{"product_id":"solid-african-mahogany-top-shadowburst-gloss","title":"Alvarez AD66CE Artist 66 Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar Shadowburst","description":"\u003ch2\u003eMahogany Through and Through — and It Shows\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSome guitars take a while to figure out. The Alvarez AD66CE is not one of them. Pick it up, play a few chords, and you'll immediately notice what an all-mahogany build does for a dreadnought: focused mids, a punchy low end that doesn't turn to mush, and a clarity in the high register that cuts through without getting harsh. It's a voice that works whether you're fingerpicking in a bedroom or strumming behind a vocalist on stage.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe AD66CE is part of Alvarez's Artist 66 Series — a line built around solid tops, thoughtful bracing, and electronics worth actually using. The Shadowburst gloss finish isn't just a cosmetic touch either; the thin application lets the natural mahogany grain show through, giving the guitar a warmth in its look that matches what's coming out of the soundhole.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you've been looking for a cutaway acoustic-electric that doesn't make you compromise between plugged-in performance and unplugged playability, the AD66CE is worth a serious look.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eA Solid Top Designed to Open Up\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe top is solid African Mahogany — explicitly selected and graded by Alvarez's own team, independent of their suppliers. But what really separates this guitar from others at the price point is how that top is prepared. Alvarez puts their tonewoods through ATR (Advanced Tonal Response), a torrefaction-like process that removes moisture and volatiles from the wood, resulting in a drier, faster-responding soundboard that behaves more like a well-played vintage guitar from day one.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe FST2M bracing system — a forward-shifted, scalloped X brace — moves the axis of the X closer to the soundhole, enlarging the vibrating area of the top and extracting more energy from the strings. The result is a dreadnought that's genuinely responsive to dynamics: play gently and it stays warm; dig in and it opens up with real authority.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eLR Baggs Electronics — Not an Afterthought\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe cutaway gives you easy access to the upper frets, and the electronics make sure what you're playing actually translates when you plug in. Alvarez fitted the AD66CE with the LR Baggs StagePro Bronze system — a side-mounted EQ unit paired with the renowned LR Baggs Element under-saddle pickup. The Element is known for capturing the acoustic voice of the instrument accurately, without the thin, synthetic quality you sometimes get from cheaper piezo systems.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe StagePro Bronze preamp is low-profile and easy to use on stage: a large backlit tuner, volume control, bass and treble controls, and a phase switch. The battery compartment is built into the end pin jack — push to open, no tools needed. It's a practical setup that gets out of your way so you can focus on playing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eHardware and Construction Details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe mahogany neck meets the body at the 14th fret via a dovetail joint. The Laurel fingerboard has a 15\" radius and 21 frets, with a 25.5\" scale length and a genuine bone nut cut to 1¾\" width. Bone makes a real difference for open-string tone and sustain, and it's not a spec you always see confirmed at this price. The saddle is also real bone, and the bi-level rosewood bridge increases downward pressure on that saddle for more efficient energy transfer from strings to top.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePremium die-cast tuners hold tune reliably without adding excess weight to the headstock. ABS binding frames the body cleanly, and the gloss Shadowburst finish sits thin enough to let the wood breathe. Overall, it's a well-considered build — the kind where the specs work together rather than existing just to fill a bullet list.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eProduct Features:\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTop Wood:\u003c\/strong\u003e Solid African Mahogany, Shadowburst gloss finish with ATR Advanced Tonal Response treatment\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBack \u0026amp; Sides:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mahogany\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBody Shape:\u003c\/strong\u003e Dreadnought with Venetian cutaway\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBracing:\u003c\/strong\u003e FST2M Forward-Shifted, Scalloped X — enlarges vibrating soundboard area for improved projection\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eElectronics:\u003c\/strong\u003e LR Baggs StagePro Bronze preamp with Element under-saddle pickup; backlit tuner, volume, bass, treble, and phase controls\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNeck:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mahogany, dovetail joint, meets body at 14th fret\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFingerboard:\u003c\/strong\u003e Laurel, 15\" radius, 21 frets\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eScale Length:\u003c\/strong\u003e 25.5\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNut \u0026amp; Saddle:\u003c\/strong\u003e Genuine bone, 1¾\" nut width\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBridge:\u003c\/strong\u003e Bi-level rosewood for increased saddle downpressure\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTuners:\u003c\/strong\u003e Premium die-cast\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBinding:\u003c\/strong\u003e ABS\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBrand:\u003c\/strong\u003e Alvarez\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eModel:\u003c\/strong\u003e AD66CE Artist 66 Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSKU:\u003c\/strong\u003e AD66CE SHADOWBURST\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e New\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSince 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 \u003cem\u003ePlay Music for Life.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Alvarez","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50564010639491,"sku":"AD66CE SHADOWBURST","price":629.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0642\/3455\/3475\/files\/SolidAfricanMahoganyTop_ShadowburstGlossAD66CE.png?v=1790693532","url":"https:\/\/cahousemusic.com\/products\/solid-african-mahogany-top-shadowburst-gloss","provider":"C. A. House Music","version":"1.0","type":"link"}