Alvarez Masterworks MD60e Herringbone Natural

Masterworks MD60e Herringbone Natural | Alvarez | Musicmaker Dublin

Some acoustic guitars make their intentions clear the moment you strum an open G chord. The Alvarez Masterworks MD60e Herringbone is one of them. Big, resonant and beautifully responsive, this all-solid dreadnought delivers the kind of rich, room-filling acoustic tone that makes you forget what you were supposed to be practising. With its classic Natural finish, vintage-inspired herringbone detailing and premium tonewood construction, it's a guitar with plenty of old-school charm and some very clever modern engineering under the bonnet.

The winning combination here is a solid AA Sitka spruce top paired with solid African mahogany back and sides. It's a recipe that has powered countless legendary acoustic recordings, and for good reason. Sitka spruce brings clarity, dynamic range and excellent projection, while mahogany adds a warm, woody midrange and a punchy, focused character. The result is a wonderfully balanced dreadnought that can handle everything from delicate fingerpicked passages to enthusiastic, full-throttle strumming. Give it some welly and it really opens up.

Alvarez has put serious thought into the soundboard, too. The MD60e features the company's FS6 forward-shifted scalloped X-bracing, designed to let the spruce top move more freely and produce a lively, open acoustic response. The result is an instrument with impressive sustain, plenty of harmonic detail and that lovely sense of air around the notes. There's depth in the bass, sparkle in the trebles and a strong, musical midrange that helps the guitar sit beautifully alongside a singing voice.

As a proper dreadnought, the MD60e has the projection and authority that flatpickers and rhythm players love. Big open chords ring out with confidence, while alternating-bass fingerstyle patterns have a satisfying weight underneath the melody. Bluegrass, folk, country, Americana and acoustic rock are all very much on the menu. It's also a guitar that rewards a lighter touch, revealing plenty of subtlety when you ease back and let the strings do their thing.

The LR Baggs HiFi pickup system makes this Masterworks model equally appealing for live performance. Rather than relying on a conventional undersaddle pickup, the HiFi system uses discreet bridge-plate sensors to capture the guitar's natural resonance and playing dynamics. The result is an amplified sound that retains more of the instrument's acoustic personality, with a straightforward control setup that doesn't clutter the guitar's handsome appearance. Ideal for taking that big dreadnought voice from the living room to the stage.

And speaking of handsome, the MD60e is a bit of a looker. The traditional herringbone purfling, natural gloss finish and tasteful appointments give it the appearance of a well-loved vintage acoustic, minus the decades of questionable repairs and mysterious rattles. An East Indian rosewood fingerboard and bi-level bridge add a lovely touch of traditional craftsmanship, while the real bone nut and saddle help make the most of the guitar's natural resonance.

The Alvarez MD60e Herringbone is a cracking choice for players looking for a serious all-solid acoustic without wandering into eye-watering boutique territory. It's warm, powerful, expressive and beautifully appointed, with the added convenience of a quality pickup system. A proper workhorse with a rather lovely singing voice.

Features

• All-Solid Tonewood Construction: Premium spruce and mahogany deliver a rich, resonant acoustic voice with excellent dynamic response.

• Solid AAA Sitka Spruce Top: High-grade soundboard produces clear trebles, powerful projection and impressive headroom.

• Solid African Mahogany Back and Sides: Adds warmth, punchy mids and focused low-end character.

• FS6 Scalloped Bracing: Forward-shifted X-bracing allows greater soundboard movement for an open, responsive tone.

• Dreadnought Body: Full-bodied projection and strong bass response, ideal for strumming and flatpicking.

• LR Baggs HiFi Electronics: Dual bridge-plate sensors capture natural acoustic detail with excellent feedback resistance.

• Discreet Pickup Controls: Convenient volume and tone adjustment without a bulky side-mounted preamp.

• Traditional Herringbone Detailing: Vintage-inspired decoration complemented by a tortoiseshell-style pickguard.

• East Indian Rosewood Appointments: Premium fingerboard and bi-level bridge provide classic looks and comfortable playability.

• Real Bone Nut and Saddle: Quality components support clear articulation and natural sustain.

• Vintage-Style Open-Gear Tuners: Classic appearance with smooth, precise tuning adjustment.

• Alvarez AFC30 Flexicase: Protective case included for storage, rehearsals and travelling.

Specifications

• Brand: Alvarez

• Model: MD60e Herringbone

• Series: Masterworks

• Instrument Type: Electro-Acoustic Guitar

• Body Shape: Dreadnought

• Top: Solid AAA Sitka Spruce

• Back and Sides: Solid African Mahogany

• Bracing: FS6 Forward-Shifted Scalloped X

• Neck: African Mahogany

• Neck Joint: Dovetail

• Neck Meets Body: 14th Fret

• Fingerboard: East Indian Rosewood

• Bridge: Bi-Level Indian Rosewood

• Headstock Fascia: East Indian Rosewood

• Scale Length: 648mm (25.5")

• Nut Width: 44.45mm (1.75")

• Number of Frets: 21

• Nut and Saddle: Natural Bone

• Bridge Pins: Ebony

• Fingerboard Inlays: Mother of Pearl

• Tuners: Premium Open-Gear

• Pickup System: LR Baggs HiFi

• Pickup Type: Dual Bridge-Plate Sensors

• Electronics Controls: Volume and Tone

• Top Finish: Natural Gloss

• Back and Sides Finish: Natural Gloss

• Pickguard: Tortoiseshell-Style

• Strings: D'Addario XSAPB1253

• Overall Length: 1042mm

• Body Width: 395mm

• Body Depth at Heel: 100mm

• Body Depth at Base: 122mm

• Included Case: Alvarez AFC30 Flexicase

• Orientation: Right-Handed