Nbd: Alvarez acoustic designed by Joe Veillette and Michael Tobias

[richnota]

picked up this gorgeous acoustiic bass guitar. An Alvarez from 1997 designed by Joe Viellette and Michael Tobias (says it right there on the headstock). Apparently the bass never left the case....immaculate.

No pickup but a very nice acoustic tone.

Anybody know anything about it?

 

[Jeff Scott]

Very cool!

That's the ABG version of a photo in one of the VG Price Guides I have for a company called Avante (IIRC, the guide is not handy, at the moment), that the two of them co-designed, too.

We need more pics!

 

[Keith Guitars]

Yup. Avante by Alvarez. They made a handful of standard-tuned 6-string guitars,
and a decent number of baritone guitars. The Avante went to be licensed to Gibson/MusicYo for
a few years, but they only made baritones.

I can't remember if the basses ever went into real production. I played the prototype a number
of times when it lived at Joe's place. In any case, there aren't many of them around, that's for sure.

BTW, this is not related to the current-production "Avante" instruments that Joe is selling.
Mike gave Joe his half of the shared trademark, and the current "Avante" brand is being produced
under Joe's direct license, and marketed directly by Veillette.

It has a smaller box than many ABGs (I think it's the same body as the baritone guitar) but I remember it being
a nice-sounding bass.

Cheers!
Martin

 

[pudge]

Yeah! ,more pics please

 

[richnota]

Yup. Avante by Alvarez. They made a handful of standard-tuned 6-string guitars,
and a decent number of baritone guitars. The Avante went to be licensed to Gibson/MusicYo for
a few years, but they only made baritones.

I can't remember if the basses ever went into real production. I played the prototype a number
of times when it lived at Joe's place. In any case, there aren't many of them around, that's for sure.

BTW, this is not related to the current-production "Avante" instruments that Joe is selling.
Mike gave Joe his half of the shared trademark, and the current "Avante" brand is being produced
under Joe's direct license, and marketed directly by Veillette.

It has a smaller box than many ABGs (I think it's the same body as the baritone guitar) but I remember it being
a nice-sounding bass.

Cheers!
Martin

Hey Martin. Thanks for background. I'll post more photos after holiday.

 

[Crusher47]

Very nice! Congrats & Enjoy!

 

[bholder]

I remember seeing those, except I don't think I knew about the bass, just the baritones. Very nice! I want one!

 

[richnota]

Some photos:

Not something you can say to often, but even the nut is a work of art...

 

[Jeff Scott]

Thanks! Very nice to see more details of this rare bass. I like the use of black tuning keys with the gold keys, the fat nut, cool bridge shape, and the woods used.