Hi All,
I thought I'd contact the forum for your collective wisdom.
I've recently sold a very nice slope shouldered Patrick James Eggle and am in the market for a slightly smaller new acoustic (OM/Concert size). I think for my next acquisition I would like to try something from one of the Irish builders such as Lowden, Avalon, McIlroy, etc.
However, I have heard that these are only really suitable for finger picking and sound poor when strumming and flat picking. As I play mostly blues/rock are these even worthwhile considering?
Thanks in advance for your advice.
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The bracing and design, and the fact they sand the inside of the guitar makes them do this.
I have some, and they are different, and are very good for fingerpicking, especially in some styles
Avalon also make an "Americana" range, with more traditional Amercican style bracing, I have one of these. There are less overtones, and it is better for some more complicated arrangements for which extra harmonics can reduce focus (e.g. a complicated acoustic version of "Yesterday" that I like to play
I certainly wouldn't say that default-bracing Lowdens and Avalons "sound poor" when strummed/picked, they just sound different. You might well love the sound of them the way you play - best to try one
I would recommend Rosewood and spruce if you are playing hard with a pick, ideally a stiff spruce like Adirondack.
Many people prefer dreads when playing loud with a pick, but I assume you have your reasons for reducing the size of your intstrument
For me, they don’t work - they are voiced very differently from Martins and the like. Only you can make the judgement as to whether they work for you.
Ciaran McNally makes guitars that are more mid Atlantic in sound, or perhaps the Avalon Americana might suit you.
Although, I agree with wellsyboy that an Atkin might be cheaper and a better choice all round.
Paul Brady plays a Lowden in a rock style, perhaps you can find a video on YouTube.
I once had a Lowden O10, which I bought on a whim because I was offered it cheap due to some damage - a beautifully made guitar, which no doubt sounded fantastic. But not when I played it. I actually preferred an old Hondo all-ply Everly Brothers copy I had at the same time which I picked up in a junk shop for £80. Really... it just suited my playing style and the sound I wanted better - Neil Young, basically - so I sold the Lowden, and don't regret it. I do actually miss the Hondo though!
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I sat in Guitar Guitar once and played all the Lowdens they had for a few hours. A lot of very very average sounding boxes. The only guitar that was genuinely brilliant, was a used S model, Brazilian back and sides. Not a guitar that I wanted or needed, and whilst I have never really felt Brazilian to always be better than other woods (although it IS almost always better than EIR), this one was pure magic. Notes felt like they were leaping out before I had plucked them. I bought a Bourgeois dread though, then went home and banged out some Neil Young tunes.
Anyway, I have noticed guitarists in several Welsh folk acts using them - most of the time they’re used as heavily strummed rhythm instruments, with fiddle, accordion etc taking centre stage. Not really used for fingerpicking.
Based on what people are saying, it looks like Lowdens can be hit and miss and that McIlroy seems to be more consistent in terms of flexibility of musical styles. I'll also check out the Avalon Americana range which sound like a good compromise. I'm also very grateful to @malcolmkindness for his suggestion to check out Ciaran McNally - it turns out he's about two miles away from me (although I'd never heard of him before)!
It's already feeling like I'll be leaning towards Martin, Atkin, etc based on my musical tastes and the advice above. However, I'll try out a few Lowdens and Avalons in the near future when I next have the chance - just to satisfy my curiosity.
As far as manufacturers go, I know several luthiers in the ROI who will make you a guitar if you approach them but they mostly make mandolins, Irish bouzoukis, etc.
because they have established a market there.
As others have pointed out, 'Irish Guitars' would lump together lots of makers, not least the amazingly innovative Emerald Guitars.
I'm not sure there's a specific Irish Guitar which is best for playing Irish music. If anything characterises Celtic music it's DADGAD tuning!! That can make it sound a bit 'different' sometimes.
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I am Irish and am familiar with Irish music. However, it's not really what I'm into and I just wanted to see what owners of Lowden(esque) acoustics thought of how suitable their instruments were for blues, acoustic rock, etc. Thanks too for the heads up on Emerald Guitars. They look interesting, although I have more traditional tastes and therefore feel that they're not for me.