7 Best Alvarez Guitars Ever Made (Are They Worth It?)

• Alvarez has been producing stellar guitars for over half a century.
• This guide looks at the seven best Alvarez guitars on the market.
• Top picks feature models spanning a wide range of price points
• Also, check out the 7 Best Acoustic Guitars under $1000.

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Founded in 1965, Alvarez Guitars specializes in manufacturing various types of acoustic guitars, including steel-string flattops, classical guitars, and parlor guitars. They’ve garnered a solid reputation in the guitar community for delivering pro-level instruments at affordable prices.

Essentially, Alvarez’s acoustic guitar models are categorized into four series:

• Regent Series: Entry-level guitars aimed at beginners and students.
• Artist Series: Affordable mid-market guitars for beginners and pros.
• Masterworks: Expertly crafted all-solid guitars with deluxe hardware.
• Alvarez-Yairi Series: Japan-made acoustic guitars with first-rate components, premium tonewoods, and class-leading hardware.

It’s also worth mentioning that Alvarez Guitars collaborated with American rock icon Grateful Dead in 2019 to create two limited-run acoustic guitars featuring the band’s eclectic imagery.

To cut a long story short, Alvarez has carved out a well-deserved niche in the acoustic guitar market, offering a catalog of over 150 models spanning various price points. However, this extensive selection can make choosing the best Alvarez guitar for your needs challenging.

For this reason, I’ve compiled a list of the finest Alvarez guitars that showcase the brand’s impressive and innovative craftsmanship.

What Are The Best Alvarez Guitars?

Among the entry-level Alvarez Guitars, the Regent RD26 is a notable option for beginners. While it does not embody the brand’s finest moments, it delivers astonishingly good value for money.

The Alvarez Artist Series AD60 is an excellent all-rounder for those seeking a solid-top dread. It’s best suited as a primary guitar for beginners and intermediate-level players or a backup instrument for seasoned pros.

If price were no object, the Alvarez Masterworks MDR70ESB is a great shout for country and bluegrass players. The Japan-made Alvarez-Yairi DYM60HD also emerges as the finest high-end Alvarez acoustic guitars.

Here are my top picks for the best Alvarez guitars you can buy in 2023:

• Best Overall: Alvarez Artist Series AD60
• Best Value: Alvarez Regent RD26 Regent Series
• Best Slope-D: Alvarez Masterworks MDR70ESB
• Best Jumbo: Alvarez Artist Series AJ80CE Jumbo
• Best Nylon-string: Alvarez AC65 Classical Guitar
• Best Parlor: Alvarez Masterworks MPA66SHB
• Best Premium: Alvarez-Yairi DYM60HZ Dreadnought

1. Best Overall: Alvarez Artist Series AD60

The AD60 is one of the bestselling models in Alvarez’s acoustic collection.

Within a decade of its launch, the guitar’s tonewood cocktail, tonal versatility, and price-to-performance ratio have won many awards, establishing it as a forerunner in a ridiculously crowded market.

Top Features

• Hand-selected, ‘A’ grade, solid Sitka spruce top
• Mahogany back and sides
• Hand sanded, scalloped bracing
• Paua abalone and mother of pearl inlays
• Lifetime limited warranty

Review

This Alvarez AD60 pairs a solid Sitka Spruce on the top with laminate mahogany back and sides. This is one of the most popular and common tonewood combinations in acoustic guitar construction, known to produce a warm, balanced, and versatile sound profile.

The guitar also features Alvarez’s unique FST2M bracing system, designed for enhanced volume output and extended sustain.

The nut width, fretboard radius, and scale length are standard, and the soft C-shaped neck is a good fit for players of all skill levels.

Innocuous refinements, like the premium die-cast tuners and bone nut/saddle material, elevate the AD60 above similarly priced instruments.

While these elements are easy to overlook, they are crucial in bolstering the guitar’s playability, tuning stability, and sustain.

When put through the paces, the Alvarez AD60 can fill up a large room with dreadnought tones that every strummer will appreciate.

For the price, it delivers a distinguished presence, excellent note separation, and full-bodied sound – all peppered with hearty projection.

Verdict

While sub-$500 dreadnoughts are a-plenty, the solid-top AD60 is excellent companion for the early stages of your guitar playing journey.

In case you missed it, this model was also featured as one of our top picks in a separate post on the best beginner acoustic guitars for all budgets. 

2. Best Value: Alvarez Regent RD26 Dreadnought

The Alvarez Regent Series aims to provide high-quality instruments for new players and hobbyists with budget constraints.

The Regent RD26 dreadnought stands out in this affordable lineup due to its winning combination of features, playability, and sound.

Top Features

• Spruce Top / Gloss Finish
• Mahogany Back & Sides / Gloss Finish
• Scalloped X Bracing
• Rosewood Fingerboard
• Chrome Die-cast Tuners

Review

The Alvarez Regent RD26 is a classical dreadnought with a laminate spruce top paired with mahogany back and sides.

Despite its entry-level status, the guitar delivers an open sound with ample, which isn’t always the case with cheaper all-laminate acoustics.

Additionally, the RD26 sports a slim enough neck to fret barre chords, and the 43mm string spacing is wide enough to explore fingerstyle playing.

It also features the exact rosewood fingerboard and bi-level bridge design found in pricier Alvarez models for the Artist series.

Naturally, as Regent guitars are Alvarez’s most inexpensive instruments, some concessions are made to keep the costs low. One of these is the use of synthetic material for the nut and saddle instead of bone material.

Considering the modest price tag, these concessions are expected, and they don’t detract significantly from the quality of the instrument.

Plus, the inclusion of stock D’Addario EXP strings and a deluxe gig bag add even more value to an already affordable instrument.

Verdict

Overall, the Alvarez Regent RD26 lives up to its promise of being an enticing, budget-friendly acoustic guitar for beginners and hobbyists.

If dreadnaught acoustic guitars are not your thing, the series offers a diverse selection of folk-sized (OM) and nylon-string guitars as well.

3. Best Slope-D: Alvarez Masterworks MDR70ESB

The Masterworks MDR70ESB delivers on the brand’s promise of a mid-priced guitar that sounds more premium than what you paid for it.

It could be the ultimate Alvarez for those who want a slope-shouldered dreadnought with a big bass response and bluegrass appeal.

Top Features

• Hand-selected, A-grade, solid Sitka spruce top
• Hand-sanded, scalloped bracing
• Mahogany back and sides
• SYS550 dual pickup, blend system EQ w/tuner
• Alvarez bi-level rosewood bridge

Review

The MDR70ESB’s AAA Sitka soundboard gives it a wide dynamic range characterized by robust bass and punchy midrange.

Complementing this, the rosewood body adds much-needed warmth to the sonic equation, resulting in a well-balanced overall sound profile.

The guitar’s satin-finished mahogany neck houses an Indian Laurel fretboard and connects to the body through a dovetail neck joint.

The soft “V to C” neck profile is perfect for effortless chording, while the ¾” nut width ensures comfortable string spacing for fingerstyle playing.

Tonally speaking, the guitar produces bass-heavy ripples with strong fundamental tones – ideal for big chords, percussive rhythm work, and arpeggiated picking.

Open chords have a robust bass response and slightly dry mid-range and treble frequencies.

For amplified adventures, the MDR70ESB comes equipped with the highly-regarded LR Baggs Element-VTC pickup system.

Its onboard electronics deliver authentic tones on stage and in the studio, rivaling or surpassing what you’d expect from a models in this price range.

Verdict

If you are in the market for a top-tier slope-D, the Alvarez Masterworks is worth an audition. It’s a fantastic acoustic-electric for strumming, flatpicking, and fingerstyle players with a country or bluegrass bent.

P.S. – The Alvarez MDR70EB was our top pick among mid-tier acoustic guitars in our expert guide to the best acoustic guitars of 2023.

4. Best Jumbo: Alvarez Artist AJ80CE

If you’re after the bold, bold tones of an acoustic jumbo guitar, the Alvarez AJ80CE is one of the best budget-friendly models on the market.

While it’s not in the same league as a Guild or Gibson, it offers excellent specs and sounds for acoustic jumbo guitars under the $500 threshold.

Top Features 

• Solid AAA North American Sitka Spruce on top,
• Solid Rosewood for back and sides
• Indian laurel fingerboard
• Slotted headstock plate
• LR Baggs Element-VTC pick up

Review

The AJ80CE features the typical Alvarez tonewood combination: an ‘A’ grade solid Sitka spruce top, rosewood fingerboard, and bi-level bridge. However, this model opts for maple back and sides instead of mahogany, which results in more articulation and better sustain.

Maple guitar bodies are known to have better sonic clarity and a brighter, more pronounced treble response. So, this Alvarez guitar can easily fill a room without needing an acoustic guitar amp.

The guitar’s strong bass response, solid projection, and full-bodied tone make it an excellent choice for strumming and fingerpicking alike.

More impressively, the AJ80 CE has many premium components like real bone nut, abalone binding, dovetail neck joint, and die-cast tuners.

The hardware appointments not only contribute to the acoustic guitar’s visual appeal and playability but also provide excellent value for money.

Verdict

Alvarez jumbos are new to the market, but the AJ80CE delivers everything you need for jam sessions, performances, and studio work.

While it’s excellent for most playing styles, the design, tonewoods, and sound profile best suit acoustic rock, country, and bluegrass.

P.S. – If you feel at home using your fingers over a pick, check out our guide to the best fingerstyle guitars on the market.

5. Best Nylon-String: Alvarez AC65 Classical Guitar

Alvarez acoustic guitars come in a wide variety, and the Artist Series AC65 nylon-string classical acoustic guitar further proves that.

Unlike the other two models in the AC series, the AC65 is not acoustic-electric and employs traditional construction in a non-cutaway design.

Top Features 

• Nylon string classical-type guitar with no cutaways
• Spanish heel neck joint and a tapered fan bracing
• Mahogany neck with two-way truss rod
• Solid A+ Western Red Cedar top with natural/gloss finish
• Very responsive with warm and open voice

Review

This Alvarez classical guitar combines the rich tones of a solid Cedar soundboard with the mellow warmth of mahogany back and sides.

The top is bolstered with traditional tapered fan bracing, which boosts overall volume and provides a balanced string response.

Following traditional aesthetics and dimensions, it features a wide, flat mahogany neck and a smooth Indian laurel fingerboard.

Other notable specs include a Black Walnut binding and a Spanish heel neck joint for better transfer of vibrations from the strings to the body.

Everything else is standard: open-gear tuning machines, 19 frets, a 25.59″ scale, and 2 1/16″ nut width. That said, if you want more modern appointments, you can purchase the same model with a cutaway or a more flexible hybrid acoustic-electric version.

Verdict

While Alvarez Guitars isn’t particularly renowned for making high-end nylon-string guitars, the AC65 serves its purpose in the mid-price market.

It’s a great shout for beginners and budget-conscious buyers needing a traditional nylon-string acoustic guitar under $500.

6. Best Parlor: Alvarez Masterworks MPA66SHB

The MPA66SHB is an old-school parlor acoustic guitar that stitches together seasoned and richly figured cuts of mahogany with rosewood and ebony add-ons. It’s an affordable workhorse that will please most bluesmen, folk artists, campfire crooners, and singer/songwriters.

Top Features

• Jumbo w/cutaway guitar with big sound
• Solid A+ Sitka Spruce top wood, and maple back and 
• FST2 bracing system
• LR Baggs StagePro EQ and Element Pick Up
• Premium die-cast tuners

Review

This vintage-inspired parlor is pretty conventional in terms of specs.

Made entirely out of solid African mahogany, it’s got an impressive spec list that includes a bone nut/saddle, Paua abalone purfling, ebony bridge pins, Gold + ebony tuners, and a bi-level rosewood bridge.

The one-piece neck has a slender C profile, ideal for thumb-over chords, fingerstyle playing, and other old-time blues expeditions.

The Indian laurel fingerboard is gracefully fretted, smoothly finished, and bears discreet side markers except for a lone 12^th fret inlay.

Like all higher-end Alvarez guitars, the MPA66SHB also features the ‘bi-level’ bridge and forward-shifted X bracing.

All things considered, this parlor is nicely put together and has all the hallmarks of an all-solid professional guitar for stage and studio use.

Tone-wise, it has a midrange-centric voice with a distinct bark – the kind you’d expect from the best parlor guitars for slide playing and country-blues voicings. It also responds well to gentle strumming and handles all sorts of opening tuning without buzzing frets or shrill sounds.

Verdict

If you are looking for a high-quality parlor acoustic guitar, the Alvarez Masterworks MPA66SHB will most likely tick all your boxes green.

The craftsmanship here is astonishingly good, and the guitar looks, feels, and sounds more premium than the asking price.

P.S. – If you enjoy the playability of this body shape, you’ll find a diverse list of options in our guide to the best parlor guitars for all budgets.

7. Best Premium: Alvarez-YAiri DYM60hd

The Alvarez Yairi “Honduran” DYM60HD is designed in collaboration with Jack Pearson, the guitar player from the Allman Brothers Band.

It’s a classy dreadnought concoction infused with tonewoods and hardware that’ll please even the most finicky dreadnought connoisseurs.

Top Features 

• Solid AAAA Adirondack Spruce top
• Solid Vintage Honduran Mahogany back and sides
• Hard carved FST2 bracing system
• One piece mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard
• Gotoh 510 gold tuners with ebony buttons

Review

Handcrafted in Japan, the Yairi Series is home to the absolute finest Alvarez acoustic guitars, and the DYM60HD is one of them.

This premium dreadnought combines an AAAA Adirondack spruce top with a Honduran mahogany body and ebony fretboard and bridge.

The mahogany used for the back and sides is distinctly resonant and lightweight, probably because it has been aged over 50 years.

The tonewoods create a lovely visual contrast, and the ivoroid binding and abalone rosette add to the guitar’s understated elegance.

The DYM60HD also features chic trimmings like a teardrop pickguard, golden Gotoh tuners w/ ebony, and an Alvarez-Yairi mark at the 12th fret.

However, two specs really stand out: the forward-shifted X-bracing and the proprietary direct-coupled bridge system – which, according to Alvarez, results in significantly better sustain and articulation.

Tone-wise, the DYM60HD exhibits a Martin-like sonic quality, with a bass-heavy midrange and rich, slightly compressed treble-end.

The guitar tones are well-balanced, resonant, and precisely what you’d expect from a class-leading dreadnought guitar made by expert luthiers.

Verdict

The DYM60HD is one of the best Alvarez guitars for players in the market for a dreadnought with silky sounds and effortless playability.

Its elegant looks, boutique craftsmanship, and rich tonal palette make it an excellent choice for seasoned and pro guitar players worldwide. 

FAQ

Are Alvarez guitars good quality?

Alvarez guitars are considered high-quality instruments with good craftsmanship, sound quality, and affordability.

While the quality varies based on the specific model and series, they have a solid overall reputation in the guitar player community.

Which famous artists use Alvarez guitars?

Alvarez guitars are played by various famous artists, including Ani DiFranco, Bob Weir (Grateful Dead), Jack Pearson (Allman Brothers Band), Richard Fortus (Love Spit Love), and country artist Josh Turner. The Alvarez website has a list of famous artists who play their guitars.

Where are Alvarez guitars made?

Most Alvarez guitars are made in China and inspected at their facility in Missouri, USA. However, the top-tier series – Alvarez-Yairi Guitars – is handcrafted in a boutique workshop in Japan.

Does Alvarez make electric guitars?

Alvarez Guitars primarily focuses on acoustic, acoustic-electric, and classical guitars. They do not currently offer a range of electric guitars, although they have an extensive catalog of different types of ukuleles.

Before You Go

If you want to explore what other big-name guitar manufacturers have to offer, we’ve compared the key differences between Taylor vs. Martin Guitars and Taylor vs. Gibson Guitars.

Conversely, if you’ve zoned in on the perfect Alvarez guitar for your needs, our guide to the best acoustic guitar strings for each playing style can bring you one step closer to your dream sound.