A change in gigging bands, and new opportunities, has led me on an acoustic quest...
Now, I've been building up some funds for a wee while now, and have recently sold a couple of guitars to add to the kitty.
A business opportunity arose, working 3 days in Milton Keynes, which is fortunately only about 50 minutes from the Theatre of Dreams that is
Coda Music.
Now, as some of you may be aware, I've fancied a Lowden for a while. I'm 'naturally' an acoustic player, and have owned several Taylors in the past, a Collings 000 (too tight) and a glorious Atkins The 43. All have been moved on.
I won't lie, I had a budget of about £6.5k. By any stretch of the imagination, this is a lot of corn.
I'd tried the Lowdens at GG, but Coda is always my first choice to purchase. Doug and the team offer THE best service there is - before AND after purchase.
So, on Monday evening, I headed over to Coda... where the new and used stock is vast.
I was really open to any guitar that produced 'that sound in my head'. Regardless of looks, price, or brand, it had to be really special or else I would leave and continue the quest.
There were two models that really interested me;i.) Lowden Richard Thompson Singature
ii.) Lowden F50 Ziricote/Driftwood Cedar (used)
Both were exceptional. Well, to be honest, ALL of the guitars at this price point are very very good, as you would expect.
I went through the list systematically, and the models that really stood out were as follows;i.) Lowden Batch 45 F38
ii.) Martin D41 (used)
iii.) Atkin Essential 000 Pre War
iii.) Charis SJ
iv.) Martin Custom Shop NORTH STREET OM28 Herringbone
And one other
I settled on 3 which spoke to me, and seemed to align with my 'voice' and playing...
Lowden Batch 45 F38 and Martin D41 and the other one... Both were too blingy to play down at The Chapel House, our local, to be honest...
I found myself after a while, trying to get the Lowden which sounded like the Martin; more bass, a rounder more versatile sound etc.
And the one I settled on was a surprise from my initial thoughts...
A used
Martin Custom Shop D28 North Street Herringbone.
Built as the pre-war models were, with the forward X bracing and herringbone finish. I've always favoured Adirondack tops (for some reason), and this has one with gorgeous East Indian Rosewood.
It has the chime and throw of the Lowden, with the versatility of the Martin. A gorgeous instrument. Funnily enough, as a huge Steve Earle fan, I found out this morning that his one guitar for life is a D28 1937 !
The sound in your head eh ?
Big thanks, as always, to
@DougCoda and the team for the usual outstanding service.
Comments
Red Spruce is a sound and feel all to itself, and if you like that sound and feel nothing else really substitutes for it. It has that extra zing and ultra-lively response. The trick is to control it, and that big dreadnought body is just the ticket.
Besides, Martins really, really need the herringbone to look right. This one really looks the business.
The Charis SJ was very impressive though...
What was the Atkin like and did you try and Bourgeois or Brook?
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And yes, they let you play, and help where they can.
I really want to try that specific OM18 and also a Bourgeois.
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Just having an LR Baggs Anthem fitteD now