Avalon Acoustic Guitars

Dr.Dirk · Joined: 29 Nov 2009 Posts: 24 Location: Hamburg

First, I'd like to say hello to all forum members - this is my first post.

Well, my L25 arrived last week and I have been playing that beauty almost all day ever since. It is a wonderful guitar and I am enjoying it a lot, really - only one thing gives me a few worries and that is my arm resting on that big lower bout. It can get a little uncomfortable and suddenly there is no blood in your fingers anymore Wink

Can anybody provide a little workaround trick for that ? - I'm probably not the only one, I guess. And please do not say: "get an A model" - I will anyway some time, but this one should be a keeper as well!

Cheers, Dirk

singlereed · Joined: 07 Mar 2009 Posts: 91 Location: Surrey, UK

Hi Dirk, welcome to the world of Avalon. I suppose you could make sure you are wearing something soft on that arm. Better still, experiment with different postures and/or chairs, maybe in front of the mirror. You need minimum tension and maximum freedom when playing and musical instrument so it is worthwhile spending some time on it. I did some classical guitar lessons a while back and they have a standard way to sit and hold the guitar, resting it on the left leg, with that foot propped up on a guitar stool. You can try either leg or cross them and rest the guitar on your left leg. It is true that a smaller guitar is easier to manage but there are plenty of people out there with large guitars too. Good luck.

Dr.Dirk · Joined: 29 Nov 2009 Posts: 24 Location: Hamburg

Hi singlereed,

thanks for your suggestions. I think I will have to try out some things and it is not really that bad unless I play for a very long time which I did when it had arrived.

I know about the "classical" way but it seems a little strange to me to be honest. Nevertheless, I may give it a try... actually, I had a sweatband around my right arm yesterday and it helped! Cheers, Dirk

Dr.Dirk · Joined: 29 Nov 2009 Posts: 24 Location: Hamburg

Well, arm problems are almost sorted out now. The key for me was getting in a higher position while playing. 30 minutes of playing without any problems now. I will soon replace the D'Addarios EXPs with Newtone DADGAD strings on my L25 by the way - looking forward to that experience Cool

the greypicker · Joined: 16 Feb 2006 Posts: 473 Location: Derbyshire

Hi Dr D

You will love the Newtones! Just remember not to cut the ends off until you have the strings up to full tension. Because Newtones are round core construction, the outer binding can slip against the inner, resulting in a dead string! I tend to coil and tie my Newtones, but you can cut them once you are at full tension.

Not tried the Newtone DADGAD set, but their Masterclass and Heritage are brilliant! Let us know what you think!

John Very Happy

Dr.Dirk · Joined: 29 Nov 2009 Posts: 24 Location: Hamburg

Hi John,

thanks for your comment. The DADGAD are actually the Master Class strings, but they are somewhere between medium light and medium size. I will let you know what I think when I have played them!

mgrey · Joined: 03 May 2008 Posts: 34 Location: Tallahassee, FL USA

Quick question, are the DADGAD strings all the same guage, or do they vary based on the string? For some reason, I was thinking the Low D, High A, and High D were Medium and the middle ADG were all light. True or False? I'm just curious.

Dr.Dirk · Joined: 29 Nov 2009 Posts: 24 Location: Hamburg

Hi, it is actually .013-.017-.024-.032-.042-.056 DAGDAD. Still not on, though. My EXPs sound better after a few weeks of playing Wink

Cheers,

Dirk

Lentin · Joined: 24 Dec 2005 Posts: 141 Location: Las Rozas (Spain)

mgrey · Joined: 03 May 2008 Posts: 34 Location: Tallahassee, FL USA

I watched a Bensusan tutorial, and he was talking about the guages on his custom strings, and the strings he tuned down were medium to eliminate buzz. The standard tuned strings were light.