Lowden or Taylor ?

Sorry for asking this as it's a: probably been done to death b: very subjective

However, I don't use a plectrum, use a lot of open tunings, and like quite a low action (now and again there are buzzes in DADGAD, but I'm willing to put up with them !) I am currently using an old Flambeaux (looks like a Gibson slope shouldered dreadnaught.) with 12's, though prefer 11's. I find the neck nicely flat but a bit broad. It's a spruce top and mahoganay back and sides.

Ideally, I'd like a cedar front and rosewood back and sides. So, considering the Acoustic Centre is doing any Lowden for £1295 with case, and I've spotted a Taylor 714 for £1888 (this pushing it a bit even though it's a bargain), what do you think ?

I'll be having a look in Glasgow anyway, but would be interested in any opinions.

I thank you.

rec.music.makers.guitar.acoustic That seems to decide it for me Terence. Now I've got to decide which model.

The prices in The Acoustic Centre seem very good, but I've never bought an acoustic sight unseen or more to the point unplayed. I would be more worried about a crappy action etc.

Has anyone bought (online, or otherwise) from them ?

Lowdens all the way! There's some serious wood goes into them. Plus they have a volute. (I mention that only because it's such a nice word, Volute!) However, if I smear myself with the oil of avarice I'd say the Taylor represents a better cash investment (resale etc) But the Lowden also allows you to wear a tatty jumper, smoke roll-ups, and get gloriously pissed on Guiness and Oysters, while you bang away DADGAD in 3/4 time.

I was reading some reviews over at www.harmony-central.com Apparently, from the factory, the action is set fairly high ? I'm a bit worried if I buy via the web I may end up with something that needs a lot of work.

Still, I suppose I could ask them to lower the action pre-purchase. Has anyone bought mail order from the Acoustic Centre ?

them <g>.

I don't know much about acoustics, but is a Northworthy in the pricerange of Adrian's Lowden? Just that a friend of mine bought one after much deliberation and he's more of an acoustic buff. It sounded pretty good at our band reunion a couple of years back.

Thanks Terence.

I think I'll try and get round the shops this week and see what I can find (and try ! ) but I still think I'll end up with a Lowden.

Years ago the shop I worked in had an 'O' in for a restring (talk about laziness !), and I was warned after two and half hours of re-stringing, tuning, playing, detuning, playing,etc I had to give the customer his guitar back with what amounted to nearly s/h strings !

So I've always wanted one, just trying to fit the model to my finances. Hence the AC.

Has anyone seen any F25's in Glasgow ?

2pods, you may be interested to know there is a yahoo group for the Lowdens with a good following and you can find out lots of things about the Lowdens. Like underneath the saddle there is a shim that is there to take out when fitting a pickup. But if you take it out, and re-string, you get the lower action you are talking about. No need for expensive set ups. Also the goings on at the Lowden workshops in Belfast; Also the fact that, they often have superb cosmetic ' seconds' ( if you can call them that) at a good discount. You may find it well worth the visit to N Ireland, to pick one up yourself. Give them an e-mail and see it they have anything available in the shop. A bit biased, but for the money, you cant beet a Lowden for fingerpicking, quiet strumming. Want to bash a guitar ? Buy a Martin.

Thanks Toad, and everyone else who replied.

I gave in to the GAS and ordered a F25C from the Acoustic Centre (didn't have a non-cutaway 25) on Monday. Very helpful shop. They're giving me 48 hours appro According to Glen (I think ?) it should be here tomorrow.

Excellent. I hope you're delighted with your guitar! I think the cedar/rosewood combo is _the_ classic Lowden mix.

Remember a simple thing... the moment you take it out of it's case, tune it up and hit that first chord... that'll be the worst sounding chord your guitar will ever produce.

It'll only keep getting better the more you play it and will I'm sure reward you for years to come.

There's a ton of interesting stuff to read across on the Lowden yahoo group. If you've not already signed up for the daily digest then I'd recommend doing that... http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Lowden-L There's a great community of Lowden people on the list and you're sure to find something of interest.

A few housekeeping / early-day tips. The hand-rubbed satin finish is quite superb, you'll want to keep it that way from day one. If you live anywhere near one of those 'Lidl' supermarkets pay them a trip and buy a £1.99 microfibre polishing cloth. Those cloths are made from some clever polyamide material that is '1/100th the thickness of a human hair' or somesuch. Whatever it's made of it could quite easily have been designed solely for looking after Lowdens... it feels like suede, it's a little slippy to handle but it simply lifts off grease marks / dust / spit / fingerprints without any hassle and leaves the wood looking superb and factory-new again.

Longer term you might want to top-up the polish. I'd avoid your usual guitar polish stuff and invest in what I believe Lowden recommend some 'Punch' leather-care shoe polish! Sounds scary I know but it really is the stuff to have.

Keep us posted on your first thoughts and how the guitar lives up to your

Thanks Adrian The Guitar should come tomorrow. Luckily we do have a Lidl close by. I'd heard about the 'Punch' shoe polish. It really does sound scary ! Can you get it in normal shoeshops, and how do you use it ?

I'll report back tomorrow.