Lowden Owners Thread

[foxo]

Originally Posted by zmf

Foxo -- you think the Lowden sound differs from its Celtic soulmates? How so? I've played some Avalons and McIroys and thought there was a similar sound in all three.
Anyway -- sorry I don't have a pic of my O-23x redwood/walnut handy. But I did have to adjust to its tone. Almost sold it, but then decided -- heck no, I need that sound.

I meant more in comparison to the fairly conventional guitar tone (not a bad thing imo) one gets used to with popular American guitars, in my case I learned using a Martin. I’m not familiar enough with Avalon and McIlroy to discuss the differences/similarities to Lowden, although I have tried one Avalon and it was a lovely instrument.

[Step]

I don't have any picture at hand but here is a video of my F23 (Walnut/Cedar) in action.

I've had it about 2 years and it's a lovely thing!!

[cedartop52]

Regarding the question of tonal differences or similarities between Lowden, Avalon and McIlroy...I'll venture my subjective opinion since I've owned all three brands in the past few years. I've found the three brands are clearly 'of a family' when it comes to their tone. They respond similarly in every way that my ears can discern. The only tonal differences I can easily hear are simply related to the woods used. I also find many similarities in their build quality (all excellent) and subtle differences in their neck profiles. Disclaimer: While I've played acoustic finger style guitar for over 40 years, I don't consider myself any kind of expert on the above observations!

[foxo]

Originally Posted by Step

I don't have any picture at hand but here is a video of my F23 (Walnut/Cedar) in action.

I've had it about 2 years and it's a lovely thing!!

Thanks for sharing, what a great tone and some excellent playing.

[Dru Edwards]

Great thread. I have a Lowden F25. I bought it used just over 4 years ago. It took me a year of looking before I found it.

[Quake17]

I have three Lowdens and one of the new Sheeran Lowdens, though that may not count . An O-25c, an O-35 and a F-50 fan fret. I agree that the O can be a handful but that all encompassing sound is intoxicating!

[BluesKing777]

Well, we are into the second page of a Lowden Owner thread and it must be time to ask:

Which strings do you prefer?

Which pickup, if any, do you use?

I am having a ‘Lowden Day’ today which may stretch into a Lowden weekend!


BluesKing777.

[zmf]

One question I've got is -- what kind of music do you play on your Lowden?
Is it different from what you play on "nonCeltic" guitars?

I ask because my O23 used to move me towards slower music. I don't do DADGAD, which is often associated with Lowdens, so a lot of Celtic music is out. But I often ended up playing slower music like "Amazing Grace" or "Shenandoah".

Lately I decided to play it like I do my "American" guitars -- blues, rags, Travis picking stuff -- and I'm enjoying it more.

[foxo]

Originally Posted by BluesKing777

Well, we are into the second page of a Lowden Owner thread and it must be time to ask:

Which strings do you prefer?

Which pickup, if any, do you use?

I am having a ‘Lowden Day’ today which may stretch into a Lowden weekend!


BluesKing777.

Keen to hear answers on the strings, I tried out Elixir Nanoweb 80/20 bronze on mine but the never ending brightness started to annoy me. I’m just using the bog standard D’Addario Phosphor Bronze right now.

No pickup fitted, my 00015m sounds great with the Anthem SL and I don’t mind if it gets bashed about a little gigging.

[bkepler]

Originally Posted by BluesKing777

Which strings do you prefer?



Which pickup, if any, do you use?

I’m not sure if I’m allowed to talk about my current strings. Hell, I don’t even know what they’re called! They’re a D’Addario string I got sent to beta that have wound 1st and 2nd strings. They have a very balanced tone and timbre all the way across the guitar. I wish they’d release them already as these are probably well-past the end of their life.

The pickup that I have and really like is the LR Baggs Lyric. The major complaint that people have is that it lacks that artificial bass of a piezo and accentuates the mids. With the large G body (like the current O), it’s so balanced with a big bass that it just sounds natural and sweet. It did take a little fiddling with the initial setup of the lyric, but I’m really happy with the way it sounds.

[zmf]

Originally Posted by BluesKing777

Which strings do you prefer?

With a big O Lowden, I find that strings make little difference. It's going to do what it's going to do. Probably a decent approach is neutral-tone strings.

Haven't put Monels on it yet, but I think that might be my next set.

[JayBee1404]

Originally Posted by BluesKing777

Which strings do you prefer?

Which pickup, if any, do you use?

Strings - Elixir Nano PB 12-53 are just fine AFAIC.

Pickup - The same as I have installed in any and every guitar....K&K Pure Mini. Does the job for me.

Originally Posted by zmf

One question I've got is -- what kind of music do you play on your Lowden?
Is it different from what you play on "nonCeltic" guitars?
.

I play exactly the same stuff as I play on any of my guitars. I don’t regard guitars as ‘specialised’, and my Lowdens have all been good enough to be capable of playing anything my hands and brain are capable of.

The usual disclaimers apply......IMHO, YMMV etc.

[Rosewood99]

Originally Posted by foxo

Plays beautifully, it took me a little while to get used to the Lowden sound but now I am used to it I love it. [/IMG]

What did you have to get used to? How was is so different from getting used to any new guitar?

[musicman1951]

Originally Posted by BluesKing777

Well, we are into the second page of a Lowden Owner thread and it must be time to ask:

Which strings do you prefer?

Which pickup, if any, do you use?

I am having a ‘Lowden Day’ today which may stretch into a Lowden weekend!


BluesKing777.

I have a Lowden S 50 African Blackwood and Sinker Redwood. I use Straight Up Strings in Medium.

On the rare occasions I use a pick it's a BC TAD 40 or BC thumb pick.

The pickup is K&K Mini.

For the past year or so I've been playing the Lowden 98% of the time, so I use it for pretty much every kind of music.

[jrdavies]

Here are a couple of pics of my F-34 from the early 90s. Cedar top and Koa back and sides. I've had it about 10 years.