Alvarez Laureate LT60e Sunset

Laureate LT60e Sunset | Alvarez | Musicmaker Dublin

There's something wonderfully addictive about a great 12-fret acoustic guitar. The notes seem to bloom a little differently, the body feels beautifully connected to the strings, and even the simplest fingerpicked melody can take on a richness that makes you stop and listen. The Alvarez Laureate LT60e Sunset captures that magic in a gorgeous all-solid 000 acoustic, complete with vintage-inspired styling, premium appointments and a voice that is considerably bigger than its comfortable dimensions might suggest.

The LT60e is part of Alvarez's exceptional Laureate Series, where the company's guitar builders get to indulge their obsession with the little details that make an acoustic instrument truly special. Every brace, bridge plate and internal component is carefully selected, with the aim of creating a guitar that's responsive, resonant and full of musical character. It's the sort of attention to detail that guitar enthusiasts can happily discuss for hours. Preferably over a cup of tea, with the guitar close enough to demonstrate every point.

At its heart is a solid AAA North American Sitka spruce top, paired with solid African mahogany back and sides. This classic tonewood combination gives the LT60e a beautifully balanced voice, with clear, singing trebles, warm and focused mids, and a low end that has a lovely sense of depth without becoming boomy. The spruce provides the dynamic headroom and articulation, while the mahogany brings a woody warmth that makes individual notes sound wonderfully expressive.

But the really interesting part is the 000 body with its 12th-fret neck joint. Inspired by acoustic guitars from the early twentieth century, this design positions the bridge differently on the soundboard compared with a conventional 14-fret guitar. That relationship between the strings, bridge and top helps give the LT60e its distinctive character: a wonderfully energetic bass response, rich resonance and a natural sense of sustain. There's a little more warmth and bloom around the notes, particularly when playing fingerstyle.

And don't mistake this for a short-scale parlour guitar. The LT60e has a full 25.5-inch scale length, giving it a confident, familiar string response and plenty of projection. The medium-sized 000 body sits comfortably against the player, making it a brilliant choice for fingerstyle arrangements, folk accompaniment, blues, acoustic songwriting and intricate melodic playing. It's an instrument that encourages you to explore the subtleties of your right hand rather than simply hitting everything harder. Although it'll happily take a good strum when the occasion calls for it.

Alvarez's hand-finished FS6 forward-shifted bracing plays a huge part in that responsiveness. Made from carefully selected quartersawn Sitka spruce, the braces are individually sanded to encourage the soundboard to vibrate freely. The result is an acoustic that reacts beautifully to changes in playing dynamics, from delicate fingerpicked passages to confident, full-bodied chords.

The traditional appointments are equally lovely. A premium ebony fingerboard and single-level ebony bridge give the LT60e a refined feel, while the slotted headstock, open-gear tuners, bone nut and saddle, and tasteful abalone inlays reinforce its early-twentieth-century inspiration. Nothing feels overdone. It's elegant, purposeful guitar design, with just enough decoration to remind you that this is something rather special.

And then there's that Sunset finish. A beautifully rich three-tone burst that moves from golden yellow through warm red into deep brown around the edges, it gives the guitar a genuinely vintage personality. Combined with the natural gloss mahogany back and sides, it's a striking instrument without being remotely flashy. The sort of guitar that looks like it belongs on the cover of a very good folk record.

For amplified playing, the LR Baggs HiFi pickup system is a superb addition. Its dual bridge-plate sensors capture the guitar's natural resonance and playing dynamics, producing an organic, detailed sound that translates beautifully to live performance. Discreet volume and tone controls keep things simple, while the system's feedback resistance makes it a practical choice for regular gigging.

The Alvarez Laureate LT60e Sunset is a cracking instrument for players who appreciate vintage acoustic design but want modern reliability and performance. Beautifully balanced, rich in character and wonderfully responsive, it's a guitar that rewards the lightest touch and invites you to keep exploring. And with an included Alvarez Flexicase, it's ready for the road whenever inspiration strikes.

Features

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

• AAA North American Sitka Spruce Top: High-grade soundboard offers clarity, projection and impressive tonal sensitivity.

• Solid African Mahogany Back and Sides: Warm, focused midrange with a rounded bass response and natural woody character.

• Vintage-Inspired 000 Body: Comfortable medium-sized design with a beautifully balanced acoustic voice.

• 12th-Fret Neck Joint: Traditional construction places the bridge in a resonant area of the soundboard for a rich, expressive response.

• Full-Length Scale: 25.5-inch scale provides familiar string tension and confident projection.

• Hand-Finished FS6 Bracing: Carefully shaped forward-shifted spruce bracing encourages soundboard movement and tonal balance.

• Premium Ebony Fingerboard and Bridge: Smooth playing feel, clear articulation and traditional styling.

• Slotted Headstock: Elegant early-twentieth-century appearance with premium open-gear tuning machines.

• LR Baggs HiFi Electronics: Dual bridge-plate sensors capture natural acoustic detail for live performance and recording.

• Bone Nut and Saddle: Quality components support clarity, sustain and consistent string response.

• Sunset Gloss Finish: Rich three-tone burst with a vintage-inspired blend of yellow, red and brown.

• Premium Abalone Appointments: Tasteful decorative details complement the guitar's classic appearance.

• Alvarez AFC30 Flexicase Included: Protective case for storage, rehearsals and transport.

Specifications

• Brand: Alvarez

• Model: LT60e Sunset

• Series: Laureate

• Instrument Type: Electro-Acoustic Guitar

• Body Shape: 000, 12-Fret

• Top: Solid AAA North American Sitka Spruce

• Back and Sides: Solid African Mahogany

• Bracing: Hand-Finished FS6 Forward-Shifted

• Neck: African Mahogany

• Neck Meets Body: 12th Fret

• Headstock: Slotted

• Fingerboard: Ebony

• Bridge: Traditional Single-Level Ebony

• Headstock Plate: Ebony

• Bridge Pins: Ebony

• Scale Length: 648mm (25.5")

• Nut Width: 44.45mm (1.75")

• Number of Frets: 20

• Nut Material: Bone

• Saddle Material: Bone

• Inlays: Premium Abalone

• Binding: Ivoroid

• Tuners: Premium Open-Gear

• Pickup System: LR Baggs HiFi

• Pickup Type: Dual Bridge-Plate Sensors

• Electronics Controls: Volume and Tone

• Strings: D'Addario XSAPB1253

• Top Colour: Sunset

• Top Finish: Gloss

• Back and Sides Colour: Natural

• Back and Sides Finish: Gloss

• Overall Length: 1012mm

• Body Width: 380mm

• Body Depth at Heel: 100mm

• Body Depth at Base: 120mm

• Number of Strings: 6

• Included Case: Alvarez AFC30 Flexicase

• Orientation: Right-Handed