Alvarez 5021

The Alvarez 5021 is a 12-string acoustic deadnought-style guitar from the Alvarez Artist guitar series. It features spruce top and mahogany back, sides and neck, with a black pickguard. The fingerboard is made from Rosewood, with pearl dot inlays.

Mike Rutherford owned a natural-finished Alvarez 12-string guitar (with the mirrored "A" headstock inlay), which he used Genesis shows (and also occasional studio work) from around 1976 until 1984 - having replaced a Zemaitis custom 12-string. It appears to have a single-coil pickup mounted on the sound hole with an output jack. A Every few years on the road, he'd replace the Alvarez with a new one as it would always wear out from being subjected to multiple changes in temperatures and humidity.

Tony Banks was pictured playing Mike's Alvarez in rehearsal photos from Bravo Issue 37 in September 1982.

Quotes on the Alvarez
"“I’ve got an Alvarez guitar, which no-one seems to have heard of. It’s got a similar feel to a Martin, and it costs a hundred quid. It’s my favourite guitar – beautiful action, lovely sound. Better than any Gibson I’ve found…” (Beat Instrumental, August 1977)"