Lowden S35 is it too small/suitable for my needs?

Woodandwires · March 2017

Hi all,

I have a Lowden S35, beautiful sounding and looking guitar in every way which I have a love/hate relationship with, hence why its currently for sale, during a period of hate! I bought it and it was to be my forever guitar, it was a very serious amount of money.

I am a bedroom player, little or no intentions of ever playing out etc. I play mostly "strummy" type stuff for my own enjoyment think Billy Bragg, Neil Young , Bob Dylan, Beatles etc.

I bought the S35 for the body size mostly because in the past I have struggled with big dreadnaughts, plus I was two stones heavier so the guitar felt/was further away. The S series are more known as finger pickers guitars, wider nut, shorter scale length. so I am not fully using it for its intended purpose, is this a problem?

So my dilemma (which I grant you is a nice one) is, keep the Lowden, keep on using as I currently do, or sell/trade/PX for larger potentially more suitable acoustic or more radical buy a Strat/Tele and a small amp. I recently bought a Squier Tele to scratch the itch and have been enjoying that but the difference in quality between a £4+ Lowden and a £200 Tele is understandably huge.

I value your opinions, I might just need reassuring, I might be/probably am being stupid. What would you do? every time I think I've got it sussed, I change it a couple of hours later. So apologies to all of those who's guitars I have enquired over for being so indecisive!

Moe_Zambeek · March 2017

I think you've got entirely the wrong guitar for your needs, to be honest. Following your 'strummy' comment I think you're really looking for something in the American vein - Martin or Gibson.

The problem will be that - if you like the liveliness of the Lowden sound - Martins and Gibsons sound a bit 1D in comparison.

Maybe a Lowden F would be better?

CloudNine · March 2017

So many people I see on forums saying Lowdens are the ultimate guitar nirvana, but they really aren't. Don't get me wrong they are lovely, amazing build quality/consistency and I have had a few nice ones right up to 50 series (including an S model like yours), and I am actually considering another, but they are not the most versatile of things imho.

I could not have one as my only acoustic, they just do not do that strumming thing anywhere near as well as other alternatives. I had an F50 last year which I A/B'd alongside my J45 Legend for many months, and the J45 was honestly more than good enough as a finger picker, probably 75% as good as the Lowden. Whereas the Lowden was probably 25% the strummer the Gibson is. Lowdens can get a bit clangy when strummed, which can clash with vocals, sure there are people that can make it work, but I don't think it's their natural place.

As Moe_Zambeek has said, maybe start looking at some Martins, Gibsons, maybe also Santa Cruz, Bourgeois, smaller shop stuff like Fairbanks etc. Even if you can't manage a dread, I reckon plenty of the OMs will get you nearer to that strumming sound you want. I don't think a Lowden is the answer, whether it's S, F or O.

I was sorely tempted by yours in the classifieds. Have had the Koa/Redwood combo before and it is great.

BigLicks67 · March 2017

The problem is you've got a guitar that is designed for finger style and when I think of Neil Young or Billy Bragg I'm thinking D28, D18 or J45. My advice would be to trade for a nice J45 as it is a bit comfier than a Martin dread and you'll still have enough money for a decent Strat, like the Eric Johnson.
Alternatively, go bespoke and get a custom made Atkin or a Fylde like this one.

AliGorie · March 2017

Hmmm - lota crazy stuff going on here - it’s not the first time though.
U’r looking at the wrong culprit - the guitar - when it’s down to the player.
I’ve written on this before so have coped ’n pasted.
Go through the examples and make u’r mind up.

Ross Martin playing an ‘F’ Lowden - by choice his favoured weapon for accompanying fiddle ’n pipes - whats he thinking of ? - a Cedar topped, fingerpickers dream and he’s thrashing the £@!£!T outa it, cant be right ?.

It’s HOW he’s doing it and yeah I’ve heard them play pray acoustically (unplugged and he still uses that same guitar.
Theres another video of Darel Scott playing a thrashing may on a Soblell accompanying his singing - and all ya hear is, U cant heavy strum a Sobell - they’re for ‘finger style’ Theres another guy in an Irish band who uses a Sobell for band accompaniment

’n here -
technique damping / muting with both hands is whats required.
this first video is of an O38 - cedar / Brazilian which in most hands would get out control, think 'F' model then some - it's just not an issue for this guy - My favourite Lowden strummer

or here

OK, you want this whole misconception / misinformation taken to the extreme ?
Here is a Stefan Sobell, widely known as one of THE fingerstyle soloists instruments - being used in an out and out strumming / accompaniment role
watch listen and learn -

could it just be u want another guitar WnW ?

BigLicks67 · March 2017

AG all this would be perfectly viable but none of them are playing an S series guitar. Granted you could use a .60 plec and give it a light touch and make it work for you as a strummer, but the OP seems to after something completely different than the classic Lowden sound.

Woodandwires · March 2017

Hi thanks Mr. Biglicks67 that's my point about the guitar size it's an S for small. I know Lowden can be great for a wide range of genres including strummed stuff but not ideally the S series. Although it does sound great but thats not that type of guitars forte

AliGorie · March 2017

yeah, w'nw MbL I understand what u'r saying - way back the big Lowden now (O) was for full out fingerpiking, the 'F' model was for for flatpicking / strumming and the 'S' model was for singer / songwriter accompaniment and or, solo (lead) playing because of it's small body which gave it more 'focus' than the bigger models.
The 'F' model was re-voiced so it would work for flatpick and fingers - viz Richard Thompson 's work - etc

could it just be u want another guitar WnW ?

the 'F' me thinks

CloudNine · March 2017

There is a reason so many strummers use things like J45's. They are just easier to get a nice strummed tone out of, blend easy with vocals etc. I said above, you can make anything work, but there are easier options. Recommending a Lowden, any model, to someone who is primarily looking for a strummer type guitar, is just shit advice.

AliGorie · March 2017

I agree CN, odd choice but he says he likes having the guitar - except that it dosnt suite his playing style - somthing needs to change

mellowsun · March 2017

A number of Lowdens have passed through my hands over the years before I settled on a keeper and I concur - the S model is not a strummer that you bash out big chords on.

You can stroke it gently and it will sound great but it is primarily suited to fingerpicking.

As others have said, I would trade it for an OM sized guitar. You might get a good trade in deal with a specialist shop - Coda in Stevenage is worth contacting.

ArchtopDave · March 2017

I am far from clear as to whether you are more concerned about what you think your guitar should be used for, as opposed to whether it has a sound that you really like. If you like the sound that you get out of your guitar, then it really doesn't matter as to whether it more aimed at finger pickers, or not. If you think that might be able to find a guitar with a sound that you prefer, then, by all means, go out and try some alternatives.

I own a Lowden O series, which has that "Lowden sound". I really like what I get out of it.

Moe_Zambeek · March 2017

Lowden have a new model coming called the FM, more for the strummers I understand. Announced at NAMM this year.

Jaded · March 2017

I had a sort of similar dilemma a month ago. I have a Martin 0-15 which I absolutely adore, bought primarily for fingerpicking and it's small size. Ended up having to do a lot more strumming with it and started looking for a more traditional strummer until I came to my senses and realised I simply liked the sound of my little box even if it isn't made with that in mind.

If you like the sound of the guitar keep it, if you don't then move it on. For what it's worth, I love me some Neil Young and Dylan and think it sounds just fine with my little mahogany box.

Maybe try strumming without the plectrum too, it seems to soften the sound and warm it up a little compared to a plectrum?

Bluesman1989 · March 2017

Could buy my Benjamin

Evilmags · March 2017

I find with my Lowden (which is even smaller bodied than yours) a thick and fairly stiff plectrum gives more body to the strums. Even try as far as a 3mm stubby or a Gypsy Jazz pick.

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Lowden S35 is it too small/suitable for my needs?

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