I wish I could afford GAS

Bob-Dubery

I was at McGibbon's this afternoon, discussing the next evolution of the MacSlidulator. Some bloke pops into the workshop to say hello to Andy.

He' got a guitar with him.

One of these...

A Lowden 0-35c.

The 35s are built from AAAA wood, usually to order. This particular example had a bear-claw spruce top and Indian rosewood back and sides.

And

oh

my

This was some guitar.

I didn't ask the price, but I'd expect that a new guitar like this would be over 3000 pounds in the UK.

No.

Can't afford it.

Mustn't even think about it.

Well I can think but nothing will come of it.

Unless I win the Lotto.

Thinks

Lotto....

mmmmm....

Lots of lovely lolly ?

I better go and take a cold shower or something.

MikeM

If I ever win an unreasonable amount in the lottery, you can order yourself one off my bank acc ?

Keira-WitherKay

yeah Bob heard excellent things about em on other acoustic sites............

gas is good, but i still say that morgan you own is the bomb hehehehehheh well for my ear anyway .......

inflames

Stunning guitar!

andrewjbryson

wow-wee

Did the geezer drive off in a rolls royce?
Was he wearing gloves?

Hope she's insured...

Wizard

andrewjbryson wrote: Did the geezer drive off in a rolls royce?

He sold the Rolls to pay for the guitar ?

Bob-Dubery

inflames wrote: Stunning guitar!

Not classic guitar porn. Lowden don't go in for bling and even on the 35 series, which have a higher level of appointment than the "production" models, they don't do a gloss finish. The beauty is all in the wood, the workmanship and most of all the tone.

You do have to be careful if you go shopping for one of these because George Lowden lost control of production at one point. Sometime in 2003 production moved to another factory where George Lowden is always present and where the Lowden family have complete control. Word is that the quality of these recent instruments is superb and that these are the ones to go for.

I played a brand new, more humble 0-32 in June and was very impressed. These are beautifully made instruments and they sound fantastic.

Bob-Dubery

Keira WitherKay wrote: yeah Bob heard excellent things about em on other acoustic sites............

gas is good, but i still say that morgan you own is the bomb hehehehehheh well for my ear anyway .......

It's pretty cool, but it can be beat - or that's what my ears tell me. Big Mike has a hand-made, limited edition 30th anniversary Larrivee that is a thing of rare sonic beauty. Like the Lowdens it is low on bling, all the value lies in the wood, the workmanship and the fab tone.

However I have played several guitars that cost a whole lot more than the Morgan and can't hold a candle to it. So I'm not complaining.

Fingerpicker

Are you talking about tone plugged or unplugged?

Bob-Dubery

Fingerpicker wrote: Are you talking about tone plugged or unplugged?

For the Lowden? I've only played them unplugged, and I'm not sure they offer factory fit electronics.

Squonk

Good Stuff Bob

I played a couple of Lowdens in the UK, But not in Denmark Street. I found an obscure second hand shop in Plymouth that had one for 800 pounds, it was very tempting.
In Truro or Wadebridge I found two tiny guitar shops that had Lowdens (new) and they all sounded very good. Like you say no fancy stuff but wonderfully made. ?

Bob-Dubery

Andy McGibbon pointed out yesterday that Lowdens have pretty heavy tops - he said about twice the thickness that most flat top builders would use. Morgans are also on the heavy side apparently. This may open options for bracing as they will be less concerned with bracing for strength. I know that George Lowden spent a lot of time figuring out bracing, eventually contriving something he calls "dolphin bracing". He also only uses SPLIT wood for bracing - not cut wood.

They use a special kind of japanese spoke shave for carving the necks. Nothing else will do, they only get so many necks per blade and the blades are never resharpened because, according to George, if you resharpen them they are not the same.

singemonkey

X-rated Bob wrote: They use a special kind of japanese spoke shave for carving the necks. Nothing else will do, they only get so many necks per blade and the blades are never resharpened because, according to George, if you resharpen them they are not the same.

Yes you need to send them back to the factory where magic dwarfs alternate between sharpening the blades and weaving straw into gold. ?