fisher, “We provide our customers with the opportunity to enjoy the gift of music. Think about it. Music is an expression of yourself and your emotions. Whether you are celebrating or taking in a quiet moment, music is the background to life! Robert and I strive to offer a little more with our customer service. We inspect and set up your instrument before it ships out. How many places offer that in today’s Internet shopping world? We love what we do! Robert has been involved in musical sales since the ripe old age of 13. If you have a question about an instrument, he’s your guy. I handle the local band rentals and help our teachers coordinate their lesson times in our teaching rooms. I don’t have the instrument knowledge that Robert does, but I am learning, and will help you with any question I can. We hope you find your shopping experience with us easy, delightful and fun.”