All the Koa You Can Handle — Without Breaking the Bank
Figured koa is one of those tonewoods that tends to stop people mid-stride in a guitar store. The grain shifts in the light, the warm tones come through even before you play a note, and the whole thing just looks like it should cost twice what it does. The Alvarez Regent RG99KCE Elite is built around that idea: a grand auditorium acoustic-electric dressed head-to-toe in figured koa, available exclusively through a select network of authorized Alvarez dealers.
This is a limited-production guitar, which means when they're gone, they're gone. It's part of the Regent Series — Alvarez's entry-level line — but with a body wood package that punches well above the series' usual price point. If you've been waiting for a chance to own a koa guitar without a koa guitar price tag, this is worth a close look.
It's genuinely versatile: the Grand Auditorium body shape with a cutaway, an onboard pickup system, and a slim neck profile designed to feel comfortable early in your playing journey — and for years after.
A Grand Auditorium That Does It All
The Grand Auditorium body shape is one of the most balanced acoustic formats out there. It sits comfortably between the big, boomy projection of a dreadnought and the focused, articulate response of a grand concert — with a slightly wider lower bout that adds volume and presence without making the guitar feel oversized. Players find it works equally well for strumming and fingerpicking, which makes it a practical everyday choice.
Add a cutaway and you've got comfortable access to the upper frets — useful if you want to stretch out melodically or play leads. The SYS100 pickup and soundhole console lets you plug into an amp or PA and take your sound to a stage without any additional modifications.
Figured Koa From Top to Bottom
The top is AAA figured koa, with AA figured koa on the back and sides. The figuring in koa — that rippling, chatoyant grain pattern — varies piece to piece, which means every one of these guitars looks a little different. The full gloss natural finish lets the wood speak for itself, with no staining or opaque color to obscure what's underneath. Tortoiseshell binding runs the body perimeter and adds a classic visual contrast against the koa.
The bracing is a standard scalloped X pattern — a proven design that balances top flexibility with structural stability, contributing to clear response across the frequency range. The mahogany neck (gloss finish) is shaped with Alvarez's Regent Series slim profile and a 1 11/16" (43mm) nut width: enough room for fingerpicking technique, narrow enough to make chord fretting approachable.
Hardware and Electronics Worth Knowing About
The East Indian rosewood fingerboard and bridge are clean, practical choices that complement the koa body visually and functionally. The PPS synthetic bone nut and saddle offer reliable intonation and consistent string break angle. Premium chrome tuners with tortoiseshell buttons round out the hardware package with a look that ties back to the body binding.
The bi-level bridge design is one of the more interesting details here — it's based on the Yairi direct-coupled design and is intended to heighten string tension and improve energy transfer to the soundboard, which contributes to better response and projection. It's the kind of detail that typically shows up on more expensive instruments, and it's worth noting that it's standard equipment on this model.
Product Features:
-
Top Wood: AAA Figured Koa
-
Back & Sides: AA Figured Koa
-
Body Shape: Grand Auditorium with cutaway
-
Bracing: Standard Scalloped X
-
Neck: Mahogany with gloss finish
-
Fingerboard & Bridge: East Indian Rosewood
-
Nut & Saddle: PPS Synthetic Bone
-
Nut Width: 1 11/16" (43mm)
-
Binding: Tortoiseshell
-
Tuners: Premium chrome with tortoiseshell buttons
-
Electronics: SYS100 Pickup and Soundhole Console
-
Finish: Natural Gloss
-
Availability: AIMM Exclusive — limited production
Brand: Alvarez
Model: Regent Series RG99KCE Elite
SKU: RG99KCE-ELITE
Condition: New
Since 1872, C.A. House Music has been helping musicians across the Ohio Valley find the right gear -- with real advice from a team that actually plays. We're your authorized dealer of all the big names in guitars, keyboards, band instruments, drums, pro audio, and more. With four family-owned and operated locations in Ohio and West Virginia (plus a full online store), you don't have to go far for instruments, lessons, rentals, and repairs. No matter your musical needs, our team of musicians wants to help you Play Music for Life.
