Invented in the 1500's, the acoustic guitar continues to shape the sound of popular music and is still one of the most sold instruments on the market. Of course, during this time there have been many advancements made and options added to the overall construction of the acoustic guitar such as bracing styles, truss rods, tone woods, and body shapes.

One company that has consistently turned out top-quality acoustic guitars for more than 30 years is Alvarez. From their professional, hand-built "Yairi Masterworks" models that can cost upwards of several thousand dollars, to their easily affordable "Regent Series", Alvarez has a guitar to fit every player’s budget and playing style with ease.

The guitar that we are going to look at in this review is a brand new model for 2006, from the Alvarez Masterworks series. It is called the MD350C. This guitar is a classy looking dreadnaught with a lower bout cutaway and some very impressive features. It was designed and built using many of luthier Kazuo Yairi’s traditional philosophies and concepts which gives this guitar the potential to be something special indeed. Read on to take an in-depth look at the MD350C by Alvarez.

MD350C by Alvarez



When I first laid eyes on the MD350C, I was immediately struck with the level of quality and workmanship as well as the attention to detail. One thing I really appreciate about Alvarez guitars is the purity and simplicity of their designs. The designers in St. Louis have mastered the art of understated visual effects, keying on a combination of aesthetics which compliment one another. This culminates into exceptionally fine looking instruments throughout their entire line of guitars.



The MD350C features a solid Engelmann Spruce top, with a compensated ebony bridge for precise intonation. The solid Indian Rosewood back and sides create remarkable visual appeal in the overall appearance of this guitar. The soundhole rosette is a simple wood inlay with small abalone ovals, and the tortoise/herringbone binding rounds out the simple, yet elegant aspects of the body.



The ebony fretboard features the Alvarez "signature" twelfth-fret oval inlay, but what really got my attention though was the neck itself. This unique five-piece bonded neck is constructed of three pieces of mahogany separated by two strips of ebony. This neck design was borrowed from the "Monte Montgomery" signature guitar from the Yairi Masterworks series. This guitar has a very distinctive appearance and feel through the use of a satin finish and different wood colors. Finally, the front of the headstock features a beautifully inlayed abalone Alvarez logo.



The final visual element that sets this guitar apart from others I have reviewed is the tuning machines. These are gold die cast, but the buttons have been finished in a matte black. The contrast between the gold and black is awesome and yields this guitar a very modern, yet distinguished look. I have to admit that I really like the appearance of these tuning machines and how they tie in with the overall guitar.

The MD350C also features Alvarez’s own legendary "System 600T MKII" preamp with an under saddle transducer. This preamp features a built in tuner, notch filter, three band equalizer, master volume, phase switch, and a separate volume control for blending an optional condenser microphone or magnetic soundhole pickup.

As one final note, this guitar did come with a pickguard. The interesting part was that it was not installed, but rather it was lying in the bottom of the case with a thin film protecting the self adhesive backing. This gives you the option of installing it yourself or leaving it off the guitar altogether. Because I like the look of the solid Engelmann spruce top, I choose the latter. I had never seen this option on a guitar before, but I have since learned that it is a feature on a few brands higher end guitars.



The MD350C also comes in a hard foam case covered in nylon, with the Alvarez logo embroidered onto the large pocket. These are very rigid and rugged cases that offer plenty of protection for your guitar, including a combination lock under the handle. This case also features a built in hydrometer for quickly referencing the humidity within the guitar case.



Sound Test

Most music stores set up each guitar before it goes out on the sales floor. I get most of my review units directly from the factory, so I am used to them not always being in the most optimal playing condition on receipt. Each Alvarez guitar goes through a rigorous setup process by trained staff at their St. Louis factory before they ship out to the dealers. This includes a full fretboard level and dress, multiple truss rod adjustments, precise bridge and saddle measurements, and a new set of Elixir strings. Incredibly, this guitar was set up perfectly for playing right out of the box.

The ebony fingerboard has an outstanding feel, and seems to have a little more width than other guitars I have played in this price range. This felt very comfortable to me because I have larger fingers. The thin neck profile is stress-free to play and I have really come to appreciate the feel of a satin finish.

I started my sound test by using the onboard tuner. This is an exceptionally efficient function, and it is my opinion that all acoustic guitars with a built in preamp should have one. The strength of a dreadnaught guitar is usually in heavy strumming and flat picking, so once I was in tune I ran through a few quick strumming chord progressions. This guitar has a very deep rich tone. The lows seem to resonate, the mid range is open and airy, and the highs blend seamless into the sound creating a well balanced character. I decided to try out some finger picking, and found that the articulation of each note was phenomenal. For a dreadnaught, this guitar responded exceptionally well to this style. Each note rings clear and the sustain is incredible.

The second part of my test centered on the "System 600T MKII" preamp. I have heard many good things about this system for a few years now, and I was ready to see if it was all that I have heard it is. I plugged into my Mackie Onyx 1640 mixing board, and went to work. The System 600T MKII has a very natural spacious sound. The three band equalizer offered plenty of tonal control, while the built in notch filter did an exemplary job of knocking out feedback dilemmas. Overall I would rate this preamp as one of the best I have heard. I would have liked to try out the auxiliary condenser microphone or magnetic sound hole pickup, but I did not receive one with this guitar. I do however like the fact that this preamp is already set up to hook one of these in and blend the signals with a separate volume control.

Closing Thoughts

This is not an entry level guitar. It is of pro quality and sound, and at a MSRP of $1699, it may be a little much for a beginner. However, this is definitely the type of guitar that would put an intermediate to advanced player on cloud nine. It is easy to see why players like Zakk Wylde, Monte Montgomery, Mike Mushok (Staind) and Aaron Lewis (Staind) rely on Alvarez for their acoustic needs.

I recommend that this guitar be on your "check out" list when you are ready to upgrade to a professional level guitar. I would not recommend that a beginner drop this kind of coin until they have made a commitment in their head and heart that they are going to continue playing guitar. If you are just starting out, Alvarez makes some great guitars at lower price ranges that would suit you just fine until you are ready to step up.

The MD350C was a pure pleasure to review. I really enjoy playing this guitar and I will be adding it to my own personal guitar arsenal. Because of this, I award the MD350C the 2006 Rig Ready Award as well as the 2006 Guitar Gear Heads Approved award.



Gary Allen

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