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Avalon / Lowden Comparison
I’ve
just taken delivery of a new 2018 Avalon L2-20 lefty which I bought on eBay at
a very competitive price.
The guitar is jumbo-sized – with solid
spruce top and solid rosewood back and sides. The finishing and components are
top notch and, although I normally play smaller guitars, it felt very
comfortable from the off.
It is early days yet, but I would say
it is at least on a par with my other handcrafted guitars from Lowden and BSG.
I’ve heard that Avalon are supposed to be more of a flatpickers guitar, but the
L2-20 suits my light fingerstyle playing to a tee. The Lowden heritage is obvious
I understand that seller is currently
listing the same lefty model on eBay in a cutaway form and may also shortly be
listing a slightly smaller version. Details (including contact info) can be
found by doing an eBay search on “Avalon Lefty”. I understand some "righties" may also possibly be available.
Do any other forum members have any experience of comparing Lowdens with Avalons?
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Comments
However, my initial impression of the Avalon is that it is very much on par with the Lowden in terms of build quality, finish, playability and tone. The tone of the Avalon is crisper and cleaner whereas the tone of the Lowden is more complex and a bit warmer - but that is probably just down to the tonewoods (spruce and rosewood on the Avalon, cedar and walnut on the Lowden).
I've just got the original D'Addario strings on the Avalon and need to do a few minor set-up tweaks. I'm currently using the Santa Cruz Parabolic Tension strings (Low Tension) on the Lowden - but have got a set of the new Lowden brand strings on order to try (11's - the 12's are sold out)
i had a L2-20 for a few days (got damaged in delivery so had to go back), lovely guitar and build etc was spot on. If you have a cedar walnut F I’d not say a worth while comparison to spruce rosewood (and new) Jumbo is really possible. There’s a lot of differences between the two right there. Should be a nice companion to each other though.
I love my Lowden, but I certainly wouldn’t say no to an Avalon at some point down the road. I wish Avalon did a short scale on their small body guitars though. I’d like something smaller than my F and with a shorter scale
When you put the lowden strings on, the coloured ball ends are not the same order as D’Addario! I’m used to d’addario so almost messed up. God only knows why they did that.
Re smaller shorter scale guitars - I pondered on a Lowden S or Wee, but instead I've got a custom Brook Torridge on order (redwood / ovangkol) - due later in the year.
In my opinion, they vary more between themselves based on the tonewoods and the body size and 12 or14 frets, than they vary from Lowdens.
I have not played a Lowden that sounds as good as my favourite Avalon
NB: 4 of my Avalons are Lowden-style (other than the pin bridge), the other is a D300A
But: they have made some non-Lowden-style guitars, so probably best to constrain the comparison to their Lowden-style models
I suppose it is a bit like comparing Furch (well-marketed) with BSG (low-key) - two high-end Czech manufacturers who started together and eventually went their different ways.
https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/NI022341
I’m sure your order is absolutely fine @Ted. ;;Having dealt with Steve at Avalon, he’s an absolute gent and great to deal with. Their guitars are fantastic too, so look forward to it and enjoy!
I don’t think Avalons are the same as Lowden, and not overly comparable (especial when comparing different sizes/shapes and wood combinations), they’re just from a common background and both make fantastic instruments I’d happily own both a lowden and an Avalon if/when finances/needs allow. Personally I find Lowdens body shapes better to my eye, just a nicer balance and from a better eye for design. Looking inside at the bracing the Lowdens have had a little more thought behind them too. It is a shame they’re not made by the guys who did make them for all those years, but hopefully they are making some money and still doing what they love, but with their name on the headstock.
I was just a little confused that the Companies House record link only tells the story up to 2015 - but they are certainly still trading and building great guitars.
I would say that, in the short time I've had it, I've bonded more with the Avalon Pioneer L2-20 than I have with the Lowden F23C. However, they are both really nice guitars - I guess it is a matter of personal preference.
Another reason I have a soft spot for Avalon is that Glastonbury Tor (on the site of the ancient Isle of Avalon) is clearly visible from my village across the Somerset levels!
that original company must have ceased being used for trading years ago, I paid cash to a different company name for all my guitars
Now - getting back to the guitars …...
AFAIK there was unhappiness for quite a while during the time the Avalon guys built all the Lowdens, because although GL was not involved with manufacture, the luthiers had to stick to his original designs, and could not add anything they thought would enhance them. Hence why the Lowden-type guitars they now make have normal pin bridges. Also Avalon now make quite a few non-Lowden style guitars
I'm very sceptical that Lowden bracing would be better than Avalon (rather than just different), especially since Avalon is now running a small-scale workshop
interesting article
The Avalon I had for a short period (long story) was absolutely stunning. I’d say I’m 99% sure my next guitar will be an Avalon. So I’m not meaning to sound like I’m saying one is better than the other, I’d be happy with either! Quite fancy a nylon string jobby, but not quite sure what they’ll sound like. I did try a Americana (the middle one) and it was nice, but the example I tried had a big old neck and I think it had sat in a case, unplayed for most of its life, so didn’t wow me like the others I’ve tried.
Id also say that i can see a very slight burn from power tools or cnc on one or two braces inside my F35. I’m sure you won’t find that on an Avalon!
You dont happen to have have one of the nylon stringed versions @ToneControl? Be interested to hear you take on them if you do.
The guys told me it was built for stage use (i.e. stiffer braced than a normal classical), to avoid stage feedback, and I underestimated the effect this would have on acoustic volume, which was not ideal for me, since I rarely amplify guitars. Nevertheless the reason I sold it on was because I found that I didn't like playing nylon strings on a narrower fingerboard for classical-style pieces.
It was very well constructed, I would have no hesitation in buying one with a radiused 2 inch wide fingerboard, with normal, non-stage light fan bracing
If they ran a shorter scale length on the small bodied steal strings they do, I’d go that way, but pretty sure they’re 650mm like the rest of their models.
Regarding Steve at Avalon I agree is very helpful and seems very straight. My concern was that I believe that Avalon have once before entered administration(post the Lowden split) but having dealt recently with Steve I can't believe he would do a Trump style fraud on his customers.
Lowden's marketing has been very effective since the split
Ironically, back in the 80s GL ran into lots of problems with the business side of things, and AFAIK basically retreated to France in 1989 leaving the Lowden guitar co (i.e. Avalon) to build the brand
However, in the 2000s, Avalon experimented with offshore-built "Lite" ranges for a short time, which may have undermined their Irish branding temporarily, i.e. the Silver series.
I can see that the 50 series are damn expensive, but the normal range aren’t that far off Avalon’s prices on their website. And considering the price of a Fender custom shop at £3500, i don’t see them as overly expensive for something made in the western world and not of bolt on neck type design.
Lowden are hardly like a Martin or Taylor corporation.
Avalon has been through some challenges over the years, but has righted the ship! Several of the finest luthiers on earth are still doing their thing at the Newtownards NI shop, the 'Spiritual Home of Irish Guitar Building'!
PM me for details.
-Bill-
"I have been in touch with Steve at Avalon and had an extensive email exchange with him the week before last, before I left on an overseas trip. On Fri Sept 28, the company came out of liquidation with a new investor, and hired back several key luthiers and was set to begin building again on Oct 1. I will be talking with Steve within the next few days, now that I am back. This new investor is real and it looks as though the company is in a better position than it has been for at least a few years.
True, what has been said in this thread, that a more expansive dealer network would be in order. Easier said than done, that: capacity to build the number of guitars needed to support such a network is challenging to say the least. Avalon has not invested in "productivity technology" such as CNC equipment, using its skilled work force to do the basic components, essentially by hand. There's a lot to be said for CNC, but by choosing to invest in quality luthiers with long experience, the outcome is a guitar that has a soul that one with more machine built content oftentimes seems to lack. "Soul" is difficult to measure, but anyone who has played an Avalon, and who has a better vocabulary than I do, should be able to describe it to you!
Fanned frets, sound ports, you name it. Very nice.
and English bog oak, that's 5000 years old I think