L32

[Walesy]

Hi guys n gals!

I'm like a kid on Christmas morning today, I ordered an L32 from JB on Monday and it should be arriving today! It was supposed to be here yesterday but the delivery company messed up (nothing to do with Avalon I should add!) so the anticipation has built up!

Buying a guitar that you've never played/heared is a scary thing to do and a bit of a gamble really! So i'm very much looking forward to getting it here and giving it a good trial!

I'll post up my opinions when it's here, of course!

[chris c]

Congratulations ! I don't think you can go wrong with an L32. I have the 12-string version, also ordered it without ever having played one, and I'm glad I did !
I understand about your anticipation building up, but you're still lucky... I had to wait 7 or 8 weeks before I got mine since they had to build it first !

[Walesy]

Ha, I bet after 8 weeks you couldn't wait to get your hands on it!

Well the guitar arrived not long after I posted this thread. I must admit initially I was fairly under-wealmed and worried as the guitar just didn't meet my expectations - However, as the day's progressed i've decided that I need to make a few adjustments before coming to any conclusions, so i'd like a bit of advice from those in the know if possible.

Firstly, given that the guitar had just been on a van/boat/van trip with an overnight stop at a warehouse in between can I assume that this might have effected the strings? for want of a better description they feel slightly 'rusty' or slightly 'rough' - the guitar did actually feel cold when I first got it out. Through the day, as the guitar has warmed, it's definitely started to sound better and better.

The problem I have is not with the sound, but with the playability.

I've never had a guitar 'set up' before, as i've never felt the need for it. My other guitar is a Fylde Alexander which is an amazing instrument, every time I pick it up and play it it feels like a special occasion! It is amazingly easy to play and has what I would describe as a 'fast neck' - my fingers just glide up and down the fret board, the guitar still has the factory set-up and i've only ever used Elixir strings on it (it was delivered with a set and I never looked back!) What i'm thinking is my best course of action is to firstly change the strings on the L32 for a set of Elixirs. If this doesn't remedy the lack of smoothness would I be right in assuming that I might need the action lowered?

Also, the guitar sounds a bit top heavy, as I play a lot of fingerstyle stuff I need nice strong bass notes but at the moment the bottom end is a bit flat - is this to do with how the guitar is set up in the factory and if so what do I need to have done to bring out the bottom end a bit more?

Would the easiest way of getting it set up be to take it into a decent guitar workshop along with my Fylde and ask to have the Avalon set up in a similar way to try and achieve similar playability?

I'd like to make it clear, that i'm not complaining about the guitar, I received great service from Jim/Avalon and the guitar is beautifully made, im just asking how to bring the best out of the instrument and taylor it to my needs

[Loki]

Hitch hikers Guide to the Galaxy time... Don't Panic!

Your L32 will be new,tight and have different sounding strings (D'Addario Exp 16s I think - strangely enough as they are a coated string which nobody I know who uses coated strings opts for) The comparison with an opened up Fylde with your choice of string is very unlikely to be similar.

The action will be set to a sort of 'common denominator' jack of all trades, not your ideal - and certainly not optimally low to be fingerstyle friendly

I reckon that if you get the action tweaked to your preferences, strings with a sound and balance you like fitted, and put in a couple of weeks of serious 'flying time' that you will have a sound and fond appreciation of what you've got. Limber it up in DADGAD...

and best wishes for long enjoyment of your new L32

[Walesy]

Hitch hikers Guide to the Galaxy time... Don't Panic!

Your L32 will be new,tight and have different sounding strings (D'Addario Exp 16s I think - strangely enough as they are a coated string which nobody I know who uses coated strings opts for) The comparison with an opened up Fylde with your choice of string is very unlikely to be similar.

The action will be set to a sort of 'common denominator' jack of all trades, not your ideal - and certainly not optimally low to be fingerstyle friendly

I reckon that if you get the action tweaked to your preferences, strings with a sound and balance you like fitted, and put in a couple of weeks of serious 'flying time' that you will have a sound and fond appreciation of what you've got. Limber it up in DADGAD...

and best wishes for long enjoyment of your new L32

Many thanks for your reply.

I realise that the guitar is new and like I said, it was cold on arrival etc which will all have an effect, i'm in no doubt that it will warm into a lovely sounding guitar!

I'll be getting some Elixirs on it in the next day or two and i'll go from there, i'm hoping that the strings on it have a lot to answer for!

[chris c]

Almost all new guitars I've had needed a setup when I first got them. Mostly the strings were too high at the nut or saddle (I guess because some people like it like that, and it is much easier to lower the action than to have it higher). Also the truss rod often needed a little tweaking. I file the nut slots and the saddle myself, so it's not a big deal. Mostly I very quickly changed the strings too when I felt it could improve the sound (I'm partial to non-coated D'Addario's)

Maybe your Fylde has a shorter scale length ? That would also explain why the Avalon feels stiffer, but again a good setup can do wonders.

I also think the guitar will improve in the days and weeks to come. It probably caught a cold during shipping . I cannot imagine an Avalon rosewood jumbo to have a weak bottom end !

[Walesy]

Neither could I!

Like I say, i'm not concerned about the sound - its the playability i'm not happy with but i'm fairly convinced I can address this by having it played with by a decent guitar workshop!

I've had Larrivee's, Martins etc and have never had a guitar set up before. Its funny, because I was saying to the chap who owns a local guitar shop only last week that i've never needed my guitars set up and whether my Fylde would benefit from a service and his reply was 'if it aint broke, then dont fix it!'

I suppose the next question to ask it, can anyone here recommend a decent place to take it here in Cornwall?

P.S. - Again i'd like to re-iterate that this isn't a complaint about the guitar at all, I wouldn't post on a public forum if it was without speaking to Avalon first! Im just asking for advice with what steps to take to tailor the guitar to my needs

[Walesy]

Hi John, thanks for the input!

You're right in that they're 2 very different guitars, and its for that reason that I decided on the L32 in the end as I didn't see the point in having 2 expensive instruments that were very similar! I wanted a different sound and it certainly seems that i'll be getting that I would expect the guitar to feel 'alien' compared to the Alexander that i've spent countless hours playing.

Thanks for the tip with the shim, I think i'm going to try changing the strings first and if it's still not as 'quick' as i'd like i'll take it to a professional, i'm not confident with messing around with my guitars, I just play them

[Walesy]

John, thanks so much for the shim suggestion.

I just removed them and WOW, what a difference! I really cant believe how much more playable the guitar is now compared to when they were in! I'm now glued to the fret board!

I can't wait to try a set of Elixirs on it ( I know some people dont like them, but I do!)

The action was clearly too high for me, but having never had a guitar set up before (must have been lucky with factory set ups) I didn't know quite how much effect that would have!

Again, thanks VERY much for the tip, i'm now really pleased with the sound and playability and am looking forward to a long relationship with the guitar

[onemanband]

Hi Walesy,
May I add my conratulations on your new aquisition too. Ooooh, the wonderful smell of that new wood when one fist opens the case.
I hope you have many happy years together, creating music!!
I've had my Avalon (a32ce12) for seven months now, gigging it regularly; It truly is the best guitar I've ever owned.
In that time I've tried several strings and for me D'Addario 80/20 offer the best sound and playability.
Good Luck.

Cheers.........Brian

[MIKE 450]

Hi Walsey, John has once again hit the nail on the head I agree 100% When I first played my Avalon I thought OH! this is different and thank God it was.

The beauty about Avalon guitar's is- they are different, it's as simple as that. I like yourself did find it strange at first, but once I got into my Avalon there was no getting me out.

Don't worry Walsey you'll soon get used to it, no matter what "strings" you use. Congratulations your now a Avalonite!

[Lentin]

Interesting thread...
I'm not pro at all... in fact I can say without getting flushed that I can't play guitar.
Anyhow, I tested my L32 at the shop and from the very first moment I found it different from my other guitars.. Ibanez, Ovation. Takamine... the same as you.-
But the difference with you is that I knew at that time that it was what I was looking for.
And now, some years later. everyday I play it, it becomes a part of me (almost every day).
Easy to play, amazing sound (so, I'm the only one who does not do its job in this couple).
Take your time, (the word Luthier is something that really scares me) and do those some minor changes... but take your time.

Peace