lowdens

[BrokenSpirit]

Hi just wondering if anyone here owns or has previously owned a lowden? I'm currently looking for a new guitar and am thinking maybe an f/o32 or 25. however im just wanting to know if people here have any views compared to avalon equivalents or maybe premier series as I might even try and find a 35. theres not really anywhere around here to try out some avalons and its a bit of a trek to get to the factory when im not definately gonna buy straight away

cheers

[Ross A]

I have owned a Lowden S32 from the 'new' workshop. They are lovely guitars, but there are a couple of things I don't like about them.

One thing is that is wasn't as responsive as I would have liked, and the other was the weight of it. Very heavy for it's size. I would put the responsiveness issue down to the pinless bridge and the thickness of the woods. Obviously these are just my opinions, and maybe you could track a couple down to play?

I have tried loads of makers - Martin, Taylor, Gibson, Fylde, Breedlove, Lowden, Nava, Yamaha, etc, and the only guitars that meet every expectation I have in terms of sound, feel, and looks are Avalon.

[BrokenSpirit]

Oh really? I was under the impression the main difference with the guitars is just the ply of neck wood and as you said the bridge pins. I do prefer the look at convenience of having no pins but if it really makes a difference in regards to sustain etc then maybe ill have to re think that. I guess one important thing im looking for is sustain whilst using a capo. I know my old a101ce didnt have much sustain when using one and my current taylor 614 loses quite alot as well although its bearable. Would you say theres much difference between the guitars in terms of what would be best for what playing style? I mainly use a lot of strumming trying to keep to open chords and also do some hybrid picking?

[Ross A]

I have no idea what hybrid picking is, but I fingerpick almost entirely, and both makers make guitars suited to that style of playing. What type of music do you play?

Using a capo shouldn't be a problem, that is if you have a decent neck and a good capo. I can only suggest that you try either guitar, it's the only way you'll find the answers you're looking for.

[BrokenSpirit]

lol hybrid picking is where you use both a pick and your fingers at the same time ie using a pick and 3 fingers

to be honest im actually from a background of metal but these days my main playing is is in church but for myself I like to play a lot of john mayer type stuff.

I think its a shame that avalon dont use K&K pickups on their guitars also as my experience with fishman ones is that they dont reproduce the natural sound of guitars very well

[Ross A]

I've got a K&K pickup fitted in my Avalon, fitted at the factory. I bought it myself and sent it to the factory, they then very nicely fitted it in the guitar I had made for me. Even if you didn't want to do that you could get one installed at a later date by your local guitar repairer - that's what I did with the Lowden I had.

To be fair, the new Infinity Fishman pickup is pretty good. And it's active rather than passive like the k&k. I do prefer the K&K though.

[singlereed]

I had a Lowden for about 22 years - it was one from the Bangor factory from 1987 - large body mahogany with cedar top and originally had factory installed Ashworth electronics. I have just sold it. Fast forward to this year when I bought a S32 Avalon and also a A32 (which I on-sold). I was able to compare these side by side. The general feel is very similar - the necks felt almost identical and they all have rounded and relatively deep bodies. The Lowden did feel fairly heavy but the body wood itself was very light and it was a lively guitar. The Avalons seem to have a bit more presence and of course the rosewood bodies of the ones I had tend to add to the complexity of the sound. I now have a D300B which is a bit different again being a mahogany bodied slope dreadnought. Back to the Lowden, I am a fan of these guitars and the people I dealt with years ago when the pickup failed were every bit as nice as the Avalon guys. I think in the 1990s they did produce Lowdens in larger quantities and the ones I tried/saw didn't seem to have quite the quality of wood and character of the earlier ones or perhaps the ones being made now. What you get with Avalons is a wider range of styles and woods - it seems more a case of the guitar makers showing off what they can do whereas Lowden has a more limited range of models - although I am sure they would do a custom job too. I would also say if you go to Avalon direct, you will get a really good deal - just look at all these lovely ex-demo models they have been selling - these are much more mint than most of what you will see in any guitar shop and will come to you set up beautifully and ready to serve you for many years.

[BrokenSpirit]

I see i see. you dont happen to be working for them by any chance do you? :p but yeh ive heard nothing but good things i think the thing to do is to visit.

Ross, which K&K do you have? I'm wondering if theres much difference in sound between the pure in terms of mini/standard and compared to the western. Also how much do they charge to fit it and did you have to take it or can you send it in?

[Ross A]

They have fitted both the Pure and Trinity Western for me. The Western with the mic and transducer is nice, but the preamp is a nightmare, and in reality you can't use the mic in a live situation. I use the mini Pure now, and if I want to use a mic I just use a cheapish standard condenser mic. i've bought the Pure XLR preamp as well, which is much nicer than the other one I had.

If you contact JB at Avalon, I'm sure he'd discuss the best and easiest way to do it.

[BrokenSpirit]

oh really? i was under the impression that the pure had a mic as well? or have i got my lines mixed? I dunno i quite like having a condenser inside the guitargives a bit more freedom when playing. but i was thinking this



http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/K-K-Sound-Trinity-Pure-Western-Mini-Guitar-Pickup-Mic_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286Q2em63Q2el1177QQhashZitem53dbd82e28QQitemZ360170663464QQptZGuitarQ5fAccessoriesQQsalenotsupported

but yeh ill discuss it hopefully when i get a chance to visit

[Ross A]

Yes really! The pure system is just the transducer, that one on ebay is the western trinity which has the pure pickup with a mic and external preamp. It's quite an expensive setup, and you'll bet better value with just the mini pure. The sound quality is very good, and if you are recording you would want a better mic than what comes with the trinity system. Plus the preamp is a nightmare to setup.

Plus buying from the States is costly. You will probably have to say duty, etc, I know I did.

[BrokenSpirit]

I see i see i thought there was a trinity pure which was different to the western lol. Yeh i would use a proper mic for recording i just like the sound of the mic live cos my last 2 guitars have had them although not the k&k one. i dont think duty would be a problem cos id get it sent to family out there and they could send it over

[Ross A]

i dont think duty would be a problem cos id get it sent to family out there and they could send it over

Then you're a lucky boy! I think we all get a bit worked up about pickups. When you are in an audience listening to a band or solo artist, how many times have you had your enjoyment ruined by the pickup that is used? Even when they are a bit quacky it doesn't really make much difference. It's only us guitar geeks that would even notice.

Have you checked out this comparison test website? It's very interesting to hear the different pickup / guitar combinations.

http://www.dougyoungguitar.com/pickuptests/

[BrokenSpirit]

lol yeh exactly i mean if your paying xx amount for a guitar why ruin it by having a bad pickup.

ah wicked ill check that out when i get home. I have used another site before which compares pickups recorded straight through a jack to a decent condenser mic on various guitars which led me to the k&k in the first place lol