Official Luthiers Forum!

Can you name this builder AND then let's talk about this builder and their very cool guitars.

This is going to be very easy for some of you "regional" folks so let's give other folks a chance please first.

Thanks!

No clue! But it is one fine looking instrument.

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Greg
http://garibaldiinstruments.com/

Lowden?

Great job Paul!!!!

I really like his guitars and everything about them. Notice the finish, not the high gloss that we usually see but very cool nonetheless.

There have been some bracing and construction photos of George's work posted on the OLF in the past but my search came up empty handed. It would be great if someone would post them again and if we could discuss George and his superb guitars.

If I remember correctly at least one OLFer has a Lowden and I think that Bruce had one in his shop at some point.

I consistently really enjoy the Lowdens when I go to Sylvan in Santa Cruz. These are all Lowdens, and not Avalon.

I'd be interested in seeing those pics too.

I think Don Williams owned a Lowden once?

*edit* posted at the same time as the pics

I was 17 when I played my first Lowden. I emailed Don about it and he told me the story about "the one." It was mahogany and cedar. He walked away from it and has regretted it ever since

I love George Lowden's guitars. The photograph Hesh submitted is more on the blingier side of Lowden's style.

Played a few last year and had to wrench myself away from a Tassie Blackwood/Adi F35. The one thing you notice about his guitars compared with others that they are so LIGHT. The neck may be too thick for people's liking, but I have tiny hands and found the playability very acceptable.

OK - here's my two that I have had since the mid 1990's. On the left is a cedar/EIR S25 and on the right a Sitka/EIR F32C. These aren't hand made by George but made at the Newtonards workshop. They very much have their own sound and the craftsmanship is superb.

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

George is the greatest builder of acoustics there is, no argument! I always wanted to own one of George's guitars, but convinced myself that it would be cheaper to build one for myself. Well, I should have bought the two Lowden's that I wanted .

The greatest compliment that has ever been paid to my guitars was by our very own Dave, who said that one of my guitars was Lowdenesque, get's no better than that. When I was at a seminar at in Belfast a few years back I was lucky enough to spend a couple of days with George in his workshop, much more interesting than the seminar. George kindly and quite freely discussed his building style and philosophy with me, (and didn't charge me $3000), it marked a complete sea change in my building. A great guitar builder and a great man.

Colin

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

I could have sworn that you had one Colin. Perhaps I just remember you saying you wanted one.

We don't really see Lowdens down here, I just have settle for looking at pix on the web and reading the reviews and comments of smart people like Don and Colin. I'm still a big fan though. If you've ever had the opportunity to play one you're well ahead of the game (at least in my neck of the woods).

Care to share Mr Lowden's building philosophy Colin? I don't happen to have a spare couple of grand though.

Wouldn't he be a great asset to our forum?

Paul,

If you want one of George's hand made ones you are going to have to double or treble that methinks.

I think it would be fabulous to get George contributing here.

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Dave White
De Faoite Stringed Instruments
". . . the one thing a machine just can't do is give you character and personalities and sometimes that comes with flaws, but it always comes with humanity" Monty Don talking about hand weaving, "Mastercrafts", Weaving, BBC March 2010

Perhaps it is a European thing, but they are not that uncommon up here, either. I don’t own one, but I’ve played plenty in the stores over the years and I know guys who have them. I don’t know how to describe the tone that I’m hearing, but I think they are quite ‘even’ and ‘rich’ sounding, quite different from… most! I also like the restrained, organic style most of them have (although unlike some of our Brit brethren I’m not crazy about the ‘flat’ finish). Bottom line, if you’re into that sound and that look, great; if not they are probably not the guitars for you!

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

Oh yes Paul, Dave, my reference to $3000 was what some others charge just for imparting their philosophy. To get a George Lowden the base price is about $8000, which with the options I would want goes up to about $13000-$15000 each. But, worth every penny. I'm most definitely going to get one (Cuban Mahogany/redwood) when I retire. Some men go for the sports car and the blonde, me it'll be a Lowden S.

I forgot to add the 17.5% VAT to the prices! so make that makes it $15275 - $17625, oh well keep saving.

Arnt, George will do a full gloss finish if wanted.

Colin

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

you wanta here what comes outa here Hesh
1986 V/dark WR cedar, wide annular rings in the centre & EIR
After a couple of phone calls he "just sent me it" - no money disscused it "just arrived" in a green case and has been an inspiration since.
One fret leveling, there was enough "meat" on but it was the hardest wire I've ever stoned. oh and a new nut, I wore the old one down with all the different tunings I use.
I use 13-56 Newtone or DR Rare bronze strings with K&K Minis which just about does the job live but its when played acoustically in an intimate setting the sound turns heads and draws the listeners (including myself) into the music.
After twenty odd years I'm still trying to do this instrument justice and must thank Mr Lowden for creating it.
yours geordie

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some tunes on acoustic and guitar synth.
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheGeordieAdams
http://www.myspace.com/geordieadams

James my friend thanks much for posting the pictures!!!

The carving is superbly done and a very fine example of some master craftsmanship.

Actually the idea for this thread and the "AND" part of the title came from James. James inspired me to do a better job of trying to post something that would be interesting to many or all of us.

So I was thinking, it might be very fun and informative to peel back the onion so-to-speak taking one master builder say every month and do more than your typical "name that builder" thread.

Some of the things that this might include are testimonials about the instruments, anything and everything related to how they build and what they build, and any other information that we can find.

In addition, I would be interested in inviting the builder of the month to visit with us here on the OLF and perhaps, if we are lucky, even answer some of our questions. How would you folks feel about this?

If we like the idea, and I do, we could ask one of us who may know the builder of the month to invite them to our forum and their thread. We already have some folks here who know George. For builders that we don't know a properly and politely worded email might get them here too. I certainly would volunteer to make contact where we don't have an existing connection.

In short, we would have the opportunity to study some of the great builders with more depth and perhaps even interact with them too.

If you like this idea why not start with George Lowden? Colin, Dave, Geordie would one of you be keen to emailing George and inviting him to join us and providing him with a link directly to this thread?

Thanks.

I also have enjoyed my own F25 for 4 or 5 years. Of tye dozen or so guitars I have, it truly is the best It makes even my playing sound fair.

By the way, I am fortunate to be going to Ireland in two weeks and do have an appointment to visit with George. He sure is gracious, and I hope to catch some inspiration, and maybe a few tips without being a pest. I woud be glad to also ask about his joining in a discusiion thread.

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Rich H
Parker CO

What a fabulous idea! Mikey...

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The Biggest Little City, Nevada
www.hammondguitars.com
I love building guitars!

Oh, cool. You're welcome

I think a builder of the month would be very neat. I'm having a hard time thinking of appropriate things to ask them. What can you all think of?

A local store has an as-new second hand 'private stock' Lowden in brazilian with a Sitka top that's absolutely gorgeous...and I'm almost tempted to buy it.

That's a great idea!

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- Ben Pak
North Wales, Pa.

a little bit of George's history?

this in my mate Paddy's Lowden from 1976.

this is #0001

and worth SCARY amounts of money.

it's BEAUTIFUL to play. As Paddy is now retired but still does a day here & there as a supply teacher, he often brings this honey into the school where I teach and he brings it to me & leaves it with me ...... just in case I fancy a wee strum........








and George?

this is the day HE phoned to invite ME to come & see round.



as nice a guy as you'd EVER want to meet.

his integrity is amazing, and considering the amount it cost him to extract his name from Avalon, he's unbelievably "ah well, that's life, no use crying about it now" about it all.

I cannot put into words how much I respect this guy, his building and his approach to life.

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My soundclick xx luthier blog xx luthier soundclick

Nice post, Martin. How lucky you were to have such a boost to your guitar building morale! Who better to visit?

I have had contacts with George too. Great bloke, and as you said at an earlier time, the most decent& honest businessman you can find on this planet. (and a master luthier to boot!!)

As a side comment, it's nice to see that pinless bridge still nicely adhered to the guitar top after so many years.... It so happens I am about to glue one on my current build.

hi again all
Re. Mr Lowden’s guitars, one aspect that stands out (for me) is where on earth he came up with his concept, acoustically and aesthetically - in the mid 1970’s and in that part of the world, not exactly the centre of luthiers.
Pinless bridges.
The two step back taper. (sounds like an ol’ tyme dance).
The much contested A frame. (it was inside my guitar in 1986 and I was not aware of anyone else using it back then)
His bracing.
His five piece Mahogany/rosewood neck.
His use of cedar tops (said to be the “classic” Lowden sound.
Not to mention the layout of the strings / neck proportions (one of the best “feeling” steel strings IMO).
His use of wood bindings.
Please feel free to add any I’ve missed.
yours Geordie

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some tunes on acoustic and guitar synth.
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheGeordieAdams
http://www.myspace.com/geordieadams

That is a great post Martin - I agree.

So if I were to ask you if meeting him was a life changing event for you what would your answer be?

Geordie my friend thanks for that. It's amazing to me how much influence George has had on today's custom built guitar world.

I think that we need to invite George to come and say hello to us. Sam or Martin would you be willing to make it so please?