Master Luthiers around the world have been crafting bevel edged armrest guitars for some time. The feature not only makes the guitar more comfortable to play, but also allows the maker to demonstrate their skill and craftsmanship in producing beautiful instruments. Inline with the core Alvarez philosophy of making great guitars accessible to as many players as possible, the renowned Artist Elite catalogue has expanded to offer a new line of exquisite armest models. The AG/AR models deliver the great tone Artist Elite Series is known for while exhibiting an ability to produce beautiful, affordable guitars, and the AGW77CEAR is no exception to this ingenious new line of guitars.
This acoustic electric version is fitted with the highly regarded LR Baggs Element pick up and StagePro EQ for optimal live performance, and is crafted using premium tone woods known to the Alvarez Artist Elite guitars.
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.
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.
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
Series | Artist Elite Armrest Series |
---|---|
String Type | Steel |
Number of Strings | 6 |
Body Shape | Grand Auditorium |
Body Style | Cutaway |
Left-/Right-handed | Right-Handed |
Color | Natural |
Finish | Gloss |
Top Wood | Black Walnut |
Back & Sides Wood | Black Walnut |
Body Bracing | FST2 |
Binding | Rosewood |
Neck Wood | Mahogany, 50/50 Semi gloss finish |
Neck Shape | Alvarez |
Fingerboard Material | Rosewood / Pau Ferro |
Fingerboard Inlay | Wave |
Number of Frets | 21 |
Scale Length | 25 1/2" |
Tuning Machines | Premium Die Cast |
Bridge Material | Bi-Level Rosewood / Pau Ferro |
Nut/Saddle Material | Real Bone |
Nut Width | 1 3/4" |
Neck Joint | Dovetail |
Body Width | 404mm |
Body Depth Heel/Base | 96/116 |
Overall Length | 1035mm |
Electronics | LR Baggs StagePro EQ and Element Pick Up |
Strings | D'Addario EXP16 |
Case Included | None |
Manufacturer Part Number | AGW77CEAR |