Newbie w/purchase

[naboz]

Well, I have finally found the passage to Avalon...
I am in the state of Michigan, in the USA. I have searched for the opportunity to play/experience an Avalon for 2-3 yrs. to no avail--even though I live 40 mins. from the Midwest's guitar mecca, Elderly Instruments. So, I had to search and just buy one to see. I play mostly in DADGAD tuning composing my own tunes (whereas my standard tuning compositions are influenced by Will Ackerman and the like), and from what I had heard, your build will give me the flavor I'm looking for.
Today I purchased an S201C Gold series, made by Furch (I believe)--it has the abalone rosette...
dont have the serial number yet, but when I do can I relay here to confirm? From reading a few of the older posts, JB states there were only 160 Gold's made for the US (?), and that they had the abl. rosettes. I believe I was fortunate in the transaction, and so hope the sound will be a bonding.

This is a quiet place, eh?
Any further insights on my model purchased would be appreciated

[JB]

Hi Naboz and welcome to the forums

It sounds like a Czech made Gold since you mention the Abalone rosette, I also think all the Czech serial numbers began with "22".

Made from solid woods, Rosewood & Cedar is a great choice, you'll get that "matured" sound pretty much straight away.

JB

[naboz]

Thanks, JB.
Did I see that the Czech Golds were contracted/made around 05/06? And that F. Furch's shop was essentially a hand-build shop, making Avalons according to your specs? Any number amount on each particular body size? Should I/can I contact Furch about these particulars (or is it best left alone ) Is the Gold Series production now back in your domain? Or has it been replaced by another (Standard) Series?

(Curious cat, arent I?)

[JB]

yes, made to our specs but I don't have a model number breakdown.

All Gold's are made by us in Northern Ireland but only to order, the Gold range in theory has been discontinued as an "in-stock model" but can be made to order, build time about 8 weeks.

Our Legacy, Premier and Custom Elite range make up the vast majority of pre-orders and sales so we have to concentrate on those models for stock.

[Ross A]

What is the Custom Elite Range?

[JB]

The Custom Elite Series is made up of our higher end guitars that are more individual than the Premier series, the likes of the L320CMB, Americana, Millennium Oak, Classical etc etc.

[naboz]

Thanks, JB.

[stevemac]

Hi Naboz - congratulations on your purchase and may I add my welcome to the forum. I'm going to chip in here as I had the pleasure of setting up the arrangements with Furch for the building of Avalon Gold's. We looked long and hard for a workshop that could do justice to this range as we had initially produced them in our own factory, but since we needed the capacity to expand our Legacy & Premier series models (now of course we've added the custom elite range), it was an option we explored to partner with another factory.

We initially considered Asia (hard to beat the price) but couldn't find the quality, except for some small Japanese producers. In the end we opted for Furch because they were closer to home, we could visit them regularly to ensure quality was maintained (direct flight from Belfast to Prague had just begun) and I guess the critical thing was their approach to guitar making then was very similar to our own - hand made and focusing on quality rather than quantity. They have expanded greatly in the past two years and I beliee they have modified the traditional methods they used when they produced Avalon Gold's.

When we launched this range at NAMM in Jan 05, I was surprised that dealers in the US were initially negative about the Czech Rep. as a manufacturing source. That's all changed now and even Gibson has some manufacturing done there. I won a good many dealers over by telling them how Frantisek Furch literally had to make guitars in secret during the communist era to supply the considerable artistic community in former Czechoslovakia which operated 'underground'. To me, he's an economic hero and a very fine banjo player as well!



This pic was taken on the Avalon booth at the Musik Messe, Frankfurt in 2004 - Frantisek Furch on banjo, yours truly on bodhran and the sainted Eric Roche on guitar.

Not sure what all this has to do with your Avalon S201C, but reading your post brought back great memories.

[naboz]

I really am appreciative of the anecdotal memory. This is the kind of information that makes my purchase feel even better--as I type, my cash should be "in hand" and the guitar, upon my request, will be on its way Mon.--so as not to sit over the weekend in some cold truck/warehouse.
Now you have me eagerly anticipating my first cedar top to bond with--and that elusive "lush woodiness with a hint of the mists of Kilarnin!"

[stevemac]

Now you have me eagerly anticipating my first cedar top to bond with--and that elusive "lush woodiness with a hint of the mists of Kilarnin!"

They're right about that, with a hint of Bohemian rhapsody about it! Let us know how it sounds and plays when you've got to know it.