Alvarez 6 String Bass Guitar For Sale (2024 Update)

Overall: I ordered this bass online because it was really the only option a bass player has for an acoustic or most electrics sadly. I received the first one the next day after I ordered it because I payed for overnight shipping. The bass arrived with a crack behind the bridge. Needless to say I was very disappointed. I immediately contacted zZounds. They furnished the shipping label and promised me a replacement would ship out that day overnight to me. This was important because I needed the bass for an acoustic set we were doing that Sunday. The guitar did not ship that day. It shipped the next day and did not arrive till that Monday. I was disappointed. When the replacement did arrive it also had a crack behind the bridge but this crack was in the seam where they joined the two top pieces. I was livid, but this is where zZounds showed how great a company they are. They reimbursed my Luthiers cost to repair it and discounted the bass. They are a great company and truly aren't happy until you are. I will continue to buy from zZounds in the future. I would recommend all bass players buy their acoustic basses from zZounds. The guitar will always need a setup from your local guys but you get such a better deal with zZounds it's still a good deal. In summary a bass player will nearly always have to buy an acoustic version online because most all guitar stores cater to guitarists. It's just a fact, but bassists can buy from zZounds with 100% peace of mind because they have your back and will always go the extra mile with customer service. So go ahead buy it. There's no excuse.Brian

It was too easy to make a hole in my pocket. The body I initially found a bit deep, but the sound was deep and surprisingly loud for an acoustic bass.Reviewed by Andertons Music Co.

Overall: I was looking for a bass to play in acoustic jam sessions with mostly 6 string guitars. Looked at, tried, researched, and even bought a couple. This was the best one I found for under a grand that is loud enough to hang with the group. And this one is under $500. Also, plugged in it is outstanding! Check it out.Denver

I saw this guitar and after a while decided to buy it , it looks nice but im not very happy with the sound or feel of the fretboard , I havent changed the strings to see if that will help , but the way i feel is i probably will end up selling or giving it away and looking for a different acustic guitar , i figured a Alarez would be good , but sorry to say i am not pleased with this guitar . I had a estabon acustic that was given to me , which i think is junk , and i gave it away after i bought the alvarez , wish i kept it sounded much betterPaul

I wanted a smaller acoustic guitar but did not want to spend a huge amout. I'm very pleased with the sound (this one has the mahogany top) and playability and price. The electronics + mic are OK so it's good having the option to plug in.James C.

Comfortable to play and has a good tone. Good action right out of the box. Love the tuner and electronics. Had several friends, some have played for 40 years, fell in love with it. Said I got a good guitar. Also got an FC1 case to go with guitar. Perfect fit.Bags'

I was noodling with this guitar while my son was taking a lesson. 45 minutes later I knew it needed to come home. Great intonation, very nice electronics for amp and/or PA and really easy to be expressive. I didn't "need" another guitar, but this one was too good a fit.Scott

Overall: I just got this guitar last week. My initial impressions are that it is likely the best value in acoustic guitars PERIOD. All solid mahogany, the binding and inlays are beautiful. It sounds AMAZING. My last two guitars were a Martin D-10e I purchased here, and a Taylor GA-4 I bought used on Reverb. I truly like this one better than both of those. The only thing I don’t love is the shape of the bridge, but that’s nit picking. This is a quality guitar. The fit and finish is as nice as both of my previous guitars. For $629 I don’t think you can buy a nicer guitar. It is built in China, it doesn’t look like a cheap guitar at all. The gig bag is nicer that both the Taylor hard bag, and the Martin fog bag that comes with the D-10. Its the hard sided thick foam type. Very nice. When I sold my Martin I expected that this Alvarez would be a step back, but it is not. It’s as nice if not nicer than my D-10. I’m so impressed that when I go to look for my dream acoustic, I’ll be looking at an Alvarez Yairi along with the others. You can’t go wrong with this guitar.Seth

I usually don't buy lower end acoustics, but this one caught my eye for a smaller body acoustic for playing in my studio. The MSRP was around $1000 and I got it for a lot less. First off it was setup beautifully. I adjust all my acoustics and I have not had to touch this. The quality and workmanship is impeccable. The sound and feel of this guitar is equivalent to a lot of my higher end acoustics. The mahogany wood sounds full and rich. I highly recommend this acoustic! Cheers!Larry

Overall: I ordered this from zZounds without having seen one in person. I had played Martins and Taylors at my local music store but didn't want to spend that kind of money. I ordered the guitar on a Monday and received it the very next morning, even with free shipping. The guitar came with a very nice hardshell case and a stick-on black pickguard. I installed the pickguard but preferred the look without it so I removed it and traced the shape onto a piece of clear plastic I had (the type that goes on cars) and installed that. Can barely see it and it provides the same protection. The action was just right and the intonation perfect. I really like the size and shape of the neck. I've got fairly large hands and there's enough meat to it but I don't think it would be an issue for someone with smaller hands. The sound is great with good note clarity and it's not too boomy sounding. My only criticism is the finish on the body which is very glossy in person and shows fingerprints very quickly. I'd prefer a more matte finish. Interestingly the neck finish is more matte and feels great. Overall I would say this guitar easily competes with the low-mid level Martins and Taylors at a fraction of the price. The only caveat being it's made in China. If I could afford it, I'd have bought an American guitar as I would prefer to support our economy.Michael

I am an intermediate player. I was looking for a parlor guitar in part due to the guitar lessons on Active Melody, where the instructor, Brian, uses a similar model, which sounds fantastic. I bought a "scratch and dent" to save some money, but it is verydifficult to see the blemishes. MF described the cosmetic blems perfectly, but they were much more minor than I expected. My wife could not find them. The set up was perfect right out of the box. I put on new strings when it arrived, and have not put the guitar down since (about a week ago). I use it mainly for finger picking, and it sounds great. It is amazing to be able to purchase such a beautiful instrument for so little. I have several more-expensive guitars, including a 15-year old Martin D16GT and a newer Seagull S6, but I am drawn to this Alverez's warm sound and projection. It is also easier to play than the Martin. I had a bit of trouble finding a case that fits, but eventually bought the Luna LLFP. It much more sturdy and padded than the standard gig bag, and the guitar fits nicely. It is also much lighter than a hard shell, and about half the price. (But the case also arrived with a nasty chemical smell inside, but I guess this will fade.) In summary, I am very happy with the Alverez AP70, and I would highly happily recommend it to my friends. I wish I had this one when I was just starting out.rabbitt

Bought this model to get back to playing after a bad accident stopped me playing at a time when I owned a seriously expensive guitar. Didn’t want to spend too much in case I couldn’t get back into playing but I can’t praise this guitar too highly. The tone is outstanding and it’s playability is second to none. The guitar is set up perfectly, no need to have it set up at your expense as with a lot of guitars out there. The build quality is superb and as it sits it the stand encourages you to get it off and play it. This model belies the price you pay because in my opinion it it a 400 to 500 pound guitar in all respects. It is delivered ‘mummified’ in bubble wrap to ensure safe passage and was delivered as promised. Can’t thank PMT enough for their advice. Great people to deal with. Need to get back to playing now.Mal H.

I wanted a small, inexpensive guitar that sounded good and played well. I pick up and play a guitar every night while I watch TV. The Takemine dreadnaught I was primarily using was carelessly broken and unremarkable. After reading about this AP70 and listening to Alvarez promotional and YouTube videos, I decided to buy this. It seemed like the thing to do, especially because of the low price and apparent sound quality; it seemed like the best value. It was on back order and wasn't supposed to ship until Feb 9, but I was pleasantly surprised when I received it on Feb 2. It was packed well and mostly in tune already. The construction quality is fantastic, and the sound was pretty good, but not as good as I expected. One of the other disappointments was that it wouldn't stay in tune and the intonation seemed off. After close inspection it seemed that there were not enough wraps of string around the tuners, the quality of the strings used were sub-par and more of a medium than a light gauge, making it difficult and frustrating to play. I immediately replaced the factory strings with Elixer bronze 80/20 nanoweb strings and that made all the difference in the sound, intonation, stability and playability. It's now an enjoyable instrument to play and a great value, in my opinion.The Deeski

I've owned 4 Alvarez's guitars over the past 15 years, first time with this model, but it was same quality I've come to except, and I paid less for this guitar then my first model 15 years ago, came with a great gig bag. I'll buy another one.kboyd151

Good beginner guitar, projects sound well, but appears to be an open-boxed item or used as there is what appears to be some gum stuck inside he guitar case and some discoloration/fading on some the frets, and 9 volt battery was already installed and dead. Would not recommend buying musical instruments from Adorama as it appears they are selling used/refurbished items. Also, there are no musicians that work at Adorama.Michael

This guitar felt great right out of the box. The neck is wider at the nut than other guitars that I've played, which for me was a good thing. The action was nice without needing to adjust anything. It's easy to get up and down the neck. The frets could be a little smoother at the edges, but it's really not a problem. I like the full sound, and it sounds acoustic when plugged in.OrangeSmith

I am an intermediate player. I was looking for a parlor guitar in part due to the guitar lessons on Active Melody, where the instructor, Brian, uses a similar model, which sounds fantastic. I bought a "scratch and dent" to save some money, but it is verydifficult to see the blemishes. MF described the cosmetic blems perfectly, but they were much more minor than I expected. My wife could not find them. The set up was perfect right out of the box. I put on new strings when it arrived, and have not put the guitar down since (about a week ago). I use it mainly for finger picking, and it sounds great. It is amazing to be able to purchase such a beautiful instrument for so little. I have several more-expensive guitars, including a 15-year old Martin D16GT and a newer Seagull S6, but I am drawn to this Alverez's warm sound and projection. It is also easier to play than the Martin. I had a bit of trouble finding a case that fits, but eventually bought the Luna LLFP. It much more sturdy and padded than the standard gig bag, and the guitar fits nicely. It is also much lighter than a hard shell, and about half the price. (But the case also arrived with a nasty chemical smell inside, but I guess this will fade.) In summary, I am very happy with the Alverez AP70, and I would highly happily recommend it to my friends. I wish I had this one when I was just starting out.rabbitt

Bought this model to get back to playing after a bad accident stopped me playing at a time when I owned a seriously expensive guitar. Didn’t want to spend too much in case I couldn’t get back into playing but I can’t praise this guitar too highly. The tone is outstanding and it’s playability is second to none. The guitar is set up perfectly, no need to have it set up at your expense as with a lot of guitars out there. The build quality is superb and as it sits it the stand encourages you to get it off and play it. This model belies the price you pay because in my opinion it it a 400 to 500 pound guitar in all respects. It is delivered ‘mummified’ in bubble wrap to ensure safe passage and was delivered as promised. Can’t thank PMT enough for their advice. Great people to deal with. Need to get back to playing now.Mal H.

I wanted a small, inexpensive guitar that sounded good and played well. I pick up and play a guitar every night while I watch TV. The Takemine dreadnaught I was primarily using was carelessly broken and unremarkable. After reading about this AP70 and listening to Alvarez promotional and YouTube videos, I decided to buy this. It seemed like the thing to do, especially because of the low price and apparent sound quality; it seemed like the best value. It was on back order and wasn't supposed to ship until Feb 9, but I was pleasantly surprised when I received it on Feb 2. It was packed well and mostly in tune already. The construction quality is fantastic, and the sound was pretty good, but not as good as I expected. One of the other disappointments was that it wouldn't stay in tune and the intonation seemed off. After close inspection it seemed that there were not enough wraps of string around the tuners, the quality of the strings used were sub-par and more of a medium than a light gauge, making it difficult and frustrating to play. I immediately replaced the factory strings with Elixer bronze 80/20 nanoweb strings and that made all the difference in the sound, intonation, stability and playability. It's now an enjoyable instrument to play and a great value, in my opinion.The Deeski

My #1 acoustic is a really nice carbon fiber, but it's a really short (24") scale. I wanted something a lot less expensive and with a longer, if not necessarily full, scale. I played everything I could find in the $200-$400 range, Yamahas, Ibanez, Fender, Alvarez, Gretsch, Recording King, etc. Played dreads and realized I'm just not comfortable wth them anymore, although they sounded really good. And then with the 000 and smaller options, I just thought most of them sounded thin. Saw this one on sale and played it and it was a pretty easy call. A much bigger sound than you'd expect from a guitar of this size. While the upper bout is really small, the lower bout is pretty good size, so this is really more like an 00 than a parlor. In any case, sounds quite good for what it is. Played around with strings and settled on Martin Retros (Monels), which true to form, sound good with mahogany. The tuners aren't great – I may replace those at some point. Even though it's not quite full scale, I can comfortably play a capo farther up the neck than I can with my shorter scale carbon fiber. Bottom line, it's not a high end guitar, but it's the best of the low-end guitars I'd played and I'm really happy to have it as a #2. Oh, I bought it in spite of the electronics, not because of them. I basically just unhooked the battery and took out the battery and bag and taped the wire down – it was bouncing around inside the body and I just didn't want to mess with it. I'll leave the rest in place and put that back in if I decide to sell this someday.Ray

I've owned and played guitars since about 1989… but I'm probably somewhere between "novice" and "experience" if I'm honest. I own a number of guitars, and including this Alvarez, three of them are acoustics. My first acoustic is a Charvel 625c that I bought decades ago. I also own a Martin D17, and have spent a great deal of time with my dad's Martin 1980s D35. With this context, I am saying that this Alvarez AMP660ESHB is easily my favorite acoustic guitar. I had been interested in a small-body acoustic for a while, and last month, I noticed that my local Guitar Center had a used Eastman E10ooss/v in store. I had heard great things about these Eastmans (this model in particular looks amazing), and had been interested in trying one in person. So my daughter and I made the pilgrimage to the store and spent nearly two hours in the acoustic guitar rooms. I will say, that Eastman seemed like a nice guitar… and it was even prettier in person. But the real stand-out guitar in that room was this Alvarez. I was prepared to spend $1k+ on the Eastman, but the Alvarez could not be ignored. So what made this guitar stand out? First, the feel of the AMP660ESHB is ridiculous (in a good way). No other guitar that I handled in that room felt even close. While the body of the guitar is a high-gloss finish, the neck is a wonderful smooth satin. I have guitars with various levels of glossy necks, and my Martin D17 takes the satin finish to an opposite extreme that is almost unfinished. This Alvarez neck sits beautifully in the middle. Feel is subjective… but this neck just feels awesome. The setup of this guitar out of the box was brilliant. The folks at Alvarez appear to really have taken their time dialing this one in before sending it out the door. Low action, and fit/finish are top-notch. What really nailed it, though, was the tone. I had not expected such a small body, even with a solid-mahogany top, to sound so clean, full and warm. My favorite sound.ErinBoy

I attempted to buy this guitar a couple of times at two different Guitar Center locations. Both times an employee had to retrieve the guitar from the back, and I got to tune it up. Both times, playing the guitar was an amazing experience until I found a flaw-direct from the manufacture. Unfortunately, Guitar Center employees were unable or unwilling to resolve the issue in a satisfactory fashion. First, I tried the model in Pittsburgh, only to discover that the discrete sound hole EQ had become detached from the guitar and was rattling around inside. The Guitar Center employee made an impromptu fix, but the fix was shoddy enough that it seemed likely to be a recurring problem. Second, I tried the guitar in Cincinnati. If there had been no glaring issues, I would have happily plopped down my money and been a very happy camper. Indeed, as I played the guitar, I was certain I was about to take the guitar home. As in Pittsburgh, the guitar was not on display, and an employee had to fetch one from the back. Although he said they had two guitars in stock, he returned with only one, and when I asked to see the other one, he claimed he could not find it. The guitar played magnificently and was beautiful to look at. Unfortunately, the 13th fret on the high E was dead. I'm not saying it was uncomfortable or that there was a tiny bit of fret buzz or that playability could have been better. The note would not ring out at all. To make matters worse, the employees "solution" to this particular flaw was to attempt to upsell a set up to me. Worse, I think this particular employee may be the manager of that store. Although it's possible that he simply did not understand the severity of the issue or that he simply felt too busy to be bothered, I found his suggestion that I pay $80 for a setup shocking. Indeed, I was flabbergasted that he would make such a suggestion while Guitar Center still owned the guitar because this was not a question of personal taste or comfort but of the instrument working as an instrument should. Bottom line: The guitar looks like a well made, quality instrument that is absolutely gorgeous to look at and play. But BEWARE: my limited experience with this guitar model led me to flaws each time I played one and suggests there may be significant quality control issues. And apparently, Guitar Center employees may not be empowered enough or capable of making it right. If, like the other reviewers, you're not as unlucky as I seem to have been, you'll find a great guitar. I think…Les

I've played for 50 plus years and very fussy about my acoustics. I never owned a Alvarez because I thought can't be good for the price. I'm talking about the Masterworks line. Well I was wrong this is one amazing acoustic from inside out. Quality bone saddle and nut ebony pins outstanding well finished bracing. This MD60BG sounds amazing good bass but to me more important a good high end sound. We have an upright bass player in our bluegrass band. But that high end if it's off you can't hide that. Up and down the fretboard the high end sings. Volume is very good to this for the money cannot be beat. The only thing and for the price how can I complain I'd rather have the hard case the original models came with. But I put the MD60BG in a good Gator case a good acoustic like this needs protection.Cibby

Overall: The one I ordered arrived dry as a bone, the neck humped and warped, the paint shrunk, the top bellied down, a disappointment out of the box. I put a D'Addario Emergency HumidPak in it to see if it would recover, but the guitar is so weather damaged, the screws for the tuners are falling out. The warehouse is not using any effective climate control whatsoever. This guitar shows signs of severe heating and cooling well out of acoustic guitar storage temps and humidity. It's a real nice guitar, but it's been ruined by negligence at the warehouse as this is not the first guitar I've purchased that came through the same warehouses with the same exact type of weather damage. What a shame. What a waste of time and money. What a cheat turning off climate control and selling guitars for new that are weather damaged — this one was inspected too, it's got the sticker on it. …inspected, thrown in a box with no humid pack and no climate control, that's a huge problem guys and gals! It's time for the manufacturers to pull their guitars from warehouses like these that try and cheat the customer by turning off climate control. I'd recommend the Alvarez but not from a warehouse that turns off climate control to cheat the customer. If the exchange is weather damaged too, we've got a problem! And save yourself the time and money, the HumidPak Emergency kit doesn't work on a guitar this badly weather damaged!Russell

This guitar is outstanding. It’s loud, resonant, projects, and has the sweetest voice. I bought this guitar l sight unseen, based off of a demo that J.P Cormier made on YouTube. I am certainly glad I pulled the trigger on this one. The mahogany is stunning, and it’s very light. The neck profile is perfect, going from a soft V to a comfortable C shape in the higher register. The attention to detail is what I expect from a handmade, boutique instrument. It’s such a beautiful guitar! I’ll be doing a video of it on my YouTube channel soon, comparing it to my Martin 000-15M and Martin D15M. I absolutely have to share this one with all of my friends. I’m inspired every time I pick it up. I couldn’t ask for a better finger style instrument, but it is so powerful when I strum it..maybe more than the dreadnought. Don’t hesitate to grab one if you see one for sale. AMS had 3 in when I got mine, and they sold out within a day. You will not be disappointed. Even the case is very nice!Jack the Rabbit

This Alvarez is a sweet guitar! I've had it for a little over a month, and I haven't been able to put it down. I have a few nice acoustic guitars from Taylor, Guild, Yamaha, Gibson, and Martin, but this new Alvarez is my favorite. The neck and frets were perfect right out of the case. Intonation was perfect. No tweaking was required. The build and finish is perfect as well. And I love the appearance of the dark Honduran mahogany. It has a nice warm tone, as expected from an all mahogany guitar. The low end is so smooth, not boomy in any way. The combo of build quality, tone and size of this Alvarez make it a joy to play. I am impressed!Smiley

If a guitar is entirely handmade out of 50-year-old aged Honduran mahogany, you expect it to be great. This guitar lives up to the hype. There are 24 luthiers at the Yairi shop in Japan, meaning you're getting the highest quality possible put into each guitar that they produce. And it shows with this one. The tone is velvety smooth, warm, and it's excellent for fingerpicking. Intonation is spot on everywhere on the neck. For an OM body, it can also get plenty loud with as much bass as you need – while maintaining balance and a beautiful blend between all strings. Highly recommend it if you're able to get one.Drew

Specs: cutaway, all solid, short scale, OM, Plus very nice bling. Extra deep body Very nice bass thump, Sitka walnut combo works well. Baggs electronics just right. An absolutely fine guitar. Spend a bit extra for a Hardshell case to class up package.B Strummin

I was shopping for a 12 string at local music stores. I have to admit that I often do this and end up buying on line to save money. I'm retired and have to watch my budget. I played many different guitars in the $1500 and down price range. Martin,Taylor,Ibanez,Takamine,Mitchell and others. I was leaning towards the Martin until I played this guitar. The sound is very clear and articulate with better bass than the others I played. The action is low but no buzz anywhere on the fretboard. The neck is wide enough to playing finger style but also easy to chord. Easily transition between this and my 6 string. Fit and finish is excellent with no noticeable flaws anywhere. In my open, you won't find a better guitar for the price.Tmax

I did quite a bit of research in finding an all-solid wood guitar with nice features at a reasonable price before purchasing a MGA77CEAR. I'm really happy with it so far, using it mostly for playing during church worship services. It has nice projection and resonance and is easy to play. The beveled armrest and Paua abalone purfling are nice touches. Also received great customer service from American Musical Supply during the purchasing process.Jonathan B.

Sound: Gentle guitar. Needs light touch or it will muddle up on deepest strings. Features: Love the clear pick guard. It is pictured here with a black pick guard I think, but on the Alvarez site with clear. So glad mine came with a clear guard. Ease of Use: Very playable. Will need a bit more hand strength. Will need to learn how to transpose on the fly to play with other musicians. Not a problem. Quality: Extremely well made. Most impressed. Like the lack of fret dots on the fretboard. Very simple clean lines. Value: Very much worth the $1400. I suspect the laminate version at $400 is also well made. Manufacturer Support: Incredible. Immediate response from Tom. Most impressed. The Wow Factor: Just adds a different tonal aspect to my mostly solo playing. Overall: Very impressed with this guitar and zZounds. Guitar: I have 3 Taylors so high quality is expected. For $1400 I think this in an incredible value. The sound is great. The workmanship and finish is perfect. The tuners may be better than what is on my Taylors. Incredibly smooth. The neck is perfect. The saddle may be 1/32" too high for me, but I will adjust this after the guitar settles in a bit. I find that it needs to be played gently or the sound just muddles a bit, thus lowering the saddle will help my playing style. I contacted Alvarez a couple of times with questions and Tom was immediate and accurate in his response. The only drawback, and maybe not really a drawback, is that the case is very lightly made. For me, carrying it occasionally to a buddy's house to play, this is a plus. My Taylor cases are very. very heavy. For someone needing protection when touring this case might be a bit light. Highly recommend this guitar. A great buy for the price for sure. Would do it again.Ron

I have the Chinese ABT 60, love it. Mahogany. Thought the Japanese YB70 Rosewood might be a nice pairing–different flavors/sound. Makes it nice when a guest comes over to offer them a baritone. No muss no fuss transposing. While that is a good skill to work on with the baritone. The YB is an 1 11/16ths nut. The ABT 1 12/16th. Otherwise they play very similar, sound just a little different. I tune standard baritone B to B. Puts many songs effortlessly in my vocal register with the fine tuning option of capoing as many as 4 frets and still being below E to E standard. When capoed at the fifth fret in E-E they both sound good and you can think in the key others are playing. While the baritone sustain is cool, it is the support and ease of singing that draws me to the baritone. Very happy with my reasonably priced Yairi. Both were made much more enjoyable with a good technician setup.Beau

I'm a pretty big fan of Alvarez acoustic guitars, having a few Yairi's and loving them. I acquired this model as used/nearly new elsewhere since I don't own a cut-away spruce top. *The fit and finish were outstanding with no issues with lacquer or the binding. [There were 2 slight streaks of dark brown paint on the back of the neck that I have mostly knocked down with 0000 steel wool]. * The neck has a nice low C shape and a low gloss, smooth finish that the steel wool buffing got down to a very smooth and fast surface. * Fret ends were well dressed & no sliding snags on the treble side. 2 frets a little snaggy on 2&3 on the bass side that a dressing file will eliminate with next string change. * The neck relief was too high [.027"], with a bit of forward bow, on arrival. Used the supplied hex wrench to tighen the truss rod ~ 1/2 of a full turn. Relief now a very playable [.008"] with no string buzz fretting up and down the whole length of the finger board. [I did note some buzzing on low E with a capo @ 3, so may need to back off the truss a skosh]. * The playing action was too high @ 12 on arrival: 7/64" … sanded a fair amount of the saddle bottom off, getting the action @ 12 down to very workable High E: 3/64"; Low E 5/64". * The nut grooves were spot on leaving you just apaper thick gap @ 1, when fretting 2. * Intonation also quite good up & down the neck [with a light touch] and pretty much spot on @ 12. * Changed out the D'Adario phosphor bronze strings it came with to new D'Adario EJ26 11-52 phosphor bronze. * Light oil on the rosewood fingerboard & bridge, which were both looking a tad thirsty … soaked in quickly. * Carnuba waxed & buffed the body all around. All of these things are more or less standard things you expect to do when you get a new or new to you acoustic. I actually prefer when a maker leaves you some room on the truss rod and saddle to adjust it to your own personal tastes. Folks who may not have the tools or interest, may feel otherwise and want their guitar to arrive completely setup. So, this left me with a very playable, well built acoustic cut-away laminate spruce top over mahogany, that's also light, & attractive. * I like the 1/4" jack being offset and separate from the strap button a LOT. Another strap button came installed right at the heel of the neck, where I like them * Overall it sounds pretty good unplugged, with fairly rich bass tones with a bit of bite and the mids and highs project well without harshness. * Plugging in gives it a lot of boost and the 3 band EQ helps you mix your electric voicing fairly well. * The Piezoelectric transducer pickup under the saddle works well with decent balance, but the highs do seem a bit favored. It suffers from the same issues they all do: transmitting shocks and vibrations from the soundboard. You can hear the strike of an aggressive finger pick a tad more than I like. * The supplied Alvarez gig bag is an added bonus. It has fairly thick padding, nice look & finish, 2 fairly spacious front pockets. The shoulder straps are well padded and ergonomically curved. It also has a hook loop near the top for hanging. Overall, this is well built, well designed, quality laminate spruce top acoustic guitar, made of quality components, that plays well and sounds quite good. At this price point, it's an outstanding choice for a first acoustic guitar, student guitar or for anyone looking for one they can play all day and travels travels well with it's quality padded case.smsdba

I think that it is a great Guitar for the price! I think that it sounds great and I like the fact that it came with a case! I also like the fact that it is handmade which means a lot to me!The electronics seem to work very well and I really like the electronic tuner!Music man

My Alvarez is the RD16CE but I wanted to take a moment to thank Alvarez for their excellent service. The output jack on my CE failed 2 years after purchase. Even though it was out of warranty Alvarez still agreed to send me the entire pickup assembly free of charge Now that's service after the sale!Bigtime Jimbo

I use this guitar for everything… practice, recording, and live shows… I have had mine for about 2 years and all my other guitars are collecting dust(including a Taylor)… the only time I'm not using it is when the song calls for a banjo, mandolin, ect…. feels like it's underpriced for what you are getting from a Chinese made axe… action is perfect… preamp makes it sound just as bright and beautiful when amped up… a must bye for any musician who spends the majority of their time with a guitar in their hands… good job AlvarezThe Awkward Conversationalist

Was looking for a new sofa acoustic to replace my current Seagull folk sized. Hearing that this was entirely solid top, back and sides for the price made it worth checking out. Not disappointed. Sounds warm, full, and expressive. The body size is allows for nice accented finger picking without having to play extra hard. The electronics were a little bit of a disappointment as I though it was a 3 band EQ style LR Braggs, but it's actually just volume and tone in the sound hole. I was a little worried that for a few hundred more dollars I could just get a Martin or a Taylor, but after going into the big store locally and playing everything they had from Martin, Taylor, PRS, and Yamaha in this price range, in this size, this was the clear winner. Just goes to show you that country of origin and brand are not top things to make choices on these days. Highly recommended. Records nicely through a UA Arrow Hi-Z.Yourfriendalec

Specs: cutaway, all solid, short scale, OM, Plus very nice bling. Extra deep body Very nice bass thump, Sitka walnut combo works well. Baggs electronics just right. An absolutely fine guitar. Spend a bit extra for a Hardshell case to class up package.B Strummin

I was shopping for a 12 string at local music stores. I have to admit that I often do this and end up buying on line to save money. I'm retired and have to watch my budget. I played many different guitars in the $1500 and down price range. Martin,Taylor,Ibanez,Takamine,Mitchell and others. I was leaning towards the Martin until I played this guitar. The sound is very clear and articulate with better bass than the others I played. The action is low but no buzz anywhere on the fretboard. The neck is wide enough to playing finger style but also easy to chord. Easily transition between this and my 6 string. Fit and finish is excellent with no noticeable flaws anywhere. In my open, you won't find a better guitar for the price.Tmax

I did quite a bit of research in finding an all-solid wood guitar with nice features at a reasonable price before purchasing a MGA77CEAR. I'm really happy with it so far, using it mostly for playing during church worship services. It has nice projection and resonance and is easy to play. The beveled armrest and Paua abalone purfling are nice touches. Also received great customer service from American Musical Supply during the purchasing process.Jonathan B.

I bought this model yesterday at local GC. It had some scuffs on it and I believe it had been purchased and returned. I bought it because I wanted a lower cost guitar analogous to my Martin 000-28. In the store, I liked the sound and action. Got it home and put new Martin strings on it 12-54. I immediately realized my mistake as these (great strings, I use on all my Martins) strings with slightly more tension than the EXP's the guitar came with, killed the tone and resonance. Be aware that because of the split level bridge, the string break angle at the saddle is quite acute, making for a pretty stiff action-by design..and I understand why Alvareze did this. I removed the heavier Martin strings and replaced with D'Addario EXP-16 strings. This solved the issue. While it's still a pretty stiff playing guitar, it sounds 100% better with original frand of strings. The LR Baggs Element VTC pickup system is also a plus. This is a nicely made guitar with a great, rounded neck profile…just the right thickness. The laurel fingerboard is perfect with a tight grain…if it were a bit darker, one could mistake it for ebony. Very nice tone with great sustain. Very nice guitar at 1/6 the price of the equivalent Martin and I'm glad I purchased it!Bob

Import guitars are no longer junk. This Alvarez got all the goods for a great sounding acoustic. All solid spruce top and solid mahagonyback/sides. Fit and finish on my guitar was perfect and a looker. Frets are smooth and intonation was spot on. Was tuned down for shipping I guess but setup was perfect. Stays in tune after string break in. Comes with D'addario EXPs it seems. Will swap strings only because I like certain strings. Has no case but was expected for the killer price. Got it on sale for 489 and free shipping. Price has since gone up some but still a bargain for what you get. Been shopping musicians friend since before guitar center took over.Chang

Specs: cutaway, all solid, short scale, OM, Plus very nice bling. Extra deep body Very nice bass thump, Sitka walnut combo works well. Baggs electronics just right. An absolutely fine guitar. Spend a bit extra for a Hardshell case to class up package.B Strummin

I was shopping for a 12 string at local music stores. I have to admit that I often do this and end up buying on line to save money. I'm retired and have to watch my budget. I played many different guitars in the $1500 and down price range. Martin,Taylor,Ibanez,Takamine,Mitchell and others. I was leaning towards the Martin until I played this guitar. The sound is very clear and articulate with better bass than the others I played. The action is low but no buzz anywhere on the fretboard. The neck is wide enough to playing finger style but also easy to chord. Easily transition between this and my 6 string. Fit and finish is excellent with no noticeable flaws anywhere. In my open, you won't find a better guitar for the price.Tmax

I did quite a bit of research in finding an all-solid wood guitar with nice features at a reasonable price before purchasing a MGA77CEAR. I'm really happy with it so far, using it mostly for playing during church worship services. It has nice projection and resonance and is easy to play. The beveled armrest and Paua abalone purfling are nice touches. Also received great customer service from American Musical Supply during the purchasing process.Jonathan B.

This guitar is beautiful! Its sound is superb. I tried a Fender guitar (concert-style, smaller body) at a local guitar store and I was not impressed. It sounded too bright. I was looking for a dreadnought style with no electronics, and since the only other one in the store was a cheap Fender for complete beginners, I searched online to find a better one. Alvarez seemed to me like a quality guitar brand with rave reviews, especially on this guitar. And let me tell you, those reviews are correct. The sound is unbelievable. One strum of a G chord and I was obsessed. Not bright at all. Its deep, warm, loud, smooth. The bass and highs balance out perfectly. If you are a beginner I highly recommend you spend the extra money over the cheaper Fender models. Its totally worth it. You will feel like a pro with a guitar that sounds this nice. If you are a seasoned musician, this is not a "cheap beginners guitar", its a bargain. You will feel like you stole it for this price. You will play it and stun your audience if you tell them how much you paid for it. The craftsmanship is also spectacular. The inlay is beautiful. You will stand and stare if you are guitar obsessed. Baby it, or take it traveling and touring. Either way, you will love this guitar.The Novice

My first acoustic guitar was an older model of this this guitar. Loved its tone back then. It was stolen and I bought another, more expensive brand to replace it. That guitar never sounded like the first one. After a lot of years I decided to play again and only considered Alvarez. I still consider myself a novice but the tone, shape, and quality are even better than I remembered. The tones are full and rich, it's comfortable to hold and play, it's the finish is rich and with no blemishes, and It's a pleasure to listen to and play.Bob

This is the second purchase I've made from the newly(past 6 month) designed Artist series from Alvarez (solid tops, laminate back and sides). These are the best guitars they have ever made from a construction and sound production standpoint. I've owned Artist and Masterworks guitars in the past. This AF 30 Folk guitar would compete well with the all solid wood Masterworks series from three years ago, and that is not an exaggeration or beginners perspective (I am very discriminating). Good sounding, articulate acoustics used to start at $500 if you were lucky. Today, companies like Alvarez, Recording King, and Cordoba are turning out professional sounding guitars at a price between $200 to $500. The AF 30 is no exception. I have always loved the Alvarez Mustache-shaped bridge. Folk bodies Alvarez Guitars are somewhere between an 00 and 000 Martin. They work best for fingerpicking and light strumming; compressed and boxy but filled with overtones. Complements with vocals rather than carrying the tune. If you're budget conscious, these Artist series will give you profession performance without spending more than a weeks wages. I own older models such as AJ60, Masterworks MF350 and MD350. Now I own AP70 and AF30. All highly recommended. Give these new Alvarez Artist series a go, they are much better than just last years models.ltcmshawn

These are great guitars when compared to the competition in this price range. There are however things you have to live with and accept. This is not a high end guitar, this is the guitar you get in the cracker Jacks box and can't believe your luck that you got such a cool prize. There are issues with Alvarez guitars in this price range, and probably all guitars in this price range that are rapidly mass produced, and just as rapidly boxed up and loaded into trucks, trains, and big ships to arrive at your door step bouncing around in another big truck. The action may be high, or low with the associated fret buzz, and no matter which way and how far you spin the truss nut, with the handy supplied wrench, the neck doesn't move? The finish and fret work may not be perfect. I doubt these guitars are built by luthiers, I mean crafted in china like Martin USA guitars are "crafted". A Martin smells wonderful, an Alvarez smells. Alvarez guitars stink! Not stink because because of problems with the finish or high action or frets buzzing I mean they literally stink! I've purchased three of these guitars and all of them stink horribly! Not drive by the barn stink but funky old sock/jock locker room BO funk old folks home load in drawers funk. It's not a regular stink either it's powerful and does not dissipate quickly! I think it is mainly in the packaging though but it lingers for days even after you get rid of the packaging! If you think I'm exaggerating I challenge you to leave one these guitars in a closed up room, with the packaging, after popping open one of these stink bombs. Have your odor destroying scented candles nearby. The question should be…What do i want this guitar for? A first guitar good choice. A guitar to travel with or take to the park or camping good choice. Your main guitar, mmmmm probably not. Just make sure you open it outside or in the garage, and keep the packaging next to the garbage cans to make it smell better, or in case you need to return it.57chevy

Great for its design,fine little blues box,pass around the campfire,kitchen table,do not abuse! But you won't cry over a little finish scratch or ding,like would happen if your Martin,gibson,or along the lines of upper scale epiphone,etc grades.excellent action,minor setup.totally disagree with 57 Chevrolet!. mahogany wood has a distinctive smell when fresh,as does any wood.this guitar would be fine for beginners because of the fine tone and ease of playability. I have the ce which has onboard tuner,three stage equalizer,and volume in the preamp. Don't be afraid to try this guitar!! Keep picking!!Aka alias unknown