Lowden O10 - The Story Of My Favourite Guitar
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- čas přidán 19. 06. 2024
- In this one I'm talking about my 1994 Lowden O10 handmade in Northern Ireland with Cedar top and Mahogany back and sides.
Every guitar has a story and mine has a particularly interesting one. It's been all around the world, had a few different owners and it's even once been stolen from me!
I describe this as my "Forever" guitar because I'm never going to sell it and I like the idea of passing it down to the next person once I'm gone.
Let me know in the comments below if you have a "Forever" guitar and what's its story?
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Got my Lowden O10 from Sound Control, Glasgow back in the late 90's. It cost a small fortune even back then but I knew it was it was going to see me through to the end.
Nice! Yeah absolutely they’re made to last a lifetime 🙂👍
I've been very lucky to have owned and played several nice Gibson & Martin guitars thru the years ; years ago I also purchased a mid 90's Lowden ( cedar & mahogany ) truly a magical guitar with sustain & clarity to die for .
Fell in love with this guitar 20 years ago
It has a resonince that has a unmatched feel
I never could aford it? The best guitar i ever played. Felt like creamy butter in my hand.❤
Still searching for my "Forever" guitar but love the story and how you play it, keep recording!
Great story, and I love that it's about a Lowden. Fortunately, your thief was stupid, like they usually are, as if the owner wouldn't be watching for it online. Glad it worked out for you so we can all enjoy your music.
As for my forever guitar, I just got it, literally. I've admired Lowden guitars from afar for a long, long time, but like for most of us, the price was always prohibitive. Every now and then I would look online at used prices to perhaps find a deal, but it was never a realistic possibility.
Then in early January, just for fun, I decided to see if there were any New Year's deals. I'm in the States, and at the time the GBP had dipped vs the USD, so I took a look at UK dealers, knowing their prices were generally competitive relative to US prices because of proximity with Ireland, and would now be even more competitive due to the favorable exchange rate. Sure enough, there was a UK store that had a big sale with quite a few new Lowdens, one of which was an O22C. Also in stock was a used O10C, and while not on sale, was good bit cheaper.
So, I said to my wife, hopelessly angling for the cheaper O10C but expecting the usual glazy-eyed, disinterested non-response, "Look sweetie, here's a used Lowden O10C at decent price...oh and by the way they have a new O22C on sale at a great price, but it's still quite a bit more." Then, to my absolute shock, out of nowhere she said, "Oh, just go ahead and get the new one. Merry late Christmas." Needless to say, this was one time I was not going to argue with her. So, thanks to my dear sweet wife, and with no small amount of trepidation as I hit the "BUY" button, I am now the proud owner of a sparkly, brand new Lowden O22C. 😁🤩😆
Thankfully, there's no drama in my story, other than a hot bother with customs during the import process and a couple nervous trips to the local guitar store to get it fine-tuned once it arrived. Mahogany has always been my favorite tone wood, which had the O22 at the top of my dream guitar list for many years. And I told myself, if I every spend that much on a guitar, I also want a cut-away. Well, mission accomplished for both, and all at a price well below what I would have paid new at a dealer stateside, customs fiasco and all.
Having never owned any guitar remotely close to this quality, it’s like going from driving jalopies straight to a Jaguar. The performance and power vastly exceeds anything I’ve ever experienced, and all the sloppiness in my playing I’ve gotten away with all these years with far lesser instruments is now glaringly audible on the Lowden. Bottom line, I’ll be forced to become a much better player to handle what this guitar is capable of, which is a good thing. And though it’s amazing in standard tuning, I’ve quickly come to realize it’s bred to be a DADGAD machine, and it screams for that tuning...something else I’ll have to learn, which is also a good thing...and which I'll be watching here for help. 😉
Well, I didn’t intend to write this much, but there you go. Thanks for sharing your Lowden story. Everybody loves a good gear video and hopefully this one does well for you and your channel grows. Your videos are well done as is your music.
Hi William, I love reading the comments I get on my videos and the story of you getting your O22 is really a great one. I'm sure you'll have that guitar for a very long time and I hope you enjoy watching and listening to it grow with you. Yeah the first time I played a handmade guitar it was the same thing for me, it's not only the sound but it's the way it feels and how comfortable it is to play. I do enjoy playing cheaper non handmade guitars as well, mainly vintage ones but they are definitely not as easy to get a great sound out of them. With my Lowden I just have to touch it and it sings! And yeah they definitely sound great in DADGAD. I'll be doing some more videos on that and other open tunings in the future. Thanks so much for sharing!
My Lowden 032c is just a work of art ....LOVE IT 👍👍👍
Ah nice! Is that Rosewood back and sides with a Spruce top?
@FabianHollandGuitar yes but with AAASitka spruce top..Love my Faiths but Lowden the next level of guitars 🎸😊
I bought my O10c in the 1995 in the Lowden factory shop in Newtownards not knowing what treasure I had the privilege to get hold of. I played it ever since in my Swiss Irish Falkland "The Pint" and I agree: It's the on that gets better every year and I'll surely keep it as long as I live.
Wow yeah so our guitars are incredibly similar then! Yeah sometimes I wish I had bought it new from Lowden but I have it now and that’s what matters. Never letting this one go that’s for sure!
Great video. So glad you got your precious guitar back. ❤
Thanks ☺️🙏
I got my o10 from my brother in a trade for my guild dv52 and some boot. I didn't treat it right on string size so the bridge pulled off. That's the down side of Lowdens no bridge pin and back plate on inside of bridge, which makes them sound awesome, but that bridge better be glued on well which mine wasn't . Bridge pins help to secure the strings to the top through the saddle, but they also wedge the bridge to the top and hold it down. In all i would get another Lowden and treat it right this time , probably a F series redwood top with african blackwood back and sides, way into the stratosphere for me as far as price goes lol.
Hi, thanks for the comment. Wow, the bridge came off!! What type of strings were you using? Also did you ever get it glued back on? Thanks for sharing.
Man, great video, and an awesome story. I’m searching for a similar O12 model after falling in love with Simon Fox’s tone on his Night Fishing album.
Nice! Yeah you can still find some good deals out there. I picked up a Lowden made in the 80’s for a really good price a while back. It was one of the ones that was made in Japan and sold for a slightly cheaper price, still great quality! It has a few cracks though so I need to get it repaired at some point. Glad you liked the video 👍
Great story bro they are wonderful instruments 🎸 I live 10 miles from the lowden factory and I’m friendly with one of the luthiers there they have some unbelievable guitars I do rather the cedar for fingerstyle it’s so warm .. been an Irish man I think I would of hit that guy with a hammer if he stole my lowden 😀😀you were a lucky lad got it back great work .. I’m going to look at an 90s 010 model just like yours next week in a shop called windmill guitars in Bangor Co Down .. anyway all the best .. Brian Ireland 🇮🇪🎸🎸
Hey Brian, thanks for the comment. Sorry for the late reply. Ah nice! How was the Lowden? Did you get it?
My forever guitar is a Santa Cruz H13. Like you i bought it sight unseen online and am inspired every time I pick it up! It has crazing on the top and a somewhat sloppy bridge repair, but this adds to the story of the guitar. Congratulations on your Lowden. It sounds fantastic.
Hi, thanks for the comment! Ah yeah Santa Cruz guitars look really nice! I never played one myself but I know about them. Is the sound hole slightly larger on Santa Cruz guitars? Or am I just imagining that?
The Santa Cruz Tony Rice model does have a larger sound hole like his modified prewar Martin did. I believe Bourgeois has this option as well. The H13 is a unique beast: L00 size but dreadnaught depth and 13 frets to the body, after the Gibson Nick Lucas model. Sound is loud and very direct/fundamental vs overtone shimmer.
Same story, but did not get mine back yet. I honestly know the pain you felt.
Maybe one day I can experience your happiness.
I have been waiting for decades and think about it every day.
Oh really sorry to hear that! Do you have the model number and proof of purchase? Don't give up hope!
@@FabianHollandGuitar Photos,serial,model,Original Purchase Documents (how I paid it off) etc. Maybe my kids will one day find it. That guitar was truly like an arm. Gigged it to hell and back. It was just naturally familiar. That kind of bonding with a guitar happens once in a lifetime. I got so t'd off after it was gone, dint play for 15 years after that.
There is a special place in hell for these cruel bastards that steal and destroy lives and livelihoods.
@@pensive_ Ah man sorry to hear that. That really sucks! especially when it affects you so much that you don't play for so long after. Are you playing again now? What guitar was it?
@@FabianHollandGuitar Yes I am playing again by fluke. I tried a BHM Red Special and it was so amazing that I got interested in playing again. The BHM has every feature that I hated on a guitar, but somehow, to my amazement, it was just amazing. Guitars are crazy strange mythical things.
The original was a vintage Les Paul Standard that truly acted like a part of my body. I will never have that again. That still hurts.
@@pensive_ Oh yeah I've never tried the Brian May guitars before, I do like the look of them though. Les Pauls are lovely guitars! I actually used to have a 1970's Honeyburst Les Paul years back.
An O-32 is my forever guitar as well. Ehnever you want to come visiting Prague, please stay in my place playing a house concert with me.
Hi, thanks for the offer!! 🙏 I’ve never been to Prague, even though it’s not too far from Berlin. Which woods does your O32 have?
Hi, Fabian it is the classic with Sitka Spruce top with rosewood sides and back.
Mcilroy a225. Cedar top with Laurel (Asian Walnut) back and sides
Nice! I've seen those Mcilroy guitars pop up now and then. Did I hear that Mcilroy used to work for Lowden? Or have I just made that up?
@@FabianHollandGuitar yes, Dermot did work for Lowden .. his guitars are very similar
@@vincenteoppolo9025 ah yeah I thought so. They look very similar! Thanks
i've got one too.
I love it and got it signed by Tommy Emmanuel. He thought is was 25 years old because of the rich sound it produces (it was 6 months old at that time)
Playing it is the best.
Put regular new strings on it and it sounds like new again.
Would never ever sell it.
Great story about the stealing and recovering btw !!
Hi, thanks for your comment. Ah nice, Tommy Emmanuel is great! Yeah maybe it's in my head? But they just seem to get better with age these guitars! 😊.
I also like Lowden and have had it for 25 years. I've models No､is 0-38 in Cedar and Jacaranda. I'm surprised that Lowden is very very expensive in Japan now😮🇯🇵🙇🏻♂️
Hi, thanks for the comment. Ah nice yeah the 0-38 is lovely. I actually have another Lowden that was made in Japan in the 1980's. Quality is still great!
You know that very well. It was produced in Japan until the early 80's with George Lowden's OEM. it's not closed now, the workshop was S.yairi. They continued to make guitars that were very popular in Japan from the 1970s to the early 80s. The CEO of S.yairi passed away and was a relative of the CEO of Alvarez yairi. The CEO of Alvarez Yairi (in Japan, the logo is K .Yairi) has also passed away, but he was selected as a Japanese Master Craftsman and received an award from the country🙇♂️🇯🇵
@@iyorit1089 Hi, sorry for my late reply! Yes exactly S. Yairi. Thanks for the info, I didn't know all of that, very interesting! Unfortunately my Japanese made Lowden needs repairs so I'm not able to play it at the moment but soon I'm hoping to get it fixed. It basically needs a whole new back!
Great story....,,Arnolds new vintage''......on youtube
For the protection of the top that wear through should have been recoated..you should get that part of the unfinished wood finished.
Unless its gone too far.
Looks don't matter but get someone who has some reasonable chance to make it look ok. No need to refinish whole top.
Then get Lowden to send you one of those thin pick guards they are almost non existant.
For want of a nail the shoe was lost for want of a shoe the horse was lost, Cheers
Hi, yeah that’s a good idea. I should get someone to look at it, I’ve seen these clear pick guards, I think they have them on all new Lowdens now. Thanks for the tip! 😊👍
Can I ask you what serial number your guitar is? I recently bought a Lowden 0-25, with Cedar top with number 5728. Our guitars seem like they are from a similar era, but when I bought it, they said it was early 2000s. My feeling is that it's a little older, perhaps in the mid 90's. I'm trying to find out more information about it. Hope you can help.
Thanks. Andrew
Hi, thanks for the question. I'd have to check and get back to you. I think mine might be similar to yours. You know you can find out roughly when your guitar was made on the Lowden website. They have a list of all the serial numbers and then the dates they correspond to, or at least they did the last time I checked.
Hi, what strings do you use on this guitar? Thanks!
Hi, thanks for the question. I use Daddario EJ17 Phosphor Bronze Medium gauge strings
What is the name of that bridge style??? My fathers guitar from argentina has a bridge like that but i cant find any guitar with a bridge like that.
I think it's called a through bridge?
It's very typical with these Lowden guitars but not very common on other acoustics.
Is your fathers guitar a steel string acoustic?
@@FabianHollandGuitar Its a folkast steel string acoustic guitar from Argentina. Here is a link to a youtube video of someone using a very very similar guitar. czcams.com/video/y4F2VI8R8Nc/video.html
Hey guys, I'd love to know what your "Forever" guitar is? And what stories it has?
I have a Sheeran by Lowden W03 model. It's based on their Wee Lowden size. I bought it after my S-23 Lowden was stolen actually. The W03 is special to me because I bought it the weekend that I saw my great grandmother for the last time before she passed. It's a lovely instrument that I've toured and recorded a lot with. Thank you for sharing your story too. What a lovely instrument you have!
@@Kwaician Hey, thanks for sharing! I haven't played the Sheeran Lowdens but I've played lots of S models and it always amazed me how much volume and depth you can get out of them from such a small body. Sorry to hear yours was stolen as well, it's horrible if that happens! I know I'm very lucky that I managed to get mine back.
Wow. That is a hell of a journey. You must have gone through some insane emotional charge when you found it for sale! Love Lowden and how they will forever improve and absorb your contribution to the journey. My forever guitar - well there are 2 - is a Gurian J-R 1976 and a recently purchased (a blind purchase too) Gurian J-M 1978. The 78 was asleep when she arrived from Germany to Spain but now she is awake. The 76 is nuts being Rosewood. I have that one broken in over 20 years of soul trading... A story - well, when I loved in London I used to go to the open mic scene quite a lot and my Gurian 76 was always with me. One night I ended up winning 2 bottles of wine at an open mic somewhere in Leicester Square... So I drank them both and left the venue to head back to Hackney... Next thing I know I am on the central line at Hainault at 1 am having gotten it wrong.. Then I remember walking around for a bit and next thing I remember is waking up back at my flat with a gas burner left on and a pot boiled dry.. I had a black eye but I still had the Gurian.. I have no idea what happened but that guitar was never going to be taken from me... So that is my forever guitar.... Now joined by his younger sister.. We continue to grow together. When I am gone these guitars will carry my story with them. More power to you man! Love that story.
@@hodd_me ah that's amazing! Those vintage Gurian guitars look really nice. Great story! Thanks so much for sharing. 😊
Beautiful. Thanks for sharing. So enjoy seeing and listening to such rare and lovely guitars. Cedar and mahogany sounds amazing. I own a Taylor 1994 Grand Auditorium 914 cedar/rosewood . I found it in a pawn shop here in the US few years ago. Fits me well. Love the full bass and warmth of it in finger style. When mic’d properly it projects nicely with a pick while strumming. Beautiful to look at as well. Not close to yours, of course. So glad you got your guitar back. Did he even know what he had in his asking price? Don’t know the history of my 914. Can only imagine. Do hope it wasn’t stolen as though. Never thought of that. Would break my heart if it had been. Didn’t even think of asking it the time. I should try to find out somehow. May go back to the shop and ask the owner if he did a background on it before he bought it. Nice post. Thanks again.
What happened the thief? Rap on the knuckles no doubt and on his merry way. You were lucky, but then Lowdens don’t come up for sale used all that often(discounting dealers).
He got arrested but he wasn’t charged in the end, not sure why not? Yeah absolutely I was really lucky to get it back!
Typical enough, the legal profession ought to be ashamed of itself but then it’s too busy printing and spending its cash @@FabianHollandGuitar