Just received my AS201CE

[MarkN]

Hi all,

Two weeks ago I ordered an Avalon Silver Series of eBay here in the US. I'm actually European (Dutch) but since I'm here for an internship until the summer I had to buy a guitar (can't be without a guitar for more than 3 days (tops) ).

Anyway, it took a while for the guitar to get here, but today it finally arrived. I already played a couple of Silver Series Avalon's in Dublin, Ireland, where I lived for the last 5 months for school, but I when I took the guitar out of the box tonight, tuned it, and played, I was still amazed by the quality! This baby shines!

Just want to thank Avalon for making such nice guitars. Keep up the good work!

Mark

[JB]

Glad you like your AS201CE and welcome to the forums

[MIKE 450]

Well done Mark now get out there and take over the world.

[MarkN]

Well done Mark now get out there and take over the world.

Will definitely try!

When I received the guitar it was tuned a whole tone up from your regular EADGBE tuning. So I tuned it to regular tuning, but later tuned it up half a tone, because I think it sounds much better. The trebles sparkle and the basses are more present and tighter. Also, like this it doesn't feel like my guitar is strung with rubber bands.. Would this hurt my guitar in any way due to the increased tension? Thanks a million!

Mark

[JB]

Tuning up half a tone will be fine ... nothing to worry about

[MIKE 450]

Hi Mark what's it like in the US where about's in the US are you. I've just wrote a song for a friend who lives near Buffalo in a town called Horseheads, many years ago the town was called "The valley of the horse's heads" the reason for the name was the indains attacked the US cavalry and cut off the horse's heads, they laid there skulls along trail to scare away any newcomer's, I recorded the song last week it's just a little storey type song. I do basic picking on my much loved Avalon silver, I got a lot of emails from Horseheads saying how happy and proud they where that I should write a song about there town , I've been to Niagara falls a lot, and parts of New york and I love to go horse riding when I'm over there the song is on www.myspace.com/michaeldickinson1 . Back to your avalon I agree with JB but would like to add when your singing or playing with other guitarist's I prefer to not tuning up. I don't know if you sing if you do you may cross your legs LOL . but you do as like it's all just fun, don't forget to let us all know what your up to over there, take care Mark have fun.

[MarkN]

JB - Thanks, good to know the increased tension isn't hurting my guitar!

Mike - Singing with a guitar tuned up half a note is a little odd at first indeed, haha! I gave it a try today, and it didn't always sound pretty . As for playing with other people, I can imagine you will be giving yourself a hard time playing with a guitar that is tuned up. Guess it's a good thing I play alone.. Though I would love to give performing with other people a try once, I first have to get over my 'fear' of singing in front of other people first.
Anyway, I'm here in the US for an internship until the summer, so I'm pretty much working a 9 to 5 job, Monday through Friday. I live in Northern Virginia, about 2 miles from Washington DC, which is always a very exciting place, especially when it comes to politics!

Btw, I listened to the song you mentioned and it sounds really good. What's your recording setup like? Also, which Silver series model do you have?
Thanks!

Mark

[MIKE 450]

Hi Mark my Avalon is the AS-2O1 CE year 2003 I picked it up second hand lovely tone plugged or unplugged which I like when I'm writing songs. Glad you like the sound, my friend has a little studio with all this stuff don't honestly know what or how it works.On acoustic songs he sticks a microphone at the soundhole another mic at the head stock and a large studio mic for vocal then it's recorded live "one take" minor mistake's are left on, the band stuff same process then I'll leave the boys to play what ever they like. I can't stand recording I'll practice real hard so as I can do the song once then I'm off I hate bloody studio's all my mate's have a studio they sit there swinging around in that big black chair trying to tweak this and that, when at the end of the day we have a saying in the music business "YOU CAN'T POLISH A TURD"