Alvarez AB60CE Acoustic-Electric Bass w/ LR Baggs Preamp & Solid Spruce Top

The Alvarez AB60CE has the full, round tone that you rarely encounter with an acoustic-electric bass guitar. Most A/E basses are “OK” when played unplugged, but this one is an exception.

The term “solid top” of course refers to the soundboard of an acoustic guitar being made of solid wood, rather than being laminated. Sitka spruce is many builders' choice for the best top because it combines stiffness with light weight. But just because the top is solid, it does not necessarily mean the sound automatically benefits from this feature. The AB60CE has a solid ‘A’ grade Sitka spruce top selected from quarter-sawn wood. Quartersawing costs more, but it reaps tangible results in both tone and stability.

Some say that designing an instrument is like developing a great recipe, combining the best ingredients and perfect skills. Alvarez uses “forward shifted” X-brace design and both the X braces and asymmetric tone bars are scalloped. Moving the bracing system forward allows for a larger, uninterrupted soundboard. The Alvarez Bi-Level rosewood bridge creates more downward pressure onto the genuine bone saddle, again increasing volume and responsiveness. It is further optimized with a solid maple bridge plate for both strength and energy. The body and neck are made with mahogany, long treasured for its warm, woody tone, strong pitch articulation, and balanced response. The rosewood fretboard brings clarity and clean high-end to the mix. All of this is seasoned with a genuine nut bone & saddle, and garnished with body bindings, a twin rosette, rosewood bridge pins and a blissfully thin finish. Are you getting hungry?

The LR Baggs SYS550 is a side-mounted preamp/EQ that offers 4 bands of active EQ and a feedback-killing variable notch filter. It also features a chromatic digital tuner and has both 1/4” and XLR Outputs. Be prepared for your soundman to thank you.

This specific bass has no player's wear and has needed no repairs. It is discounted for two reasons. There is an area on the top's bass side upper bout where the finish is a little different from the rest. It is not a repair. I have inspected the interior with a mirror and light and there is no broken wood. There is also no overspray on the top. This area can be seen in the final closeup. This bass also has the SYS550 system and the newer edition of this model uses the SYS650.

You Can Add A New Case To Your Order!
You can add a new hard case to your order for only an additional $99.99, and it would be a very wise decision. This is a Tanglewood branded case made in Canada. It's a well-made, wood arch-top case with a durable Tolex exterior and heavy hardware. The plush-lined interior is densely padded and includes an accessory compartment. If you want the case, provide us with an email address at time of purchase and we will invoice you. I'm sorry, but the case is not available separately.

Why Buy From LightSpeed Music?
This instrument was  inspected and tested at our supplier, in the USA.  Final checking, polishing and setup is performed here, in our shop.  Alvarez requires our supplier to mark “used” on the back of the headstock and assign it a new serial number.

The pictures shown in the listing are of the actual instrument you will receive. Every piece of wood is unique, and you deserve to see exactly what you are buying. We know that buying musical gear online is hard, so we welcome any questions you have. If you would like an "in hand" description or you need more details, we are here to assist you M-F from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM Central time.

Alvarez AB60CE Acoustic-Electric Bass Guitar Specifications:
Series: Alvarez Artist
Top: Solid A+ Sitka Spruce
Back & Sides: Mahogany
Neck: Mahogany
Fretboard: Rosewood
Bridge: Rosewood
Bridge Pins: Rosewood w/ Abalone Inlay
Headstock Overlay: Rosewood
Bracing : Forward Shifted, Scalloped X
Nut & Saddle: Bone
Binding: Top, Back & Neck
Inlays: Side Dots & 12th Fret
Rosette: 2-Ring Abalone & Rosewood
Electronics: LR Baggs SYS550
Hardware: Chrome
Tuners: Sealed, Die-Cast
Truss Rod: 2-Way Adjustable
Finish: Gloss Natural Top w/ Satin Back & Neck