Alvarez Laureate LP70e Herringbone Sunset Sitka/East Indian Rosewood Parlor Guitar w/LR Baggs HiFi Pickup #1455

This is the kind of parlor guitar that makes you slow down and actually listen to what you’re playing. The Alvarez Laureate LP70e Herringbone Sunset Sitka/Rosewood Parlor is built around an AAAA solid Sitka spruce top and solid East Indian rosewood back and sides, and that combination gives it a depth and refinement you don’t always expect from a smaller-bodied instrument. The Sunset gloss top, natural rosewood back and sides, and herringbone trim feel classic in the best way, like a guitar that could’ve been pulled out of an old case but plays with modern confidence.

What really stands out is how complete the voice feels. The parlor body keeps everything focused and articulate, but the rosewood adds just enough weight underneath the notes to keep it from feeling thin. The shorter 24-inch scale and 12-fret neck joint give it a relaxed, inviting feel that makes fingerstyle passages, blues lines, and light strumming feel natural and effortless. Thanks to Alvarez’s FS6 bracing, the response stays lively and balanced, letting notes speak clearly without needing to be forced.

The feel in the hands is exactly what you want from a guitar like this. A 1 3/4 inch nut width, African mahogany neck, and ebony fingerboard create a comfortable, familiar platform that doesn’t feel cramped despite the smaller size. Premium open-gear tuners, bone nut and saddle, and an ebony bridge keep everything stable and responsive, and the LR Baggs HiFi pickup does a great job of translating the acoustic sound when plugged in without getting in the way. Housed in an Alvarez AFC30 case, the LP70e is a parlor guitar for players who want character, balance, and a smaller instrument that still feels serious every time you pick it up.