Lowden F32c

Today I'd like to talk about one of my guitar collection pieces—the Lowden F32c.

If you haven't studied guitars, you might not notice how different it is from other guitars. But if you've done some research on acoustic guitars or fingerstyle playing, you'd know the appeal of this Irish brand.

I acquired this guitar in 2014, when I was still a university student at a crossroads—thinking about whether to pursue a career in my major or chase my dream in music after graduation. Did you ever feel lost about the future when graduating from university?

My impression of Lowden started after I got into fingerstyle guitar. At that time, many world-class performers used this brand for their performances, such as Don Ross, Pierre Bensusan, Andy McKee, and others. Lowden is renowned for its durability and distinctive, powerful tone. In my mind, this brand was the choice of masters! But the point of this article isn't to promote or praise it—rather, I want to share what this guitar means to me.

In 2014, a musician teacher happened to be selling one. Before that, I'd never played a Lowden guitar, and as a university student, I never imagined owning one. But after trying it out, I couldn't stop thinking about its thick bass and grainy tone—after all, it was my dream guitar! Looking back, I realize I was wearing rose-tinted glasses; I was nowhere near skilled enough to do justice to such an instrument[^1].

So how did I end up buying it? This connects to my family.

My grandmother was in poor health at the time and had been bedridden for several years. Her condition made it difficult even to go downstairs—she basically stayed in her room. I still find it hard to imagine spending over 90% of your life in the same place. Every time I came home, I'd always chat with her and share what had been happening recently. When she learned about this guitar I'd seen, she decided to help fund part of the purchase. That's how I finally got this guitar that's been with me for over a decade. My grandmother passed away the following year, and not long after, I truly began my journey in music. Sometimes when I play this guitar in the evening, I still think of what she said back then.

Let me shift gears and introduce the specifications of this guitar!

Lowden F32c (circa 2008)

Top: Sitka Spruce
Back & Side: Indian Rosewood
Neck: 5-piece Mahogany / Rosewood
Fingerboard: Ebony
Bridge: Rosewood

Previous recordings I've released—It's Alright, Towards the Sun, Time Flies—were all recorded with this guitar.

Indian rosewood paired with Sitka spruce is a classic combination, and the overall sound can be summed up in one word: "thick." Thanks to the five-piece neck construction, which balances the stress on the wood in all directions, even after using it for so long, the neck hasn't shown any significant changes—it's incredibly reliable. The notes are crisp and distinct, with excellent dynamic range, making it perfect for solo guitar music. Also, although I don't often use percussive techniques, the tapping sound on this guitar is incredibly clear and solid!

The photo shows it equipped with a Sunrise + M-Factory system; I've since moved the Sunrise to another guitar.

My Live Performance Gear Setup | My Gear

Although I often joke about selling this guitar, I think it'll probably stay with me for life!

[^1]Early Lowdens were considered to require more driving force in their tone, and the neck specifications were thicker and wider.