Alvarez AF66CESHB Folk Acoustic/Electric Shadow Burst

After 50 years of making guitars, continual improvement through the use of emerging technologies, processes, and materials is still at the heart of the Alvarez culture. Alvarez guitars are constructed correctly in every sense, from raw material preparation to construction and manufacturing processes. Their tone woods are carefully cured; components like neck blocks and wood joints are carefully designed. The painting, sanding and polishing techniques used are continually researched and developed, and their tone is impeccably crafted and married to a stable, consistent and lively sound box.

The Artist Series sound and personality is open and powerful. For a more focused sound with fewer overtones, choose a mahogany top. For power, go for Sitka. For warmth and response to a lighter touch, choose a cedar top.

The term solid top refers to the soundboard of an acoustic guitar being made of solid wood, rather than being laminated. However, just because the top is solid, it does not necessarily mean the sound automatically benefits from this feature. The tone of the instrument only improves significantly when the whole guitar is built correctly to optimize the energy a solid soundboard can generate. Artist Series is built to do exactly this.

Each model is designed to get the best out if its components, and for them to work together to produce balance, lively projection and great response. These components include the FST2 bracing system, bi-level rosewood bridge, real bone nut and saddle, great quality tone woods and thin finish.

FST2 is a forward-shifted X-brace design, this means the axis of the X is closer to the sound hole and therefore creates a larger soundboard area allowing for more energy and vibration to be harnessed. Both the X braces and asymmetric tone bars are carefully scalloped. The scalloping design was the result of years of continual development in their Yairi workshops. FST2 also creates very good balance so both the treble and bass registers are clearly present and balanced in relation to each other.

The high-gloss natural finish is flawless, carefully crafted to produce a mirror deep shine. It is fitted with the SYS250 3-band EQ with notch filter and backlit digital tuner.

Artist Series feel right and are exciting to play; no matter if you are strumming hard or picking lightly, the guitar will do what you ask of it.