#31
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Having Played a few Lowdens recently at Acoustic Vibes I would recommend Walnut and Spruce of some sort. Walnut is really amazing in the right hands. Somewhere between Rosewood and Mahogany. An Engelmann Spruce over Bastogne Walnut would be amazingly beautiful and sound incredible. Here is an example of what Bastogne Walnut can look like.....
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Loef Slope D - Tirol Spruce/European Walnut Monarch Baritone - Sitka/ Big Leaf Maple Red Valley A style Mando - Sitka/Big leaf Maple |
#32
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FWIW, the sinker redwood/walnut Model One guitar on Simon Fay's website is easily one of the most beautiful guitars I've ever seen. The walnut back on that thing is really spectacular, you should take a peek at it and see Walnut in its sunday best
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#33
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The thing is I am residing in Singapore and do not have access to many Builders. Only the common ones like Lowden, Goodall, Bourgeois and Santa Cruz. I've tried them all and Lowden spoke to me by far. Otherwise I would have definitely considered other builders. Well if I'm not mistaken, Andy McKee plays a Greenfield Lutz Macassar. Macassar is tonally similar to Ziricote and actually further from rosewood than Ziricote which lies in the middle if I'm not wrong haha Quote:
Though I wouldn't call Eric Clapton a Lowden player. More like an ex Lowden owner. And Andy McKee was an Avalon player which is quite similar I suppose! I know. If tone was the only thing I was considering, I wouldn't have been in this situation in the first place! Haha I wanted an aesthetically pleasing guitar as well and so far only Cocobolo and Ziricote really appeal to me in that aspect >< Apologies if I'm coming off as indecisive and fickle to fellow AGF members. It's my first custom guitar and I have no idea what to expect and do want it to be perfect though I know it's too much to ask haha Really appreciate all your support and input so far. Just bear with me a little more till the order has been placed |
#34
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You really do have to trust your luthier and there's no reason not to trust someone like George. You already like his guitars so go with his advice.
I am currently awaiting a commissioned build and the actual wood choices were made by the luthier after long discussion about sound - I was lucky that I could visit him and he could here me play. Email George/Trust George and a I am sure you will be happy! |
#35
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I didn't pick any of the materials for my upcoming Wingert guitar. I just spoke with Kathy a lot, played a bunch of her guitars, she listened to me play, and she picked the woods out of her stash. I wouldn't have known what variety of spruce to ask for, and never would have thought of bubinga. But she knows. And Lowden knows. And most importantly, they know what woods sound like under their chisels. So just describe what tones you like to the Lowden crew and trust them. And have fun!
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Solo acoustic guitar videos: This Boy is Damaged - Little Watercolor Pictures of Locomotives - Ragamuffin |
#36
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Hi Marcus...
One thing that would help Lowden a lot, in understanding the sound you are looking for, and even better than trying to describe it to them, would be to email them sound clips of music you have heard that has the guitar tone that you are after. That would be the biggest help by far to the great team at Lowden. Best Regards duff |
#37
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My first email to them went unnoticed for 16 days before I emailed them again. And 26 days later, they forwarded me to another person who replied with a very simplistic reply which lacked detail...nothing I could form an opinion over :/ and also misread some of my questions replying with something that weren't related to them. I have heard such good feedback about the helpfulness of the Lowden team, but it just doesn't seem to be going my way. Might just be that particular person though, because when I asked about non tone wood related things, they forwarded me to a different person who was quite helpful indeed. Again I don't mean to speak negatively about them. Just stating my experience which is in no way a reflection of Lowden as a whole |
#38
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When I was in the process of commissioning a build with Alan Carruth we had several exchanges of information regarding the tone I desired. However, the most useful thing was when Alan sent me one of his demo guitars to try. From that point on we used the demo guitars tone as a reference point. I told him what I liked, and what I would like changed, of that guitar's tone. This was much more useful, again because we had a common reference point. Have you had access to one or more wood combinations in a Lowden jumbo that you have played? If so, maybe you could explain to Lowden what you liked in that guitar(s) as well as what you would like to be different.
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Chuck 2012 Carruth 12-fret 000 in Pernambuco and Adi 2010 Poling Sierra in Cuban Mahogany and Lutz 2015 Posch 13-fret 00 in Indian Rosewood and Adi |
#39
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From what I could recall, the O32 was really nice in standard tuning and DADGAD while the O22 lacked quite a bit in standard tuning but was MAGICAL in dropped tunings. Now I'm not too sure if this was due to the top or B&S. My best guess is that the O22 sounded better in dropped tunings was because it had a Cedar top which was more open sounding while the O32 had a tighter Sitka top and possibly the same reason why the O32 sounded better in standard tuning as well. But like I said, it is really hard to draw any conclusions with just 2 guitars...which is why I am resorting to you guys >< |
#40
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In any case, I think part of the problem is that your question is a bit flawed. Quoting your initial post: Quote:
The only hint you are giving is the mention of Candyrat artists -- but then again Candyrat has such a diversified roster that it could mean anything. To me, Candyrat means Andy McKee (even though he hasn't been with Candyrat for several years). I'd want a fat sounding Somogyi-esque guitar if that's the sound I was after. Quote:
No matter what tonewood you go for, it'll sound like a Lowden. If you want more fundamentals, go with mahogany. If you want slightly more overtones, go with rosewood. If you really have no opinion, look at the guitar of your favourite Lowden player and choose the same specs. |
#41
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JF C
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« I don't feel I'm a musician. I create sounds that are reflections of my emotions. To be a musician is something quite different. » - Mike Oldfield https://soundcloud.com/user-254253822 http://members.soundclick.com/Jean%2DFrancois+Champoux |
#42
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^^ +1 for truth.
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Solo acoustic guitar videos: This Boy is Damaged - Little Watercolor Pictures of Locomotives - Ragamuffin |
#43
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Thanks guys for all the advice. I have learnt a lot from this discussion
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#44
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Have you seen Jon Gomm's guitar? I wouldn't put too much emphasis on the eastetics (specially when it concerns back and sides).
Go spruce (alpine if you can). Back and sides are a matter of taste. Personally, I am a big fan of maple. Maple in hands of a good builder is sheer magic....clear, warm , bright with enormous punch. Lowden?....well, I think their customer service has been better in the past. For me getting the attention for my questions is important. unfortunately my experience has been the contrary. Today I still play Northern Irish guitar but from another builder. I sold my expensive Lowden of this very reason. Marcus, there is no holy grail in guitars.....maybe Brazilian rw....but again if you top it with cedar there are days you are going to miss the crispness of spruce and if you top it with spruce there are days you are going to miss the warmth of cedar. That is of course if you are still in Lowden construction......until you play a Greenfield and then things are going to be different . If you are like most of us mortals.....(which I think you are), you won't keep this guitar for the rest of your life. We guitarists are irrational when it comes to buying guitars..we often don't know if it is the head or heart we should follow. Remember what you think you want is only valid for now not forever.....I guess I am trying to say to also think about what is worth your money.
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----------------- Feel free to subscribe to the Youtube channel if you like alternate tunings. http://www.youtube.com/user/Frankensmile/videos Guitars: 1) Greenfield G1 fanned fret (Moon spruce /Malaysian blackwood) 2) Furch Little Jane 3) Loef 12 string high strung parlour Last edited by Farhad; 09-13-2014 at 03:42 PM. |
#45
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How about a spruce/cedar laminate for the top? Crispy warmth?
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Tags |
40th anniversary lowden, cocobolo, cuban mahogany, fanned fret guitars, ziricote |
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