Post by terryd on Nov 10, 2018 18:19:03 GMT -5
As some of you know, I've been thinking about pulling the trigger on a MDA66CESHB but just wasn't sure I wanted another all HOG guitar. So I started calling around and was finding no one around Des Moines carries the Masterworks line of Alvarez. Those who carried Alvarez at all were catering only to the beginner and intermediate buyers, but there was one Reiman Music shop up in Ames that had an MD60EBG. The wife's out of town so I thought I'd take a drive just to check it out. In the store the guitar sounded very loud and resonant but there was just no shimmer or sparkle except with the B and high E strings. I could feel the whole body vibrating against my body like a really good guitar will do but there was just something missing. So I asked what the shop's return policy is and was told fourteen days from day of purchase and in new condition. So I decided to give this thing a try with new strings just to see if maybe that was it. I mean if a six hundred dollar guitar could be brought to life I thought it was worth a try. I mean, the thing is absolutely stunning visually and looked like it should just do more. Especially after my experience with my MFA66. So I bought the thing, stopped by Musician's Friend on the way home and picked up a set of medium light Ernie Ball ABs. When I got home I took it out just to see if it sounded the same at home in the room I always play in and it did, but still with all that volume and resonance. So I set about restringing it with the new strings. I restring one string at a time as I remove the old ones one by one, starting with the low E. When I got that on I tuned it up, stretched it out and took a test pluck with my favorite thumb pick. Definitely a difference and not a small one. So I finished restringing it, took it into my music room, sat down and played a few chords and started smiling ear to ear. Then I finger picked a few tunes in standard tuning and the smile kept getting bigger. I dropped it into DADGAD and played one of my favorites and took the thin plastic pick guard protector off. This is a keeper! As much as I love the MFA66 this thing just scratches all the tonal itches. How in the hell can Alvarez sell these things at these prices. There are no short cuts on these guitars like some of the others I was considering. No plastic pieces, no composite finger board, no laminated anything and beautiful retro open gear tuners. You can't touch a Martin like this for less than three grand. You can come close with a Taylor for around 2500.00. Believe me when I tell you this thing holds it's own with the all three Taylors that I own, the lowest being a 316. I could care less where this thing is made, it's made by humans who are very good at what they do. It's a shame more shops don't carry the Masterworks line, I mean they're not that expensive! Okay I'm done rambling and I'm going to go play some more with my new guitar.
