Avalon guitars and Fingerstyle - New member

[mfarrar]

Hi all,

I have been looking for a new guitar the past few months, I play pretty much 100% fingerstyle with a bit of percussion mostly Tomi paldanius stuff at the moment.

I have tried just about every guitar I can get my hands on including Taylors, Martins, Patrick Eggles, Collings, Lowdens, Gibsons etc. I then came across Avalon, unfortunately I haven't been able to play one but I have seen people say they are similar to Lowden and I did like the Lowdens I played. One of the reasons Avalon appeals to me is that they are 100% handmade, unlike for instance the Taylors, although I like Taylors I would rather have something a bit different and I prefer Guitars that are traditionally made.

I came across Avalon guitars after discovering Andy McKee, and so I started looking at the L32 guitar.

The general opinion seems to be if your playing primarly fingerstyle then you should go for a smaller body like the auditorium and so not a jumbo. However there do seem to be quite a few pro fingerstyle guitarists that play jumbo's.

I was looking mostly at concerts/auditoriums though I did once try a Gibson J200 thinking it would be an uncomfortable guitar to play fingerstyle but then I was completely suprised at how nice it felt to play, after doing some research I think this was down to the neck profile and I have read this is similar on the Avalons. So if playing comfort isnt an issue with the jumbo's then that leaves sound.

I have read that the Avalon jumbo guitars respond well to fingerstyle. But do the auditoriums sound better? or is it something that is just down to personal taste?

Hope this all makes sense!


P.S. Merry Xmas to everyone, forgot that I am posting this on Xmas Eve as I am stuck out in the desert. Though on a good note I have plenty of time to play my guitar Xmas day

[Loki]

It's all a matter of taste as the man said when he kissed the cow.

The only way I was able to satisfactorily resolve the dilemma was by having a jumbo, a grand auditorium, a dread, a concert and a grand parlour in an assortment of tonewoods.

Works for me!

Really all their main models will handle most things. That having been said though, the bigger the body, generally, the bigger the bass and slightly greater the volume. As to fingerstyle v flatpicking v strumming etc I have heard all of them played successfully for all of those.

Good horses are never a bad colour, good Avalons, and all of them are, are never bad sounding guitars imho.

Bar being a user I have no connection with the firm.

Good luck.

[mfarrar]

If only I had the room and the funds to have one of each type of guitar lol.

Would the bigger bass on the jumbo drown out the treble? or would you say it is still well balanced?

[riverdog]

Mfarrar,
I agree with Loki's post. I have a custom made Goodall Concert Jumbo a Lowden auditorium size and an Avalon "S" or concert body and imho I have to say as a simple f/s with no picks, I like the Avalon the best. It is sweeter and every note pops without overkill, very balanced. I too love the way a Gibson J-45 plays and like you the neck profile/radius seem similar, plus I think they are a shorter scale length. The Goodall is rich and a full strummer, great vocal accompaniment guitar, but not as articulate. The Lowden is a nice comfortable middle of the road but for ultimate f/s I reach for the Avalon. All great gutars but with there own signature. But hey I think the late great Michael Hedges used Gibson dreads as one the great percussive/fingerstylist; so go figure!
Enjoy the journey,
Riverdog

[mfarrar]

Thats good to know that you prefer the Avalon, I think I am the right track!

I read somewhere that the best guitar is the one that inspires you to play. Looking at some of these Avalons blows me away, if they sound half as good as they look then I will be very happy.

Unfortunately I cant stretch to a custom order but I will be keeping my eye on the ex demo's to see what comes up. Its going to be mostly a 30th birthday present from my wife so it will be a guitar for life, so im looking for something a bit different with an exotic tone wood.