Alvarez is one hell of a company they are the best entry level to not only start learning but even a novice to midrange player or advance. Producing beautiful guitars. Very tempted to finely get a parlor and this style hits so many points that I've wanted in a parlor.
I had one years ago and regret trading it on another guitar. I will get another one very soon. The Alvarez' are amazing ! I have had probably 6-8 Alvarez' over the years ! Thank you for the great video !!! Hey I got it for my birthday a couple weeks ago !!! Love it !!! And it actually was delivered on my birthday !
Don't know how this comment got past me, but.... Great news. What an outstanding birthday surprise. Glad you're enjoying the new Alvarez. Thanks for taking the time to comment and update us. And thanks for watching.
Excellent review sir! I have the one without the P/U in it. Had I known they were equipped with an LR Baggs Element, I surely would have bought one. It sounded amazing. Thanks again.
John, I have a Larrivee LV05e with an LR Baggs iMix system too. I love Baggs electronics. They make the AP66 an even more versatile parlor. Thanks for your comment and thanks for watching.
I adore mine, especially since it was so hard to find a left handed parlour. Such a beautiful sound I can’t play anything else now comfortably…this little thing will be treated well forever
I'm a lefty too, and when I started learning left-handed models were virtually non-existent, especially at the beginner level (same with golf clubs too!). Glad you found one of these in the left handed version, and yeah, they have such a surprising and beautiful sound. Thanks for watching.
Thanks, George was one of those who most motivated me to play. Still learning from him all these years later. Thanks for your comment and thanks for watching.
Thankyou for an enjoyable and relaxed overview of this instrument, I'm looking around for a "parlour" sized instrument at the moment, nice sounding instrument. I'm a new grey guitarist, having been a grey mandolinist and accordionist for some time! Cheers from the South Coast of the UK>
Bet you'll have no problem picking up the guitar. I gave the mando a try a few years back and loved it. But alas, I think i got to it a little too late in life as my fingers had trouble accommodating smaller fret board. Still a big fan though. Also glad to hear from the "South Coast". It's on my "bucket list," though a bit unlikely these days. Thanks for your comments and thanks for watching. Glad you enjoyed it.
That is a fine guitar. I have the all-solid version, the MPA66ESHB. I'm sure the difference doesn't matter too much. Mine has the edge in tone, the AP may be more durable in the American climate where guitar owners pay more attention to variations in relative humidity. I wish I'd discovered the quality of this maker sooner. Alvarez is top gear.
Thanks for the review. I have an Alvarez MFA66CESHB for not many more $ and thoroughly enjoy the solid wood all mahogany sound. I think the Stl. Music Co is doing a good service in making these budget guitars available.
Herschel, I agree. Nearly every experience I've heard or read about consistently relates what great "bang for your buck" Alvarez guitars are. No doubt your MFA66 is a joy to play, hear, and to "behold." Thanks for watching.
It's a fun guitar to play and a really nice tone for the money. Good luck with your purchase. Thanks for watching and "ERIN GO BRAGH" (I did use that right didn't I?)
One gray picker to another, I can totally relate to the need for a smaller guitar. I considered the Ibanez AC34 OPN,but I didn't like the one I found at guitar center. (Bad setup) I also tried a Taylor mini but didn't like the sound. I checked two stores while down the road a piece and found a used Blueridge 000,the BR143,all solid spuce and mahogany for less than $500.00. Gig bag included. 25.6 scale, but it doesn't seem like it. I think I will be back for a closer look next time they're open. Great chanel, thanks.
Good advice on a short scale. Large short fingers are also a challenge when playing guitar. Unfortunately to get a short scale 24 7/8, neck joined at the 12 fret and 1 7/8 nut width, there are few options and are only available as a custom option with additional cost. When playing a 1 3/4 nut width I also use a Kapo at the 2nd.
Thanks for the review! I’ve been looking for a couch guitar that could be left out. Alvarez seems to make a good product at a fair price point. Go Dawgs!
Yeah John, it was a factor for me too. You might want to take a look at the Martin 000JR-10, with a 1 3/4" nut. That was going to be my next option if the AP66 didn't work out for me. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave your comments.
@@goog646 John, I originally purchased a used AP66 off of Reverb (thinking to save a bit, right?) It had a 1 3/4" nut, but arrived with a cracked neck, so it went back. Not wanting to take any more chances, I bought the one I have now new. Great price, free shipping, factory warranty and electronics for only a few $$$ more. It definitely has the 1 11/16" nut. The best I've been able to tell is that at one point the 1 3/4" nut was standard. Perhaps short supplies caused some changes. The seller you contacted may very well have one with the wider nut. Let us know how it works out if you decide to go for it.
Thank you for your excellent review - you sold me. I've had it a few weeks now and its become my go to couch guitar. I've done nothing to it except tweak the tuning, however I will install Martin Retro 11's and maybe upgrade the tuners. Perhaps if you are going to upgrade your tuners you could do a video on it. Much appreciated!
Thanks for you comment and congrats on the guitar. I’m really interested to hear your experience with the Martin Retros. I’m still trying to find strings that compliment the AP66 the best for my ears. I have already replaced the tuners with Grover Sta Tite H97-18NA (grotro.com/product/sta-tite-97-18-series/ ). They were such a simple “drop-in” replacement that a video might be overkill. Just remove the originals by removing the screws (with a gentle hand), pull out the old, drop-in the new, and put the screws back in. No drilling or modifications required. A good upgrade at a modest cost.
Great review Mr. GP, and a beautiful little jewel instrument this Alvarez AP66ESHB. Thank you. And can't help but ask, coming from this well nourished Beatlephile... were you doodling along the 'Long, Long, Long' Harrison's tune!? Sounded great, though. Me thinks so.., but I won't impose what me thinks me hears.🧐😵💫.
Good ear Arnold... yes that was a simple riff on Long Long Long. Harrison inspired a lot o my "musical journey." And I often return to his tunes since they seem to cycle through my brain often. Though I must admit I still struggle to play a finger picked version of "Till There Was You." His playing on that, at such a young age, and especially his solo break, were just incredibly tasty. Delights me that you picked up on my small taste of LLL. Thanks for your comment and thanks for watching.
@@anothergraypicker Oh, yes...it was subtle, incognito but in the hearts of those who loved him for his music, recognizable pronto. Perhaps somewhere in the ether of the spirit world he's joyfully pleased that his music is cycling through hearts and brains of so many even while putting away the dishes or doing the laundry. I think he struck some eternal chords and melodies forever resonating in the Universe.
Hey Andy,. I put in the Grover H97-18NA Vintage Sta-Tite ™ Horizontal Tuning Machines, Nickel Finish. Grovers are pretty reliable with consistent quality in my experience. (My 50 year old D35S has Grovers that continue to function reliably.) They “dropped in” easily and took about 15 minutes of relaxed work to complete. They’re going for around $50 these days it seems, and pretty widely available. 18:1 gear ratio. Thanks for watching
You had me with "Helplessly Hoping". This just might be the guitar that I use as a second at live performances... and as a first when I travel long distances and prefer not to take my Taylor 816ce. You mentioned tuners as something to possibly upgrade-- is there a particular brand/model that you prefer? Also... maybe I missed the material type of the nut-- worth an upgrade? Thanks so much. GREAT review! 😎🎸👍
I have already replaced the tuners with Grover Sta Tite H97-18NA (grotro.com/product/sta-tite-97-18-series/ ). They were a simple and affordable “drop-in” replacement . One of the features that attracted me to the AP66 was a bone nut and saddle. If you prefer that, then no need to upgrade. Thanks for watching and your kind comments.
As an older player ( 71 yrs. old ) with 'hand' and 'back' issues, I also (this year) was forced to abandon my very beautiful and well built dreadnaught and move to a smaller body guitar. I found a very well constructed and beautiful sounding little Yamaha - - the FS 800. It is extremely close to what would be classed as the 'OM' size and mine has excellent sound and playability. All for just $300 Canadian (which would probably be about only $200 US.) Fair warning though - - - don't buy one 'sight unseen' !!! Mine has amazing tone, but I've played others ( exact same model ) which do not sound that great.
Dennis... Seems Yamaha is one of those brands where great value can often be found up and down their product line. And to find a "keeper" at that price is a great bargain. Glad to hear your story. Thanks for sharing and thanks for watching.
Alvarez guitars that have laminated back and sides use Mahogany as the middle wood lamination. So there are no cheap "white woods", like Poplar used in the lamination process. Even laminated Alvarez guitars that are not Mahogany, (Rosewood, Maple...etc.), use Mahogany as the center lamination wood. They believe using a tone wood like Mahogany helps to contribute to the sound of the guitar. This would be a good guitar for a beginner player and especially a younger or smaller player that might not be comfortable with a Dreadnaught or Folk sized guitar.
Nice sounding thru mic but do my ears deceive me that thru the on board the higher registers flatten slightly? Please let me know if I'm wrong because I'm aware you hear it raw and I'm on the other end of some tech stuff.
David, so sorry that it’s taken me a few days to respond to your request. Though I had deleted the original recording file, I was able to review the “pre-upload” video file for this. While it’s readily apparent that the sound after TH-cam’s compression algorithms are applied certainly rob some level of fidelity, I did not hear the flattening in the upper register that you heard. Not saying it’s not there, and likely you ear is more discriminating than mine. (At 72 y.o,, my hearing is not what it once was, at least my wife says, LOL.) A few other points you may be interested in… • The “full” model name is actually L.R. Baggs Stage Pro Element (should have made that clearer in the video). • As a UST this variety of pickup has it’s inherent liabilities (quack, etc.). Most UST will benefit greatly from an acoustic pre-amp. I use a BBE Acoustimax that works nicely, but left it out of the loop for this demo for a “fairer” evaluation. • For any critical recordings I do that include a UST, I mix that track with a mic’ed track to have the sound and mixing flexibility I like. • This pickup/on-board preamp looks to be retailing for $199 these days. On a “$400” guitar not a bad “nice to have” feature I think. In any event, I really appreciate your feedback. Thanks for watching…
You mentioned it cost a little over $400...I see that The Alvarez MPA66ESHB Parlour with the Electronics is...$829 Dollars...Where did Ya get one for $429 Dollars...Thanks for Review.
Nice catch,,, the MPA66ESHB is an all solid wood version of the Alvarez parlor, while the AP66 has laminated back and sides. The "role" I looking for this to fill didn't demand the finest tone possible. I wanted to get an easy to finger guitar that was durable but still delivered really nice tone for a modest investment. The AP66 fit the bill well. I have a couple of all solid wood models (Martin D35S and Larrivee LV05) for when I need the "best" tones. Otherwise I might have gone for the all solid version myself. One of the other comments for this video was from someone who plays a MPA66ESHB, loved it and compared it pretty favorably with the AP66. You might want to check that out. Thanks for watching...
The Masterworks series is all solid woods, whereas this model had laminated back and sides. If I didn't already have a couple of "all solid" alternatives, I might have gone for a Masterworks. I've been quite happy with the tone, and given that price was a significant factor given how I would be using this parlor, it "fit the bill" well for me. Thanks for your question and thanks for watching.
I play classical nylonS guitar (2 inch nut), looking for a steel string that is about the same size, so I can play in the classical position (left leg support) and without the long fretboard. I need a strong construction for alternate tunings and this guitar is mainly for recording. The mahogany top is worrisome, but not if I get a rich warm tone from fingerstyle off the flesh and flat picking (heavy pick). What do you think? Thank you for the review, the 3 recorded samples of mic/pickup/both is extremely valuable! Is your fingerstyle on the recording nails or flesh? The all-solid mahogany wood parlor version for $830 sounds like a waste of money, same bad tuners, not much better sound from solid side/back. I don't care what the guitar looks like, cosmetics I can't afford and don't want :)
Thanks for your comments… Yes, the sound samples were recorded using the flesh of the finger tips (I don’t play with picks much at all). On this particular guitar I found the mahogany top had an unexpectedly deep, rich tone from the wound strings, with the trebles being a bit weaker by comparison. Probably not a significant issue for recording since EQing can easily compensate. I found some Grover Statite tuners (mod.# H97-18NA) that were a simple drop-in replacement. About a 15 minute task. The biggest constraint I would see for you with this guitar is the 1 11/16” nut. As mentioned in the video, Alvarez shows a spec. of 1 ¾”, but I believe that was only on early models. Mine is definitely 1 11/16”. Finding a small body guitar with a short scale at a budget friendly price is a challenge to be sure. A lot of searching may be required if you want to stay in this price range. One option you may find attractive is the Martin 000Jr-10. It’s all solid woods with a 1 ¾” nut, 24” scale and spruce top. One available now on Reverb new for $600 including shipping. There are some good review videos on TH-cam for this guitar too. Thanks for watching. Happy hunting and let me know if you have more questions.
Thank you very much for your reply, you have been a tremendous help for choosing a guitar in this strange parlor market. I have large hands and always had trouble with fingerstyle on steel string traditional guitars. That is why I switched to classical about 8 years ago. The treble should not be a problem because with steel, my fingertips (flesh) are very bright, too bright, another reason I switched to nylon. You are a credit to the TH-cam community, your work is valuable @@anothergraypicker
Good question David. I don’t see a left handed version listed on Alvarez’s web page. So I think there may be 2 options... 1. contact Alvarez customer service to see if they’d accept a special order. 2. may be quicker, cheaper, more practical… find a right handed one you like and reverse the saddle and nut. Pretty straight forward process that you may be able to DIY, or have a guitar tech take care of for you. Thanks for watching and good luck on finding a guitar that’s right for you.
Just bought this without the LR Baggs. I could hear a difference here. Not sure why they sound so different. The LR Baggs kinda sounds like PIEZO. Not really my thing. I like to be as natural as possible. But, yeah. For the price, its worth it if your gonna use it. Thing I keep hearing about this guitar is that it has some lows and good mids for a parlor. Your sample seem to show that to my ear. I have a Jim Dandy, which I love. But, its is very bright and boxy sounding. I love that tone. But, it doesn't have these mids and lows.
Thanks for the comments Eric. And, you're dead on about the mids and lows. I often run this thru a BBE Acoustimax pre-amp which gets a good bit more out of the Baggs pick up. Either way, for the "modest" price the tone can be quite nice.
OMG, now that's a story that get's one to thinking about all guitar players nightmare of seeing their "beloved" instrument broken beyond repair. Hope you replaced with one that has survived. Thanks for watching.
Jon… Alvarez doesn’t publish the neck dimensions so what follows are my measurements. The neck is 1 11/16” at the nut, 2 1/8” where the neck joins the body. The depth is approximately 3/4” deep, with a “C” shaped profile. More subjectively, this is not a “skinny” neck like you might find on a “shredder” electric. Nor is it one of those “baseball bat” thick necks. I find it to be very, very similar in feel to my Larrivee and other acoustics I have played. For me the neck on the AP66 is comfortable to fret and feels very “natural” in my hand. The only caution I would note is that , if you’re finger picking, the string spacing might feel a bit tight. Let me know if you need more info, and thanks for watching.
Hey H_Oscarsson, thanks for watching. There’s been a bit of confusion about the model in this review. Another viewer kristofernewton422 noted this about 10 months ago (see their comment and others below). Alavarez makes a nearly identical guitar in all solid woods, the MPA66ESHB which is currently retailing for about $830 at Sweetwater. Like you, I would not call this particularly affordable. Since this review was published about 2 years ago the guitar in this review,the AP66ESHB with laminated back and sides, has increased about $100 in retail price to approximately $529 on average at Reverb. Guessing this is a reflection of the guitar market and inflation in general. Either way finding the right “affordable” guitar is always a challenge it seems. Thanks for your comment...
Alvarez is one hell of a company they are the best entry level to not only start learning but even a novice to midrange player or advance.
Producing beautiful guitars.
Very tempted to finely get a parlor and this style hits so many points that I've wanted in a parlor.
Thanks for watching.
I had one years ago and regret trading it on another guitar. I will get another one very soon. The Alvarez' are amazing ! I have had probably 6-8 Alvarez' over the years ! Thank you for the great video !!! Hey I got it for my birthday a couple weeks ago !!! Love it !!! And it actually was delivered on my birthday !
Don't know how this comment got past me, but....
Great news. What an outstanding birthday surprise. Glad you're enjoying the new Alvarez. Thanks for taking the time to comment and update us. And thanks for watching.
Excellent review sir! I have the one without the P/U in it. Had I known they were equipped with an LR Baggs Element, I surely would have bought one. It sounded amazing. Thanks again.
John, I have a Larrivee LV05e with an LR Baggs iMix system too. I love Baggs electronics. They make the AP66 an even more versatile parlor. Thanks for your comment and thanks for watching.
Bought this guitar based on your review. I absolutely love it.
So glad the video helped, and even more glad it got you to a "keeper." Thanks for watching.
Classy review. Thanks!
I adore mine, especially since it was so hard to find a left handed parlour. Such a beautiful sound I can’t play anything else now comfortably…this little thing will be treated well forever
I'm a lefty too, and when I started learning left-handed models were virtually non-existent, especially at the beginner level (same with golf clubs too!). Glad you found one of these in the left handed version, and yeah, they have such a surprising and beautiful sound. Thanks for watching.
Great demo, great guitar, great playing.
Joel, thanks for the kind words and thanks for watching.
Great review, thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
love to hear George on your demo !!
Thanks, George was one of those who most motivated me to play. Still learning from him all these years later. Thanks for your comment and thanks for watching.
Great review!
Thanks for your kind comment and thanks for watching
Thankyou for an enjoyable and relaxed overview of this instrument, I'm looking around for a "parlour" sized instrument at the moment, nice sounding instrument. I'm a new grey guitarist, having been a grey mandolinist and accordionist for some time! Cheers from the South Coast of the UK>
Bet you'll have no problem picking up the guitar. I gave the mando a try a few years back and loved it. But alas, I think i got to it a little too late in life as my fingers had trouble accommodating smaller fret board. Still a big fan though. Also glad to hear from the "South Coast". It's on my "bucket list," though a bit unlikely these days. Thanks for your comments and thanks for watching. Glad you enjoyed it.
That is a fine guitar. I have the all-solid version, the MPA66ESHB. I'm sure the difference doesn't matter too much. Mine has the edge in tone, the AP may be more durable in the American climate where guitar owners pay more attention to variations in relative humidity.
I wish I'd discovered the quality of this maker sooner. Alvarez is top gear.
Thanks for the review. I have an Alvarez MFA66CESHB for not many more $ and thoroughly enjoy the solid wood all mahogany sound. I think the Stl. Music Co is doing a good service in making these budget guitars available.
Herschel, I agree. Nearly every experience I've heard or read about consistently relates what great "bang for your buck" Alvarez guitars are. No doubt your MFA66 is a joy to play, hear, and to "behold." Thanks for watching.
Thanks sir cheers from Ireland 🇮🇪 I’m Gona buy one of these it looks like a beautiful little guitar
It's a fun guitar to play and a really nice tone for the money. Good luck with your purchase. Thanks for watching and "ERIN GO BRAGH" (I did use that right didn't I?)
I have an Alvarez AD66SHB. Great Guitar 🎸.
One gray picker to another, I can totally relate to the need for a smaller guitar. I considered the Ibanez AC34 OPN,but I didn't like the one I found at guitar center. (Bad setup) I also tried a Taylor mini but didn't like the sound. I checked two stores while down the road a piece and found a used Blueridge 000,the BR143,all solid spuce and mahogany for less than $500.00. Gig bag included. 25.6 scale, but it doesn't seem like it. I think I will be back for a closer look next time they're open. Great chanel, thanks.
John, hope your effort to locate the right parlor pays off "big". Let us know what you find and how it preforms for you.
Good advice on a short scale. Large short fingers are also a challenge when playing guitar. Unfortunately to get a short scale 24 7/8, neck joined at the 12 fret and 1 7/8 nut width, there are few options and are only available as a custom option with additional cost. When playing a 1 3/4 nut width I also use a Kapo at the 2nd.
Fred, thanks for your comments and thanks for watching.
Thanks for the review! I’ve been looking for a couch guitar that could be left out. Alvarez seems to make a good product at a fair price point.
Go Dawgs!
Go Dawgs 👍
I'm so glad you mentioned the 1 11/16 nut. That's a deal breaker for me. I need 1 3/4. Thanks again.
Yeah John, it was a factor for me too. You might want to take a look at the Martin 000JR-10, with a 1 3/4" nut. That was going to be my next option if the AP66 didn't work out for me. Thanks for watching and taking the time to leave your comments.
@@anothergraypicker I've just been in contact with a seller who measured it for me and he says it's definitely 1 3/4. Strange.
@@goog646 John, I originally purchased a used AP66 off of Reverb (thinking to save a bit, right?) It had a 1 3/4" nut, but arrived with a cracked neck, so it went back. Not wanting to take any more chances, I bought the one I have now new. Great price, free shipping, factory warranty and electronics for only a few $$$ more. It definitely has the 1 11/16" nut. The best I've been able to tell is that at one point the 1 3/4" nut was standard. Perhaps short supplies caused some changes. The seller you contacted may very well have one with the wider nut. Let us know how it works out if you decide to go for it.
Thank you for your excellent review - you sold me. I've had it a few weeks now and its become my go to couch guitar. I've done nothing to it except tweak the tuning, however I will install Martin Retro 11's and maybe upgrade the tuners. Perhaps if you are going to upgrade your tuners you could do a video on it. Much appreciated!
Thanks for you comment and congrats on the guitar. I’m really interested to hear your experience with the Martin Retros. I’m still trying to find strings that compliment the AP66 the best for my ears.
I have already replaced the tuners with Grover Sta Tite H97-18NA (grotro.com/product/sta-tite-97-18-series/ ). They were such a simple “drop-in” replacement that a video might be overkill. Just remove the originals by removing the screws (with a gentle hand), pull out the old, drop-in the new, and put the screws back in. No drilling or modifications required. A good upgrade at a modest cost.
@@anothergraypicker Try some Tomastik Plectrum strings - they’re pricy but sound fantastic, soften the sound a little, and last for ages.
Nice review
Thanks for the kind words, and thanks for watching...
thanks for the help - especially the nut width truth - mike age 58
Great review Mr. GP, and a beautiful little jewel instrument this Alvarez AP66ESHB. Thank you. And can't help but ask, coming from this well nourished Beatlephile... were you doodling along the 'Long, Long, Long' Harrison's tune!? Sounded great, though. Me thinks so.., but I won't impose what me thinks me hears.🧐😵💫.
Good ear Arnold... yes that was a simple riff on Long Long Long. Harrison inspired a lot o my "musical journey." And I often return to his tunes since they seem to cycle through my brain often. Though I must admit I still struggle to play a finger picked version of "Till There Was You." His playing on that, at such a young age, and especially his solo break, were just incredibly tasty. Delights me that you picked up on my small taste of LLL. Thanks for your comment and thanks for watching.
@@anothergraypicker Oh, yes...it was subtle, incognito but in the hearts of those who loved him for his music, recognizable pronto. Perhaps somewhere in the ether of the spirit world he's joyfully pleased that his music is cycling through hearts and brains of so many even while putting away the dishes or doing the laundry. I think he struck some eternal chords and melodies forever resonating in the Universe.
Hi I enjoyed your videos on the Alvarez AP66ESHB please let me know what turning gears you replaced the originals with. Thank you, Andy
Hey Andy,. I put in the Grover H97-18NA Vintage Sta-Tite ™ Horizontal Tuning Machines, Nickel Finish. Grovers are pretty reliable with consistent quality in my experience. (My 50 year old D35S has Grovers that continue to function reliably.) They “dropped in” easily and took about 15 minutes of relaxed work to complete. They’re going for around $50 these days it seems, and pretty widely available. 18:1 gear ratio.
Thanks for watching
You had me with "Helplessly Hoping". This just might be the guitar that I use as a second at live performances... and as a first when I travel long distances and prefer not to take my Taylor 816ce. You mentioned tuners as something to possibly upgrade-- is there a particular brand/model that you prefer? Also... maybe I missed the material type of the nut-- worth an upgrade?
Thanks so much. GREAT review! 😎🎸👍
I have already replaced the tuners with Grover Sta Tite H97-18NA (grotro.com/product/sta-tite-97-18-series/ ). They were a simple and affordable “drop-in” replacement . One of the features that attracted me to the AP66 was a bone nut and saddle. If you prefer that, then no need to upgrade. Thanks for watching and your kind comments.
@@anothergraypicker Thank you, fellow-Gray Picker. 👍
As an older player ( 71 yrs. old ) with 'hand' and 'back' issues, I also (this year) was forced to abandon my very beautiful and well built dreadnaught and move to a smaller body guitar. I found a very well constructed and beautiful sounding little Yamaha - - the FS 800. It is extremely close to what would be classed as the 'OM' size and mine has excellent sound and playability. All for just $300 Canadian (which would probably be about only $200 US.) Fair warning though - - - don't buy one 'sight unseen' !!! Mine has amazing tone, but I've played others ( exact same model ) which do not sound that great.
Dennis... Seems Yamaha is one of those brands where great value can often be found up and down their product line. And to find a "keeper" at that price is a great bargain. Glad to hear your story. Thanks for sharing and thanks for watching.
I sought out the fs800 as a starter guitar, and no regrets!
Glad you found the one that suits your style. Thanks for your comment and thanks for watching,
So true. I recently purchased a FG 830. Not only is it beautiful it sounds amazing. It is an out right cannon.
Alvarez guitars that have laminated back and sides use Mahogany as the middle wood lamination. So there are no cheap "white woods", like Poplar used in the lamination process. Even laminated Alvarez guitars that are not Mahogany, (Rosewood, Maple...etc.), use Mahogany as the center lamination wood. They believe using a tone wood like Mahogany helps to contribute to the sound of the guitar.
This would be a good guitar for a beginner player and especially a younger or smaller player that might not be comfortable with a Dreadnaught or Folk sized guitar.
Nice sounding thru mic but do my ears deceive me that thru the on board the higher registers flatten slightly? Please let me know if I'm wrong because I'm aware you hear it raw and I'm on the other end of some tech stuff.
David, so sorry that it’s taken me a few days to respond to your request. Though I had deleted the original recording file, I was able to review the “pre-upload” video file for this. While it’s readily apparent that the sound after TH-cam’s compression algorithms are applied certainly rob some level of fidelity, I did not hear the flattening in the upper register that you heard. Not saying it’s not there, and likely you ear is more discriminating than mine. (At 72 y.o,, my hearing is not what it once was, at least my wife says, LOL.)
A few other points you may be interested in…
• The “full” model name is actually L.R. Baggs Stage Pro Element (should have made that clearer in the video).
• As a UST this variety of pickup has it’s inherent liabilities (quack, etc.). Most UST will benefit greatly from an acoustic pre-amp. I use a BBE Acoustimax that works nicely, but left it out of the loop for this demo for a “fairer” evaluation.
• For any critical recordings I do that include a UST, I mix that track with a mic’ed track to have the sound and mixing flexibility I like.
• This pickup/on-board preamp looks to be retailing for $199 these days. On a “$400” guitar not a bad “nice to have” feature I think.
In any event, I really appreciate your feedback. Thanks for watching…
You mentioned it cost a little over $400...I see that The Alvarez MPA66ESHB Parlour with the Electronics is...$829 Dollars...Where did Ya get one for $429 Dollars...Thanks for Review.
Nice catch,,, the MPA66ESHB is an all solid wood version of the Alvarez parlor, while the AP66 has laminated back and sides. The "role" I looking for this to fill didn't demand the finest tone possible. I wanted to get an easy to finger guitar that was durable but still delivered really nice tone for a modest investment. The AP66 fit the bill well. I have a couple of all solid wood models (Martin D35S and Larrivee LV05) for when I need the "best" tones. Otherwise I might have gone for the all solid version myself.
One of the other comments for this video was from someone who plays a MPA66ESHB, loved it and compared it pretty favorably with the AP66. You might want to check that out. Thanks for watching...
Nice Tone. What’s the difference between this and the Masterworks?
The Masterworks series is all solid woods, whereas this model had laminated back and sides. If I didn't already have a couple of "all solid" alternatives, I might have gone for a Masterworks. I've been quite happy with the tone, and given that price was a significant factor given how I would be using this parlor, it "fit the bill" well for me.
Thanks for your question and thanks for watching.
I play classical nylonS guitar (2 inch nut), looking for a steel string that is about the same size, so I can play in the classical position (left leg support) and without the long fretboard. I need a strong construction for alternate tunings and this guitar is mainly for recording. The mahogany top is worrisome, but not if I get a rich warm tone from fingerstyle off the flesh and flat picking (heavy pick). What do you think? Thank you for the review, the 3 recorded samples of mic/pickup/both is extremely valuable! Is your fingerstyle on the recording nails or flesh? The all-solid mahogany wood parlor version for $830 sounds like a waste of money, same bad tuners, not much better sound from solid side/back. I don't care what the guitar looks like, cosmetics I can't afford and don't want :)
Thanks for your comments… Yes, the sound samples were recorded using the flesh of the finger tips (I don’t play with picks much at all). On this particular guitar I found the mahogany top had an unexpectedly deep, rich tone from the wound strings, with the trebles being a bit weaker by comparison. Probably not a significant issue for recording since EQing can easily compensate. I found some Grover Statite tuners (mod.# H97-18NA) that were a simple drop-in replacement. About a 15 minute task.
The biggest constraint I would see for you with this guitar is the 1 11/16” nut. As mentioned in the video, Alvarez shows a spec. of 1 ¾”, but I believe that was only on early models. Mine is definitely 1 11/16”. Finding a small body guitar with a short scale at a budget friendly price is a challenge to be sure. A lot of searching may be required if you want to stay in this price range. One option you may find attractive is the Martin 000Jr-10. It’s all solid woods with a 1 ¾” nut, 24” scale and spruce top. One available now on Reverb new for $600 including shipping. There are some good review videos on TH-cam for this guitar too.
Thanks for watching. Happy hunting and let me know if you have more questions.
Thank you very much for your reply, you have been a tremendous help for choosing a guitar in this strange parlor market. I have large hands and always had trouble with fingerstyle on steel string traditional guitars. That is why I switched to classical about 8 years ago. The treble should not be a problem because with steel, my fingertips (flesh) are very bright, too bright, another reason I switched to nylon. You are a credit to the TH-cam community, your work is valuable @@anothergraypicker
How do you get this guitar left handed?
Good question David. I don’t see a left handed version listed on Alvarez’s web page. So I think there may be 2 options...
1. contact Alvarez customer service to see if they’d accept a special order.
2. may be quicker, cheaper, more practical… find a right handed one you like and reverse the saddle and nut. Pretty straight forward process that you may be able to DIY, or have a guitar tech take care of for you.
Thanks for watching and good luck on finding a guitar that’s right for you.
Just bought this without the LR Baggs. I could hear a difference here. Not sure why they sound so different. The LR Baggs kinda sounds like PIEZO. Not really my thing. I like to be as natural as possible. But, yeah. For the price, its worth it if your gonna use it. Thing I keep hearing about this guitar is that it has some lows and good mids for a parlor. Your sample seem to show that to my ear. I have a Jim Dandy, which I love. But, its is very bright and boxy sounding. I love that tone. But, it doesn't have these mids and lows.
Thanks for the comments Eric. And, you're dead on about the mids and lows. I often run this thru a BBE Acoustimax pre-amp which gets a good bit more out of the Baggs pick up. Either way, for the "modest" price the tone can be quite nice.
I love Alvarez, bought mine in 1972. My ex took it apart with a hammer
OMG, now that's a story that get's one to thinking about all guitar players nightmare of seeing their "beloved" instrument broken beyond repair. Hope you replaced with one that has survived.
Thanks for watching.
👏💯🇮🇪
Ha ha , these are about as common in the UK (April 2024) as hen's teeth or unicorn tears! 😁
Bummer that, but I think you folks have access to some other cool things that we don't over here. Thanks for watching.
Is the neck thin or thick please?
Jon… Alvarez doesn’t publish the neck dimensions so what follows are my measurements. The neck is 1 11/16” at the nut, 2 1/8” where the neck joins the body. The depth is approximately 3/4” deep, with a “C” shaped profile. More subjectively, this is not a “skinny” neck like you might find on a “shredder” electric. Nor is it one of those “baseball bat” thick necks. I find it to be very, very similar in feel to my Larrivee and other acoustics I have played.
For me the neck on the AP66 is comfortable to fret and feels very “natural” in my hand. The only caution I would note is that , if you’re finger picking, the string spacing might feel a bit tight. Let me know if you need more info, and thanks for watching.
the model you have is an all-solid wood guitar.
While there is an all solid version from Alvarez, the AP66 is laminated back and sides. Still very nice tone to my ears. Thanks for watching.
At over $800 I wouldn't call it that affordable...
Hey H_Oscarsson, thanks for watching. There’s been a bit of confusion about the model in this review.
Another viewer kristofernewton422 noted this about 10 months ago (see their comment and others below). Alavarez makes a nearly identical guitar in all solid woods, the MPA66ESHB which is currently retailing for about $830 at Sweetwater. Like you, I would not call this particularly affordable.
Since this review was published about 2 years ago the guitar in this review,the AP66ESHB with laminated back and sides, has increased about $100 in retail price to approximately $529 on average at Reverb. Guessing this is a reflection of the guitar market and inflation in general. Either way finding the right “affordable” guitar is always a challenge it seems.
Thanks for your comment...