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. Tone woods are carefully cured; components such as neck blocks and wood joints are carefully designed. The painting, sanding and polishing techniques used are continually researched and developed, and the iconic Alvarez tone is impeccably crafted and married to a stable, consistent and lively sound box. This caring approach to development comes from one simple goal: To deliver the best guitars in the market at every price point, instruments that are truly amazing value and offer a fantastic player experience. The multi award winning Artist Series is one of the finest solid top guitar lines in the world today and demonstrates meticulous planning and commitment to design. 

Solid as a Rock

The term “solid top” of course 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 Elite 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 Alvarez patented 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 the Yairi workshops.

What Alvarez Says About the Artist Elite Series

In conceptualizing Artist Elite, our goal was simple: “produce a collection of guitars that are beyond comparison”

There are of course many wonderful guitars available, and some are every inch as beautiful as Artist Elite, but we don’t know of any that offer the same value.

This stunning line of guitars is the culmination of years of R&D that allows us to produce custom style instruments from amazing tone woods with a truly radiant vibe. Artist Elite look amazing, sound rich and offer a level of fit and finish rarely attainable at such price points.

Artist Elite showcases premium grade solid Sitka, Mahogany, Walnut, Cedar and Figured Acacia tops under our crystal clear, attenuated gloss finish. Back and side choices include Macassar Ebony, Walnut, Figured Acacia or Flamed Maple. All modes are wood bound, some offer a slim or standard bevel armrest and all models are cutaway acoustic electric fitted the fantastic LR Baggs StagePro Element