So, I played a McIlroy...

malcolmkindness

jellyroll said:

Out of curiosity, do Lowden/McIlroy owners all play finger style? Anybody flatpick/strum one of these "Irish" guitars?

They work very well indeed with a flatpick.

jellyroll

malcolmkindness said:

jellyroll said:

Out of curiosity, do Lowden/McIlroy owners all play finger style? Anybody flatpick/strum one of these "Irish" guitars?

They work very well indeed with a flatpick.

Thanks Malcom. I may need to investigate further….

tomjax

jellyroll said:

Out of curiosity, do Lowden/McIlroy owners all play finger style? Anybody flatpick/strum one of these "Irish" guitars?

I

  Richard Thompson belts out some amazing rhythm work on his Lowden model.

stickyfiddle

Yeah, my old band mate would be strumming on his Lowden for a good 8-10 songs in a noisy pub on any given night. Sounded great. 

TheBigDipper

tomjax said:

jellyroll said:

Out of curiosity, do Lowden/McIlroy owners all play finger style? Anybody flatpick/strum one of these "Irish" guitars?

I

  Richard Thompson belts out some amazing rhythm work on his Lowden model.

Yes he does. He has a new live "acoustic trio" album out, actually recorded a couple of decades ago, called "Live From Honolulu" that showcases his acoustic work beautifully. RT on acoustic, playing with a flatpick and three fingers, Danny Thompson on double bass (a masterclass) and Michael Jerome on cajon/percussion. Some fantastic performances of great songs. 

TheMadMick

I strum my Avalon and I will again when it comes back from being fettled.

DavidR

jellyroll said:

Out of curiosity, do Lowden/McIlroy owners all play finger style? Anybody flatpick/strum one of these "Irish" guitars?

Ed Sheeran? Seems to get to strum quite a lot!

mgaw

jellyroll said:

Out of curiosity, do Lowden/McIlroy owners all play finger style? Anybody flatpick/strum one of these "Irish" guitars?

Driving rhythm is a crucial part of the folk scene. So grab a plectrum and jump in I say

thomasross20

Would love to try a McIlroy. 
Lowden neck less chunky so easier to play than Avalon but Avalon sounds better imo. McIlroy in videos sounds great - wonder if they also have big C-shaped necks like Avalon?

tomjax

thomasross20 said:

Would love to try a McIlroy. 
Lowden neck less chunky so easier to play than Avalon but Avalon sounds better imo. McIlroy in videos sounds great - wonder if they also have big C-shaped necks like Avalon?

I have an A30.  They don't have chubby necks. They're quite slim, with a slight V profile.

malcolmkindness

thomasross20 said:

Would love to try a McIlroy. 
Lowden neck less chunky so easier to play than Avalon but Avalon sounds better imo. McIlroy in videos sounds great - wonder if they also have big C-shaped necks like Avalon?

I have found McIlroy necks to be slimmer than Lowden, but as both brands are hand carved they vary. Both are too slim and narrow for me.

thomasross20

I should have said my preference is for both non-chunky (not C-shaped baseball neck) and wide (for fingerstyle). Love to try one. One day..

TheOtherDennis

The two Avalons I've owned have had pretty slim necks, to me at least, especially the A200 I bought in 2005. I still have it, and all I do is strum it. (I used to use it exclusively for fingerpicking, but I've lost that ability through lack of use.) It sounds really quite bright.

The L2-20 I had was a lovely, warm sounding guitar, but I sold that due to cashflow issues. It was a thing of true beauty, and it had a pretty slim neck, too.

thomasross20

Maybe I've got puny hands lol

@TheOtherDennis what all acoustics do you have?

TheOtherDennis

thomasross20 said:

Maybe I've got puny hands lol

@TheOtherDennis what all acoustics do you have?

I have two I made myself (which really do have baseball bat necks, because I'm too scared to shave them any thinner in case they break on me), my old Avalon A-200CE and a L'Arrivee OM-02 that I was trying to sell because I needed the money, and I didn't really play it much. But I've been playing it more recently, on the basis that I may as well, as it looks like I'm keeping it after all.

thomasross20

Wow amazing!! 
Those OM-O2s are great tbh

TheOtherDennis

I saw from your thread the other week you have an OM-03 Anniversary, but you also say you have an Avalon - which one? 

thomasross20

L2-320
Just got back from hols, strummed it and NO WAY will I sell it. Think it's the best guitar I've got. Might just need to shave a little off the saddle - neck rounder than the Larrivee but has a real deep bass to it. Sublime.

TheOtherDennis

Very nice, I remember your thread now, it's a lovely guitar, that

thomasross20

I've fallen into the trap of obsessing more about the guitars than the music. Need to get out of that mindset. Thanks - it's a cracker