Alvarez believes their multi-award-winning Artist Series is one of the finest solid top guitar lines in the world today and demonstrates our commitment to design. The term "solid top” refers to the soundboard of an acoustic guitar being made of solid wood, rather than being laminated. However, just because the top is solid, it does not necessarily mean the sound automatically benefits from this feature. The tone of the instrument only improves significantly when the whole guitar is built correctly to optimize the energy a solid soundboard can generate. Artist Series is built to do exactly this.

Each model is designed to get the best out if its components, and for them to work together to produce balance, lively projection and great response. These components include Alvarez's FST2 bracing system, bi-level rosewood bridge, real bone nut and saddle, great quality tonewoods and thin finish. FST2 is a forward shifted X-brace design, meaning the axis of the X is closer to the sound hole and therefore creates a larger soundboard area allowing for more energy and vibration to be harnessed. Both the X braces and asymmetric tone bars are carefully scalloped. The scalloping design was the result of years of continual development in their Yairi workshops.

The Artist Series sound and personality is open and powerful. FST2 also creates very good balance so both the treble and bass registers are clearly present and balanced in relation to each other. Artist Series feel right and are exciting to play; no matter if you are strumming hard or picking lightly, the guitar will do what you ask of it.

Along with a more angled headstock, their bi-level bridge increases string tension by making the break angel of the strings from the saddle to the top more acute. Improved string tension adds to the sound, feel and response, which are also heightened by the use of real bone nuts and saddles.