The Lowden sound

[hamburg325]

I'm always drawn to the beautiful aesthetics, impeccable build quality, and solid feel of Lowden guitars. They're big, assertive instruments, which is exactly what I like.

But the tone always ends up holding me back. Rather than rich and creamy, I find the sound to be a little bare and harsh, with very little in the way bass warmth to round out the sound. They almost sound like National Steel guitars, in their strident and somewhat metallic midrange and treble voicing.

I know these are great guitars, loved and admired by many. Is there a shape or wood combination that produces the kind of big but warm sound I'm looking for?

Thanks!

[M19]

Mahogany/Cedar might float your boat?

[massimo]

Originally Posted by hamburg325

Is there a shape or wood combination that produces the kind of big but warm sound I'm looking for?

Thanks!

Yes, absolutely: the O32 cedar/EI Rosewood. Big sound. Plenty of bass (it is a jumbo model) but overall very well balanced. Have enjoyed mine the last 25 years.

Best regards
Massimo

[fazool]

Everyone has a different taste. I love my Taylors. Some people don't liker the Taylor sound but I love it.

I played exactly, and only, one Lowden ever in my life (an F25). It was the best, most magical sounding guitar I have ever touched.

[sayheyjeff]

Would have put the sound of my Lowden right in your sights. It has a spruce top and coco back and sides. I really think of it as big and rich and warm sounding. In fact, that is why I had to buy it when I played it and heard it. If you are anywhere near me and want to play it, let me know. It's only for playing and not for sale. I very much like the Santa Cruz medium tension strings on it.

Jeff

[Bax Burgess]

Hamburg, try to get your hands on a McIlroy or Avalon, which share the same varnish and aesthetic as Lowdens, additionally sounding different enough to be worth a listen.

[Sonics]

...as demonstrated by George.

[JayBee1404]

Originally Posted by massimo

Yes, absolutely: the O32 cedar/EI Rosewood. Big sound. Plenty of bass (it is a jumbo model) but overall very well balanced. Have enjoyed mine the last 25 years.

Best regards
Massimo

The O-32 is Sitka Spruce/EIR. It's the O25 that's Cedar/EIR.

I've played and heard a lot of Lowdens over the years, and I don't think I've ever heard a Lowden with 'creamy warmth' - strident, crystal-clear, ringing sustain is the Lowden sound. My O-25 has nothing like the warmth and depth of tone of any of my Martins - a completely different, 'un-American-sounding' tone. They are great-sounding guitars, but the tone is Marmite - you either love it or hate it in my experience.

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

[Ozzy the dog]

My Lowden is Spruce and Mahogany and sounds absolutely fantastic. I took it to my son's wedding recently and one of the other guests had a play on it. He'd never tried Lowden before and he described it as so warm and rich sounding.

Shortly after he'd finished, another guy had a go and said "Wow. it's so warm and rich".

I've always found it perfectly balanced for fingerstyle and wouldn't swap it for anything.

Originally Posted by Bax Burgess

Hamburg, try to get your hands on a McIlroy or Avalon, which share the same varnish and aesthetic as Lowdens, additionally sounding different enough to be worth a listen.

Definitely try Mcilroy - Dermot Mcilroy worked for Lowden for 10 years before starting his own company and he has made some truly wonderful guitars.

[hifivic]

My 0-23 (claro/bastogne walnut with cedar top) is full, articulate, perfectly intonated with huge grand piano like deep warm bass with balanced amplitude and sustain between each and every string up and down the entire neck.

[massimo]

Originally Posted by JayBee1404

The O-32 is Sitka Spruce/EIR. It's the O25 that's Cedar/EIR.

My bad, true, O25 that is

[zmf]

Originally Posted by hamburg325

Is there a shape or wood combination that produces the kind of big but warm sound I'm looking for?

Lowdens, and Irish guitars in general, are just different beasts tonewise. Maybe you're expecting the warmth of an "American" guitar?

Personally, I don't like the tone of the rosewood models -- warm, rich, but too muddy. As mentioned, the walnut O-23 has warmth, and the tone is light/airy/more transparent.

You don't say what wood combos you've tried -- maybe they were the wrong ones for you? Maybe the Lowden tone isn't for you?

[Sonics]

If George is correct, then the OP should be looking at a redwood top for that warmth.

[hamburg325]

Originally Posted by zmf

Lowdens, and Irish guitars in general, are just different beasts tonewise. Maybe you're expecting the warmth of an "American" guitar?

Personally, I don't like the tone of the rosewood models -- warm, rich, but too muddy. As mentioned, the walnut O-23 has warmth, and the tone is light/airy/more transparent.

You don't say what wood combos you've tried -- maybe they were the wrong ones for you? Maybe the Lowden tone isn't for you?

I wasn't actually aware that there's an "American warmth" kind of thing, compared to, say, Irish guitars. But that notion certainly makes sense if we consider Martin the quintessential American guitar.

I've always been seduced by Lowdens, and want to like them, but have always found them to be too crisp and even nasal for my liking. Maybe a cedar topped one would do the trick!

Thanks for all the helpful comments.

[musicman1951]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbJJ...1AJLQSoRII2X3P

Check out this guitar.