NHCD: Heel cap replacement by Avalon

danishbacon

My Avalon A2-20 had a heel cap strap button which made it unbalanced to play standing up (with my strap setting and 'body shape' - read dad-bod). I'm happy to tackle a strap button install but leaving a hole behind was not really an option on such a guitar so I figured I'd see if it could be fixed to the same standard as the rest of the guitar was built. Being finished in Nitro helps in this situation.

I contacted Avalon to see whether they would undertake such repairs (their website states they accept all guitars really and are fully equipped for a wide range of repairs). The entire experience was new to me. I've taken guitars to luthiers before and have found it to be an game of chance. Sometimes they don't take guitars for a long time, sometimes it will be 8 weeks (at least the good ones around here that I've interacted with). Shipping a guitar was a concern but given the fact that it's in a Hiscox, I didn't really mind it. 

Avalon provided me with a very reasonable, fully insured two way shipping quote and provided me with a label for collection the following day. Within a couple of days of arriving, the heel has already been replaced.

The full work order:

1. Replace heel cap
2. Refinish heel/blend finish to same standard
3. Fret dress, setup, pickup install and new saddles
4. Install strap pin in new position

They were kind enough to supply photos of the process so far:

I took a photo before it left for reference.

danishbacon

Pickup install and checking string loudness levels

 

danishbacon

Rounding off the heel plate corners, blending and touching up finish. I think one final step in terms of polishing back up.

WezV

9 our of 10 would have added a pearl dot

danishbacon

WezV said:

9 our of 10 would have added a pearl dot

The cost of the full replacement cap was such that it did not feel prohibitive. As there were other things that needed doing and it was offered as an option, I went for it.

WezV

yeah, worth doing properly.

ICBM

This is the only reason why putting a strap button there isn't a totally stupid idea. It's possible to undo the damage invisibly...

danishbacon

ICBM said:

This is the only reason why putting a strap button there isn't a totally stupid idea. It's possible to undo the damage invisibly...

Agreed. I've seen photos of neck button placement repairs and it's never 100% back to as it was. I can see the back of heel position working for some, but it felt like the guitar was toppling over and annoying when playing standing. After seeing the photos I've asked them to hold off on installing a strap button. I have another guitar that can fulfil that purpose and I can't undrill that hole...

I had my eye on a high end acoustic locally some time ago and when I asked for better photos in natural light, there was a pearl dot in the middle of the bridge. A 'high end' luthier had determined that drilling a hole through the bridge and installing a bridge doctor on a £5k instrument that probably needed a reset was a sensible solution.

danishbacon

Heel has been finished

PeteC

That looks like top class work.  Nice 

danishbacon

Agreed @PeteC. I should receive it back sometime next week and can post some final impressions when I've had an opportunity to play it again.

 

Andyjr1515

Beautiful job.

danishbacon

It's on its way back