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Pros:
- Good quality tonewood
- Real bone nut makes tone much better
Cons:
- Strings
“Affordable and good quality” is music to my ears just like it is for any music enthusiast who is not that eager to overpay for a guitar but, at the same time, does not want to end up with a mediocre quality guitar that will tarnish their experience and slow down their progress. Alvarez promises to offer affordability and quality with their Artist Series brings great quality and performance to affordable guitars. With this series, they are trying to create cost-effective models for professionals as well as inexperienced players.
Build Quality
AD60 has Sitka spruce top which is a big plus for the quality of the guitar construction. Spruce is known to resonate very well and last long. Good quality wood will ensure that your guitar not only sounds and looks better, but also lasts longer. That is why one of the first and most important things you should keep in mind when you are looking for more affordable model is the tonewood quality. Because the wood is quite sturdy it is cut a little bit thinner, making the guitar produce richer tone with more vibration. On top of that you get mahogany back and sides (another good quality wood).
Hardware
Alvarez does not stop at the tonewood, they bring the best quality to the hardware as well. AD60 has bi-level rosewood bridge, rosewood fingerboard, abalone inlays, real bone saddles and nut. While a lot of manufacturers use synthetic nut or other material because they are affordable, Alvarez has gone with the real bone which is one of the best ones on the market because it provides very bright and resonant tone. The one thing that I would change with this guitar is the original strings that come with it (that is d’Addario strings). They are not that bad but for a good quality tonewood I would rather have something else. On top of that you also get Premium die-cast chrome tuners and Scalloped bracing with premium gloss finish.
Alvarez AD60 Sound
High quality tonewood and hardware definitely affect the sound on this guitar. AD60 has warm, rich sound that is a match to any high priced model. With spruce top and mahogany back and sides, the sound will only get better and better with time. I have already mentioned that you might want to change the strings on this model to achieve the full scale and quality sound that this guitar is capable of producing but that is a very small setback that is easy to fix.
Conclusion
Overall, I think this is one of the best options for acoustic guitar on the market at this point. It is a perfect combination of quality and price in a guitar that will last you years and make your experience, whether you are a beginner or a well-seasoned player, a smooth ride.
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