Alvarez Guitars: RD12 Regent

by Guitar Guru
(play-acoustic-guitar.com)

”A Cheap Guitar with a Not-So-Cheap Sound”

The Alvarez RD12 Regent Series Dreadnought acoustic guitar looks as good as it sounds and even comes with a hard-shell wood case to protect your investment and keep it from getting banged up.

Just think, you can get the full sound and volume of a dreadnought guitar without paying the price associated with many dreadnoughts, especially those with solid tops or those with solid wood bodies. This is due in part to Alvarez’s use of modern technology to transfer the vibration from the strings further up the instrument through its modern bi-level bridge, a feature that not only improves the resonance of the instrument, but its tone as well. And while it is usually recommended that beginners select a solid-top guitar, with the RD12 you get the sound of a solid top without the cost.

The one downfall of not having a solid top, however, is the fact that even with the more advanced technology, you don’t get the same kind of tuning ability. The RD12 tends to lose its tone faster than solid-top models and does not have the sustain or volume in spite of its being built on a dreadnought body.

While it is a good acoustic guitar for the price range, for just $100 more you can purchase an
Epiphone Hummingbird (case not included) whose sound definitely has a leg up on the Alvarez RD12, even with its use of new technology. And the Hummingbird’s awesome aesthetics blow even the electrostatic painting process of the Alvarez out of the water and look even more awesome than the satin finish of the RD12 ever could.

While the Alvarez RD12 Regent Series Dreadnought is a good acoustic guitar for beginners, by saving up just a bit more, you can own an Epiphone Hummingbird and save yourself the trouble of having to upgrade a year or two in the future.

See more great guitar reviews at Alvarez Guitars.

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