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I know Frank drops by every now and then, but this question is open to anyone who might be able to shed some light:

Why are Lowden's so wonderful? I thought there in Palo Alto, he and Richard were bound to have run across a few and maybe they looked inside?

So, anyone with Lowden experience or knowledge, what's the scoop?

Why ARE LOWDENS so great? TIA, James

the man who builds them!!

Maybe someone will ring him up and he can respond himself. Wouldn't that be great? I want to hear a Lowden with a Lutz top.

Soon you will be able to. He just received his first shipment and has ordered his second!

I am excited about that!....

ShaneShane Neifer39071.609837963

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Canada

You know that the music world is still trying to account for some other reason other than craftsmanship as being the reason Stradivarius's are so much better than others violins of that era. Some thought it was the varnish. others thought it was the the wood. But after intense investigation, the best they can tell now it was the luthier

What I learned, right here from our knowledgeable friends is that there are two locations where Lowden's are made. One is a factory and the other is George's private shop.

See, I asked this same question when Nelson got his Lowden.

So, the one's that George makes himself are the pearl's and the factory built are nice, but still factory guitars.

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

HAVING VISITED Georges factory about 6 weeks ago.........

his "factory" is tiny. 4 rooms. two work shops, a spray booth and a finishing bay. there are 12 staff. my house prolly has ore floor space than his factory.

what makes Lowdens so good is the design, that he developed over years, and the fact that EVERY guitar that leaves the workshop has been personally checked by George himself.

The man is a genius....... but SOOOOOO humble!!!!

the Factory made guitars you refer to are from the OLD Lowden Factory, now called Avalon, and nothing to do with GL at all.martinedwards39071.7104398148

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See, again learning today. I'm glad I had the day off

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

I found this pic on the Avalon Guitars blog. They say it is a pic of a Lowden. Two interesting things are: The direction of the grain in the bridge plate (a cross between tradition and Frank Ford's parallel grain plate.) And, the omission of the two finger braces for one long "semi-fan".
The X appears to be rather light and un-scalloped.

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Stay with the happy people.
--Reynolds Large

I know they are out there somewhere, but i have yet to play a Lowden (I assume that most are truly the factory variety, not made y George himself) that has the crisp tigher sounding E and A string that I like - however Andy McKee's guitar seems to have it - most of the ones I have played sound more flat/tubby like an lousier gibson - the top four string sound great, but I couldnt bring myself to like the usual bottom end I would hear.

Could be they send the seconds to Canada, like Gibson

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

See ya'll I'm back to the shop! Thanks T

George has spent many years developing his bracing and build, he's been doing "parabolics" for a very long time. But what makes them so good? George does.

Rod, to me the best two makes of steel string guitar you can get are 1. George Lowden, 2. Lowden. I've spoken to him on many ocassions and he is the nicest guy you'll ever meet. He's like Torres, the genius is between his finger and thumb, his sense of the wood.

When I retire there are two things I'm going to buy, A George Lowden, Mahogany/Euro, and a Joshua French. Then I'll have a big bonfire of all my guitars!

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

I'm not at liberty to discuss the details just yet, but I think I'm going to get a chance to meet George some time in the coming months. :)

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Jonathan Kendall, Siloam Springs AR

Two things for me stand out about Lowdens

One is how light they are built and secondly how well they are built.

I have played several Lowdens in the past. I love what he does with a Cedar top and Mahogany Back and Sides on his smaller concert model. Extremely responsive, beautiful ringing tones, solid bass. I aspire to his art.

[QUOTE=Colin S]
<snipe>
When I retire there are two things I'm going to buy, A George Lowden, Mahogany/Euro, and a Joshua French. Then I'll have a big bonfire of all my guitars!

Colin
[/QUOTE]

Collin, just box them up and ship them to me. I'll pay the shipping costs.

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Aoibeann

I really really wish I could post a couple of 20 second sound clips I have prepared, with the same artist playing the same song, one with a Lowden, one with a Takamine...alas I think I'd fall foul of copyright issues...

My husband looked speechlessly at me today as I announced I'd be quite happy to spend four grand on a Lowden...lucky for him, I don't have that kinda money lying around...

Aside from the obvious brace changes, this reminds me of a L-00 top you can see on James Burkett's website. I couldn't believe how lightly those old Gibson's were built. I hope Mario is watching. This goes in the notebook.

Anyone seen Frank? He's probably working trying to make a buck. Thanks Frank for frets.com!

Still kickin' myself for not getting one back in the early 80's when I had the chance...

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

Sounds like you and I have played the same kind of Lowdens Todd .. nice, but definitely not like Andy's.

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

There is a very interesting slide show on Georges web site showing a few photos of a guitar under construction Take look here

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

I guess it's just me, but I've never gelled with the tone of His guitars before.
They are built incredibly well though. The tone is just not my style...little
too "modern" sounding for me.

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

It seems like the bracing in the picture is exactly like th guitar patent idea that was discussed in an earlier post. Even the two "semi-fan" braces are drawn on the picture for the patent by Martin. Huh?

Homeboy

i've played a few lowdens - though likely not touched by his hands. one i fell in love with immediately and should have bought. another i didn't really like, but could totally understand why others would be crazy about it.

i've heard many, though, and as a rule of thumb give every pro who is playing a lowden a serious listen. they seem to find there way into the hands of brilliant instrumentalists and songwriters alike.

the other thing that has not been mentioned about the brilliance of lowdens is the price/value. anybody else noticed that? the last few weeks have seen threads about lowdens consistantly being hand builder's favorite guitars, being extremely well built, and being played by genius musicians. but i don't think anyone has yet commented on how reasonably lowdens are priced in our 'golden age' of hand built guitars and sky rocketing prices for the same.

part of the beauty and magic of lowdens are that outstanding musicians who are eeking out a living can afford them and can afford to travel with them. very few bells and whistles. just beautiful woods with simple appointments, put together as good as any and better than most, and the whole package sounds amazing.

let's continue the thread for a bit, and any more pictures of the bracing would be much appreciated.

phil