Lowden guitars

TheOtherDennis · October 2014

streethawk said:

There's one around the corner from me for a grand.

http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/lowden-guitar/1075588430

Also, Avalon guitars (ex Lowden luthiers) is close by and rumour has it they discount for local buyers.

http://www.avalonguitars.com/

I've got an Avalon CE200 Gold and it's a thing of real beauty. I love it. Not sure if you can get them in England now or not. I know where I bought mine (Sheehans in Leicester) no longer do them, they went back to Lowdens.

Richard Thompson plays one (he also has a signature model) and to back up what others have said, he seems to only play it when he's on his own, not with the band.

paulmapp8306 · October 2014

Tried some at Sheehans yesterday. Didnt like the Os - TOO big. The Fs were good, but again a little big for me (want a OOO, or OM size as I have a dread already - which is an Avalon CE200 Silver). The S50 they had in stock is stunning. Next to a OOO18, there wasnt a whole lot of difference in the core tone, but the Lowden was more balanced in the mids (the Martin had a little less sparkle in the presence and a little missing form the 2-3K region) and much more complexity in the overtones and resonance.

That said, the ooo18 is £1800 (circa) while the S50 was £5200. If I went Lowden it would need to be an S28 at aound £3200, but I want to try a Martin ooo28 first as well -see if thats a little better int he mids. If you have the money - I think the Lowden is beautiful and better tonally than anything else Ive tried, but they are pricey. I cant justify £5k on an acoustic.

mitch · October 2014

Hi.

Interesting as I have a Martin 00028 at home. Its a lovely guitar and has been played lots over the last few years. Its very different however to the Lowden sound. The 00028 is very sweet and gentle and has a lovely whisper to it and plenty of balance, but its straight braced and it does have a smaller voice. It can over drive a bit and in my mind doesn't work too well with a pick or hard playing. As I say I have one and I really recommend it to anyone wanting a classic straight braced Martin style of tone. But its not a big sound.

If its a Lowden that you have the need for a 00028 will not do it for you. In my view every Lowden has that signature Celtic overtone thing going for it without any compromise to the balance and warmth, and not too many guitar can do that. The F size is actually not far off a dread size if you measure it so its not really a very compact guitar at all. The S size is a oo/om ish size with a shorter scale. Its a lovely guitar and still has that classic Lowden feel and sound.

I played a S25 and a S32 at the weekend. they were very very nice. I really want the O35 but would be happy with any of the ones I played as they were miles away from the 00028.

They don't have to cost that much. The S23 I played was an offer at around £ 2200 and it was superb.

I know you said you played a Martin 00018. And I know you talked about the 00028. The 00018 has been recently significantly upgraded and is mahogany back and sides. The 00028 remains unchanged and has a rosewood back and sides. They now feel very different and sound very different to each other.

Have you played a new version OM Martin at all ? The OM21 and the new OM28 are real nice. very different from the 00028 due to the scale and the bracing.

paulmapp8306 · October 2014

I have tried both the mahogony OOO18 (at Sheehams) and the rosewood version (WS - in Nottingham). I also tried an OM in Nottingham (not sure if it was the 21 or 28). I thought the OOO18 was nicer ..... just. Not much in it - the OM had more bass/definition in the lower register, but the mid peak was lower giving it a different core tone. The area that was missing was the vocal mid range area (trying to describe it). The result was the OOO18 was sweeter sounding, with a better balance in the midrange, but lacking the very top and bottom, and being softer sounding than the OM.

Might have to investigate other places for the Lowden S range. Sheehams only had the S50, and said they could get a lower ranged S series - and would be £3200-£3400. With the OOO18 at £1800 ish, a OOO28 at £2k ish and the OM at £2.5k - it seemed a little much for a guitar that I wouldnt know how it sounded (the cheaper range is basically less pretty woods - however it would make a tonal difference as well to some extent).

The S50 had a fuller voice than the OOO18 - but while being a similar size, it does have a deeper body. If I could find an "off the peg" S series for under £2.5k Id probably go for that. If not its would be a OOO - either 18 or 28.

mellowsun · October 2014

I have an S23 that I am planning on selling now that I have an S32J. PM me if interested.

tonyrath · October 2014

A pupil came in with one recently very good player To me not as good as my Martin D15

andyoz · June 2015

Lowden W23 Serial No. 001 has appeared on Gumtree. It's been well played. Nice piece of Irish guitar building history there.

http://www.gumtree.com/p/guitar-instrument/lowden-w23-serial-no-001/1120408738

Aidanspaghetti · June 2015

I had the pleasure of hearingPaul Brady do his thing in a theatre two wends ago and then post gig in the Local until the wee hours... He was playing a Lowden and it sounded amazing.... Truly head turning and even to the point that non musicians in the crowd were commenting on it.... I've played a few that were always fantastic, and as I'm now getting interested in acoustics again, one is on my shortlist....

Buxtonmick · July 2015

I bought a Lowden some years ago, being a fan of Paul Brady. After being offered a large sum of money for it, I let it go, an act of foolhardiness for which my wife still chastises me. I've tried all manner of acoustics but for me Lowdens seem to have a weird magic about them.

Evilmags · July 2015

I had my Lowden in for its second ever service in 23 years of ownership. Its the little stage model type, Mahogony and Cedar and looks fairly plain. All of the guys in the workshop were absolutely astounded by its sound, saying they could not believe such a small guitar could sound so big. After having one for that long, if you like the sound just shell out and get one. They really are built for life and seem to get better sounding as they age. The quality of build and materials is absolutely top notch and they are not copies of someone elses style.

Moe_Zambeek · July 2015

And they smell great

Honest!

Stevepage · August 2015

So after a year of making this thread, I still didn't buy one. I ended up buying 2 electrics, just can't seem to want to make the jump into acoustic playing though it still interests me.

I know I'll get one eventually, maybe when I get tired of the shredding and sell the electrics and go buy an S or F series with a figured Walnut back.

[-O<

crunchman · September 2015

I played an O-35 at the show at the show at Olympia on Saturday. It was absolutely brilliant. I've always loved their sound. I just don't like the 45mm nut width. The guy on on the Lowden stand said I could order one with a narrower nut so that is sorely tempting. Not sure where I'd find the money though.

ToneControl · September 2015

Stevepage said:

Recently I've been listening to a lot of acoustic music and checked out a few acoustic videos. I came across Lowden guitars and I think they're some of the most beautiful instruments made.

Now I'm not an acoustic player, though I have been itching to start taking it up, what do you guys think of them? Do any of you own them?

They are excellent, but there are many other manufacturers at that level

they hold their value very well, which is great if you buy new, but not so good if you are buying used

A visit to :

http://www.theacousticmusicco.co.uk/

in Brighton will allow you to try many brands and form a firm opinion

in London, I'd say Ivor Mairants has the best selection

http://www.ivormairants.co.uk/

Bluesman1989 · September 2015

I won't play anything else now.

thomasross20 · November 2015

Are they worth the price?
Would love to try but scares of want one and at that cost....!!
My £700 larrivee is amazing...

Stevepage · November 2015

I still haven't played one, I may pop to Coda today and see if I can but just from looking at them up close they look perfect. Especially the Walnut backed ones. The fit and finish look flawless.

ToneControl · November 2015

Stevepage said:

I still haven't played one, I may pop to Coda today and see if I can but just from looking at them up close they look perfect. Especially the Walnut backed ones. The fit and finish look flawless.

be wary, walnut ones can sound very bright - not to everyone's taste

Plectrum · November 2015

I love my O25C. The wide neck has never been an issue for me. Perhaps because the neck is also quite shallow. I can do the thumb-round-the-neck and I don't have large hands.

Wazmeister · April 2016

Which Lowdens have the sweetest 00 kind of sounds ?

BigLicks67 · April 2016

Wazmeister said:

Which Lowdens have the sweetest 00 kind of sounds ?

Size wise probably the S series, like this one :

but as you can see & hear they have a deeper body and don't have a Martin 00 type of sound.

BahHumbug · April 2016

I have an O32 and an F23 (which is for sale). They are fine, beautifully crafted instruments and absolutely worth the price. Remember they are completely hand-crafted and the woods used are all top drawer, quality. I really like the fact that their lower end stuff is exceptional, without being blingy. Bling is an option you can pay for.........In terms of tone, the few Lowdens that I've played have all been quite punchy to my ear. My O32 is starting to settle down and sweeten a bit after 2 or 3 years.

bensherman · October 2016

BahHumbug said:

I have an O32 and an F23 (which is for sale). They are fine, beautifully crafted instruments and absolutely worth the price. Remember they are completely hand-crafted and the woods used are all top drawer, quality. I really like the fact that their lower end stuff is exceptional, without being blingy. Bling is an option you can pay for.........In terms of tone, the few Lowdens that I've played have all been quite punchy to my ear. My O32 is starting to settle down and sweeten a bit after 2 or 3 years.

Hi, as an owner of F and O models, I'd be really interested in hearing your opinion on the differences between the two.

I've got my heart set on an F50 with Sinka redwood and cocobolo. I plan to use it primarily for Celtic finger-style open tunings. I want a warm tone, with clarity and clear string-to-string separation, masses of sustain and overtones, and for it to basically sound like an ethereal choir-like chorus of angels! From your experience, which of these two models would be best suited for this sound and style of playing.

Also, what is your opinion on the choice of woods I mentioned?

Cheers!

Ben

AliGorie · October 2016

said before that I've played half a dozen on so over the years, all but one were the larger models - a couple for extended periods, I like what they make u do as a player, well for myself anyway.
Like trying new / different things, something to do with the way they play / feel.
way out my league price wise -2.7 k upwards.
One or two I've tried in shops were the dogs bollocks, I can see why they get the love they do.

MikeDearing · November 2016

I've gigged an O 12 cutaway (is it ) for 20 years and it biffs it out, it's a bit ragged around the edges but I reckon it's done 400 gigs.. and these are 2 hour restaurant stylee ones.. it's now getting a bit big for me physically but it still punches like rocky marciano

thomasross20 · October 2017

ICBM said:

They're beautifully made, and beautiful sounding - but they're a fingerpicker's/soloist's guitar really, not a strummer's. I had an O10 years ago, which I loved when played by itself but it had no punch in a band mix. Too delicate-sounding for my clumsy thrashing, and the volume in the sound is at the very bottom end not the midrange, so it gets lost easily. They suit open 'Celtic' style tunings more than any other guitar I've heard though, except maybe for McIlroy. (McIlroy used to work for Lowden originally.)

Be careful if you're buying an older Lowden, the company has been through a few changes and not all the guitars are 'proper' Lowdens - some were made under licence, and although they're not bad, they're not in the same league as the handmade Lowdens and are worth a fraction of the price. But you can also quite often find bargains if you don't mind wear and tear - a lot of folk players seem to treat their instruments very badly, and Lowdens don't escape unfortunately.

I finally got a few hours to myself yesterday so went to a guitar shop for the first tim ein about half a year (or so it feels like) to see what's new. Surprisingly I was preferring the Taylors to the Martins, and yet the Lowdens beat them all IMO. Pricey... But I noticed the dip in mid-range as you say. Probably harder to get that out in a band mix, whereas [sorry to mention yet again] Larrivee has a pronounced mid-range and I find needs next to no EQ. Saying that, I couldn't imagine playing an acoustic as part of a band mix - it'd be solo fingerstyle (I'm REALLY into acoustic now...) - so maybe not a huge issue?

thomasross20 · October 2017

I also wonder... ok, so you're meant to go out and gig guitars, but acoustics are more susceptible to environment changes, they're more "fragile" - I think for any sort of performance acoustic, I'd opt for something a tad cheaper with maybe less of a celtic sound? While the overtones sound amazing, I've often wondered if the sound is a bit too Celtic. Or maybe I'm talking b@llocks. Satin finish for the win, obviously... (I'm warming to the idea of getting Sheena's signature imprinted on the headstock of an acoustic... or even a plate screwed on with it inscribed on the plate).

CloudNine · October 2017

I went into Guitar Guitar acoustic store in Glasgow the other day to try a specific guitar. While I was there thought had may as well take the time to play pretty much everything in the shop. Tried every Lowden I think. O's, F's, S's, all kinds of woods. I do like the sound of a Lowden for fingerpicking, but they don't work for me for much else. Overtones are overkill sometimes.

I have owned a few in the past, an S series and a few F's, the best being a lovely F50 Redwood/Koa, which was better than all but one in the store on this visit. The best by a country mile was actually the most expensive, a used S50 Redwood/Brazilian, about £9k I think. It had incredible volume and clarity and was just alive, I think it is a pretty special guitar, but not what I was looking for anyway. Most controversial thing I have to say is that I think the build quality on the Lowdens has dropped a bit in the recent guitars. Just little finish issues here and there I noticed, less precision in some areas, wondering if it is as the volume of production has increased... There seems to be millions of them in stores all over the world. And I hate the satin/matt finish. I think it looks so cheap on such high end guitars, and especially with the beautiful back woods, that would really pop with some nice gloss nitro. Really drab looking.

As I said, went through a whole load more, and can't say anything else was truly blowing me away. Was a bit disappointed with most of the Collings, the build quality is as astonishing as ever, but nothing I would have bought from a tone perspective, and I have owned 6 of them before. I do think a lot of them will come into their own in 20yrs or so, a little tight from the outset. Although the C35 is a very cool guitar, like it's big brother the CJ35. Two of the best in the range.

All just my taste of course and ymmv.

Anyway I left with what to my ears was head and shoulders above everything else in the shop, or you could say on a par with the Lowden S Braz, just very different.

AuldReekie · October 2017

ICBM said:

They suit open 'Celtic' style tunings more than any other guitar I've heard though, except maybe for McIlroy. (McIlroy used to work for Lowden originally.)

Re MciLroys - I'd go a step further and say that based on my A30, they really should only be played in open tunings. Mine does not suit "ordinary" tuning well, but sounds great in a modal tuning

thomasross20 · October 2017

I notice up near the nut end some Lowdens .. the wood protrudes at the back of the neck. What's that about?

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