Alvarez Laureate LT70e Daybreak (new)

‘Laureate’ is the name of the new high-quality range from Alvarez Guitars in St. Louis, USA.

Alvarez combines the decades of experience of the Japanese Yairi workshop with continuous development work down to the finest detail, from wood drying to the application of a thin coat of varnish. The aim: durable guitars that inspire players and offer excellent value for money.

The new Alvarez Laureate LT Series we selected is a fresh, highly appealing and great-sounding take on the 000 shape. The LT70e combines the traditional 12-fret design with something we greatly value about Alvarez: offering high-quality materials and meticulous craftsmanship at a fair price. Its medium-sized body and full 648 mm scale make it an interesting alternative to the often short-scale 12-fret models.

Materials and Construction

Alvarez uses AAA-grade solid Sitka spruce for the top and solid rosewood for the back and sides. The attention to detail extends to the interior: wood for the bridges, braces and side reinforcements is also carefully selected for the Laureate Series. The forward-shifted FS6 bracing is made from quartersawn Sitka spruce and hand-scalloped to optimize response and resonance. 

The LT70e pairs AAA Sitka spruce with rosewood back and sides. The LT60e, by contrast, combines AAA Sitka spruce with mahogany, while the LT66e has mahogany for its top, back and sides. Within the shared 000 12-fret design, the LT70e can be expected to have a more overtone-rich sound, with a more pronounced bass foundation and longer sustain. The LT60e is better suited to a focused fundamental and a more direct character, while the LT66e offers warm, prominent mids and a drier tone. This is intended as a guide: how the differences come across in an individual instrument also depends on its construction, strings and playing style.

The LT70e’s looks also pay tribute to its historical inspiration: the beautiful Daybreak finish gives the top a distinctive accent and underscores the vintage character of the 000 12-fret design. Ivoroid binding, abalone inlays and open-gear tuners round out the classic look.

The fingerboard, bridge, bridge pins and headplate overlay are made of ebony, while the nut and saddle are bone. Instead of Alvarez’s usual Bi-Level bridge, this model uses a traditional, single-level design. For us, value for money is about the complete package: all-solid construction, hand-scalloped bracing, ebony, and the excellent LR Baggs HiFi pickup system, which comes preinstalled. The matching AFC30 hardbag is also included. Alvarez has invested in the essentials here and provides an outfit that has everything covered for both acoustic and amplified playing.

With a 44.45 mm nut width, the LT70e offers room for clean fretting and fingerstyle playing. If you’re looking for a 000 with a 12-fret neck joint, a Sitka spruce top and rosewood back and sides, and prefer a full scale, this guitar offers a distinctive combination of traditional design and modern features.

Specifications

Model: Alvarez Laureate LT70e Daybreak
Body shape: 000-12
Neck-to-body joint: 12th fret
Top: Solid Sitka spruce, AAA
Back & sides: Solid rosewood
Neck: African mahogany
Headplate overlay: Ebony
Fingerboard: Ebony
Bridge: Ebony, single-level
Bridge pins: Ebony
Bracing: FS6, hand-scalloped
Inlays: Premium abalone
Binding: Ivoroid
Nut & saddle: Bone
Tuners: Premium open-gear
Top finish: Daybreak, gloss
Back & sides finish: Natural, gloss
Pickup: LR Baggs HiFi
Strings: D’Addario XSAPB1253
Number of frets: 20
Overall length: 1,012 mm
Body width: 380 mm
Body depth at neck joint: 100 mm
Body depth at tail: 120 mm
Scale length: 648 mm / 25½″
Nut width: 44.45 mm / 1¾″
Case/hardbag: AFC30
Made in China