Guitars That Captures the Soul of Roots Music
Some guitars are built to impress, while others are built to say something.
The Alvarez Artist Series Delta Blues guitars fall firmly into the second category. These aren’t instruments chasing modern flash or over-polished tone — they’re built with intention, drawing directly from the heritage of American blues, early folk and roots music.
There’s a feel to them. A dryness. A certain “bark” when you dig in. The kind of voice that doesn’t smooth things over — it tells the truth.
And right now at Musicmaker, these Delta models are bringing that spirit to Ireland in a very real way.
Built for the Blues – Design with Purpose
What makes the Delta series special isn’t just the look — though that vintage sunburst, ivoroid binding and small rectangular bridge absolutely set the scene. It’s the way they’re built.
Alvarez have gone deep here. Smaller body shapes, back-shifted scalloped bracing, a slightly V-shaped neck profile, and wider 2 ¼” string spacing — all carefully chosen to recreate the feel and response of classic blues instruments.
The result is a tone that’s:
- Warm, focused and slightly compressed,
- With a punchy midrange “bark”,
- Balanced by a surprising openness and projection.
It’s vintage-inspired… but not stuck in the past.
Alvarez Delta00 Artist Blues Double 0 – Sunburst
The Heart of the Series
The Delta00 is where everything comes together.
Built with a solid Sitka spruce top and African mahogany back and sides, it delivers that classic blues pairing — clarity and articulation from the spruce, with a warm, focused midrange from the mahogany. It’s a tone that feels direct, slightly dry, and full of character.
With its 14th-fret neck join and compact Double 0 body, it sits comfortably in the lap and responds beautifully to a lighter touch. Fingerstyle playing feels natural here — every note clear, every nuance present. But it’s not limited to that. Push it with open chords and it holds its ground, offering a tight, controlled response with just enough projection to carry. It’s balanced, expressive, and quietly addictive.
This is a guitar that doesn’t overwhelm you — it meets you where you are and encourages you to play more.
Drop in to Musicmaker to check these gorgeous guitars out immediately!
Alvarez Delta00E Artist Blues Double 0 – Sunburst
Vintage Feel, Stage-Ready Voice
Take everything that makes the Delta00 special… and make it gig-ready.
The Delta00E takes that same beautifully voiced platform and brings it into a live setting. Again, you’re getting a solid Sitka spruce top paired with African mahogany back and sides, giving you that unmistakable bluesy response — focused mids, crisp articulation and a warm, grounded low end.
What sets this model apart is the addition of the LR Baggs Element pickup with VTC system, allowing the guitar’s natural voice to translate cleanly when amplified. Importantly, it doesn’t lose its identity when plugged in. That woody, responsive character remains intact, making it ideal for players moving between home, rehearsal and stage.
It feels like an acoustic first — just one that happens to perform beautifully live.
All the Roots, made gig ready. The Alvarez Delta OOE Artist Blues.
Alvarez DeltaDeLite Artist Blues Little 00 – Sunburst
Small Body, Serious Soul
Then there’s the DeltaDeLite, and this is where things get really interesting.
With a solid Sitka spruce top and African mahogany back and sides, it delivers a focused, articulate sound that feels intimate and immediate — perfect for fingerstyle and blues picking. Weighing just 3.3lbs (1.53kg), it’s incredibly lightweight, yet thanks to its long scale length and full 1 ¾” nut width, it plays like a serious instrument.
The spruce keeps everything clear and responsive, while the mahogany brings warmth and control, preventing the smaller body from sounding thin or overly bright. It’s a guitar that feels personal — ideal for quiet playing, travel, or simply getting lost in a groove on the couch.
And with its deluxe padded gig bag included, it’s ready to go wherever you do.
Portable, understated, an undeniably kick ass. The Alvarez DeltaDeLite
The Artist Series – Where Craft Meets Accessibility
Zooming out slightly, these Delta models sit within Alvarez’s broader Artist Series, which is built around one clear idea:
Deliver exceptional tone and playability at every level.
Every element is carefully considered — from bi-level bridges and solid bridge plates to neck construction and voicing. Solid tops are hand-selected and graded, and even the layered back and sides are built with a tone-focused approach, using matched woods with a mahogany core.
Then there’s ATR™ (Advanced Tonal Response) — Alvarez’s torrefaction process that treats the wood to behave like a more mature instrument from day one.
The result?
- Greater stability across climates
- Faster, more open resonance
- Improved clarity and note separation
In simple terms: these guitars sound played-in from the moment you pick them up.
What Players Are Saying
Real Impressions of Alvarez Delta Blues Guitars
One of the most reassuring things about the Alvarez Delta Blues series is how consistently players respond to them. Across reviews, forums and retailers, the same themes come up again and again — character, playability and surprising depth for the price.
From Acoustic Guitar Magazine, Alvarez instruments are praised for their voicing and design approach:
“Alvarez have done a remarkable job creating guitars that feel purpose-built rather than generic — there’s a clear identity in the tone.”
That sense of identity is exactly what players notice when they pick up a Delta.
From guitar forums and community discussions:
“There’s a dryness to the sound that works really well for roots and blues stuff.”
“Feels like a guitar you can just sit with and play for hours. Very responsive.”
And that’s key — these aren’t guitars trying to impress with sheer volume or sparkle. They’re about feel and response.
On the DeltaDeLite in particular, smaller-bodied guitar fans tend to highlight its usability:
“Super lightweight but still feels like a proper instrument. Great for couch playing and travel.”
“Ideal for fingerpicking — very articulate and easy to control.”
The Common Thread
Across all of these perspectives, a few things stand out clearly:
- Comfort and playability — especially for fingerstyle
- Focused, character-driven tone rather than overly polished sound
- Excellent value for the level of craftsmanship
- A strong identity that suits blues, folk and roots styles
Honest Tone, Real Feel
There’s something refreshing about a guitar that doesn’t overcomplicate things.
The Alvarez Delta Blues series keeps it simple — but in the best possible way. Thoughtful design, responsive tone, and a feel that encourages you to sit down, slow down and actually listen to what you’re playing.
Right now at Musicmaker, these guitars are offering something a little different.
Something quieter. Something more personal.
And once you spend a bit of time with them… it tends to stick.
We can of course, ship these guitars directly to your home, free of charge.....
