|
Post by jackorion on Sept 8, 2020 11:34:04 GMT
Was nice to spend some time with this guitar from Sheeran by Lowden - made me miss my little S25 a little bit!
|
|
minorkey
C.O.G.
Too many instruments, too little time
Posts: 2,992
My main instrument is: hurting my fingers!
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"72dd98"}
|
Post by minorkey on Sept 8, 2020 15:16:35 GMT
Its interesting listening through headphones, the difference between using mikes vs the pickup. Acoustic with pickup always sound a bit weedy to me-miking is much better. Sounds a nice guitar though.
|
|
|
Post by andyhowell on Sept 9, 2020 13:03:10 GMT
I am a bit bemussed by this really but I guess you can't always afford to let a commercial opportunity pass you by! As Ben says the pricing of this puts it into contrast with other solid wood guitars.
The S shape is my favourite Lowden shape and the new 12 fret S models are worth searching out — great sounding guitars.
|
|
ocarolan
Global Moderator
CURMUDGEONLY OLD GIT (leader - to join, just ask!)
Posts: 33,975
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"c0cfe1"}
Mini-Profile Name Color: 182a3f
Mini-Profile Text Color: 733a1c
|
Post by ocarolan on Sept 9, 2020 14:07:43 GMT
Another excellent review, thanks Ben.
As you say, lots of competition at that price point.
I'm not convinced of the benefit of an arm bevel on a small guitar though (or even larger ones!)- this no doubt bumps the price up. The S01 cedar/walnut model without pickup, cutaway or bevel could be good value if the sound is comparable with that S04 though. I wouldn't mind a go on one of them!
Keith
|
|
stringdriventhing
C.O.G.
Posts: 1,859
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"101011"}
Mini-Profile Name Color: E61921
Mini-Profile Text Color: e6ce19
|
Post by stringdriventhing on Sept 9, 2020 14:54:50 GMT
This has got me wondering how many people who want to play guitar because of Ed Sheeran would be aware of the illustrious reputation of Lowden guitars and how many people who are interested in Lowden guitars or looking for a low-cost version would want to play a guitar with Ed Sheeran's name on it? I don't suppose that matters really. I think they will shift a lot of these things on the back of the Sheeran name and they seem like pretty good guitars, so good luck to them.
|
|
minorkey
C.O.G.
Too many instruments, too little time
Posts: 2,992
My main instrument is: hurting my fingers!
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"72dd98"}
|
Post by minorkey on Sept 9, 2020 15:18:13 GMT
This has got me wondering how many people who want to play guitar because of Ed Sheeran would be aware of the illustrious reputation of Lowden guitars and how many people who are interested in Lowden guitars or looking for a low-cost version would want to play a guitar with Ed Sheeran's name on it? I don't suppose that matters really. I think they will shift a lot of these things on the back of the Sheeran name and they seem like pretty good guitars, so good luck to them. Not me, not a fan of his music. Supposed to be a guitarist but writes non guitar based pop songs. Meh.
|
|
stringdriventhing
C.O.G.
Posts: 1,859
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"101011"}
Mini-Profile Name Color: E61921
Mini-Profile Text Color: e6ce19
|
Post by stringdriventhing on Sept 9, 2020 15:46:54 GMT
Bit of a tangent, but how do people feel generally about signature guitars with peoples' names on them? I know that it's a long-established tradition for the big name makers to produce signature models and I suppose the idea is that fans of the signature artists will want to buy them. I was playing a Martin 000-28 "Eric Clapton" model the other day and I found the name on the fretboard a bit cheesy. No disrespect to EC intended btw and I did prefer that model to the standard 000-28.
|
|
minorkey
C.O.G.
Too many instruments, too little time
Posts: 2,992
My main instrument is: hurting my fingers!
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"72dd98"}
|
Post by minorkey on Sept 9, 2020 15:53:05 GMT
Well I'd love a BB King ES335, a Lucille! Ruddy expensive though
|
|
|
Post by Onechordtrick on Sept 9, 2020 17:37:32 GMT
Bit of a tangent, but how do people feel generally about signature guitars with peoples' names on them? I know that it's a long-established tradition for the big name makers to produce signature models and I suppose the idea is that fans of the signature artists will want to buy them. I was playing a Martin 000-28 "Eric Clapton" model the other day and I found the name on the fretboard a bit cheesy. No disrespect to EC intended btw and I did prefer that model to the standard 000-28. I’m sure if I bought an Eric Clapton signature model I’d immediately be able to play as well as he does. Seriously I think (or at least I’d like to think I would) I’d judge a guitar on its merits. What would put me off would be over prominent ERIC Clapton/BB King/Jimi Hendrix/etc. branding on it however well it played. If I’m honest the Sheeran branding puts me off a little; but that may just be my inherent music snobbery at play. But we digress great review jackorion one of the few reviews that I’ve read of a Sheeran that has focused on the instrument rather than its branding.
|
|
|
Post by andyhowell on Sept 10, 2020 8:51:25 GMT
This has got me wondering how many people who want to play guitar because of Ed Sheeran would be aware of the illustrious reputation of Lowden guitars and how many people who are interested in Lowden guitars or looking for a low-cost version would want to play a guitar with Ed Sheeran's name on it? I don't suppose that matters really. I think they will shift a lot of these things on the back of the Sheeran name and they seem like pretty good guitars, so good luck to them.
It makes sense when you look at what many young players are doing. I remember haveing a chat with Riverman a couple of years ago about this. If i visit folk-y clubs or some of my favourite acoustic clubs I meet a lot of old codgers like me. If I visit the open mics that are popular with these young people I see a lot of people clearly influneced by Sheeran. they are often playing baby Taylors and the like and they seem pretty un-intersted in the quality of their instrument. However, I guess that some of these folks we want to gravitate to a slightly better instrument and so this makes sense.
Richard and I were talking about the high end acoustic market. Much of what we see is — basically — commissioned by baby boomers with a few bob behind them. I'm not sure we will keep seeing this as subsequent generations come to the fore.
I suppose for George Lowden this is worth a punt on name recognition alone. I doubt even an (unnecessary arm bevel) would convince me to buy one ofthese things over a better option at the same price but identity purchases are always big. Even if there is an initial demand the dispappears I doubt George will have lost anything. But I do wonder if this is a exploration of something else. George has been interested in more volume manufacturer before. There must be mroe than a few luthiers fascinated by the development of Faith guitars — Eggle doesn't offer acoustics himself any more. Might this be the direction that George might explore?
|
|
stringdriventhing
C.O.G.
Posts: 1,859
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"101011"}
Mini-Profile Name Color: E61921
Mini-Profile Text Color: e6ce19
|
Post by stringdriventhing on Sept 10, 2020 9:33:04 GMT
Thinking about it more I guess a lot of people want to get a guitar that looks like what their heroes play, or is the same brand as what their heroes play. I think that can apply to old duffers like us as much as to youngsters. My first (and only) electric guitar was a strat copy, because at 15 I wanted a guitar that looked like Rory Gallagher's, etc. I wouldn't have thought it would be so important with acoustics, but maybe it is - after all there's thousands of photos of Ed Sheeran playing Lowdens on the web. Was there not a Martin Ed Sheeran guitar on the go at one point too?
|
|
leoroberts
C.O.G.
Posts: 24,551
My main instrument is: probably needing new strings
|
Post by leoroberts on Sept 10, 2020 13:58:36 GMT
There’s a Ralph McTell signature Martin...but for me he will ALWAYS be identified with a Gibson J45.
Mind you, if someone offered me sponsorship I’m not going to turn it down...
|
|
minorkey
C.O.G.
Too many instruments, too little time
Posts: 2,992
My main instrument is: hurting my fingers!
Mini-Profile Background: {"image":"","color":"72dd98"}
|
Post by minorkey on Sept 10, 2020 14:23:30 GMT
Apparently there's a Billy Eilish Fender uke you can buy for too many notes. I don't think she even plays ukulele!
|
|
|
Post by Gregg Hermetech on Sept 10, 2020 16:00:34 GMT
It was the first instrument she learned to play.
Great review Ben.
I like that on the Lowden Pierre Bensusan model, they put his name on the BACK of the headstock.
|
|
|
Post by andyhowell on Sept 10, 2020 16:52:56 GMT
There’s a Ralph McTell signature Martin...but for me he will ALWAYS be identified with a Gibson J45. Mind you, if someone offered me sponsorship I’m not going to turn it down... Have you no shame?
|
|