S320A

[fretbuster]

Hi, I'm a newbie to this forum and would just like to introduce myself. I've been playing guitar longer than i can care to remember and really love quality acoustic guitars (dont we all?). I own two guitars a Mcilroy A25 and a Martin ooo28EC, both lovely guitars and keepers i reckon. But i've heard a lot of good stuff about these here Avalons so decided to check out the site. I play mainly fingerstyle as both my guitars are really designed for that. Anyway while on the site i came across the ex-demo guitars for sale, namely the S320A and the L320C. I'm very interested in both these models and wondered if you folks could shed some light on these two. I realise that the S320A is a finger picker and the other a strummer, and i could use a strummer really. So any info on these two and the Avalon playing experience in genral would be much appreciated. Many thanks.

[singlereed]

If I were you, I'd call the workshop and have a chat with them. They can advise you according to your needs and are not remotely pushy - they just love what they do and like making guitarists happy. I haven't played the S320 Americana but the regular S size (14 fret to body) guitar strums well and is especially good with a pickup - larger guitars can be a bit boomy when amplified, although they would have a bit more wallop to the sound. I have tried S32 and A32 models but settled on a D300 slope dreadnought which works well for me with fingers or a pick - its is never boomy but speaks quickly and has plenty of power, too.

[Loki]

I have two S series (small body) Avalons, one a 14 fret and the other a 12.
Both excel with fingerpicking, punch it out flat picking, and I've never received any complaint whatever from strummers, though they are admittedly only really excellent strummers compared to the magnificence of the other two!

Don't make the mistake of writing off the L320c as only a strummer. This isn't some oversize blouesy boombox . There is one of these lovely Avalon jumbos in the house as well. Believe me the cutaway isn't just there for show, you can play clear articulate, perfectly intonated fingerstyle down there, just as you can all over the neck.

However, if you really want to dig in and strum hard, then prepare to receive complaints from banjo players and drummers about your volume, but you surely won't be getting any about your guitar sounding overdriven or 'muddy'.

Look at a few of the player on the Avalon favourites you.tube site and see what they are acheiving with such guitars.

I'm not in any way involved with Avalon, other than as a customer. I just want the temptations removed from me

Good luck.[/i]

[JB]

Hi there Fretbuster and welcome to the forums

The S320A is designed to deliver a more 'bluesy' response, it does have a standard small body but it also has a 12th fret neckjoint, this pushes the bridge placement further back to the centre of the lower bout.

The L320C is the Premier version of our L32, same wood combination, the L32 style is by far our most popular model.
It's a jumbo model so it's very loud and the spruce top produces a bright, clean response and would contrast well with your A25 which will have a warmer cedar soundboard.

The L320C will perform fantastically whether you're playing fingerstyle or doing hardcore strumming, it'll handle either with ease regardless.

I hope this helps and you're more than welcome to call me and have a chat about the sound properties and construction if you prefer

Some sound files available here ...

http://www.avalonguitars.com/mp3/L32EQ1.mp3
http://www.avalonguitars.com/mp3/L32EQ2.mp3
http://www.avalonguitars.com/mp3/L32EQ3.mp3

Cheers
Jim

Avalon workshop 02891-820542

[riverdog]

hey fretbuster,
welcome! i am also fairly new to the forum and i've owned two "s" bodies; one lowden that i regretably sold and a recent aquisition of an avalon 14 fret s201 eir/cedar to replace her...may i add a total agreement to loki and JB's comments on the small body! this baby is loud and sweet and i bought it sight unseen going on the testimony of the forum members and others. i mainly fingerpick and strum with flesh and she still cuts thru. when i do flatpick it really cuts and doesn't break up like some cedar tops have a "reputation" of doing. the guitar is very repsonsive and CLEAR. this guitars volume certainly keeps up with my larger lowden and goodall and is very comfortable to hold...i can't imagine you would be disappointed with either; so there is my 2 cents. enjoy the forum.
riverdog

[fretbuster]

Thanks very much for the replies chaps. Sorry its belated but work and such like, you know. I really like the look of the L320c and i need a strummer with some wallop but one thats also sweet sounding. So i might just be giving you a ring JB. Once again many thanks.