NGD - Alvarez Hollow Body. (??)

[rsclosson]

\\\Found this on GC for real cheap. Purchased on looks alone. (Of course, a generous return policy helps.) I had no idea that Alvarez made any hollow bodies. This is an Alvarez ad65ce. All laminate, P-90 and a peizo bridge pickup. Simple controls; 1 volume for each pickup and a master tone. I love the stripped down, no bling look and the unique (for a hollow body) headstock.


The P90 sounds very warm and sweet, as expected. The peizo doesn't sound bad on its own. Combined with the P-90, it adds some nice definition. Still in the honeymoon phase but, so far, I am enjoying the heck out of it. Action is perfect; nice and low with no dead spots. I installed a set of D'Addario Chromes .012s and replaced the cheap plastic nut with an Tusk I already had.

[Woody Sound]

Cool. Can you describe the piezo sound? Does it sound at all like an acoustic archtop? Or more like a flattop?

[chris32895]

Very nice, very clean. I wish that 12th position marker wasn't there. Pretty nice binding for a cheaper instrument, though. The grain on the top makes it look kinda like spruce, as well.

[rsclosson]

Cool. Can you describe the piezo sound? Does it sound at all like an acoustic archtop? Or more like a flattop?

Peizo on its own doesn't sound very peizo like, if that's a word. No quack and not really acoustic sounding. Closer to a jazz tone but brighter. I tend to play it with both turned on,

[rsclosson]

Very nice, very clean. I wish that 12th position marker wasn't there. Pretty nice binding for a cheaper instrument, though. The grain on the top makes it look kinda like spruce, as well.

Yeah, I really like an totally blank fretboard, but I can live with the position marker. Definitely spruce and I was hoping it was solid, but cannot find any specs to prove otherwise. Alvarez site has no information about it. I have a feeling that there were not a whole bunch of these produced. That is sad because it plays way above what I paid for it.

[Woody Sound]

Very nice, very clean. I wish that 12th position marker wasn't there.

I really like the 12th fret thing! Here is the solid spruce baby Alvarez Dread I bought for my little-fingered wife. It sounds fabulous. I've owned several Alv's and Alv Yairis, nylon and steel, and they've all been great.

[mr. beaumont]

That's cool!

I've actually never played an Alvarez i didn't like, from the cheapy to pricey. But I've definitely never seen this model, either!

[rsclosson]

That's cool!

I've actually never played an Alvarez i didn't like, from the cheapy to pricey. But I've definitely never seen this model, either!

Same here. I have played their steel and nylon strings and have yet to play a bad one. But seeing a hollow body was a real shock.

[lammie200]

...Definitely spruce and I was hoping it was solid, but cannot find any specs to prove otherwise...

Can you look at the edge of the f-holes to see if it is laminate or solid? Nice find, btw. May be made in Japan quality.

[burchyk]

They make decent cost effective flat tops, nice to see an archtop like that. Remember stumbling upon a Martin branded blonde archtop about 10y ago in Bay Area. Would be nice if more acoustic makers did this. The market is probably significantly smaller though.

[rsclosson]

Can you look at the edge of the f-holes to see if it is laminate or solid? Nice find, btw. May be made in Japan quality.

Definitely a laminate. Looks like three ply. Build quality is excellent. Can’t find a country of origin. The label says Alvarez Artist. I wish I could find more info on it.