How excited should I be about playing/buying an Avalon?

preston61 · November 2017

So my search for a new acoustic appears to be coming to a close.

Someone got in touch locally and has offered me an Avalon Pioneer D2 for a good price.

I have never played one before but am aware of their reputation.

So how do they compare to the more well known Martin and Taylor brands?

TheOtherDennis · November 2017

They're excellent. I have an A200CE, which is a rosewood back and sides with a spruce top. Handmade.

I'd say they're well in line with the Martins and Taylors, possibly even better. When I first played a Taylor I was excited, but I couldn't afford it. When I first played a Martin I couldn't afford it and was disappointed.

When I first played the Avalon, I moved heaven and earth to get it.

That was 2005, and I still have it.

Just my personal experience.

Lewy · November 2017

Build quality will be very good - certainly comparable to the other two makers if not better.

Soundwise - I think it depends a lot on whether you're after a classic dreadnought sound or not. The Avalon dreadnoughts I've heard demo'd sound great for fingerstyle and delicate flatpicking but a bit congested sounding for more assertive flatpicked stuff.... a long long way from the classic Martin dread sound. Which of course might be just what you're looking for.

preston61 · November 2017

My thinking is that if i don't bond with it I could always trade it for one of the ones I do like seeing as it has a must higher starting rrp. I'm pretty excited about the Avalon though, will be the first time I've ever played a handmade guitar

preston61 · November 2017

Turns out the answer to the question was that I should have been very excited, it was superb!! Which is why it came home with me :-)

VimFuego · November 2017

/\ /\ sadly this post is useless without pics. You can't build us up like that and not bed us back down.

preston61 · November 2017

I'm not able to post any at the moment and the photo sharing thing I used before seems to have gone bust.

However, the pictures here are of the actual guitar I purchased

NGD - Avalon Pioneer D2-20 - Guitars - Basschat

VimFuego · November 2017

sweet, none of my biz how much you paid, but that guy got a fecking steal at £999.

preston61 · November 2017

VimFuego said:

sweet, none of my biz how much you paid, but that guy got a fecking steal at £999.

He was a genuine bloke and sold it to me for the same. Another one had sold on Gumtree for £1800 a few months ago, so I thought paying a third of the new price was a bargain

Chris_J · November 2017

Wow!

ToneControl · November 2017

They are better than Taylors and Martins of similar RRP, but miles better if you get a good deal on a used one

which is why I have 4, and sold my Taylor at a loss

TheOtherDennis · November 2017

preston61 said:

I'm not able to post any at the moment and the photo sharing thing I used before seems to have gone bust.
However, the pictures here are of the actual guitar I purchased
NGD - Avalon Pioneer D2-20 - Guitars - Basschat

That's made me come over all unnecessary. That is way nicer than mine. And mine isn't exactly shit.

Image: http://www.denniscopy.co.uk/img/Avalon1.jpg

Image: http://www.denniscopy.co.uk/img/Avalon2.jpg

(And before anyone says anything, the strings weren't as bad as they look, it's the lighting and the way the pic was taken, they really weren't that old at the time.)

preston61 · November 2017

I spent 2 hours playing it last night and can say it sounds pretty special. The way it sustains is incredible. I also put a capo on for the first time and was impressed with how detailed that sounded as well. It's already starting to open up a bit, which I guess it was bound to seeing as it's been in its case for most of the last year

All in all, in my search for a guitar, I've not played anything that sounded as good and although the Martin 000 15e Special was the best I played in the stores, it's not a patch on this

Lewy · November 2017

Excellent news! Enjoy (and congrats on an amazing deal)

preston61 · November 2017

Thanks @Lewy at some point I'm going to need to put a pick up in it, but for now, it's spot on

blowawaytheclouds · November 2017

I got a brand new L2-20c direct from the Avalon Factory yesterday, been playing it all day and it is superb. Ive had 3 previously and sold them on, one to make room for a McIlroy AJ45, so it was a kind of mixed regret letting it go. I sold a beautiful Taylor to buy this one and, while the Taylor was great and I thought a keeper, the Avalon is hands down a superior Guitar. The sustain is just amazing. I would recommend an Avalon to anyone looking for great value for money, any one of the main 3 Irish Guitar is a no brainier if you get the chance to own one, the Avalons have to be on your try it list

blowawaytheclouds · November 2017

blowawaytheclouds · November 2017

https://flic.kr/p/21SrxLH

blowawaytheclouds · November 2017

AliGorie · November 2017

TheOtherDennis said:

preston61 said:

I'm not able to post any at the moment and the photo sharing thing I used before seems to have gone bust.
However, the pictures here are of the actual guitar I purchased
NGD - Avalon Pioneer D2-20 - Guitars - Basschat

(And before anyone says anything, the strings weren't as bad as they look, it's the lighting and the way the pic was taken, they really weren't that old at the time.)

someone having us on here - wheres the saddle ?.

Lewy · November 2017

AliGorie said:

TheOtherDennis said:

preston61 said:

I'm not able to post any at the moment and the photo sharing thing I used before seems to have gone bust.
However, the pictures here are of the actual guitar I purchased
NGD - Avalon Pioneer D2-20 - Guitars - Basschat

(And before anyone says anything, the strings weren't as bad as they look, it's the lighting and the way the pic was taken, they really weren't that old at the time.)

someone having us on here - wheres the saddle ?.

Ha yes that was my first thought when I saw that pic....unless that’s got the lowest action known to man, that bad boy looks due for a neck reset!

ToneControl · December 2017

I just bought another Avalon

ToneControl · December 2017

here is someone's history of how the Lowden guitar company became Avalon:
http://acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?p=5017951

to summarise from my perspective:

George Lowden ran his guitar factory from 1985 - 1988, and went into liquidation
A new company owned by others (Lowden Guitar Company) bought the company assets, and paid George a royalty on guitars sold
They made all the Lowdens for ~17 years, effectively building the reputation and large numbers of sold guitars out there being used
in 2001 there were disagreements about design changes, and Lowden Guitar Company became Avalon
Avalon's 6 luthiers are some of those who built Lowdens since 1989
Lowden now is a larger factory, less of a workshop, staffed by much younger luthiers, with less experience

My conclusion is that many people underestimate the quality and workmanship of guitars from the Avalon luthiers

digitalkettle · December 2017

So...how do you feel about Lowdens?

VimFuego · December 2017

it did seem to be the case that, 2nd hand, Avalons went to a fair bit less than lowdens, dunno about now tho.

WindmillGuitars · December 2017

A +1 for Avalon... I live 5mins from their workshop and have owned over twenty of their acoustics. Incredible craftsmanship and a nicer bunch of guys you could never meet.

ToneControl · December 2017

digitalkettle said:

So...how do you feel about Lowdens?

Lowdens are great, one of my top 4, exactly the kind of sound I want, but currently they cost more for the same quality level

My potted history of Avalon is intended for the benefit of anyone who does not know about Avalon, personally I think they are ignored by many in the UK, even though they are highly rated in America and Europe.

My personal opinion is that the guys in Avalon contributed a massive part to building the current strength of Lowden as a brand, and yet they do not really benefit from that

preston61 · January 2018

I am still loving mine, completely killed all desire for any other acoustic, which is why I've not been on here much since, just been enjoying playing it. It's been used/gigged twice a week now since I got it and keeps surprising me with the sheer quality it posses.

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How excited should I be about playing/buying an Avalon?

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