Lowden F32c

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

If you haven't studied guitars, you might not notice it, but if you've looked into acoustic guitars or fingerstyle playing, you'd know the appeal of this Irish brand.

I purchased this guitar in 2014, when I was still in university and at a crossroads about to graduate—wondering whether to pursue my major or chase my dream in music. 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. To me, this brand represented the master's choice! 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, I couldn't stop thinking about its thick bass and grainy tone—after all, it was a dream guitar! Looking back, I realize my filter was way too heavy; I simply wasn't ready to handle such an instrument[^1].

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

My grandmother was in poor health at the time and had been bedridden for several years. Her condition was so bad that even climbing stairs was difficult; she basically stayed in her room. It felt like she spent over 90% of her life in the same place—I still find it hard to imagine. Every time I came home, I'd always chat with her and share recent happenings. When she learned about this guitar I'd seen, she decided to help fund part of it, and 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 specs of this guitar!

Lowden F32c (approximately 2008)

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

It's Alright, Towards the Sun, and 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, which balances the stress in each direction of the wood, even after all these years of use, 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, while I don't often use percussive techniques, the tapping sound on this guitar is incredibly clear and solid!

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 power to drive the sound, and the neck specs were thicker and wider.