The Alvarez Artist Series AF30 Folk Acoustic Guitar is an entry point for the Artist Series. This is a well-made instrument, delivering real value. The Folk body shape has impressive projection for its size. Its tone is enhanced with advanced scalloped bracing and other premium components such as bone saddles and nuts and a bi-level rosewood bridge.

The term "solid top" of course refers to the soundboard of an acoustic guitar being made of solid wood, rather than being laminated. However, just because the top is solid, it does not necessarily mean the sound automatically benefits from this feature. The tone of the instrument only improves significantly when the whole guitar is built correctly to really release the energy a solid soundboard can generate. The Artist Series is built to do exactly this.

Each model is designed to get the best out if its components, and for them to work together to produce a tone and player experience, rarely found in affordable instruments.

The sound is warm, open and powerful, and both the treble and bass registers are clearly present and balanced in relation to each other. These guitars feel right and are exciting to play and responsive. Dig in and they shout right back at you, treat them gently and they whisper warmly and respond instantly to the lightest strum or pick.

The solid ˜A' grade Sitka spruce tops are hand-selected from quarter-sawn wood. This ensures consistent quality, and its no secret better guitars are made from better wood. These tops not only look great but they are stiff and strong and finely grained. This allows them to be cut just that tiny bit thinner, which lets them dance a little more and produce a lot more vibration, and ultimately a richer tone.

All of the components are made of natural materials such as mother of pearl and abalone inlays, real bone saddles and nuts and rosewood appointments.