Alvarez AD60CE Artist Series Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar – Shadowburst

A benchmark acoustic-electric in Alvarez's award-winning Artist Series — solid spruce top, FS6 scalloped bracing, real bone nut and saddle, and LR Baggs electronics that handle the stage with the same confidence as the guitar handles a quiet room.

Who This Guitar Is For

The AD60CE Shadowburst is designed for players who want a serious acoustic-electric without stepping into boutique pricing — and have done enough research to know that what's inside the guitar matters as much as what it looks like. The solid A+ Sitka spruce top is hand-selected and independently graded by Alvarez, then treated through their proprietary ATR (Advanced Tonal Response) curing process, which removes moisture and volatiles from the wood to accelerate the tonal maturity that older guitars naturally develop. The result is a guitar that sounds more open and responsive from day one than most solid tops at its price point. The FS6 forward-shifted, scalloped X-bracing allows the top to move more freely, producing bigger, more balanced sound with clear lows and lively highs. The LR Baggs Element undersaddle pickup and StagePro Bronze preamp — with volume, bass, treble, phase, and backlit tuner all side-mounted for easy reach — give you a genuinely professional amplified signal. Whether you're gigging regularly, writing at home, or making a real step up from your first guitar, the AD60CE is the kind of instrument you'll stop shopping for once you play it.

Key Highlights

• Solid A+ North American Sitka spruce top — independently selected by Alvarez and treated with ATR advanced wood curing for enhanced resonance, stability, and tonal maturity from day one
• African mahogany back, sides, and neck — warm, focused midrange with excellent sustain and a comfortable semi-gloss neck feel
• FS6 forward-shifted, scalloped X-bracing — pushes the X axis toward the soundhole for a larger vibrating soundboard area and improved projection and balance across the tonal spectrum
• Real bone nut and saddle — genuine bone improves sustain, intonation, and string resonance in ways synthetic materials cannot replicate
• Bi-level Indian Laurel bridge — stepped design heightens string tension and contributes to better response and sustain
• LR Baggs Element undersaddle pickup — film sensor technology that reads soundboard movement for accurate, quack-free acoustic translation
• LR Baggs StagePro Bronze preamp — side-mounted, low-profile unit with large backlit tuner, volume, bass, treble, and phase controls
• Battery access built into the endpin jack compartment — tool-free, one-push battery change, no need to reach inside the body
• Cutaway dreadnought body — full dreadnought projection with open upper fret access
• Shadowburst gloss top finish with natural semi-gloss back and sides — deep, dark edges fading to natural center for a finish that looks genuinely distinctive
• Indian Laurel fretboard with MOP and acrylic inlays — smooth, warm playing surface with elegant detail
• Chrome closed-gear tuners — reliable tuning stability with a classic look
• Ships with D'Addario XTAPB1253 coated light strings

Why You'll Love It

Great Fit For

• Gigging singer-songwriters who need a guitar that performs reliably through a PA or acoustic amp, night after night
• Players who want a dreadnought's natural projection and low-end power with the ability to reach upper frets for lead work
• Intermediate to advanced players making a meaningful step up from a budget or laminate instrument
• Anyone who has shopped LR Baggs pickups and preamps separately and knows what that system costs on its own
• Country, folk, Americana, bluegrass, and pop acoustic players who want a balanced but warm dreadnought voice
• Players who want a guitar that looks as intentional as it sounds — the Shadowburst finish is a genuine step above a plain natural or black

Sound, Feel, and Use

The dreadnought body shape is the workhorse of acoustic guitar design — more low end, more volume, more projection than smaller-bodied alternatives. The AD60CE leans into that naturally, and the FS6 bracing system makes the most of the available soundboard area by placing the X further toward the soundhole. The result is a voice with clear, sonorous bass that doesn't get muddy, lively trebles that cut through a mix without going brittle, and strong midrange presence that sits well in full-band contexts. The ATR-treated solid spruce top adds an openness and dynamic responsiveness that you can feel as much as hear — light playing sounds light, hard playing sounds appropriately forceful, and the guitar doesn't compress under your hand the way some cheaper tops do. The African mahogany back and sides pull the tone toward warmth and focus without losing clarity in the highs. The neck is a V-to-C profile in semi-gloss mahogany — it starts with a slightly fuller V shape near the nut, transitions to a rounder C through the upper positions, and feels natural for both chording and single-note work. The 15" fretboard radius is moderate and comfortable for open chord playing and strumming. Plugged in, the LR Baggs Element reads soundboard movement rather than individual string vibration, which preserves the acoustic character of the guitar and avoids the artificial quack that shows up in lesser undersaddle systems. The StagePro Bronze's phase control helps manage feedback in live settings, and the 2-band EQ gives you enough shaping to address a room without overprocessing the signal.

Specifications