Review by
a visitor on Dec 24, 2005
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In Sepember of '05 I received a beautiful, Irish-made Avalon A200 (concert body; solid spruce top; solid rosewood back and sides) from the US distributor. From the the moment I picked her up I was hooked. I've played and recorded with a number of makes over the years: (Martin, Guild, Larivee, Hoyer), but this guitar is such a unique and beautiful sounding instrument, that it will likely be the one I use from here on in.
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Features |
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The fit and finish of the A200 is flawless: wonderfully dressed frets, comfortable neck, and tight, spotless joinery. It is not embellished with inlays and scrolling, which I like, and the finish shows off the natural beauty of the tonewoods well. The gold-plated ebony tuning gears are a nice touch.
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Playability |
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The Avalon A200 WANTS to be played. The feel of the neck and the response of the strings makes playing this guitar a real pleasure. Indeed, it seems that the guitar and player agree to play together rather than one just playing the other...truly an organic collaborative experience. It's easy for an hour of playing to go by without realizing that time has passed. |
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Quality |
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If you own a Lowden or an Avalon you are already familiar with the quality of workmanship and the voice of these guitars. If not, I'll try to explain: The guitars project like a cannon with great note separation and the most sustain of any acoustic I've played. Picked notes are almost piano-like, with very strong presence and sensitivity. The Avalon A200 is so responsive, it is like a living animal; with a wide range of moods and articulations. Playing a guitar like this can be a bit more challanging, as the player has to learn all of the subtleties of the instrument and how the different colours work, but once you work it out, you have an incredible array of sounds at your disposal.
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Durability |
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The instrument is built very solidly. The top is thicker than I expected (a feature of all Lowdens and Avalons), and I had initially thought that this would result in a reduction in projection and resonance, but I was wrong. Unlike Lowden's five-piece neck, the Avalon uses a two-piece. The overall structure, bracing, and wood-thickness gives the impression that this guitar is built to last. |
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Overall |
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All of Ireland can be proud of this guitar. It is a flawless, loud, vibrant, clear, and living being. Thank you, Avalon, for creating this guitar. It will be with me for the rest of the journey.
Regards,
Shaymus
www.shaymus.org |
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