A320C Rio

[biglouis]

Just thought I'd add my comments to this site for any visitors about the fantastic A320C-Rio I purchased direct from Avalon just before Xmas.

This is about the gazillionth guitar I've purchased in approximately 40 years of playing. The point I'm making is I am no newcomer to excellent guitars and A320C is an excellent guitar.

It has that distinctive "newtownards" sound which to my ears is one of the best timbres for acoustic guitars on the planet. Very loud, very piano like, great separation, superb ringing sustain. In addition, the Brazilian Rosewood gives it additional depth and oomph. Hard strumming does not cause the sound to breakup.

Having said that I've mainly used it for fingerstyle to date because it has the intensity and volume I like for very fast, clawhammer type picking. It has the boom-ching and the penetrating trebles you associate with Richard Thompson's axe. It would probably make an excellent guitar for bluegrass, now I come to think about it.

Construction is pretty much impeccable. The bindings and the cutaway are nothing short of a work of art. I have to say I prefer the pin bridge to the straight-through kind, I always reckoned the latter was a great idea for a working guitarist (easier/faster string changes) but somewhat compromised the long term integrity of the soundboard (not that I ever noticed).

To give you an idea of the construction detail, there is a pencil thin ring of purpleheart around the body (top and bottom) and laminated into the neck. Very tastefully done. I noticed that the ebony on the fingerboard was a much more natural and less dense variety than the usual rock hard stuff. Aparently it is Madagascar ebony and I would definitely recommend you ask for this if you are considering a custom guitar (if it is not standard on the Legacy Series).

The interior finish is as good as the exterior. I would not recommend you eating your dinner off the inside but "clean" is too dirty a word to describe it. Pristine? Virginal? Rubbing your fingers round the inside of the soundhole it feels softer than a babies butt.

The guitar is continuing to open up as I play it and that bodes very well for how it is going to sound a few years time.

This guitar has just the right collection of useful features. Comfortable body, cutaway, timbers (what is better than Rio?), good machines and a very nice fretjob. It also has a distinctive and original sound. It is good value for money.

If you are new to Avalon (like I was) I can only suggest you take the plunge as I don't think you will be disappointed on quality and value.

LouisB

[JB]

Hi Louis

I'm very glad your happy with the guitar, we do our best you know
Thank you for the mini-review and it was a pleasure doing business with you.

Cheers
Jim

[Shaun]

Hey biglouis,
I feel the same way about my L-360.My two picking pals also love their L-25 and L-32.
I was at a singaround/playaround the room session the other day and i played a very expensive top of the line name brand guitar(beginning with a T.),made in California),it was a good guitar,but it did not have that little bit more of a quality tone that makes a good guitar a great guitar.