Alvarez RD8BR

Dreadnought, six string acoustic. Came with hard case. Made in 2006 (I think). 24 frets. Solid top, I believe spruce. I think the neck is rosewood, but it might be maple. I think it's made in China. I am usually not a big fan of anything that comes out of Red China, but I am impressed with this.

I am a novice, having been playing for about a year. I play blues, folk, traditional, and some old school country, (like Hank and such). This guitar fits my style just fine.
I like the sound quite a lot. It is deep and booming when I want, or mellow when I want. It came with Elixir strings, and I have stuck with that brand.



What kind of sounds can the guitar make? How much variety?
Likes and dislikes?

I have been playing this guitar everyday for about a year, and have had no problems with it, what-so-ever. My guitar instructor looked it over for me when I first got it, and pronounced it fit for action. There were no flaws apparant when I got it, and none have developed since I have had it. Like i said, I play this everyday, and I am a novice, so I am not gentle sometimes. She has held up well.

I don't know if it will withstand live playing, because I have never performed. I will let you know. I plan on heading out to an open mike night coming up soon.

The hardware has lasted so far just fine. I have no doubts that it will stand up.

The finish is good, and has withstood the weather extremes of Northern NY so far.

I can totally depend on it.

I don't gig, so I don't know about gigging without a back-up. I probably would, but I am kind of crazy like that!

Never needed it. n It is under warranty, I think. I got it through Music123, and they SUCK for customer support, in my experience.

I have been playing for a little over one year. I take lessons every week. I own a Washburn Rover travel guitar (which is pretty good, as well) I did a lot of research and shopped all over the place before I decided to buy this. Every store I went to said that it was their top seller, and everyone that i talked to who had one said it was a great guitar. I think it is, myself. The price was the ultimate deal maker. $200 bucks, and it came with a hard case. You can't say too much about that!

Bottom line: It sounds great, it'll last a long time, it came with a hard case, and it was only $200 bucks. You can't go wrong, as far as I can see.

This is an Alvarez Regent Series RD8BR not part of the Yari section of their guitars. The Finish is Smoke style, in a Dreadnought Body. No electrictronics on this accoustic guitar. It seems to be new for Alvarez this year of 2006. And made with a spruce top and maple wood sides and back. The neck wood is rose wood. With 20 Frets and thin in depth. It comes with a very hard case and four clasps on it. With a one locking clasp. The interor of the case is a deep place for your needs. Blue velvet cloth inside making it a very nice case in all. The nuts are chrome and very tight, which seems to hold the strings well once tuned.

I'm a beginner for now, the Alvarez seems like it will hold me for many years to come. As I have hopes to play many different styles of music. For now it playes Beatles well with my cucumber fingers. And does play the "Saints goes marching on" song as well. I feel that (after looking into many guitars) it has a nice clear tone. With it not only holding the deeper side but has a fresh upper clearity as well.

As far as the action and fit. It can hold 1/4 tune up or down on the strings well, as the nuts feel very sturdy on this idea. It came set up and in tune from my music store. As they do with all models before they are sold. I am very satisfied with the first few nights together with it.

The luther adjustments seem fine will have it checked out in a month of playing and see if there is any adjustments needed by then.

The first time at home I picked up the guitar, it seemed light. (understand my first was an esteban which is very heavy.) But the fit and finish seems very sturdy and tight in manufacture. I'm not the person to talk to about finish. It seems to me to be deep, but not restricting the sound. Another words it looks very good, and deep in polish. However the sound doesn't seem to be hindered in nature.

The warranty is for one year. Which by then I hope I do have some problems. After which my local music store is more than capable to handle anything that comes to light.

I have been playing for 6 months. This statement is more a discredit towards an esteban, than a pro for Alvarez. As you can see I'm already looking for something new, since my other guitar was very restrictive in size. However, I have down to a playable level some Beatles as well as some songs from song book studies. And all play better on the Alvarez than my other junker.

I compaired many guitars from the $150 level up to the $1000 level, mostly Taylor and Takamine with some fender thowen in. Although they were great guitars the sound and price of the alvarez caught my eye, ear and pocket book. The latter being more important at this time.

I'm happy with the look of it being a smoke guitar. Which I never thought I would own. The feel of the frets on my fingers, which make many chords eaiser. And the lightness of feel when I'm setting it on my right knee, makes me feel it is a faster playing guitar. Not heavy and weighted down and slow.