Renowned Northern Ireland luthier George Lowden started building guitars in the mid-1970s and quickly gained a reputation for his unique approach, which combines traditional methods and modern innovations. Lowden emphasizes the use of high-quality tonewoods, hand voicing techniques, and a deep understanding of acoustic principles. Lowden guitars are built with a high degree of precision and creative design elements. In practice, they are expressive instruments that produce rich, resonant sounds.
Going back to 1976, the O model is George’s original Lowden body design. It is essentially Lowden's take on a jumbo. This O-23 was made in 2000, and it features a Cedar top with Walnut back and sides. Under the hood, Lowden's unique "dolphin-profile" braces lend a wide dynamic range and quick, expressive response. It produces a deep, resonant complex tone. You don't have to dig in much to get the Cedar top moving, so it sounds big with a light touch. But at the same time, it packs a ton of headroom. When pick it hard, it jumps across the room.
This 2000 O-23 has been played, and the satin finish shows finish checking throughout when light catches the right angle. It has a strap button installed on the heel, and there is a K&K Pure Mini pickup under the hood. It shows general play wear, and there some scuffs, dings, and minor scratches (see photos—the worst is the bass edge of the top lower bout, and there's a ding on the top by the back side of the bridge). We love the simple understated Lowden appointments—all wood binding and an eye-catching abalone rosette, no fingerboard inlay. The delicate curves of the bridge and the split saddle, too! These are good-looking guitars.
The O body is a big guitar—it measures 16.5" across the lower bout and 4-7/8" inches deep—but this O23 still feels comfortable and balanced. This Lowden has a 25-1/2" scale length, the nut width measures 1-3/4", and the string spacing is 2-1/4" at the saddle. The 5-piece mahogany/rosewood neck has an approachable C-shaped profile, and it plays nicely with .013-gauge medium strings. It includes its original hardshell case, which has some scuffs and tears but still keeps the guitar safe.