| Alvarez is a premier acoustic guitar | | | | accomplished musicians who play Alvarez |
| manufacturer that specializes in high quality | | | | guitars. These include Ani DiFranco, Bret |
| instruments. Alvarez started building high | | | | Michaels, Carlos Santana, Graham Nash, Kipp |
| quality acoustic guitars in 1965. As | | | | Winger, Laura Clapp, and David Crosby. For an |
| evidenced by the sound of their instruments, | | | | extensive list, please visit their website. |
| they are very passionate about what they do. | | | | |
| They have a reputation for crafting guitars | | | | Here are some reviews of Alvarez Acoustic |
| that have exceptional tone and quality, and | | | | Guitars (source Harmony Central): |
| they do so by hand. Their shop is located in | | | | |
| St. Louis, MO. | | | | About the Alvarez 5054 12 String |
| | | | |
| The Alvarez guitar line as we know it today | | | | Got started more than half a century ago. I m |
| started with a Japanese luthier named Kazuo | | | | what we now like to call a |
| Yairi who worked in partnership with an | | | | multi-instrumentalist. Play in half a dozen |
| American company to design these guitars. | | | | bands, jazz, blues, metal, punk, Cajun and |
| Yairis family is known for creating high | | | | Irish. |
| quality, hand made instruments. The companys | | | | |
| current, skilled luthiers continue this | | | | This is a great guitar. The first time you |
| tradition. | | | | pick it up you immediately recognize that it |
| | | | "has something". And it ain t just me, I ve |
| Alvarez does not use computers and other high | | | | had some friends (including some well-known |
| tech devices to help build their guitars. | | | | players) try it out and give it a thumbs-up. |
| Computer assisted guitars have a very uniform | | | | |
| sound across the board. The Alvarez guitars | | | | I m not saying I would trade my Guild for it, |
| are unique from instrument to instrument. | | | | but I ve not come across a comparable second |
| Building them by hand gives each guitar their | | | | choice. And considering that nowadays this is |
| own character. That is why it is important to | | | | a sub $400 guitar it s an outright bargain. |
| find luthiers and other workers who are both | | | | |
| skilled and passionate. | | | | About the Alvarez AC 60SC |
| | | | |
| They pride themselves on their wood seasoning | | | | I have been playing guitar for over 30 years |
| process. Done correctly, this can be | | | | and have owned all types of guitars and gear. |
| considered the key to the sound. Wood types | | | | I was without a nylon stringed guitar for a |
| such as mahogany and rosewood are both air | | | | while and developed a nylon jones. I began |
| dried and kiln dried for long periods of | | | | looking for a classical guitar, with a |
| time- sometimes as much as fifteen years. | | | | cutaway and built in electronics. I checked |
| This aging process helps develop the tone and | | | | out guitars at 2 stores and chose this one |
| gives it a rich quality. The guitars are then | | | | for it s acoustic sound. I did not even plug |
| shaped into their various styles. | | | | it in at the store. I liked the |
| | | | characteristics in her voice. I came back the |
| Alvarez has a complete line of high quality | | | | next day and traded my steel-string acoustic |
| guitars. Their acoustic guitar styles include | | | | in on her. |
| the Dreadnought series, crafted in a shape | | | | |
| and style similar to other Dreadnoughts, | | | | As I said before, this guitar is like a |
| Alvarez classic guitars of various styles and | | | | wonderful woman. One that should be treated |
| woods, and Alvarez folk style guitars, | | | | well and caressed. Playing her should be like |
| including some cutaway models. For a complete | | | | making love. |
| list of styles, visit their website. | | | | |
| | | | If guitar playing can be that much fun |
| There are also plenty of famous and | | | | everyone should take it up. |