Top 5 Alvarez Guitars Chosen By The Musicmaker Guitar Team
Spend enough time around guitar players and you'll discover something fascinating.
Ask ten guitarists for their favourite guitar and you'll get twelve different answers.
Some chase booming dreadnoughts. Some obsess over fingerstyle nuance. Some want all-solid tonewoods and boutique craftsmanship. Others simply want the guitar they can't stop picking up every time they walk past it.
At Musicmaker, we're lucky enough to spend our days surrounded by exceptional instruments. We play them, compare them, argue about them and occasionally develop completely irrational attachments to them.
So as is only natural, we asked the guitar team to pick their favourite Alvarez guitars currently in stock.
Not necessarily the most expensive. Not necessarily the fanciest.
Just the guitars they keep finding themselves reaching for.
Here's what made the list.
Number 5
Alvarez AD60 Artist Series Solid Top Dreadnought
The people's champion.
If somebody walks into Musicmaker and says:
"I want a really good acoustic guitar, but I don't know much about them."
There's a decent chance they'll be handed an Alvarez AD60.
And for good reason.
This solid top dreadnought has become one of the most respected acoustic guitars in its class thanks to its rich projection, balanced voice and exceptional value. The solid spruce top delivers plenty of clarity and punch, while the classic dreadnought body shape provides the volume and low-end response that countless players love.
The AD60 doesn't try to be clever.
It simply does everything well.
Strumming? Lovely. Flatpicking? Superb. Singer-songwriter duties? Absolutely.
It's the kind of acoustic guitar that reminds you why dreadnoughts became the standard in the first place.
Number 4
Alvarez AED66ce Artist Elite Solid Top Dreadnought With Cutaway
This is where things start getting serious.
The AED66ce Artist Elite takes the familiar dreadnought formula and elevates it with premium appointments, outstanding playability and stage-ready versatility.
The cutaway design opens up the upper frets beautifully, while the onboard electronics make it an ideal acoustic-electric guitar for live performance, recording and gigging musicians.
But what the staff love most is the balance.
It's powerful enough for energetic strumming yet detailed enough for fingerstyle playing. The response feels immediate, the neck feels fast and comfortable and the whole instrument has an undeniable air of refinement.
For players seeking a professional sounding acoustic guitar without venturing into eye-watering boutique prices, the AED66ce hits an incredibly sweet spot.
Number 3
Alvarez AP66e Artist Series Solid Top Parlour – Shadowburst
Every guitar shop has that one guitar people pick up "just to try."
Then thirty minutes disappear.
The Alvarez AP66e Artist Series Parlour is that guitar.
The beautiful Shadowburst finish catches the eye immediately, but it's the sound and feel that keep players hooked. Parlour guitars have enjoyed a huge resurgence in recent years, and the AP66e demonstrates exactly why.
Compact, comfortable and wonderfully articulate, it excels at fingerstyle guitar, blues, folk and songwriting. The focused midrange response gives every note clarity, while the smaller body creates an intimate playing experience that many larger guitars simply can't replicate.
This is the guitar that quietly steals hearts.
And judging by how often it appears in staff recommendations, it's not difficult to understand why.
Number 2
Alvarez MF60e Masterworks All-Solid OM – Herringbone
Now we're entering delicious territory. Not that others weren't also delicious but eh.....
The Alvarez MF60e Masterworks OM represents everything people love about the Masterworks Series. All-solid construction. Beautiful herringbone appointments. Exceptional responsiveness.
And a tone that seems far bigger than the guitar itself.
The OM body shape has long been beloved by fingerstyle players and recording musicians thanks to its balance and articulation. Every note feels clear. Every chord feels defined. Every subtle dynamic shift translates effortlessly through the instrument.
There's a maturity to the MF60e that immediately stands out.
It doesn't shout. It doesn't need to.
It just sounds and feels magnificent.
Number 1
Alvarez LD70e Laureate Dreadnought – Herringbone Sunset
And here we are.
The guitar that received the most nods from the Musicmaker team.
The Alvarez LD70e Laureate Dreadnought.
Oh yes.
This is the sort of guitar that reminds you why acoustic guitars remain endlessly fascinating.
Part of Alvarez's superb Laureate Series, the LD70e combines stunning craftsmanship with exceptional tonewoods and a voice that feels rich, open and wonderfully alive. The beautiful Herringbone Sunset finish immediately sets it apart visually, but it's the sound that seals the deal.
Powerful yet nuanced. Bold yet articulate. Refined yet inspiring.
Whether strummed aggressively or played delicately, the LD70e responds with a confidence and musicality that continually impresses everyone who spends time with it.
It's the sort of guitar that encourages longer playing sessions.
The sort of guitar that generates songs.
The sort of guitar that makes you glance back at it as you're leaving the room.
And that's exactly why it found itself sitting proudly at number one.
Why Alvarez Guitars Continue To Impress
For over half a century, Alvarez have quietly built a reputation for producing some of the best value acoustic guitars in the world. While other brands often dominate the headlines, Alvarez have focused on something far more important: building guitars that musicians genuinely love to play.
From the accessible Artist Series and premium Artist Elite models to the all-solid Masterworks collection and the stunning Laureate range, Alvarez consistently delivers exceptional tone, impressive craftsmanship and remarkable playability at every price point. Their carefully voiced body designs, advanced bracing systems and thoughtful tonewood selection have made them favourites among beginners, gigging musicians, fingerstyle players and recording artists alike.
Whether you're searching for your first acoustic guitar, a professional stage-ready electro-acoustic or a premium all-solid instrument, Alvarez continues to offer some of the most compelling acoustic guitars available in Ireland today.
Why These Are Some Of The Best Acoustic Guitars In Ireland
One of the reasons the Musicmaker team enjoys recommending Alvarez guitars is that every range offers something genuinely different.
The AD60 remains one of the strongest solid top dreadnoughts available for players seeking exceptional value. The AED66ce Artist Elite combines traditional dreadnought power with modern stage-ready versatility. The AP66e Shadowburst Parlour delivers intimacy, comfort and character for fingerstyle players and songwriters. The MF60e Masterworks showcases the richness and complexity of all-solid construction, while the LD70e Laureate represents some of the finest acoustic guitar craftsmanship currently available from Alvarez.
Whether you're looking for a beginner acoustic guitar, a fingerstyle guitar, a recording instrument, an acoustic-electric guitar for live performance or a premium dreadnought with professional-level tone, these instruments represent some of the best acoustic guitars available in Ireland today.
Why Buy An Alvarez Guitar From Musicmaker?
At Musicmaker Dublin, we've been helping musicians find the right guitar since the early 1980s. That's a lot of guitars.
Our team spends every day playing, comparing and discussing instruments from some of the world's most respected builders. We know that choosing an acoustic guitar isn't about specifications alone — it's about finding the instrument that feels right the moment you pick it up.
Whether you're buying your first acoustic guitar, upgrading to an all-solid model or searching for a lifelong companion instrument, our carefully selected range of Alvarez guitars offers outstanding options for every player and budget. And because we actually spend time with these guitars every day, we can help guide you towards the instrument that genuinely suits your playing style.
Free Shipping Across Ireland
At Musicmaker, we believe finding your perfect acoustic guitar should be exciting, not expensive. That's why we offer free shipping throughout Ireland on qualifying orders, making it easier than ever to get your new Alvarez guitar delivered safely and securely to your door.
Whether you're in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick, Waterford or anywhere in between, we'll ensure your guitar arrives ready to inspire. From solid top acoustic guitars and all-solid Masterworks models to premium Laureate instruments, your next Alvarez is only a few clicks away.
Why Alvarez Continues To Win People Over
One thing became clear while putting this list together.
Alvarez are making some of the most impressive acoustic guitars available today.
From the accessible brilliance of the AD60, through the versatility of the AED66ce, the charm of the AP66e Parlour, the sophistication of the MF60e Masterworks and the outright excellence of the LD70e Laureate, there is a consistency running through the entire range.
Thoughtful design.
Excellent playability.
Outstanding tone.
And genuine value.
Whether you're searching for the best acoustic guitar in Ireland, a solid top acoustic guitar, a parlour guitar for fingerstyle playing, an all-solid OM guitar or a premium dreadnought for performance and recording, Alvarez continues to offer instruments that punch well above their weight.
At Musicmaker Dublin, we see a lot of guitars and these five keep finding their way into our hands.
That's usually the highest praise a guitar can receive.
Check out all our Alvarez Guitars HERE.
