Parlour guitar shootout - Art & Lutherie Roadhouse vs Alvarez AP66
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- Опубліковано 28 лис 2021
- A quick comparison between two mid priced parlour guitars with solid tops.
Here's links to my full versions of the songs I play in the review 'Little Queen of Spades' open.spotify.com/track/7aGPOL...
'The Smallest Yield' open.spotify.com/track/1xnqNI...
Guitar Spec's
Art & Lutherie electrical acoustic guitar
series: Roadhouse Collection
colour: Tennessee Red with Fishman Sonitone system
body shape: parlour
top: solid Sitka spruce
sides and rear: Wild Cherry
finish: high-gloss polyurethane
neck material: maple
profile: C
scale length: 24.84 in
fretboard: rosewood
fretboard radius: 16-inches
number of frets: 19
string nut material: Graphtech TUSQ
string nut width: 43.6 mm
truss rod: dual action
bridge: Indian rosewood
bridge saddle: Graphtech Tusq
hardware finish: chrome
machine heads: vintage-style open-gear
pickguard: tortoiseshell
Alvarez A66ESSHB
Top Wood: Solid African Mahogany
Back & Sides Wood: Mahogany
Shape: Parlor
Neck: Mahogany
Bracing System: FST2
Bridge: Rosewood / Pau Ferro
Fingerboard: Rosewood / Pau Ferro
Nut & Saddle: Real Bone
Tuner: Premium Die Cast
Binding: Ivory ABS
Strings: D'Addario EXP16
Pickup / EQ: LR Baggs StagePro EQ and Element Pick Up
Nice demo, fair & clear. As so often happens, there isn't a better guitar, just two different sounds and, this time, very different looks.
Step up from the AP66 & you have the all-solid MPA66, which is my main daily player. I wouldn't say that's a much better guitar than the AP66, it just sounds sweeter & you may or may not want that. In this case the high gloss goes well with the abalone.
It's nice to see a demo of a parlour guitar that doesn't include any patronising cliches about playing on the sofa. Cheers.
Thanks for checking out the comparison and excellent points. The MPA66 looks like a nice guitar.
I have the AP 66 and love it. Would love to find the Art and Lutherie to try. There was a dealer in NW PA I tried some when I was doing a Water Plant in the area. They were amazing guitars for the money from what I remember.
Cool, yes Art and Lutherie do make excellent instruments for the money.
I'm looking for a parlour at the moment. Looked at the Art and Lutherie a couple of years ago when it was considerably cheaper and a real bargain. I bought a Taylor GS Mini back then which I still have although I loved the Roadhouse. I think the carry case on the Taylor swayed it for me (and it's a lovely little guitar with a great voice) as I go away a lot and needed a travel size guitar. Out of these two the A&L is achingly cool and that would swing it for me. I'm also considering going full-out and getting a Martin 0-18 but haven't tried one yet.
One of my friends has got the GS mini and loves it. I’m always impressed with the warm sounds it can produce for such a small scale. I was slightly put of by it being 14 frets to the body though. A 000-18 should be a great guitar if you can stretch too it! I used to have a 000-16gt but never really got on with it, but the 18’s gets great reviews.
Nice video thank you. Both are great guitars and you compared them well with a good choice of songs and great playing.
I agree that the high gloss makes the AP66 less aesthetically pleasing. They would argue that the harder finish improves the sound. Personal preference I guess. Even though the AP66 is louder, I’d be inclined towards the A&L.
Thanks very much for watching and your positive comments! Yes the gloss finish would definitely be more hard wearing but the A&L does feel good in the lap.
A&L all night long .. it is a smaller but I dig it !
There is something really nice and bluesy about the A&L, sits well in the lap too. Cheers for watching! 👍
Having the conundrum of choosing between these two and a fender pm-2 mahogany this has ruled out the Alvarez as pretty as it is. You have just made my choice that little bit easier 👍
Great to hear this has helped you narrow down your choice! The pm-2 does look rather nice too. 👍
I had the fender pm-2 and it was great finger picked. I didn’t like it strummed though because I felt there was too much note separation.
@@Malagrass My MPA66ESHB is like that. Very much a fingerpicker.
Nice vid mate, cheers. I have the same Art and Lutherie. I was thinking of also getting the masterworks version of that Alvarez. I think the main difference is that it has solid back and sides. Did you have a preference between the two? From the video, I actually found the Alvarez to be duller and not as articulate and warm as the roadhouse. Instead of getting the Alvarez, I might just stick a preamp in the A&L. Also, might you have any opinion on the Harley Benton mahogany or koa top parlors? They sound good and are absurdly cheap
Hey, glad you like the video mate! I preferred playing the Art and Lutherie although I did enjoy the slightly extended bass on the Alvarez. I’ve not tried the Harley Benton parlours but I’am always amazed with the bang per buck of their stuff! I’ve got a hofner style violin bass by them and it’s excellent.
@@wehappyfewmusic thanks for your response. Will think on it. There are so many guitar builders these days to choose from! Harley Benton have an all solid mahogany, like the Martin 00015m for 300 quid, crazy low. Ok cheers mate, have a good one
829.00 for The Alvarez...which includes the Electronics....Much less for the Roadhouse Art n Lutherie with Electronics.......I find the price of 829.00 Too High.
@@kristofernewton422 My Alvarez MPA66ESHB was about £550 new with a soft case. That's about 670 USD.
Open D minor TUNING is 75345. As opposed to Standard Tuning of 55545. Enjoy and happy playing.
Thanks for checking out the video. Yeah, I love open D minor tuning.
@@wehappyfewmusic === For what it is worth just got a Wee Lowden Sitka/Indian Rosewood this year.
@@kennethbransford820 you lucky guy, I bet that sounds lovely!
@@wehappyfewmusic === Afraid to play it. Go figure? The human mind is a strange thing. 🎸
@@kennethbransford820 haha, I can kinda get that. I’d be afraid to scratch it if it was mine too! 😆
Which one do you find more easy to play? and comfortable? Like theres a guitar that doesn't fight your fingers. You know what I mean?
That’s a great question and I know what you mean! That’d have to be the Art and Lutherie.
What’s that first song you were playing?
Hi the first song at around 1 minute is called the Smallest Yield, there’s a link in the description. Thanks for checking out the video.
Wow the A&L smokes that Alvarez! Any idea which strings are on the A&L?
Yes it’s a nice little guitar. Not sure what strings are on it though as they’re the ones it came with.
A little late answer, but they are surely the Godin A6 12-53 strings.
art & lutherie superiore! ❤
Thanks for watching!
Nice comparison, but these guitars are a different price point, the A&L being Canadian made and a few hundred dollars more than the China made Alvarez. A better comparison to the Alvarez would be the China-made A&L Roadhouse.
Good points, I’ll see if I can get hold of one of the Roadhouse series.
Mahogany top guitars always sound dead as shit...so does the Alvarez.
They’re certainly not everyone’s cup of tea.
Chinese vs Canadian made. Since both are the same price buy Canadian. Your not getting your moneys worth for Chinese slave labour.
Good point, at least there’s more chance of the workers getting a fairer wage.
Alvarez uses slave labour? That is an interesting assertion.
Ugly opinion