Why don't Avalons get the respect they deserve?

[crofty]

Some of the reasons why Avalons are perhaps not as popular/common as Martins or Taylors could be the dealer network.I know I can go any of the music shops near me (Edinburgh/Dundee) and play any amount of Martins/Taylors/Takamines/Yamahas etc,but it is more difficult to find
Avalons.
Also I feel that Tim had an important point, the rumours of acrimonious splits between Lowden haven,nt helped.How can craftsmen make good products with that kind of thing on their minds. Martin and to a lesser extent the other manufactures I mentioned have a great provenance and
this all helps to sell guitars and hold up resale prices.
I have a great sounding Avalon and I also have another underestimated make that does,nt get the respect that they deserve, ie Larrivee. So perhaps it is just going to take a bit of time.
Crofty

[timmyo]

re: dealers - there was a little rumour floating around a month or 2 ago that there had been a disagreement over pricing with one of the chains which resulted in them stopping stocking Avalons

Not sure if that's true - hope not.

[JazzyO]

I think one of the most fundamental reasons is that it takes a long time before a name gets settled in the collective psyche. I only started noticing George Lowden's guitars in the late '90s, and I read EVERY guitar magazine, and I'm a big fan of acoustic guitars. If it takes me a couple of years to notice a certain maker, then what chance does average Joe have? He's just much more likely to run into a Martin than an Avalon.

Another thing is location, in my opinion. American guitar makers have an enormous market right on their doorstep, that is relatively easy to penetrate for them. There are a lot of high quality low volume makers in the States that most people in Europe have not heard of (e.g. Bourgeois, Schoenberg, Froggy Bottom, Huss & Dalton etc.). Conversely, not many people in the States have heard of Avalon. Mind you, the ones that have are big fans.

Finally, the fact that Avalon came from the Lowden split has actually helped, not hindered the make in my opinion. After all, I would not have bought an Avalon unseen (as I have) without these 3 facts:

1. I knew that George Lowden made excellent, and ORIGINAL guitars.
2. I knew the factory while George was still there continued producing guitars of consistent quality.
3. Avalon retained the knowledge of building those quality guitars and this was confirmed in the few reviews I have read (mostly in the Guitarist UK magazine).

So, unfortunately, I think it just takes more people like you and me to get the ball rolling over the next years. Reputation is a thing that matures slowly....

Ciao,


Onno

[JRenn19]

I stand before you now as an ex-Martin psycho-loyalist. I was the kind of guy that would try to run over people walking with a Taylor case. Well, not really... But you get the picture. I still have a Martin guitar, and don't get me wrong, it's a great guitar. I still use it often (until I can replace it with another Avalon ), and it does have its merit. Only I know now that I can get twice as much care and quality in an Avalon guitar for the money. I have spoken with representatives from both Martin and Avalon, and whereas Martin has officially become a "large company" (except to the people that make them money, i.e. Eric Clapton, John Mayer, etc.), Avalon is still "those guys that make great guitars." And frankly, they make a lot of great guitars. Not to bash on Martin at all, I just know that I'm going to adopt my kid from parents who I know took guitar of them and loved them while they raised them. That was a metaphor, of course, and I hope that everyone with an Avalon instrument feels the same way. An "alright, here comes another one" is not the mentality at Avalon. I think that is the difference, and that difference, I believe, will soon be demonstrated and known around the world.

[JRenn19]

..., I just know that I'm going to adopt my kid from parents who I know took guitar of them and loved them while they raised them.

Wow, there's some Freudian thinking for you. I meant "good care." That kind of sounds like 'guitar'...

[backwater]

[quote="Son of Thunder"]
For example, when I tell people that I ride a motorcycle, people automatically assume it's Harley. In fact, I ride a Honda Goldwing, because it fits my needs and tastes, and I find it to be a superior machine in every respect that matters to me.

That's a good point - the avalon is a different option to the norm. As a biker I understand where Son Of Thunder is coming from. When people talk about motorbikes, everybody seems to think Harley, when it comes to acoustic guitars everyone seems to think Taylor or Martin(just wander into any UK guitar shop and you'll see mainly Taylors, Gibsons or Martins at the £1000+ mark).

Be an individual - choose by sound not by what everyone else sees. (I ride a Triumph by the way!)

[neil k]

hi everyone
to hear people say that the avalon name is not recieving the recognition
it deserves makes me laugh.here we all are mentioning them in the same breath as some of the finest guitars ever built,like martin,taylor,collings and many others.some of these builders are hundreds of years old and are house hold names,names we have all grown up with and to hear the name avalon mentioned in this company is a really big compliment to all the guys at avalon.well done guys.

[JazzyO]

Well done indeed!

Onno

[antheo]

Here in the US, I was not able to find a single one Lowden/Avalon. But you can easily find top of the line Taylor and Martin.

That's the opposite of what i experienced in Paris where it is hard to find top of the line american guitars.

[Pastor Steve]

I'm sorry I have to throw the other point in here. Avalon guitars are simply well over-estimated over-priced pieces of wood. I have to say that most of the one's I've play I simply haven't been happy with. Not saying everyone agree's but a good majority of people do including a good few guitar magazine reviews I've read through.

Just like lowden's you either get an amazing guitar which seems to have divine properties or something you'd probally rather use as firewood!

Well as a player of over 35 years I can say that you are well..... wrong. I have played guitars from every major (quality not necissarily quantity) maker and Avalon Gold and Legacy are among the finest made and wonderful sounding "pieces of wood" on the planet. Not to mention that they would be cheap at twice the price. You won't find a better fit/finished guitar anywhere.

That's not the opinion of someone who owns a Takamine or ovation (I've owned both) but as someone who collects and plays (daily) high-quality instruments from many continents.

I am a member of other guitar forums and read nothing but accolades from Taylor, Martin & Collings players who admire the Avalon line - whether they own them or not.

If you had said that you had played them and the tone or timbre or wonderful balance or separation just weren't your cup of tea. I might have regarded your comment as a valid observation. But you are obviously just looking for a place to make waves and not edify those around you.

Building only 400ish guitars a year, those who own Avalons are those who seek out the best and enjoy quality. That is probably the main reason they don't get the wide recognition they deserve.

[David]

May I attempt to introduce some pragmatism into this discussion?

Martin, Taylor, etc are long established multi-national corporations churning out many thousands of guitars annually. They have massive marketing budgets; well established dealer and agent networks etc, etc, etc.

To compare these massive corporations with Avalon Guitars is not comparing like with like. You cannot expect Avalon to compete with these firms on any level other than the quality of instrument produced and I believe they succeed in doing just that.

[syncopater]

Interesting guitars and it seems good tonewoods. I have never tried them, apart from some lower end models whose action was far too high. I know it can be lowered but there is a tonal price for this too. I have only ever found 2 guitars that I liked with the sound I like and set up right out of the box -a Martin D41 and my personal favourite, a Collings D3 dreadnought. I liked Taylors set up and necks but have never played one that I fell for apart from a friend's Dan Crary Signature Model. I still hanker after the Collings to be honest even if it is £3K. I really must try out your guitars. Are they similar tonally to Lowdens as I have never liked their sound much though they do appeal to some? They seemed too woody where I am looking for rosewood and spruce with strong fat bell like tones, with balance but without an overtone. I am a fingerpicker and want clarity, balance and projection. Your advice and information would be appreciated.

[JB]

Hi Syncopater and welcome to the forums

There is a difference between our Avalons and the Lowdens we used to make and although the body size remain roughly the same the bracing pattern was adjusted and we moved to a pin bridge, both features aimed at a change of sound.

There are some sound files to listen to here http://www.avalonguitars.co.uk/shop/index.cfm?do=listen

Recorded clean through a mic with just a touch of delay added.

Cheers
JB

[Ross A]

JB, I am relatively new to this forum and I apologise if this has been asked before. What was the compelling reason for changing the bracing and bridging method? Where people unhappy with the old Lowden sound? And have the new Lowden guitars kept the exact same design?

[JB]

Hi Ross, the bracing change was in the waist area where one long strut was replaced by 2 smaller stuts running in the opposite direction, this adds to the guitar sound dynamic allowing the instrument to retain its clarity and definition at higher ends of projection when the player is pushing the instrument to its limits ... i.e. thrashing it !

We feel the pin bridge adds to the tone and transfer of string energy to the soundboard whilst also being altogether a more stable construction.

Cheers
Jim