Avalon Guitars L311 Iroko/Cedar

L311 Iroko/Cedar | Avalon Guitars | Musicmaker Dublin

Some guitars have a story behind them. The Avalon L311 Iroko/Cedar has lived through several chapters before a single note was ever played on it.

Handcrafted in Northern Ireland from extraordinary reclaimed timber, this one-of-three Avalon acoustic-electric guitar is a remarkable example of what happens when skilled luthiers encounter wood with a history too interesting to discard. Its iroko back and sides began life not in a timber yard, but as an old table in a hidden drinking den and brothel somewhere in Northern Ireland. Not exactly the usual starting point for a boutique acoustic guitar.

The building eventually changed hands and found a very different purpose. It became a church-led community space dedicated to helping people through addiction recovery and personal rebuilding. The same table that had once witnessed a rather colourful side of life now stood in a place devoted to restoration and second chances.

When the time came to replace the table, its owners chose not to throw the timber away. Instead, it found its way into the hands of the guitar makers at Avalon.

And that's when the trouble started.

Iroko, sometimes referred to as African teak, is already a demanding hardwood to work with. This particular timber had spent decades drying and ageing, becoming exceptionally stubborn in the process. It resisted shaping, damaged blades and generally made life difficult for the workshop. The Avalon luthiers eventually gave it a rather affectionate nickname: "Bastard Teak."

You can almost hear the workshop language from here.

But beneath that difficult exterior was something special. The timber possessed a distinctive character, remarkable age and a story that deserved another chapter. Avalon persevered, eventually creating just three guitars from the reclaimed table. The L311 is one of those three instruments.

And what an instrument it is.

The solid cedar soundboard provides the warmth and immediacy that make a great fingerstyle acoustic so rewarding. Cedar responds beautifully to a light touch, producing a rich, open voice without requiring you to dig aggressively into the strings. Gentle arpeggios bloom with warmth, individual notes carry a lovely rounded character, and chord voicings have an intimate, expressive quality.

Behind that warmth, the reclaimed iroko back and sides contribute their own distinctive personality. The guitar offers woody midrange detail, clear note separation and a focused bass response that keeps the overall sound beautifully balanced. There's a seasoned quality to its voice: articulate and mature, with enough definition to let complex fingerpicked arrangements breathe.

It's the sort of acoustic guitar that rewards attentive playing. Subtle changes in touch and dynamics become part of the music, and the combination of cedar and iroko gives the instrument a character that feels quite unlike a conventional production model.

The craftsmanship is equally compelling. Avalon builds its guitars by hand in Northern Ireland, paying close attention to the individual qualities of the timber. Soundboards are voiced and braces shaped to bring out the musical potential of each instrument. With reclaimed wood as unusual as this, that thoughtful approach becomes particularly important. You can't simply expect a decades-old table to behave like freshly selected tonewood.

The appointments are beautifully judged, too. A Brazilian mahogany neck offers a comfortable playing foundation, while the ebony fingerboard and bridge provide an elegant contrast to the natural warmth of the cedar and iroko. Sycamore bindings frame the body with subtle sophistication, complemented by a solid paua abalone rosette and the unmistakable mother-of-pearl Avalon headstock logo.

Rather than burying the guitar beneath elaborate decoration, these details allow the extraordinary reclaimed timber to remain the star of the show.

For amplified performance, the L311 is equipped with a Fishman Ellipse Blend pickup system. This sophisticated acoustic system combines an undersaddle pickup with an internal microphone, allowing players to blend direct string definition with the natural air and resonance of the guitar's body. It's an especially fitting choice for an instrument with such an individual acoustic voice.

The undersaddle element provides clarity and reliable articulation, while the microphone captures more of the instrument's organic character. Together, they offer the flexibility to shape a warm, detailed amplified sound for live performance or recording. The discreet soundhole-mounted controls also keep the guitar's appearance wonderfully clean.

A deluxe TKL hard shell case is included, providing the protection an instrument of this rarity deserves.

At Musicmaker Dublin, we're fortunate to encounter some truly exceptional guitars, but the Avalon L311 occupies a category of its own. It's not simply a handcrafted Northern Irish acoustic guitar with beautiful tonewoods and premium electronics. It's an instrument made from material that has already witnessed decades of human experience, transformed through remarkable craftsmanship into something capable of making music for generations to come.

Only three guitars emerged from that old iroko table.

This is one of them.

Features

• One-of-Three Instrument: One of only three Avalon guitars handcrafted from a remarkable source of reclaimed iroko timber.

• Extraordinary Provenance: Back and sides made from wood salvaged from a historic table with a unique Northern Irish story.

• Handcrafted in Northern Ireland: Built by Avalon luthiers with individual attention to tone, construction and detail.

• Solid Cedar Soundboard: Produces a warm, responsive acoustic voice with expressive dynamics and rich harmonic character.

• Reclaimed Iroko Back and Sides: Deliver woody midrange detail, clear articulation and a focused low-end response.

• Individually Voiced Construction: Hand-shaped bracing and careful soundboard voicing help bring out the instrument's natural musical character.

• Brazilian Mahogany Neck: Premium hardwood neck complements the guitar's refined construction and comfortable playing feel.

• Ebony Fingerboard and Bridge: Elegant, durable appointments with a smooth playing surface.

• Sycamore Body Binding: Subtle natural contrast frames the distinctive cedar and iroko tonewoods.

• Solid Paua Abalone Rosette: Beautiful natural shell detailing adds understated visual richness.

• Mother-of-Pearl Avalon Logo: Classic premium headstock appointment.

• Natural Bone Nut and Saddle: Traditional acoustic components supporting string vibration and tonal clarity.

• Fishman Ellipse Blend Electronics: Combines an undersaddle pickup and internal microphone for a natural, adjustable amplified sound.

• Discreet Soundhole Controls: Convenient access to pickup blending and sound shaping without a large side-mounted control panel.

• Deluxe TKL Hard Shell Case: Included for secure storage and transport of this rare instrument.

• Collector-Grade Rarity: An exceptionally limited handcrafted guitar with documented reclaimed-timber provenance.

Specifications

• Brand: Avalon Guitars

• Model: L311

• Instrument Type: Handcrafted Acoustic-Electric Guitar

• Country of Manufacture: Northern Ireland

• Production Quantity from Timber Source: 3 Guitars

• Soundboard: Solid Cedar

• Back and Sides: Reclaimed Iroko (African Teak)

• Neck Material: Brazilian Mahogany

• Fingerboard Material: Ebony

• Bridge Material: Ebony

• Headplate: Ebony

• Body Binding: Sycamore

• Rosette: Solid Paua Abalone

• Headstock Inlay: Mother-of-Pearl Avalon Logo

• Nut Material: Natural Bone

• Saddle Material: Natural Bone

• Pickup System: Fishman Ellipse Blend

• Pickup Configuration: Undersaddle Pickup and Internal Microphone

• Electronics Controls: Soundhole-Mounted

• Amplification: Active Acoustic-Electric System

• Finish Appearance: Natural Wood

• Case Included: Deluxe TKL Hard Shell Case

• Special Provenance: Reclaimed Iroko from a Historic Table in Northern Ireland

• Production Type: Rare, Individually Handcrafted Instrument