Lowden Old Lady

[Wengr]

So who has experience with the new Lowden Old Lady?
I would be interested in any feedback as to build quality vs early Downpatrick quality, and tonal observations. Also what is the actual string spacing? It seems Lowden provides the neck width at the 14th fret, but not the actual spacing at the saddle, unless I missed it.

[fregly]

I assume the spacing is the wider one like on the Bensusan model.

[westman]

I believe it's Lowden's 'Fingerstyle' string layout 45/60.
I tried a bunch of Lowdens recently and it felt real nice too me being a finger picker.
Sound wise, u'd have to try one yourself.
Surprisingly an F35 40th Anniversary Edition Koa with Alpine Spruce was too me the best sounding of all. I like usually a denser Rosewood sound and the spruce was very 'alive' for a new guitar.

[Racerbob]

I played one briefly at Slyvan Music. It has the wider saddle spacing which will be the same width as the fretboard at the 14th fret.

Very easy to play, lots of volume. Can't say how it compared to older versions.

[nobo]

Late to the party, but...

Definitely 45 mm nut, 60mm string spacing at saddle (and 60mm at 14th) - same as the standard fingerstyle neck, though slightly shallower. (I have the full depth dimensions somewhere...)

Build quality was excellent - some of Lowden's best. (I'm not so keen on the new bridge, but the Old Lady ought to come with the old style.)

Can't comment on it tonally as I've only played it in a noisy environment; but if my ears can be trusted in those really sub-optimal conditions, it was a bit brighter than other cedar/hog Os I've played.

[Dru Edwards]

I've never heard of the "Old Lady". Is it a specific model or a series?

[Larry Pattis]

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

I've never heard of the "Old Lady". Is it a specific model or a series?

Pierre Bensusan, over the years, has come to refer to his 1978 (or so) Lowden as "The Old Lady".

I assume that Lowden is using this for the latest Bensusan Signature model.

[nobo]

Yes, exactly this. It's a faithful recreation of Pierre's original 'Old Lady' O Lowden (as subsequently modified with the wider neck and string spacing and cutaway) - down to the Cuban mahogany and differently voiced bracing. Some even had the fretboard extension. Departs in that there is an option for an arm bevel.

The New Lady - Pierre's other signature Lowden - is an altogether different beast.

[Dru Edwards]

Originally Posted by Larry Pattis

Pierre Bensusan, over the years, has come to refer to his 1978 (or so) Lowden as "The Old Lady".

I assume that Lowden is using this for the latest Bensusan Signature model.

Thanks Larry, I didn't know that but it makes sense.