Avalon Dolphin compared to a 59RI question

[Mark Robertson]

How do the 2 compare. Does the Robin have a long neck tennon? What type of finish is used on the Robin? Are the neck profiles close? Which do you prefer?(59RI,Avalon)
I'm looking at getting a Avalon cause i've heard alot of really good things about them. However I also have a lot of questions.

[John Williams]

Hey Mark,I would suggest a call to the factory for the more technical questions.Ask for Dave to get your questions answered from the guys that build them.They can probably make the neck tenon anyway you want it,and I'm sure the profile could be made close to the same as well.Go to the website,and get the contact phone number.Dave is the man.(El Presidente)

[John Williams]

www.robinguitars.com (http://www.robinguitars.com)

[Mark Robertson]

Thanks John.

[John Williams]

The Gibson 59ri has a list of $7937.00,and the Robin has a list of $3495.00.In my opinion not only is the Avalon the better buy,but it is superior in workmanship,materials,and sound.I hate to admit that the Gibson is a great guitar,and will probably retain its value a little better,but are you buying it to play,or look at.The player's money is well spent on the Robin.They're a class act operation.Get one in your hands,and you'll agree.Thanks

[Mark Robertson]

I buy to play. I currently own a 01 58RI flame top with all the mods. I've heard great things about Robins and am seriously considering buying one. I really dont care about the name on the headstock, but the feel and the sound are important to me.

[Kizanski]

Then I would wager that a Robin is in your future.

[John Williams]

I truly believe you'll love the Avalon series.As a dealer of Robin guitars I'd love for you to buy one,but more importantly as a friend I would love to hear that you've joined the Robin familia.You won't regret buying one.If I can be of assistance just call.Big John (Joyful Noise Music)440-632-1663

[Jack Kennedy]

I put forth a kind welcome to Mark :-)
Robin Guitars are for players Mark :-)
We are glad to have you here and know why you have come to Robin . You will find in a Robin guitar what is all so commonly lacking in others.
I highly recommend John Williams , give him a call...
thankyou,
blue lightning

[Mark Robertson]

Thanks for the welcome Jack.

I'm trying to work a trade for a new flat top Avalon w/2 P-90s for my Gibson 60RI DC Les Paul Special. I never bonded with the thin neck of the 60RI.

[Ken Jones]

I'm going to go out on a limb here regarding John William’s comment about Gibsons "retaining value" better than Robins.

I’d like to address what I see as short-term thinking regarding guitars as investments. I agree that in the short term, the re-sale on a Gibson or Fender is better than most other guitars on the market.

Gibson makes thousands of 59 RIs and other assorted "Limited Editions" every year. A lot of these are purchased and hardly ever played because the owner is afraid to scratch it speculating that his "rare" guitar will be worth more money in the future. Because of the volume of these guitars made each year, twenty-five years from now there will be no short supply of these guitars.

One of the main reasons a real "Burst" is worth so much money is because only a finite number was made over a period of three – four years. Today, Gibson probably cranks out as many new “collector’s items” each month as they the total sum of Les Pauls made between 1958-60.

Robin Guitars ships (maybe) 400-500 guitars in a very busy year. That equates to about two instruments shipped each workday. This includes ALL models – not just Avalons.


A few things to consider:

Gibson keeps striving to make their guitars exactly as they did fifty years ago.

Avalons recently changed to a different pickup mounting system (round-surrounds) – perhaps the square-surround models will be deemed more collectible?

What happens if Robin Guitars sales suddenly take off and they start making a lot more guitars each year? Will the earlier USA-made guitars be more desirable (like early PRS guitars)?

What about the MIJ Robin guitars? There are most certainly a finite number of these now that Robins are only made in the USA.

The bottom line is this - buy a guitar to play. If you want a guitar that was made with attention to detail, buy a Robin. If you want to buy a guitar you are going to sell next month, buy a Gibson. As players, we benefit from cheaper used prices on Robins. On the other hand, dealers do not benefit as much from low re-sale value. Dealers would probably sell more new Robins if used Robins cost nearly as much as a new one (and Robin Guitars would sell more guitars!).

[Mark Robertson]

Ken,
Well said.

I also ordered a flat top avalon with wrap tailpiece and 2 p-90s from Greg today.(Great guy) If I like it as much as I'm told, I'll be going on a Robin buying spree baby.

[Ken Smith]

I have to comment on this given an enlightening experience I had yesterday at Guitarget ( aka Guitar Center). I went in the store to try some (I hate to admit it) EMG active pickups for a metal guitar I am putting together. Having never played them before, I had the sales guy pull down a Gibson Zak Wilde Custom Shop Les Paul, which has them in it.

That guitar was the most amateruish attempt at building a guitar I have ever witnessed. The top had sanding marks still showing through the paint. The clear coated maple neck had sanding marks all over it. There was glue residue from binding installation still present. The rabbet for the binding was miscut all the way around the guitar. The binding and the top did not "blend" smoothly - there was a definite bump where the binding channel was cut too deep. You could actually stick your fingernail into a crack between the binding and the wood in one place. The neck finish was all orange peeled. The paint masking was crooked. The "special custom shop paintjob" on the back of the headstock was misligned. The nut was cut wrong and not seated properly. One of the tone knobs actually rotated in its hole. The back control cover route was overcut about 1/8" all the way around the plate. And this was all one NEW custom shop Gibson LP.

This guitar was the biggest piece of shit that I have ever held in my hands. Even my first guitar, a $175 Kramer from MusicYo (Korean) was light years better in the fit and finish department. And they had the BALLS to put a sticker price of $3500 on this piece of firewood.

This got me looking at all the other vintage LP's hanging on the wall. Not ONE of them even approached the build quality of my Robin. I have a 94 Avalon Standard that is breathtaking in every way. I gotta strongly say that if you are looking into a LP style guitar, the Robin is light years ahead of the name brand. And if you are in a money pinch, just buy a used one. You can get a stupid good deal that way.

BTW, I hated the EMGs. No harmonic richness like the Rio Grandes. This experience really hammered home the value of my Robins. And my Robin Avalon with moderately hot humbuckers sustains better than the super hot LP with EMGs.

Man, stay away from those overpriced and underbuilt Gibson wannabe's.