Lowden F dimensions

[Jimi2]

Does anyone have a link to the specs of the F body? Ive been searching and can only find the lower bout width at 15 13/16."

I've got an F23 cedar/walnut fan fret incoming, and part of the reason I ask is that I'm wondering about bass response on these bodies. I've played some Os (cedar/rosewood and cedar/mahogany) that sounded gorgeous, but weren't very bassy. Obviously the longer bass scale length should make a difference, but I'm wondering about Fs in general. The O models are very deep.

[Colin_Mac]

Mine is 402mm across the lower bout and 120mm deep, 286mm across the upper bout and 110mm deep, and 246mm across the waist. Body length is 500mm. I don't really do inches.

[JayBee1404]

At the age of 77, I’m old-school - I still do Imperial! My F-23 has…

Upper bout width: 11-1/8”
Lower bout width: 15-13/16” (not 3/16”!)
Depth at neck heel: 4”
Depth at tail block: 4-3/4”

My experience of the F-23 is that the bass is very much present, but ‘tighter’ than the ‘O’ model, less ‘boomy’. Likewise the ‘F’ has stronger middles than the ‘O’.

Having owned two ‘O’ Lowdens - a 10 (cedar/mahogany) and a 25 (cedar/EIR), I find that the ‘F’ is a more balanced-sounding instrument than the boomy-sounding ‘O’ models, and is overall a more pleasing-sounding instrument.

As always, the standard disclaimer applies - IMHO. However, I realise that YMMV, and I’m cool with that.

[Colin_Mac]

I didn't want to comment on the sound differences because my experience of these guitars does not hatch the description in the post. I find that my O25 has a very nice bass rumble; the F23 doesn't have that but I would still say it had a decent amount of bass in there.

But the original question said the O25 wasn't very bassy, so by that measure the F23 would be seen as having very little bass at all.

[JayBee1404]

Originally Posted by Colin_Mac

I didn't want to comment on the sound differences because I find that my O25 has a very nice bass rumble. The F23 doesn't have that but I would still say it had a decent amount of bass in there.

But the original question said the O25 wasn't very bassy, so by that measure the F23 would be seen as having very little bass at all.

My O-25 had plenty of bass AFAMEAC, and my F-23 likewise - the difference being that the O was boomy, and the F has a tighter, less boomy sound (which I very much prefer).

But my ears aren’t Jimi’s or yours. You and Jimi may perceive those two types’ sound differently to me.

[Jimi2]

Originally Posted by JayBee1404

At the age of 77, I’m old-school - I still do Imperial! My F-23 has…

Upper bout width: 11-1/8”
Lower bout width: 15-13/16” (not 3/16”!)
Depth at neck heel: 4”
Depth at tail block: 4-3/4”

My experience of the F-23 is that the bass is very much present, but ‘tighter’ than the ‘O’ model, less ‘boomy’. Likewise the ‘F’ has stronger middles than the ‘O’.

Having owned two ‘O’ Lowdens - a 10 (cedar/mahogany) and a 25 (cedar/EIR), I find that the ‘F’ is a more balanced-sounding instrument than the boomy-sounding ‘O’ models, and is overall a more pleasing-sounding instrument.

As always, the standard disclaimer applies - IMHO. However, I realise that YMMV, and I’m cool with that.

Thanks!

Typo there on the lower bout - I corrected it.

[Jimi2]

Originally Posted by Colin_Mac

I didn't want to comment on the sound differences because my experience of these guitars does not hatch the description in the post. I find that my O25 has a very nice bass rumble; the F23 doesn't have that but I would still say it had a decent amount of bass in there.

But the original question said the O25 wasn't very bassy, so by that measure the F23 would be seen as having very little bass at all.

I should clarify, the Os I played weren’t lacking in bass by any means, but it wasn’t as present and rumbly as I expected due to the size. My experience with Lowdens is also limited - I’ve only played a few. But I have a Larrivee L (that I’m moving on to fund this F23) that has a really thick bass that’s more present than the Lowden Os I tried out.

I also noticed something with a couple of the big Lowdens- when playing sixth strings notes up the neck, the bass lost resonance, if that makes sense. Played open or at the first few the bass was much richer, but at the 7th or above it just sounded kinda “clicky” and not present. In contrast to my Larrivee that sounds bassy and full all the way up to like the 10th fret.

It might have just been the couple guitars I happened to try out.

[JayBee1404]

Try getting someone to play the guitar for you so that you can listen to it from out front. I’ve always found that guitars can be very deceiving tonally when you’re behind them.

[roscoe2311]

Originally Posted by Jimi2

Does anyone have a link to the specs of the F body? Ive been searching and can only find the lower bout width at 15 13/16."

I've got an F23 cedar/walnut fan fret incoming, and part of the reason I ask is that I'm wondering about bass response on these bodies. I've played some Os (cedar/rosewood and cedar/mahogany) that sounded gorgeous, but weren't very bassy. Obviously the longer bass scale length should make a difference, but I'm wondering about Fs in general. The O models are very deep.

This is a recent sound sample I made of my F-23, no fanfret though. I think the O's have more bass response generally

[Jimi2]

Originally Posted by roscoe2311

This is a recent sound sample I made of my F-23, no fanfret though. I think the O's have more bass response generally

Wow, that guitar, and your playing, sound great!

[roscoe2311]

Originally Posted by Jimi2

Wow, that guitar, and your playing, sound great!

Thank you for that! I love my F-23, I can't say enough good things about it and I hope you will enjoy yours too!

[Jimi2]

Originally Posted by roscoe2311

This is a recent sound sample I made of my F-23, no fanfret though. I think the O's have more bass response generally

Originally Posted by roscoe2311

Thank you for that! I love my F-23, I can't say enough good things about it and I hope you will enjoy yours too!

Thanks! I was going to ask about your arrangement, but I just saw that it’s by Al Petteway. Really nice. I’d love to tackle that at some point, but probably don’t have time right now.