Sometimes it all ends in failure
Posted: Thu Nov 12, 2015 12:08 am
Way back - Oct 01, 2014 - I started a thread called "New Lowden", about the Lowden S32 acoustic guitar.
I see looking back that there was a paragraph in that opening post that said:-
"So I had a choice of the Clyst which was much easier to play and the S32 that had the higher quality of sound. The S32 was more expensive and I was very, very, very, very, very, very tempted by the Clyst. But I was also tempted a great deal by the Lowden as it just exuded class. I found myself taking a deep breath and going for the Lowden for an extra £360 (460 euros). It will be a Christmas 2014, 60th Birthday and 2015 Christmas present combined. Plus I'll be saving hard for another 7 months at least to pay for it. It is under the bed in it's case till Christmas. I can't help feeling I'm mad to spend so much on a guitar - it is maybe also too good for my ability level."
It looks very obvious to me looking at that old thread now that I did not exercise a great deal of common sense!
A guitar "that was much easier to play" and about which I also said in the post "was the easiest acoustic guitar to play that I've ever tried and the music flowed very easily." was passed over for a guitar where I said "it is maybe also too good for my ability level".
I have tried. I really have. For a year or so. The Lowden undeniably is a very good guitar - the clarity, balance, sustain, tonal bloom, responsiveness are all great. It is most definitely the best guitar I have ever played.
BUT - if you have an acoustic guitar that has great clarity the player needs to use their skill to get tonal variation and warmth. If you have a guitar with balance the player needs to be able to emphasise the melodic / main line in the music. If you have a guitar with great sustain you need to have the skill to damp it when required. It has become apparent that I don't have those skills in great enough amount. Without those skills playing becomes timid and stilted or riddled with mistakes.
Plus the wider fretboard and more chunky rounded back to the neck are causing pain to my left hand finger joints that I don't have if I use my smaller Tanglewood guitars. As a result I have been going to my other guitars to play while the Lowden is actually the one nearest to where I usually sit.
So I'm afraid, if I can find anyone to buy it, the Lowden is to be sold. I'm not exactly happy about it all to be honest -the feeling of failure prevents that for a start. If it does get sold I don't think I'll be chasing after another high quality, high price acoustic guitar. IF I've learned my lesson.
I see looking back that there was a paragraph in that opening post that said:-
"So I had a choice of the Clyst which was much easier to play and the S32 that had the higher quality of sound. The S32 was more expensive and I was very, very, very, very, very, very tempted by the Clyst. But I was also tempted a great deal by the Lowden as it just exuded class. I found myself taking a deep breath and going for the Lowden for an extra £360 (460 euros). It will be a Christmas 2014, 60th Birthday and 2015 Christmas present combined. Plus I'll be saving hard for another 7 months at least to pay for it. It is under the bed in it's case till Christmas. I can't help feeling I'm mad to spend so much on a guitar - it is maybe also too good for my ability level."
It looks very obvious to me looking at that old thread now that I did not exercise a great deal of common sense!
A guitar "that was much easier to play" and about which I also said in the post "was the easiest acoustic guitar to play that I've ever tried and the music flowed very easily." was passed over for a guitar where I said "it is maybe also too good for my ability level".
I have tried. I really have. For a year or so. The Lowden undeniably is a very good guitar - the clarity, balance, sustain, tonal bloom, responsiveness are all great. It is most definitely the best guitar I have ever played.
BUT - if you have an acoustic guitar that has great clarity the player needs to use their skill to get tonal variation and warmth. If you have a guitar with balance the player needs to be able to emphasise the melodic / main line in the music. If you have a guitar with great sustain you need to have the skill to damp it when required. It has become apparent that I don't have those skills in great enough amount. Without those skills playing becomes timid and stilted or riddled with mistakes.
Plus the wider fretboard and more chunky rounded back to the neck are causing pain to my left hand finger joints that I don't have if I use my smaller Tanglewood guitars. As a result I have been going to my other guitars to play while the Lowden is actually the one nearest to where I usually sit.
So I'm afraid, if I can find anyone to buy it, the Lowden is to be sold. I'm not exactly happy about it all to be honest -the feeling of failure prevents that for a start. If it does get sold I don't think I'll be chasing after another high quality, high price acoustic guitar. IF I've learned my lesson.