Alvarez continue to expand their line of parlor guitars, this time with an acoustic-electric version of the AP66, with the added bonus of having their "Shadowburst" finish, a finish that were previously only available in their premium Masterbuilt line.

Like the original AP66, this parlor guitar sports an-all mahogany body, and being part of the Artist Series, it specifically follows designs of vintage guitars from the '60s. The guitar's mahogany top is crafted from solid wood, which gives it more resonance and punch, and allows this instrument to sound even better as it ages. Alvarez notes that they designed the forward shifted braces and mahogany back and sides specifically to allow the top to resonate better - allowing the instrument to make full use of the solid top.

As expected, mahogany tops give the guitar a warmer more midrange focused tone that complements the voicing of parlor shaped guitars. But it's not just about its acoustic voicing, because the AP66ESHB is stage ready, equipped with LR Baggs StagePro EQ and Element Pick Up. This pickup system has a side-mounted preamp/EQ with easy battery access and a full chromatic tuner. The three band EQ allows for tone shaping while feedback control is achieved via the phase inversion and Garret Null notch filter controls. This is an excellent pickup choice in my humble opinion, and adds even more value to this already wallet friendly instrument.

The guitar has a traditional style mahogany neck which joins the body at the 12th fret. It's short 24" scale length and narrow 1.75" nut width ensures that this parlor guitar is very easy to play, while retaining a genuine old school look. The fingerboard is crafted from rosewood, which matches the rosewood headstock plate and rosewood bi-level bridge. Speaking of headstock, the AP66ESHB has a classic slotted headstock with classical style premium die cast tuners, which to me adds elegance and vintage appeal to the instrument. Alvarez utilized real bone for the nut and saddle, to ensure optimum string vibration transfer to the body.

If you're looking for a reasonably priced solid top acoustic-electric parlor guitar, then the Alvarez AP66ESHB is worth considering. Especially when you consider its low price of just under $480. More information is available at Alvarez Guitars.