Alvarez Guitars is a company that embraces traditional guitar styles, applying them on the many guitars that they offer. As such, they are expected to come up with more parlor guitar models, and one of which is the APA1965 Parlor, released just last year in commemoration of the company’s 50th anniversary.
Being a commemorative model, the APA1965 Parlor features the best of what the company can offer, showcasing their ability to balance great specs and elegant cosmetics while retaining a very accessible price tag. And what’s impressive is how they do not compromise or minimize aesthetics just to cut production costs.
As part of the company’s 1965 Series, this parlor guitar comes with a vintage inspired design that makes it look more expensive that it actually is. And it’s not just the looks department because the spec sheet also features quality tone woods. Speaking of tonewoods, the guitar’s top is crafted from solid A+ sitka spruce, which is supported by forward shifted, scalloped x bracing, a combination known for increased top resonance.
Instead of the usual rosewood or mahogany for the back and sides, Alvarez went for Acacia, which is known for having a sound that’s somewhere between koa and mahogany. It’s brighter and mid-emphasized voicing fits well with the parlor guitar shape, resulting in more cutting midrange snarl that’ll make this instrument great for blues and folk style playing.
Following traditional designs, the neck is crafted from mahogany and topped by an 18-fret rosewood fingerboard. It meets the body at the 12th fret and has a short scale length of 24″, and a nut width of 1.75″. This shorter scale length and narrow nut width makes for a very comfortable and easy to play instrument. And since it also looks great with its Shadow burst gloss finish, this couch guitar will easily blend with, if not enhance, your living room or bedroom furniture.
Speaking of cosmetics, this guitar features a special abalone & mother of pearl inlay at the 12th fret, and 1.5mm Paua Abalone purfling. Other features include a slotted headstock with rosewood plate, a bi-leveled rosewood bride, real bone nut and saddle, and premium die-cast tuners.
The Alvarez APA1965 Parlor is currently retailing for $420.
2 thoughts on “Alvarez APA1965 Parlor”
Are the acacia back and sides solid wood or laminate?
It is not specified by the company, but it is safe to assume that it is laminate. Most guitar builders avoid mentioning “laminate”, rather they just label “solid” for parts that are built using solid wood.