My acoustic-choosing journey

thomasross20 · October 2016

Hmm, I've never tried an Avalon - I'll have to!

TimmyO · October 2016

thomasross20 said:

Hmm, I've never tried an Avalon - I'll have to!

You'll have a job - there doesn't seem to be a dealer in the UK other than the factory shop.

ToneControl · October 2016

TimmyO said:

thomasross20 said:

Hmm, I've never tried an Avalon - I'll have to!

You'll have a job - there doesn't seem to be a dealer in the UK other than the factory shop.

they do some guitar shows

other than visiting the workshop, you could contact them and ask if any shows are planned near you, or if any artist-endorsers are near you.

In reality though, most of the guitars they sell are very similar to the long-standing Lowden models they used to make, so you can probably work out which ones suit you just by trying Lowdens.

I tried some Lowdens in London recently, and equivalent-model Avalons are still extremely similar

thomasross20 · October 2016

I'm not just saying this.. I wasn't overly impressed with lowdens. I'm probably an outlier.

ToneControl · October 2016

thomasross20 said:

I'm not just saying this.. I wasn't overly impressed with lowdens. I'm probably an outlier.

they won't suit everyone, but they are very widely regarded as one of the 5 top-notch boutique acoustic brands, so it's worth anyone trying them out as you've done

It's worth a trip to http://www.theacousticmusicco.co.uk/ in Brighton to try out many Pro level guitars and most likely discover, like me, that many £4k-£6k guitars don't match your ears or style at all, but that some are magical
You'd have to be the judge about whether you'd feel comfortable burning up their time trying guitars above your target price range, perhaps as a possible future customer

The same principles would apply trying lots of cheaper brands too, but it's more complicated - since there are more factors varying: which Chinese-made brands are good, which models are priced higher because of the brand name, which ones aren't set up well since the shop is not as bothered with cheaper guitars, which wood compromises are advisable, etc

I'd say trying a large number of brands that are well-set-up, in a quiet room is the ideal approach
Frailers in Runcorn has enough used good acoustics to cover some of the price ranges

richardhomer · October 2016

thomasross20 said:

I'm not just saying this.. I wasn't overly impressed with lowdens. I'm probably an outlier.

No I'm with you. Massive Richard Thompson fan - love to hear him playing a Lowden - but for some reason they don't work for me....

AliGorie · October 2016

richardhomer said:

thomasross20 said:

I'm not just saying this.. I wasn't overly impressed with lowdens. I'm probably an outlier.

No I'm with you. Massive Richard Thompson fan - love to hear him playing a Lowden - but for some reason they don't work for me....

conversely not a fan (it's that voice) great guitarist and songwriter, can I ask why they "don't work for u".
I've always found them excellent for fingerpicking, the half dozen or so I've played.

richardhomer · October 2016

AliGorie said:

richardhomer said:
No I'm with you. Massive Richard Thompson fan - love to hear him playing a Lowden - but for some reason they don't work for me....

conversely not a fan (it's that voice) great guitarist and songwriter, can I ask why they "don't work for u".
I've always found them excellent for fingerpicking, the half dozen or so I've played.

You can - though I'm not sure I can fully articulate it....

I suppose the essence is that they are voiced very differently from American (and by that, I really mean 'Martin') guitars. Their attack seems very soft and their dynamics seem more compressed - not that they are quiet - just a very different tone/dynamic...

It may be that if I spent longer with one that I'd grow to appreciate it - but a few minutes at a time in music shops has never made me think 'I need this'....

thomasross20 · October 2016

I'm intentionally not playing ultra expensive acoustics as I know I'd buy one.

TimmyO · October 2016

Checking in to report that my acoustic-trying-out exercise has faltered due to suddenly being overseas for a while, but my GAS is now erring back toward the 000-ish body size rather than the full armful of dread

Guitar_Slinger · November 2016

I knew f-all about acoustics and after sitting in Tristan Seume's class at IGF, fancied one guitar out of 26 belonging to the bloke I liked the least. Over the week, we chatted about his guitar, I tried it and loved it but he told me the Martin 000M was discontinued. We also became friends, which surprised me.

Took about 6 years to get my finger out of my arse/find a nice 000M on eBay but I did and love it. The plan is to build up a repertoire of acoustic songs and later in life, let a bigger Martin/Gibson-of-whatever find me.

Good luck with the journey.

AliGorie · November 2016

have u consider a deep body'd OM Tim, I got one for the BIG sound they can produce particularly as I use 'low' tuning - down to C 'n B on the bottom strings. More manageable size 'height' wise but dread depth width wise.

TimmyO · November 2016

What models/brands am I looking at for that?

I very nearly put in a rash bid for the Fylde Alchemist on eBay earlier...

TimmyO · November 2016

Wow listen to this :

https://vimeo.com/153425629

AliGorie · November 2016

yeah Tim, good 'open' sounding guitar - @ £2.7k there's a lot of choice getting THAT kinda sound.
One UK maker springs to mind - Nigel Forster - makes wonderful guitars in that vein.
Oh forget the 'DADGAD' bit, it'll play just as well in any tuning

and his gigging model -

thing about guitars in this league (Ensor / Forster etc) ya need them to feel like a musical instrument - i.e. an extension of yourself - not jusy sound great - so ya need to play 'em.
just saying.

oh - for reference I've put up a tune on the 'music' page here

TimmyO · November 2016

Nice links thanks. I won't be getting in to this kind of price - just stumbled across it and thought it sounded fantastic

ToneControl · November 2016

£2700 new, £2k used I assume

ToneControl · November 2016

here's the video that got me wanting a baritone even more - the second player especially:

ToneControl · November 2016

For me the brands I am most impressed with are Goodall, Lowden and Avalon
Each have amazing overtones that are intoxicating
Also Santa Cruz are also great, and Bourgeois

Picking up many others in shops I have not found any to match these (for me) from brands like McIlroy (surprisingly), Martin, Brook, Eggle, Taylor, Larrivee, Gibson

ToneControl · November 2016

this is nice, I have the baritone version of this:

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My acoustic-choosing journey

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