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I looked around for months for what I thought was the best acoustic guitar for right around $1,000.00 I played the Taylors (really really wanted a Taylor) Martins, Takemine. Guilds, Breadloves, and Seagulls. All within this price range. I also was very interested in a all solid wood guitar. I initially dismissed this guitar when I found out it was made in China. however, kept going back to look at this guitar on the zZounds site. It looks absolutely beautiful and the specs and materials used at this price are Hard to believe. I finally found a local store that had the MDA70 in stock (no cutaway) I fell in love right away. It felt like was holding a $4,000 instrument. It's really hard to explain how amazing this all solid wood guitar is compared to anything else I played. The craftmanship and feel is still kind of unbelievable to me. I ordered the MDA70ce and it arrived in excellent shape. I did have to have my guy lower the action a little bit to fit my playing, but I have had to do that with every acoustic I have ever bought. It cost me $29 and I have never been happier with a guitar. This is a guitar I will have for a long, long time and hand down to my son someday. China-shmina, I did a ton of research and they say these guitars are all hand made, hand layed albony, hand carved bracing, so on. This is just my opinion, but I think if you are going spend this much $$ on a acoustic guitar, you need to at least hold one of these in your hands. The sound and feel is incredible. Did I mention that it is an absolutely beautiful crafted guitar...lol Very happy!

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I’m a guitar player of almost 50 years and was shopping for a better acoustic. I was initially looking at Martins and I went to the local guitar shop to check them out. I had played a D-28 before and I was looking for that deep sound, with well articulated notes. I picked up an Alvarez Artists series, and I was impressed by it playability. This got me to looking for their higher end models and I happened upon this model. It seemed to have everything I wanted in a guitar; Sitka top, rosewood back and sides and a good amplification system. Also, there was the understated wow factor, abalone purfling (thin) and no dots on the fretboard, but present on the binding (which is all you need.. you don't hover over the fretboard while you play). I took a leap of faith and ordered one without playing it first. Absolutely amazing. I needed to get a good set up and lower the action a bit, but that was well worth it. First, unplugged. This guitar booms. The notes resonate like a Martin. The sound that I sought was a guitar that pretty much plays itself. It’s so loud, unplugged, that I had to adjust my playing style to be able to sing over it (although some would argue that I should just play and keep my mouth shut). The neck is chunky but comfortable, and has a semi gloss finish which is extremely comfortable to play. It’s truly beautiful. One of those guitars that make you want to open the case and ask yourself it’s really yours. Plugged in, though...holy shmoley. The two pickup system is really great. It works on a slide system, where you can blend the two pickups to your liking. Like on an electric, the bridge pickup is more trebly than the soundboard one. It really sings, plugged in. Sounds more like a miked guitar than not, and not the plasticky-rubbery sound that you get from an Ovation. I would buy this guitar again and again.

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This is my third solid wood, rosewood back and side guitar. This one clearly outdoes the other two, though all three were comparably priced. One of them had quite a bit of boom and projection but needed to be carefully strummed with a pick to control the sound. The other was a bit subdued but wonderful when plugged in. This guitar has incredible sweet sound, full of clarity and yet projection. The intonation is phenomenal for the price. As with other guitars in this price range, they usually stay in tune pretty well, and so does this dread. VERY HAPPY with the guitar overall, and love the design and inlay. Looks much better in person than the pictures in the listing! I think, like many other Alvarez guitars, this one is flying under the radar for most musicians. There is a reason I own five Alvarez's.

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Since I had to sell my Taylor GS-8 Rosewood due to hardship years back, I have been wanting a guitar as close to that as possible within my current budget. This Alvarez has exceeded my expectations. I've owned Alvarez in the past (Fusion 25th anniversary folk) and am a fan of the brand, but I am really surprised at the value here, you get a LOT of guitar for the money. Booming bass, balanced mids and highs, and very nice overtones for a new guitar. She plays nice when over-driven, too, so attack dynamics are wonderful on it (Flat picker/hybrid player). My only issues, due to the winter season was a little fret work was needed and the nut wasn't 100% perfect, but it wasn't too bad. After my luthier got a hold of it, I'm completely satisfied. If you are looking at laminate Taylors and Martins in this price range, I suggest you give this Alvarez a look, a great all solid wood guitar that will actually age and sound better over the years.

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