Alvarez AF60CK - Review

Type of Gear: Acoustic Guitars

Brand Name: Alvarez

Model: Alvarez AF60CK

Price: $429.00

Review - Please try to include as many specific details as you can: I love the AF60CK. The top, back, and sides are all dao wood configured to look like koa wood. It has the well known 600T electronics which sound amazing through a PA.  It has a more narrow neck then most of the other guitars I've played, but I like it a lot. I've had it for about 6 months now and haven't had to adjust the action at all. It is a folk style guitar, and the only thing that could possibly be said bad about this guitar is that it doesn't play as loud as I would like. I paid 429.00 at Troll Music in Venice, Fl and it came with a wonderful hardshell case from TKL. This is a great guitar for experienced players or beginners. I play in a youth band and love it. I would recomend it to anyone.

Rating (On a Scale of 1-10): 8

Additional Comments/Final Verdict: Find this guitar and buy it. You will love it.

Type of Gear: Acoustic Guitars

Brand Name: ALVAREZ

Model: Alvarez AK60CK

Price: $460.00

Review - Please try to include as many specific details as you can: I purchased this guitar about three months ago after looking hard at many different guitars including Martins, Laravies, and Taylors. I've been playing since 1979 and onething I have learned is that what you want from a guitar is personal. You can spend a lot of money on a guitar and come away dissatisfied in the end. Or you can try to get away cheap and end up wishing you had bought the next best thing.

After playing a ton of guitars, I came to the realization that many of the medium range ($400-$1000) guitars didn't sound as good as my old Alvarez Regent. So I figured if I wasn't commited to spending over $1000, Alvarez would be a good place to look hard. That's when I came across the AK60CK. It lookslike a piece of artwork, plays effortlessly, and sounds great.

It did take me a while to figure out the electronics to get the plugged-in sound I wanted, and it doesn't sound quite as good plugged in as some others, but on its own the tone is rich and sounds much more expensive that it is. (Ifyou want great plugged in sound at an affordable price, you can't beat Ovations, but Ovations sound like a $50 piece-o-junk compared to this Alvarez on its own.)

The sound of the Doa top is distinctly different from the typical Spruce top guitars, but I liked it.

If you want a quality Spruce top instrument at a good price the Alvarez's again are hard to beat. Even the modestly priced Regents sound sweet which is important if your just learning to play. (Having a guitar thats going to sound pleasing when you get it right will help you stay with it and not want to put it down.)

If you can't control your pursuit of the perfect sound and have the money to spend, you have to try the Taylors before you buy a Martin. Not to say theyare any better, but as I said, we all have that sound we're looking for, and I prefer several of the Taylors over Martins.

Rating (On a Scale of 1-10): 9

Additional Comments/Final Verdict: Great value on a truly beautiful, easy toplay, sweet sounding guitar.