A Workhorse Dreadnought That Means Business
Some acoustic guitars are built to look good on a wall. The Alvarez MD60 Herringbone Masterworks is built to be played — hard, loud, and often. Whether you're a flatpicker pushing through a bluegrass jam or a heavy strummer who needs a guitar that can hold its own in a full acoustic mix, the MD60 was designed with exactly that in mind. The all-solid construction, forward-shifted bracing, and full dreadnought body come together to produce a guitar that projects with authority and only gets better as it opens up over time.
The herringbone purfling along the top edge and rosette give it a classic, vintage-inspired look without pushing the price into boutique territory. It's the kind of detail that signals a guitar built with intention — not just spec-sheet filler. Add in a tortoiseshell pickguard, premium mother-of-pearl inlays, and open-gear nickel tuners, and the MD60 has a traditional aesthetic that fits naturally on any stage or around any campfire.
This guitar suits players who want a serious all-solid dreadnought at a thoughtful price — from beginners ready to invest in something that will grow with them, to experienced players looking for a reliable gigging workhorse.
All-Solid Tonewoods, Built to Last
The MD60 starts with a solid AAA Sitka spruce top — a tonewood prized for its stiffness-to-weight ratio and its ability to respond dynamically across a wide range of playing styles. Paired with solid African mahogany back and sides, the result is a warm, punchy voice with clear mid-range presence and solid low-end response. Mahogany naturally rounds out some of spruce's brightness, lending the MD60 a balanced tone that sits well whether you're strumming open chords or picking single lines.
Alvarez takes wood preparation seriously: all tops are hand-selected and graded independently of suppliers, then cured using traditional ovens and modern thermo-kilns before being built into the guitar. The explicit all-solid construction — top, back, and sides — means this guitar will continue to resonate and improve as the wood matures with regular playing. Solid wood doesn't just sound different; it behaves differently as it ages, and that's a genuine long-term benefit.
FS6 Bracing and the Bi-Level Bridge
Alvarez's FS6 bracing system is a forward-shifted, scalloped X-brace design. By shifting the axis of the X closer to the soundhole, the bracing creates a larger vibrating soundboard area, which translates directly into more energy transfer and better projection. Both the X-braces and asymmetric tone bars are scalloped to displace vibrational energy more efficiently — the result is a sound that's warm and open, with treble and bass registers that are balanced and clearly present across all six strings.
The bi-level bridge further increases string tension by making the break angle from saddle to top more acute, which tightens up the low end and adds to the overall responsiveness. Combined with real bone nut and saddle — not synthetic, not TUSQ — string vibration transfers as cleanly as possible from the moment each note is played. Ebony bridge pins round out the hardware package and help sustain ring out naturally.
Neck, Fingerboard, and the Details That Matter
The one-piece African mahogany neck features a soft "V" to "C" profile — a shape that starts with a pronounced V at the nut and gradually transitions toward a rounder C shape as you move up the neck. Players who've spent time on V-necks often find them very comfortable for thumb-over playing and open chord work, but if you haven't played one before, it's worth knowing what to expect. The neck meets the body at the 14th fret with a dovetail joint, and the fingerboard features a slightly extended design for added reach in upper positions.
The East Indian rosewood fingerboard offers a smooth playing surface with a traditional feel underhand. A single abalone and mother-of-pearl inlay at the 12th fret provides a visually subtle positional marker — understated compared to block or crown inlays, which suits the MD60's classic sensibility. Premium open-gear nickel tuners with a vintage aesthetic complete the headstock, referencing the dreadnought's golden era while providing reliable day-to-day tuning stability. The natural gloss finish across the body lets the grain of the mahogany speak for itself.
Product Features:
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Body Shape: Dreadnought
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Top Wood: Solid AAA Sitka spruce
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Back & Sides: Solid African mahogany
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Bracing: FS6 forward-shifted scalloped X-brace
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Neck: One-piece African mahogany, soft "V" to "C" profile, 50/50 semi-gloss finish
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Fingerboard: East Indian rosewood, slightly extended design
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Scale Length: 25.5" (648mm)
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Nut Width: 1 3/4" (44.45mm)
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Nut & Saddle: Real bone
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Bridge: Bi-level Indian rosewood with ebony bridge pins
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Tuners: Premium open-gear nickel vintage-style
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Inlays: Premium mother-of-pearl; herringbone purfling and rosette
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Finish: Natural gloss
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Neck Joint: Dovetail, 14th fret
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Number of Frets: 21
Brand: Alvarez
Model: MD60 Herringbone (Masterworks Series)
SKU: MD60 HERRINGBONE
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.
