PRODUCTION PROFILE
LOWDEN STRIKES A
W hile its techniques
may be far from
high-tech, the work of
Downpatrick
-based guitar
maker Lowden Guitars is nonetheless
highly technical. The Lowden guitar
is the result of unique design,
workmanship and assembly techniques
along with its choice of woods.
The company still hand-splits our bracing
stock and re-grade soundboard wood and
scours the world for the best (and often
most decorative) tonewoods, which are the
real ‘stars’ of its guitars, and not man-made.
It is this combination of many details, the
company believes, which determines how
its guitars sound, feel, and play.
Says founder George Lowdon: “Today
more than ever, I am constantly evaluating
our guitars and striving to further adjust
the voicing, the feel and the playability.”
Following its recent celebration of 45
28 » JUNE 2020 » WWW.MADEIN.IE
Guitar-maker Lowden Guitars of County Down has recently been
recognised with a prestigious award – just the latest accolade for
this example of craftsmanship and skill.
years in the business of creating highquality
guitars and the launch of their
collaboration with Ed Sheeran on the
Sheeran by Lowden brand in early 2019,
the outstanding legacy of Founder and
luthier George Lowden and his team of
skilled guitar makers has been recognised
and honoured with a Queen’s Award for
Enterprise for International Trade.
George Lowden began hand-crafting
guitars in 1974 and the Lowden brand has
strengthened over time as more and more
industry-acclaimed guitarists have played
and endorsed George’s creations including
Paul Brady, Jon Gomme, Pierre Bensusan,
Alex De Grassi, Snow Patrol’s Gary
Lightbody, Damien Rice, Ed Sheeran, Eric
Clapton, and others.
Learning to manufacture guitars ‘the hard
way’ through self-teaching, George’s focus
has always been on craftsmanship, quality
and experimentation with new shapes and
innovations. This dedication to innovation
has been an important aspect of the brand’s
success and reputation as Lowden grew
from one work bench to a sprawling
workshop which employs and trains the
skilled craftspeople who contribute to
Lowden’s reputation for quality.
Needless to say, the skill and
craftsmanship behind this is huge. “We
have built a team of real craftsmen who
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