Alvarez AF70E Nat Artist

A reference in the Artist series, optimized in the 2024 edition

Within the Artist series, the Alvarez AF70E positions itself as an electro-acoustic OM designed to combine true luthiery excellence with immediate stage reliability. The 2024 edition highlights the spruce/rosewood pairing and adopts the LR Baggs StagePro Bronze electronics, a coherent choice for guitarists seeking a natural plugged-in sound without sacrificing acoustic character.

For which guitarists and styles?

Thanks to its OM size and precise response, the AF70E is particularly aimed at intermediate to advanced guitarists, singer-songwriters, and fingerstyle enthusiasts looking for definition, balance, and comfort. It is also very suitable for home studios: plugged in, its under-saddle pickup integrates easily into mixes for pop, folk, indie, variety, or acoustic accompaniment in duo/band settings.

The sound

The solid Sitka spruce top provides clarity, attack, and a good dynamic reserve, while the rosewood back and sides enhance breadth, harmonics, and bass depth, with bright yet structured highs. The OM format favors balance and note-to-note clarity without the "boomy" effect of a larger body.

The advanced FS6 (forward-shifted) bracing helps the top vibrate more freely: the guitar responds quickly to touch, projects easily, and retains detail even when played hard. The combination of bone nut/bridge saddle inserts improves vibration transmission and intonation stability, while the bi-level bridge contributes to a direct response feel.

When amplified, the LR Baggs Element (under-saddle) pickup and StagePro Bronze preamp aim for a natural and live-usable sound: volume, bass, treble, and phase inversion to better control resonances depending on the stage. The built-in tuner facilitates quick changes between songs.

Recommended compatible accessories

To preserve the original feel and balance, prioritize folk acoustic strings with a 12-53 gauge (such as the mounted set D'Addario XTAPB1253). Picks of various thicknesses are also useful to exploit the full dynamics of the OM, from fingerstyle to strumming.

Technical specifications

Format	OM (Orchestra Model)	Preamp	LR Baggs StagePro Bronze (tuner, volume, bass, treble, phase)
Top	solid A+ Sitka spruce	Pickup	LR Baggs Element (under-saddle)
Back and sides	rosewood	Tuners	closed gear chrome
Finish	natural, gloss lacquer (top, back, and sides)	Headstock overlay	Indian rosewood
Bracing	FS6 (forward-shifted)	Inlays	mother-of-pearl and acrylic
Bridge	Indian rosewood bi-level	Strings installed	D'Addario XTAPB1253 (12-53)
Bridge pins	PPS (synthetic bone)	Scale length	24.80" / 630 mm
Neck	African mahogany	Nut width	1.75" / 44.45 mm
Fingerboard	Indian rosewood	Body width	15.35" / 390 mm
Neck/body joint	14th fret	Body depth (heel/base)	3.78" / 96 mm - 4.25" / 108 mm
Frets	21	Total length	40.00" / 1015 mm
Nut and saddle inserts	bone