Alfesta Steelstrings 00 modellen: ST090.

Model 00, inspired on the same Martin series.

Remarkable is the small sound hole but nevertheless

we can conclude that the bracing of these steelstring

ment guitars is copied from the well known X bracing

that can be found in most Martin Steelstrings.

Again the use of maple. Not that surprising as the wood

suppliers for Egmond / Alpha were situated in Germany.

There is certainly less accuracy in the making of these

Alfetta branded guitars in comparison with the Alpha

branded ones. A bit chunky. But honest and solid wood 

and materials were used resulting in a surprisingly 

good sounding instrument.

The simple Martin Head design but a bit more

"clumsy"  done. Also the metal rollers are pointing 

towards the use for metal strings though this model

hasn't been equipped with a truss rod.

These guitars were provided with a remarkable small 

soundhole but apart from that these models are offering

lots of volume and a great tone for blues oriented music.

This top hasn't been stained but shows us the same

small sound hole with inlay and pin bridge, which

is also a detail pointing towards steel stringed use.

The maple back, this time even a bit figured! 

Alpha and Alfesta Steelstrings and THE problem:

The problem we often meet when having a steel string guitar 

from Alpha and/or Alfesta is the not very trustworthy neck to 

body construction. Some strange things have been done. We 

can mention that this company first sprayed the bodies of these 

steel string models and put the neck on afterwards. The connection 

between the neck and body has been done by three wooden 

dowels and the glue around these connection has to resist all 

the guitars' strings tension alone what not seems to work in the 

end. It finally results in a too high playing action on these guitars. 

 

There are different solutions however. Loosen the fingerboard off 

the body and work in some water in the neck to body joint. Heat

is another possibility. A screw from the inside can be added to 

tighten the neck to the body block again. Be sure to pre drill the 

outer heel and even better is to use a rampa nut or screw nut 

as they both are called.