George Lowden’s team knocked it out the park with this 2014 F50C. Notes have juicy, round definition with lots of color, and we love the balance between the bass and treble registers in particular. Gorgeously dark African Blackwood back and sides paired with a Redwood top for sweet overtones and an enveloping quality that’s perfect for fingerstyle. Lowden’s F body strikes a balance between their largest O body size and the more intimate proportions of their S size. The scale length is 25.6 inches, adding a touch of extra tension to the strings for added pop, and this F50C features the GL Standard neck carve. No pickup installed, so it’s ready for whatever amplification system you need for on stage work—and in the meantime it handles handsomely as a recording guitar.

Other keywords: hiscox, lutherie, luthier, guitarbuilding, fingerpicking, liteflite

If it’s good enough for DADGAD maestro Pierre Bensusan, it’s good enough for us. Our Bensusan Signature Lowden is a smooth operator from tuner to tail. Built in 2015 but with hardly any marks at all, this Lowden is in excellent shape with Honduran Rosewood back and sides and an Adirondack Spruce top, and the Lowden Fingerstyle Neck profile. Of course it’s a fabulous DADGAD instrument. The satin finish will prevent any accidental audience blindness when you’re on stage, and the arm bevel keeps you playing as easy as breathing. Fit and finish is flawless, the woods spectacular, the guitar on a whole living up to its signature namesake, Mr. Pierre Bensusan.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitarbuilidng, george lowden, signature guitar, bensusan guitar, fingerpicking, honduras, adriondack, hiscox, lowdon

If there were more guitars like this Lowden O-38C in the world, entire economies would suffer from folks skipping out on work to stay home and play music. Luckily for our society at large, we have only one such Lowden in the shop (at the moment). This is a beautiful example of how rich and nuanced Brazilian Rosewood can be, and how a big-box guitar can be voiced for a quick response and crisp attack. If you dig in a bit, this Lowden has impressive reserves of sheer volume without flattening the tone and making mush of your music.

This Cedar O-38C has been very well taken care of, and is ready for heaps more action. The setup is nice and easy, and there’s still lots of life left in the saddle. Kudos to the previous owner for being such a thoughtful custodian—it’s rare to see a guitar in such fine shape after being played for over two decades.

Other keywords: george lowden, lowdon, o38c, o38, o-38, 0-38, 0-38c, jon gomm, fingerstyle, dadgad

Lowden’s midsize S body, here in Claro Walnut and Cedar, offers the right amount of warmth for a fingerstyle approach but not at the cost of projection and bark for flatpicking. In fact, we found this 2015 40th Anniversary S-35 to respond beautifully to picks. You don’t find that every day in a smaller guitar, but this Lowden manages to defy expectations left and right.

Number four in Lowden’s limited 40th Anniversary line, this S-35 commemorates George Lowden’s journey in lutherie over four decades, and bears that designation on both the label and the backstrap. The box is bound in Maple, 1 3/4” bone nut, split saddles, and the whole operation weighs in just under four pounds.

This Lowden S-35 more than fits the bill if you need a smaller guitar with lots of punch and breezy playability.

Other spellings: lowdon, lawden, s35

There are Lowdens, and then there are Lowdens. This 1996 F23 we have in the shop is the latter: bold, bright tone, lightweight construction, heavy duty projection. Part of George Lowden’s Original Series, this F23 has more punch and focus than its O23 counterparts, but all their depth. As a result, the F23 is very responsive, with a hearty, dry tone that is electric for flatpicks and balanced for fingerstyle arrangements. With great string-to-string articulation, combined with the Claro Walnut’s dryness, this guitar can cut through the mix and works wonderfully for the solo guitarist seeking an instrument which can project all that articulation cleanly and expressively. Complete with the original Hiscox hardshell case (adorned with white bars and “fragile” images), this F23 is ready for years and years of great music.

We are happy to offer you a Lowden right out of their specialty shop. This O38 Custom brings some heavy hitters to the wood table: Brazilian Rosewood back and sides, Engelmann Spruce top, and an elegant 5-piece Mahogany neck. Not impressed? Consider the fact that this guitar was built in 1994: that Rosewood and Spruce has opened up nicely and gives the guitar an enveloping warmth. In addition to a perfect setup making this Lowden a breeze to play, it also means the guitar projects exceedingly well, without washout. In fact, the guitar responds very well to Fingerstyle playing, but the tone doesn’t become distorted when flatpicked–chords, solos, bass lines maintain a pianistic articulation across all registers. Plus, there’s a graceful leaf abalone inlay on the fretboard, complementing the softer curves of the upper and lower bouts. This is a beautiful workhorse: a guitar for every application.

This Lowden S-32 has an even and level voice that is fun for a whole host of playing styles. Made with choice Indian Rosewood and lovely variegated Sitka Spruce, the bass and mids have excellent pop for funky, bluesy picking and the trebles are dry and crisp, great for articulate fingerstyle pieces. This one has a custom slotted headstock and upgraded tuners that really add to the overall aesthetic of the instrument. Come try it today and see why everyone is raving about the Lowden line!