Jumbo guitars for home use

[mfarrar]

Hi,

I noticed a few people have said that jumbo guitars can be uncomfortable to play in the home and sitting down because of the size. Most of my playing is in the home and I have been leaning towards buying an Avalon jumbo so I would be interested to some opinions on this.

Cheers,

Mark

[riverdog]

Imho there aint nuthin' better then sittin' on the couch with my lovely lil' lady "Ava", (as I affectionately call my Avalon s201 concert body), watchin' my Florida State Seminoles on the tube with the volume muted. A cold beverage adds to the ambiance as I tickle her pb's if u know what I mean! (I have a jumbo & an auditorium but Ava gets the grab on the couch)...
riverdog

[Ross A]

The only Jumbo Avalon I owned was a L32 and to be honest I didn't find it a problem sitting down and playing it. You would be better off with a smaller bodied guitar, but I guess it depends on your size and how you sit with the guitar.

[Loki]

My take would be that it very much depends on what you mean by 'sitting'.

The previous responders seem to be interpreting it as slumping or slouching in the corner of a sofa, or in an armchair. In this context I can see the rationale for possibly favouring an S series -- but I frequently see an L32 being sofa cuddled in this house

If by sitting down you mean sitting on an armless chair then there is no problem whatever, real or potential.

In fact, because of the 'curvier' waist I reckon that a Jumbo is more comfortable than a dread irrespective of what you are sitting on.

The ultimate solution, of course, is to buy one of each

[mfarrar]

Thanks for the replys. I would say mostly I play sat down on armless chairs, or sometimes in the middle of the sofa. I never really try to play cramped up on an armchair or anything like that.

I find it interesting Loki that you say a jumbo is more comfortable because of the body shape, though I cant really go with your solution of buying one of each lol.

Is there a guitar that is very similar in shape and size to the L32? I have tried a Gibson J200 and found that really comfortable to play but was sat on a stool at the time.

I would also be interested to know what the difference is between an A and an S.

[riverdog]

Hey Mark,
Check out the dimensions section at the forum index, third one down and it will give you the dimensions. I have a Lowden F32 body shape which is similar to the Avalon "A" body shape and as I stated in my initial post I have an "S" 201 Concert body and kiddin' aside, I really feel most comfortable with the Avalon "S" shape; it is slender and very comfortable. The volume certainly belies its its smaller body, especially in the eir/cedar combo; very balanced with a bass that will surprise you. And with all Avalons it has remarkable sustain with NO dead spots up and down the neck. It is an inspiring guitar as I seriously do most of my writing while noodling about the fretboard on the couch enjoying just the pure tone of this guitar. So I hope that helps and if you want to see some pics or a demo, pm me your email and I'll be glad to send some to you. In my other post I mention a Lowden S23 I sold and it was not as slender as the Avalon, it was a bit chubbier. I bought this guitar site unseen to replace the the s23 and I am soooooooo glad I did because they hard are to find here in Fl. and this forum was encouraging in my journey...

Riverdog

[Loki]

mfarrar,

Imho the tighter waist on the jumbo makes it lower and more stable on the knee, but also allows a much more comfortable position for the strumming/fingerpicking hand, this while having everything a dreadnaught has to offer + a bit more.

If it were just a matter of comfort then I would have to go with my 12 fret Avalon Grand Parlour, but you are after a bigger sound. There is a very good reason why the L32 is far and away Avalons best seller... but,and it is big one the A series instuments are outstanding as well.

Were I in your position, however, I would ring JB at Avalon and discuss with him what you are after, letting him know your music, playing style, playing environment and all and listen to the info. he gives you about the instruments.

I've have dealt wiyh him several times and have never found him to be other than extraordinarily helpful and entirely honest.

Good luck --- but be sure that whichever Avalon you get you will be getting one helluva guitar!

[mfarrar]

One of the reasons im thinking of the jumbo is because im starting to play more percussive stuff and I was thinking a jumbo would stand up to that better.

I will probably give JB a ring or maybe even take a trip over as I have never been to Ireland. But will leave it for a bit yet because im not planning on getting one till April, unless of course something comes up I cant resist!

[Rick Jones]

Jumbo's certainly get a better 'kick drum' thump when doing percussive stuff, as well as having much more surface area, so it's easier to find a spot to hit!!

[mfarrar]

Do Jumbo's have stronger bracing? Can they take more punishment so to speak?

btw that was a great review you posted on the L32 Rick

[Rick Jones]

Do Jumbo's have stronger bracing? Can they take more punishment so to speak?

btw that was a great review you posted on the L32 Rick

Thankyou!
I don't think Jumbos are braced any more sturdily, and the larger surface area may actually be more prone to cracks than smaller guitars, as there is more area to flex on impact. That said, you don't need much force to get the sound, it's more a case of finding what attacks sound right, with the minimum effort applied.
If you are playing that style, you have to accept that it could happen, and may need repairing, it's not the end of the world, but if it bothers you, you may want to get a cheap second hand 'beater' type guitar to work on this style.