Ava Torrefied Spruce

I'm not impressed- sorry. The price and build quality is excellent as best i can determine, thus the 5 stars and it is a pretty guitar with open tuners, which are big + (plus) for me- the action was way too high, I had to adjust the truss rod quite a bit- I had to change strings (too heavy gauge for me, but, I knew that going in)- I also prefer GHS Cryogenic strings- the sound of the guitar- meh- it's not bad, just not special-

The case is beautiful-inside. The bottom latch on the left side when facing the top is messed up making it hard to close and impossible to open with one hand-
No, I don't want to return it- too much hassle and after 3 days I destroyed the box-

Thanks for asking!
Garland Jones

The all solid Ava is a great sounding guitar! My only complaints are that there is a line down the middle of the top. Not a huge fan of that but it only affects the aesthetics of the guitar. Also, the nut has somewhat sharp edges but I can smooth those up with a file. Overall for seven hundred something bucks it plays like a more expensive guitar.

Very nice guitar especially for the money. Nice tone incredible sustain. Well setup and frets have smooth edges. Satin finish is very nice. Reminds me of a Taylor, but for a 3rd of the price, and if you don't like it or change your mind on the model, which I am actually going to do, it is a mere pittance of $15 restocking fee. Orangewood has got it goin in on.

I love the look and feel of the guitar, it has a really good tone, but after playing it for a week
I asked the Orangewood team why it squeaks so much. Is it the strings, if so I’ll change them.

Background: I have been playing for about 30 years and have around 30 guitars currently and have owned many more. I have USA Fenders, Gibsons, PRS, G&L and Gretsch. Mostly an electric player. I play a 25 year old Martin D-15 acoustic and wanted something a bit brighter. I started with a Taylor 214ce. It was bright but just didn't have enough mid range. I looked at a 414ce at Guitar Center which I liked, but they only had a burst finish which I did not like. So I ordered my $2600 414ce from Musician's Friend. It shipped from a Guitar Center in Wisconsin. They packed it amazingly but according to the serial number it was a 3 year old model. It also came with a substantially warped neck. I promptly returned it. I have heard good things about Orangewood guitars and assumed they were good cheapie guitars. I also saw they had all solid guitars that were a little better with amazing reviews. Since there is no shipping or return shipping costs I figured what the heck, I will give it a go. I got the guitar in Michigan 4 days later. I was super shocked! It was really nice! I would prefer a gloss finish to a satin but the fit and finish is pretty much perfect! The guitar was completely in tune out of the box. I am really, really shhoed at how good it plays and sounds! It plays as good or better than a $3000 Taylor! The sound is not quite a bright as the 414ce but it is more balanced. Very even sound throughout the whole guitar. Intonation is spot on and the sound overall is excellent. Is it as good as the 414ce? No. It is maybe 95% of the way there for me. More balanced though. At the end of the day it is also $2000 less when you figure in the tax. I don't miss the Taylors at all and would easily rather have 4 more Orangewoods for the price of one Taylor. :)