Avalon A200CE Gold Seires Dead Notes

[darkshines01]

Hello,

I recently bought an Avalon A200CE Gold series guitar second hand. Model nom A00500. A wonderful instrument, thank you.
However, it suffers from severe dead notes in many places, most significantly on the 5th fret lower e string, a string 8th to 14th frets, and some on the higher strings.
The frets appear totally fine and unworn in these positions and the nut & saddle look absolutely fine too - the instrument has been well kept.

I understand the freqeuncy/ acoustic that may be at play, but you say yourselves, that you 'use the finest materials and uncompromising traditional craftsmanship. We exist to make guitars that are technically perfect and inspiring to play'. It is clear that you do and strive to, from what a beautiful instrument this is, but the nature present make this an imperfect instrument to me.
If it were perfect, the frequency range and resonance would be perfect, and there would be no dead notes.

I'd just like to know if this is common in your guitars, or if you have had any owners complain/ inquire of this before. I'm just after piece of mind, becuase I am looking to return the guitar to the seller, to my sadness, it is so nice and playable, having fallen in love with it. It's just these dead notes are really, really bad when played - instant thud and sustain, tone, vibration, resonance kill.

Any responses with an insight would be a help,

much thanks

[JB]

Hi darkshines, I have replied to your email regarding your second hand A200CE and possible reasons.

Welcome to the forums,
Jim

[the greypicker]

Hi Darkshines

I am sure Jim will have given you the right answer, but the first thing I would look to do is to change the strings for a new set!

D'Addario EJ16s 12-53 gauge, or something similar, would be a good start.

The guitar you have bought is a really good one and I am sure you can get a great sound from it!

Good luck!

John

[boombox]

Don't head for the Post Office just yet - I own a Collings and an Avalon and one of the big selling points for me for both was that you never hear of either company producing a lemon, unlike certain of the larger firms I could mention. Whe I bought my Collings, I took a while to bond with it after the honeymoon period, but this was down to a poor set-up at the store: I changed the string gauge and gave the truss rod a tweak and all was well.

Though it's not good to have as your first Avalon experience, I'm sure it will be something pretty simple to fix, eg strings or set-up, on what is no doubt a lovely guitar.

[boombox]

Oh well, I noticed last night it looks like he sold it on already. Wonder what the problem was.

[darkshines01]

hi all,

thanks for the replies. i ended up giving the avalon back to the seller for a full refund. i was so gutted. i fell in love with that guitar, really bonded with it.

jim did get back to me before hand and stated untill he or an experienced luthier looked it over, then there was no way to be 100% sure, of course.
But he did say that it could most likely have been the guitar being exposed to harsh temperatures, like of central heating - the wood drying up.

the guitar was not bought new by the seller, he bought it second hand, so he could not speak for the above, and he said he never noticed the dead notes, but did not tell me how he speicifically kept it temperature wise, how it was exposed.

i did try 2 sets of different types of strings and guages but no change.
the set-up was great. neck pretty straight. action was too high for me though (4mm or so at the 12th fret),

it was a real odd and frustrating choice. i do regret it sorta, and he offered me £200 off, so i would of had bought it for £585 in the end.
but the problems just could not rectify that, even if it cost £100, it was that bad and frustrating. i couldnt keep it and needed, and still do need something as good for my current work, so it had to go back. trouble is, finding something that good at that price again.

and i just missed a stonebridge cr 23 go for £745!

i do wonder if he sold the avalon, part of me feels like asking him...

best wishes

[the greypicker]

An understandable decision! Big shame.

In my experience a guitar can be re-humidified OK if not too far gone, but you were probably right to give it back to the seller to sort out.

Never mind - there are hundreds of guitars out there and most people take care of theirs properly (Tommy Emmanuel and Pete Townshend excepted!) : D

John

[kswaby10]

Thanks for the info.


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