GEORGE LOWDEN GUITARS
George is quite a guy! I met him at NAMM and felt that he could have spent hours to talk about his guitars, and just a few minutes about doing business. Maybe it’s the reason why you don’t find much of his guitars on the west coast. And it’s quite fine with me: guitar is a passion first! Business is a necessity…
I have not been able to visit his workshop in Downpatrick – it happens that it seems easier to plan a trip in L.A. than in Northern Ireland – but I really need to meet him in his natural environment. Becoming a Lowden’s dealer is like entering a fellowship and it’s quite pleasant to take a fresh breath from the business part of the job!
George’s guitars are fine pieces of art and the experience starts with the very first look. As classical as they seem, those guitars bring with them more than a touch of innovation. George has been a pioneer in alternative bracing design, with his famous dolphin-bracing pattern. It is certainly due to his self-teaching background. On his website, George is mentioning the book from John Bailley he followed to make his first guitars. I bought – with much difficulty - a copy of the book and I am still amazed how George could manage to start making guitars with such simple directions. That’s certainly where genius is at work (and why I’m a store manager and not a guitar maker…)
Of course they also sound amazing. Ask Alex de Grassi, Richard Thompson or Pierre Bensusan what they think about Lowden. Signature models are part of the answer. And with Lowden’s guitars, you will get the same detail and attention the big names get! You can also have your own signature guitar with a large wood selection for any available model, as well as neck width and profile options.
Try them and you’ll join the fellowship soon!
