L25 Redwood

[Jimbo]

So, I bought an L25 redwood from music nation : http://shop.ebay.co.uk/merchant/music-nation_W0QQ_nkwZQQ_armrsZ1QQ_fromZQQ_mdoZ who I believe are run by Steve Mac who posts on here (Not completely sure of that - please correct me if I'm wrong.)

Originally, the guitar arrived damaged - the back had a hairline crack along the join of the two back sections, so Steve offered to take the guitar back to the guys at Avalon and get them to fix it for me. I was expecting a good couple of weeks wait, but there was another guitar of the same model in stock so Steve offered to send me that one instead. Kudos for that.

I think the first guitar was a bit older than the second, so my first impressions of the first were actually a little bit better than the second. They both sound absolutely stunning though, and the new guitar is now starting to show what I really loved about the first. The redwood top seems to really suit the jumbo size, so we get a sound that seems to me to be almost perfectly balanced between a bass that is big and round and highs that sound sweet and shimmery.

I don't quite know how the luthiers at Avalon produce a guitar that performs so well at any volume you can play it at. Every guitar I've ever played has a certain comfort zone where the sound is just perfect. If you push it a little more or ease off a bit the sound quality isn't quite so good. The L25's comfort zone seems to be any volume you can play! The gentlest of touches produces a soft sweetness that is really beautiful. At the other end of the scale, I've had a couple of times where I've really thrashed the guitar a loudly as possible (the neighbours have yet to complain, thankfully) but it doesn't get bogged down - I can still hear every note individually, clear as crystal. Another thing is that the guitar is very loud. It actually scared the dog into leaving the room at one point!

This guitar is a credit to the skill of the guitar makers at Avalon. I've got an gold Irish gold and I remember thinking when I got it, "I wonder how there can be an improvement in the making of these guitars?" The L25 is better than the gold, with no doubt at all, and the gold is pretty special! Just don't ever let me play a premier, my bank manager would never forgive me!

Thank you very much for a stunning instrument. Pictures:

[stevemac]

You're right about the aged tone of the first guitar, Jim. I had it for about a year and although it didn't get played a great deal, it was in a room where I like to thrash my workhorse L310, so the top was gently resonating all the while and when I did play it occasionally, I noticed all the tone you are referring to. As you're now witnessing, the newer L25 redwood is beginning to respond in the same way and will only get better and better.

Nice shots of the guitar by the way, especially the soundboard - really shows the redwood in its full glory!

I was down at the factory yesterday and the older L25 had been fully restored - the hairline along the back seam was completely gone. For those of you interested, give Jim Black a call and I'm sure he'll work out a great deal!

[adhamh]

If your guitar skills are half as good as your photography skills I'd be well impressed.