simonalex
Strummer
Posts: 38
My main instrument is: Bown OM Lowden F50 Lowden 025 Mc Nally S
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Post by simonalex on Feb 22, 2024 22:17:32 GMT
I am currently the owner of three Lowdens and all are excellent instruments although probably more suited to celtic style playing than americana- that was mainly the reason I acquired them.Although I can understand the attraction of having an instrument built to your own specification I do feel that a lot of bullshit and snobbery floats around the process and you see many custom built instruments back on the sales sites after a few months-maybe theyre not the holy grail or the panacea for inadequate finger dexterity after all.I am surprised at the number of excellent instruments available nowadays from builders such as Furch and eastman and the new Bourgeois Touchstone Range.
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simonalex
Strummer
Posts: 38
My main instrument is: Bown OM Lowden F50 Lowden 025 Mc Nally S
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Post by simonalex on Sept 25, 2023 11:31:00 GMT
Hi I have k and K pickups on most of my guitars and always had problems when playing through a house PA.Tried various di and eq systems with mediocre results and eventually bought the K and K one for around £130...no more problems..I set the eq and the sound engineer sets everything flat!
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simonalex
Strummer
Posts: 38
My main instrument is: Bown OM Lowden F50 Lowden 025 Mc Nally S
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TAMCO!
Oct 30, 2020 14:43:40 GMT
Post by simonalex on Oct 30, 2020 14:43:40 GMT
I bought some lovely instruments from TAMCO over the years but the last straw for me was when I took a Martin 028 to him.My daughter did the delivery and he denied all knowledge of the transaction and was abrupt and very rude to her - That was the final straw. Im nevertheless glad that hes still surviving but his social skills seem limited!
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simonalex
Strummer
Posts: 38
My main instrument is: Bown OM Lowden F50 Lowden 025 Mc Nally S
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Post by simonalex on Nov 19, 2018 22:21:22 GMT
Several really that got away-a Lowden F35 in alpine spruce and cocobolo sold to carry out some building works, a Ralph Bown 000 in koa-very old with many scars and imperfections but which sounded lovely,a Brook tamar sold to Steve Tilston a year ago which again was a lovely guitar..Nowdays I am cautious when buying as it seems easier to buy having fallen in love than to sell when the relationship with the instrument changes.
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simonalex
Strummer
Posts: 38
My main instrument is: Bown OM Lowden F50 Lowden 025 Mc Nally S
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Post by simonalex on Nov 12, 2018 10:51:43 GMT
I saw him at the Square Chapel arts centre in Halifax- same format as described.Frankly I don't know why he even bothered having the second guitarist who added zer to the performance.The bass player wasn't up to much either.The songs were played competently but the guitars sounded dead-unsurprisingly as he said he changes his elixirs once every six months! It was a big big disappointment and yes Lord Franklin was worth coming for but that's about as far as it goes If you want to hear better songs ,better bass playing and better guitar playing get yourself along to a Steve Tilston gig with Hugh Bradley on bass.
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simonalex
Strummer
Posts: 38
My main instrument is: Bown OM Lowden F50 Lowden 025 Mc Nally S
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Post by simonalex on Oct 26, 2018 15:00:54 GMT
In the past I have always used d addario or John Pearce but was persuaded recently to go over to elixir by a good friend who plays professionally.The results on my Brook taw were excellent so I tried another set on a Huss and Dalton 00. You don't seem to get the zing of new phosphor bronze but equally you don't get the decay which sets in after a week or so, With me the jury is very much out-I liked Martin coated strings on my Bown SJ and also a bourgeois OM I also triec d addario XPs on a Martin 028 but they seem to squeak a lot. I heard an interesting quote from Tommy Emanuel which was along the lines of use the strings that your guitar likes?-so where now?
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simonalex
Strummer
Posts: 38
My main instrument is: Bown OM Lowden F50 Lowden 025 Mc Nally S
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Post by simonalex on Jul 8, 2018 10:29:40 GMT
The never ending question- yes I have found that one guitar tends to sound good with a particular set of strings whereas using the same ones on a different guitar tend to provoke a mediocre sound.Generally as a rule Martin phosphor bronze coated seem to work well for 000, OM and smalljumbo sized instruments whereas daddarios work better with 0 and 00 sizes.John pearce strings are also good but beyond that its really a question of trial and error I am afraid.
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simonalex
Strummer
Posts: 38
My main instrument is: Bown OM Lowden F50 Lowden 025 Mc Nally S
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Post by simonalex on Jun 25, 2018 8:55:04 GMT
In normal circumstances best avoided.I have only owned one J45 and it was an excellent guitar bought from a dealer in Farnham-the buying experience was poor- I tried about 9 in all and all bar two were uninspiring.The member of staff came out with the usual rubbish about "investments" which irritated me but the guitar won the day and I held onto it for two years before moving it on.It wasn't a comfortable instrument to play but it did sound good.....exception to the general rule probably.
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simonalex
Strummer
Posts: 38
My main instrument is: Bown OM Lowden F50 Lowden 025 Mc Nally S
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Post by simonalex on Jun 20, 2018 14:17:58 GMT
Lovely instrument- The big problem is that banjos and by default their players get bad press.Its not a joke instrument as anyone who gets into it soon realises.Part of the problem revolves around the number of nasty instruments floating round from the far east many of which sound rubbish and then end up on e bay after the owner and his or her family have given up or abandoned the instrument faced with relationship breakdown. banjo hangout has a lot of excellent used instruments for sale and builders like Pisgah or Leon ballard make excellent instruments at very reasonable prices too.
Most of the ribbing on here is very much tongue in cheek, and there are a few of us who play quite seriously and love it.
Have you played a Pisgah? I really like the look of them. I had a Ballard semi-fretless (I got from gavdav on here) which was a really beautifully made instrument. I just couldn't get on with the brass plate, but I'd order another of Leon's banjos in a heartbeat - such lovely quailty.
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simonalex
Strummer
Posts: 38
My main instrument is: Bown OM Lowden F50 Lowden 025 Mc Nally S
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Post by simonalex on Jun 7, 2018 15:05:34 GMT
Excellent work Chris- for someone who has so many lovely instruments you really seem to have been drawn to that 00
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simonalex
Strummer
Posts: 38
My main instrument is: Bown OM Lowden F50 Lowden 025 Mc Nally S
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Post by simonalex on Jun 7, 2018 15:03:48 GMT
Picked up my Brazilian 00 and this is what transpired Thanks Ralph Excellent Chris, really enjoyed it and I found the different camera shots interesting. Phil
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simonalex
Strummer
Posts: 38
My main instrument is: Bown OM Lowden F50 Lowden 025 Mc Nally S
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Post by simonalex on Jun 6, 2018 22:07:05 GMT
Lovely instrument- The big problem is that banjos and by default their players get bad press.Its not a joke instrument as anyone who gets into it soon realises.Part of the problem revolves around the number of nasty instruments floating round from the far east many of which sound rubbish and then end up on e bay after the owner and his or her family have given up or abandoned the instrument faced with relationship breakdown. banjo hangout has a lot of excellent used instruments for sale and builders like Pisgah or Leon ballard make excellent instruments at very reasonable prices too.
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simonalex
Strummer
Posts: 38
My main instrument is: Bown OM Lowden F50 Lowden 025 Mc Nally S
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Post by simonalex on May 8, 2018 22:00:19 GMT
Hi Robbie- like many others I am happy that you are back playing.Like you I have used bluegrass sets for cgcgcd etc etc- all of them seem to work fine but theres one caveat and that is that youre pretty much stuck in that tuning and I would hesitate to take them up to concert tuning on say an OM.I have always found it easier to use two separate guitars /or try 54-12 which works on pretty much any tuning .Hope this helps.
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simonalex
Strummer
Posts: 38
My main instrument is: Bown OM Lowden F50 Lowden 025 Mc Nally S
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Post by simonalex on May 3, 2018 21:04:49 GMT
The problem with the Trans audio is that it is well nigh impossible to remove once installed- It is impossible to drill through the slot in the neck to get an undersaddle Baggs element type pickup installed because the drill would hit one of the ?piezzos on the amulet.Its out of the guitar now and replaced by a K and K soundhole pickup which works well and sounds excellent. Anther disadvantage of the amulet is that it doesn't come with the usual 1/4 inch hole for a jack-it has its own eccentric lead and metal DI box which is a pain to lug up on stage if youre just doing the standard two numbers at an open mike or folk club-plenty of opportunity to drop the metal di box on something or trip ocer the long cable. I thought the sound was fine but no better than a K and K and the hassle factor was considerabe-no doubt Jackson B has an army of techs and roadies to tender to his amulet- for lesser mortals its a pain to use in practice!
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simonalex
Strummer
Posts: 38
My main instrument is: Bown OM Lowden F50 Lowden 025 Mc Nally S
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Post by simonalex on Feb 26, 2018 15:26:30 GMT
Hi everyone- I may have managed to sell a wildwood banjo to a fella in Germany .At the moment theres the usual haggling about who pays carriage so I am wondering if anyone knows a supplier of a large box to pack it in and also a good carrier who wont cost a fortune? simon
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