Avalon Acoustic Guitars

by **cowdoc** » 04 Oct 2005, 05:02

Hi guys,

I am new to the forum and am very seriously considering an Avalon guitar. My eye is on the A101 and I have noticed that a number of members have owned this model for awhile....now that time has passed, would you mind sharing your impressions? What style do you normally play and can you identitfy any strengths and weaknesses in your instruments? Any strumming capacity?

This is an off the wall question...but my daughter is visiting Ireland 10/21 to 10/30 as she prepares to move there...anybody have a show she might catch??

Thanks, drmike

by **Shaun** » 08 Oct 2005, 08:37

Hello in Wisconsin.I do not have any specific info.about the model you are intrested in,but I am a full time gigging musician(I play in an acoustic guitar duo)and we love our Avalons.We usually play three gigs a week,each gig lasting for sometimes up to three hours and our Avalons are right there with us.They do not go out of tune and they sound and play great.They are also such roadworthy guitars,which is so important when you are playing for an audience.If it is not right,you may not get paid and you certainly will not be given another booking.
Hope this helps.

by **cowdoc** » 09 Oct 2005, 02:19

Thanks Shaun,

I am no where near a working muscian...I just lead our youth choir and play on Sundays...so I really respect your opinion. I am experienced enough to appreciate quality and am trying to advance in fingerstyle. Would you mind mentioning which models you play?

Thanks again, Mike

by **Shaun** » 09 Oct 2005, 11:10

Hi Mike.We use an Avalon L-360,L-32 and a Lowden 0-10.
If you would like a warmer tone ,go for a cedar top Avalon.I have both a spruce and a cedar they are both graet guitars,but different tonally.
Make sure the guitar is setup in a way that is comortable for you.This is almost as important as what guiatr you choose.
Let me know if you if there is anything else I can help you with.

by **stevemac** » 12 Oct 2005, 15:03

Hi Mike, I'm very biased about Avalon guitars as I work here, so I'll leave that to the professionals!

About your daughters visit and what shows are on, she might be interested in Simply Red who are playing in Belfast on 25th October.

Regards, Steve

by **cowdoc** » 14 Oct 2005, 12:29

Thanks Steve, I passed that on to my daughter. If she makes the show, I'll give you her impressions.
Mike

by **cowdoc** » 05 Feb 2006, 22:23

Well, I went and did it..the thing nobody should do...I bought a guitar over the internet, sight unseen, direct from the manufacturer with no "try and decide" option. My A101 came precisely on time, shipped in a SKB case. I opened it up and...ah, the fragrant smell of wood (cedar?) was almost enough to make me lose consciousness. I still find myself sniffing the guitar from time to time.

I wanted to wait a while to give my impressions. So now, after 6 weeks, here goes. Fit and finish is very nice, I love the rosewood pegs and the overall honey color of the cedar top. The fretboard is very playable, though I will seek to lower the action somewhat for the sake of fingerstyle. When changing strings to 85/15 bronze (12's)...my daughter bought them in Ireland-go figure... I could not find a shim under the bridge. Is there something technical to this procedure? I don't want to start sanding unless I have to.

The guitar is suprisingly loud when strummed (I have been using it regularly in Church), but I was most impressed with the sustain and richness of the individual notes. Typical of mahogany, the mid ranges are so lush and since that is where most of the melody lines are, I couldn't be happier. This is the liveliest guitar I have ever played...I can only wonder what the "L" series are like. I once described my Larrivee OM as having sort of a glass-like, pregnant water droplet kind of sound. This guitar seems so energetic, the notes seem "juicy", like the robust squirt that goes with the first bite in a crisp apple. The base is tight and defined, which for me, is good. I play with the flesh of my thumb and that brightness gives those bass notes clarity and good diction. The cedar seems to add sort of a warm, woody "thunk" to everything.

As time goes by, I am finding that technique has so much to do with what sounds can be coaxed from this (or any) guitar. I don't claim to be a great player, but I am very pleased with my A101...and, of course, the next question is what an A200 sounds like....hmmm

Jedi MasterPaul I nearly bought that guitar at Robb's, but wasn't quite ready at the time, so I never had them send it. I'd be curious to see some pics and to hear how it works for you.

Mike

by **JediMasterPaul** » 06 Feb 2006, 01:50

I very pleased with the A101 I got from Robb's.

The guitar was advertised as a demo, but there really were no major cosmetic issues. The only thing I have found are a few pick marks that can only be seen in certain angles, and what I believe is a finish crack near the about 1/4 inch in from the 'waist' of the guitar on the bass side.

There is no evidence of any external trauma, so I'm pretty certain it is a finish crack, which does not bother me at all. To be safe, I will have the guitar tech check it out when it goes in for a setup in a week.

I am going to have the action lowered to 'fingerstyle' standards, and I am also having a bone nut and saddle installed. The tusq adds a bit of edginess to my ears, and I think bone will warm up the tone a bit.

When I first played the guitar I though it sounded remarkebly like the Lowden I sold to get it (a Newtownards O25c). I loved that guitar, and its sounds, but its sale was a strategic one in that it allowed me to get this guitar and see if I prefer cedar/mahogany to cedar/rosewood.

In addition, the rest of the proceeds from the O25c sale allowed me to put a deposit on an OM I am having built by a luthier here in the US. After I'm done getting that guitar built, then I can move on to the next one, which will certainly be cedar / rw or mahogany. Maybe I'll end up keeping the Avalon, or getting a custom A101 or A201 with a wider neck and a cutaway, or maybe I'll do something completely different. But owning this guitar now, and playing it, will help me figure out which tonewood (RW or mahogany) I like with cedar. The price on this guitar didn't hurt either

The bass seems to have a bit more punch than the O25, and is almost as deep.

The neck profile is very comfortable.

The guitar came in a Hiscox case with nice grey fur on the inside. The guitar fits inside nice and tight.

My only complaint is that the fretboard has dot inlays on it. They serve no purpose and I think the guitar would look much better and more elegant with a blank fretboard. (If I keep this guitar forever I may have them removed and ebony inlaid in their place - effectively blanking the fretboard

)

Also, the bridge pins that came on the guitar seem to be the cheap plastic variety. However, this is easily and cheaply remedied and I'll probably just install some rosewood pins. Really, this is no big deal.

I don't think I have given up too much in switching from the Lowden to the Avalon. I'm very happy with this guitar and sure I will only get happier once the guitar tech has set it up to suit my playing style.

by **cowdoc** » 06 Feb 2006, 13:35

JediMaster, JB, Please help me out here...when I lift the saddle out of the bridge...how hard is it to recognize the rosewood shim? I couldn't see anything, so I picked a little with an 18 gauge needle, but decided to quit before I caused any damage. I always figure there is something in a Vet truck that can get the job done, but guitar work is getting a little far afield.

Thanks, Mike

by **JediMasterPaul** » 06 Feb 2006, 16:52

Mine didn't have a rosewood shim like my lowden did, what was there was a plastic shim - in truth it was thinner than a UST is (at least te USTs I have seen).

When I took them out of the Lowden 2 yrs ago, they came out easily, so my guess is if nothing came out, then nothing is likely there.

by JB » 06 Feb 2006, 18:41

Hi Mike

There normally is a rosewood shim that can be fairly easily caught with a needle or scalpel blade but there have been a few that have left the factory "shimless" :oops:

That of course means the saddle with have to be sanded ... a fairly straight-forward task but remember to sand it on something totaly flat like a piece of glass.

Hope this helps
Jim

by **cowdoc** » 23 Apr 2006, 23:15

Just as a follow up. There was no shim in my bridge. I ended up removing the tusq saddle and replacing it with a FWI saddle from Bob Colosi. I was immediately impressed and remain so. The trebles are now so thick and satisfying. Overall sustain was increased. For some reason I felt there was even a slight improvement in the bass. The guitar never fails to delight me with its bright energy and volume. Sometimes that comes across as a little harshness when strummed. I compensate by softening up a little and moving towards the fretboard. I heartily recommend experimenting with a bone or FWI saddle. The next experiment will be some medium strings!

by JB » 24 Apr 2006, 07:49

nice one cowdoc, I like bone saddles to.

Avalon Acoustic Guitars

A101 Reviews

A101 Reviews

Who is online