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musical instrument details
1930s Avalon archtop guitar with an amazing sound -POSS PX
Estimated price for orientation: 980 $
Category: Acoustic Guitars
Class:
Description Brand: Avalon Country/Region of Manufacture: Czech Republic Size: 4/4 Type: Acoustic Guitar Right-/ Left-Handed: Right-Handed Sub-Type: Steel-string Guitar No. of Strings: 6 string
Vintage Avalon archtop jazz guitar from late 1930’sLike many archtops built in the 1930’s, it was modelled on the Gibson L5. It produces a beautiful sound and is in very good order. It’s loud yet resonant. In fact I've heard this in the hands of a very skilled player and it sounds amazing!
Exchange considered with another guitarI’m told that the Avalon brand were mostly made of laminates, rather than carved solid wood. However, on close inspection of the back, the grain matches on the inside and the outside so it must be solid wood. While the f-holes are painted on the inner edges, I have every reason to believe the top is also solid as the top grain is so obvious. The tuners, bridge, pick guard and tail piece all appear to be original and the bindings are all good. The neck is has some bend towards the headstock. It is without any obvious signs of having been removed for re-setting. The action is good, with about 3.5mm at the 12th fret. The fingerboard is in good order and it seems that it has had a re-fret (or good fret dressing) before it came into my collection. There are no top cracks, no body cracks or nasty neck repairs.It has obvious signs of use, with heavy wear to one area on the back of the body and the back of the neck. This all adds to the authenticity of this wonderful guitar.Best of all… It plays very nicely.
I can only find evidence of one other on the internet so far, and that one remains in a collection. A bit about the makers:Avalon was one of many brand names that J E Dallas & Sons, of London, used. Other well-known co-brands were Radiotone and Martin Coletti. They were constructed in Schönbach, Czechoslovakia.Although J E Dallas & Sons went on to manufacture guitars in the USA, it is likely that this Avalon was made in Czechoslovakia.USA Valco used the name “Avalon” in 1938. The brand “Avalon” only seemed to exist for just a few years, lasting until the early 1940’s. It’s no surprise that the body is similar to a Gibson L5, as Kay, Harmony and Gibson were involved in supplying archtop bodies to Valco.There were other guitar makers around in the 1930’s who produced models that were very similar to this one. The Orpheum A5 was very similar. They were first produced by William L Lange of New York, but later produced by Kay in Chicago. It was Lange’s who went out of business in the early 1940’s.This is both a player’s guitar and a collectors item.It is supplied in a good quality padded soft bag. Buy With Confidence. All items are very carefully inspected and described. Inevitably, I get asked a question that I haven't thought to include in the description. I'm happy to answer all questions about this guitar. Please ask questions Like us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/greatvintageitems Check out my other items on eBay. Offers: I will listen to sensible offers very close to the asking price. However, if you would like the item sent to you, and you are outside the UK, I will need to know where you are in order to consider your offer properly. Please make it clear if your offer includes, or excludes delivery. Thanks. Payment& Delivery: I will accept payment by PayPal, Cash (if you’re in the UK and collecting in person), or by bank transfer. Mainland UK ONLY: Postage is free using second class mail. If you would like this item sent to you any other way, just let me know and I will make the arrangements. If it costs more than my chosen method, you will need to pay the additional cost. Delivery OUTSIDE mainland UK: I will charge you whatever it costs me, PLUS the insurance cost. Please ask for a specific costing on postage. As this item is second hand, NO RETURNS, thank you.
Description
| Brand: | Avalon | Country/Region of Manufacture: | Czech Republic |
| Size: | 4/4 | Type: | Acoustic Guitar |
| Right-/ Left-Handed: | Right-Handed | Sub-Type: | Steel-string Guitar |
| No. of Strings: | 6 string |
Vintage Avalon archtop jazz guitar from late 1930’sLike many archtops built in the 1930’s, it was modelled on the Gibson L5. It produces a beautiful sound and is in very good order. It’s loud yet resonant. In fact I've heard this in the hands of a very skilled player and it sounds amazing!
Exchange considered with another guitarI’m told that the Avalon brand were mostly made of laminates, rather than carved solid wood. However, on close inspection of the back, the grain matches on the inside and the outside so it must be solid wood. While the f-holes are painted on the inner edges, I have every reason to believe the top is also solid as the top grain is so obvious. The tuners, bridge, pick guard and tail piece all appear to be original and the bindings are all good. The neck is has some bend towards the headstock. It is without any obvious signs of having been removed for re-setting. The action is good, with about 3.5mm at the 12th fret. The fingerboard is in good order and it seems that it has had a re-fret (or good fret dressing) before it came into my collection. There are no top cracks, no body cracks or nasty neck repairs.It has obvious signs of use, with heavy wear to one area on the back of the body and the back of the neck. This all adds to the authenticity of this wonderful guitar.Best of all… It plays very nicely.
I can only find evidence of one other on the internet so far, and that one remains in a collection. A bit about the makers:Avalon was one of many brand names that J E Dallas & Sons, of London, used. Other well-known co-brands were Radiotone and Martin Coletti. They were constructed in Schönbach, Czechoslovakia.Although J E Dallas & Sons went on to manufacture guitars in the USA, it is likely that this Avalon was made in Czechoslovakia.USA Valco used the name “Avalon” in 1938. The brand “Avalon” only seemed to exist for just a few years, lasting until the early 1940’s. It’s no surprise that the body is similar to a Gibson L5, as Kay, Harmony and Gibson were involved in supplying archtop bodies to Valco.There were other guitar makers around in the 1930’s who produced models that were very similar to this one. The Orpheum A5 was very similar. They were first produced by William L Lange of New York, but later produced by Kay in Chicago. It was Lange’s who went out of business in the early 1940’s.This is both a player’s guitar and a collectors item.It is supplied in a good quality padded soft bag. Buy With Confidence. All items are very carefully inspected and described. Inevitably, I get asked a question that I haven't thought to include in the description. I'm happy to answer all questions about this guitar. Please ask questions Like us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/greatvintageitems Check out my other items on eBay. Offers: I will listen to sensible offers very close to the asking price. However, if you would like the item sent to you, and you are outside the UK, I will need to know where you are in order to consider your offer properly. Please make it clear if your offer includes, or excludes delivery. Thanks. Payment& Delivery: I will accept payment by PayPal, Cash (if you’re in the UK and collecting in person), or by bank transfer. Mainland UK ONLY: Postage is free using second class mail. If you would like this item sent to you any other way, just let me know and I will make the arrangements. If it costs more than my chosen method, you will need to pay the additional cost. Delivery OUTSIDE mainland UK: I will charge you whatever it costs me, PLUS the insurance cost. Please ask for a specific costing on postage. As this item is second hand, NO RETURNS, thank you.
Exchange considered with another guitarI’m told that the Avalon brand were mostly made of laminates, rather than carved solid wood. However, on close inspection of the back, the grain matches on the inside and the outside so it must be solid wood. While the f-holes are painted on the inner edges, I have every reason to believe the top is also solid as the top grain is so obvious. The tuners, bridge, pick guard and tail piece all appear to be original and the bindings are all good. The neck is has some bend towards the headstock. It is without any obvious signs of having been removed for re-setting. The action is good, with about 3.5mm at the 12th fret. The fingerboard is in good order and it seems that it has had a re-fret (or good fret dressing) before it came into my collection. There are no top cracks, no body cracks or nasty neck repairs.It has obvious signs of use, with heavy wear to one area on the back of the body and the back of the neck. This all adds to the authenticity of this wonderful guitar.Best of all… It plays very nicely.
I can only find evidence of one other on the internet so far, and that one remains in a collection. A bit about the makers:Avalon was one of many brand names that J E Dallas & Sons, of London, used. Other well-known co-brands were Radiotone and Martin Coletti. They were constructed in Schönbach, Czechoslovakia.Although J E Dallas & Sons went on to manufacture guitars in the USA, it is likely that this Avalon was made in Czechoslovakia.USA Valco used the name “Avalon” in 1938. The brand “Avalon” only seemed to exist for just a few years, lasting until the early 1940’s. It’s no surprise that the body is similar to a Gibson L5, as Kay, Harmony and Gibson were involved in supplying archtop bodies to Valco.There were other guitar makers around in the 1930’s who produced models that were very similar to this one. The Orpheum A5 was very similar. They were first produced by William L Lange of New York, but later produced by Kay in Chicago. It was Lange’s who went out of business in the early 1940’s.This is both a player’s guitar and a collectors item.It is supplied in a good quality padded soft bag. Buy With Confidence. All items are very carefully inspected and described. Inevitably, I get asked a question that I haven't thought to include in the description. I'm happy to answer all questions about this guitar. Please ask questions Like us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/greatvintageitems Check out my other items on eBay. Offers: I will listen to sensible offers very close to the asking price. However, if you would like the item sent to you, and you are outside the UK, I will need to know where you are in order to consider your offer properly. Please make it clear if your offer includes, or excludes delivery. Thanks. Payment& Delivery: I will accept payment by PayPal, Cash (if you’re in the UK and collecting in person), or by bank transfer. Mainland UK ONLY: Postage is free using second class mail. If you would like this item sent to you any other way, just let me know and I will make the arrangements. If it costs more than my chosen method, you will need to pay the additional cost. Delivery OUTSIDE mainland UK: I will charge you whatever it costs me, PLUS the insurance cost. Please ask for a specific costing on postage. As this item is second hand, NO RETURNS, thank you.