custom D300 rosewood or mahogany-thoughts...

[Trev]

Hi fellow avaloners!

ok so heres my questions thrown out to all to answer with their thoughts.

i currently own a A320, lovely guitar and im looking to add another to my collection. been looking at gibson's and decided that im keen on a j45 slope shoulder style with sunburst top, however it seems to me that you pay more for the name with gibbo...

so my thinking is a custom order D300 tobacco sunburst top and a few custom appointments.

i cant decide whether i wanna go mahogany or rosewood. i really like the look of rosewood on my a320, but mahogany is just that diff sound.

any thoughts on if i went with upgrading the top to engelman spruce on a d300 with IER sides and back. you think that might make the guitar more "touch responsive" that a standard sikta.

or you reckon go the whole way and just go mahogany and even engelman top?

has anyone out there ordered a custom d300? any pics?

much obliged to all.

Trev



would appreciate any thoughts you all have

[riverdog]

yo trev,
i am a fan of the j-45 also, although i play an avalon s201 mostly. however, what appeals to me when i fingerpick a j-45 is the sweetness of the tone. i think the body cavity combination with the short scale and the sitka/ hog wood give the tone that the j-45 has long been known for. so if thats what appealed to you thats what i would recommend, especially the 12' neck radius that is very comfortable.(similar to my avalon neck which i love).. i'm an eir guy mostly but i think in larger bodies hogs have a nice balance in the bottom end due to the size of the cavity, whereas the hog wood gives the sweet full mids and the sitka adds the sparkle on the top end, very balanced for f/s and warm full strumming, but they are not super loud. i think an avalon custom version would make the qualities that the j-45 posesses and accentuate them to the next level, ala a j-45 on steroids! for a smaller body definitly eir/engl or cedar but larger i like the gibby like it is originally; and i agree definitly in a tobacco burst finish! eir j-45's sound good but different, not the original tone and lacks the sweet mids and they are louder and bassier. i also have a mahogany goodall concert jumbo and again the body gives a nice clear bass and the hog wood gives the sweet mids...just my experience and 2 cents, i hope this helps and may you enjoy the journey of search!
riverdog

[Ross A]

Hi Trev,

I'm also a big fan of the J45, and selling my old one was one of my big guitar regrets. Personally I would go with the Mahogany B/S. It will give you something different from your A320, and you can sunburst the whole body of the guitar (which I believe you can't do with Rosewood?).

I had an all Mahogany American (sunburst) A style made for me by Avalon, and it was a great guitar. A spruce top would probably have made it more versatile.

Also by purchasing a J45 style guitar from Avalon you will get a higher quality instrument. Gibson acoustics can be quite variable in quality from guitar to guitar for some reason.

Anyway, good luck!