A Trend From Boutique Builders- Lower Prices

There is a trend in high end, hand crafted brands- guitars at a more accessible price point. Huss and Dalton introduced the “Valley” line, Fairbanks has “Iris,” and there are others. In fact, we carry Cirrus guitars, from M.J. Franks. The idea is to answer the call from players for a solid wood, boutique quality instrument at a price point commensurate with higher end production guitars. The products are, essentially, no frills models using high quality materials and methods to deliver what the consumer is asking for.

These no frill models are distinctly different from their higher end siblings. By all accounts, they are fantastic instruments, but they are not the same. If they were, they would be sold at similar, much higher, price points. I love the idea and, done right, fills a gap in the market and answers the players' calls for something better, something different, than what comes off the production line.

Lowden has chosen a different approach. Last year, they introduced the F-10 and F-12. Instead of crafting a more accessibly priced sub-brand, they took to their benches to create guitars that remain distinctly Lowden. In fact, put side by side with higher level models, you wouldn’t know the difference. Perhaps more importantly, when played, you know they are Lowden guitars.

It’s not until you note the neck is three pieces, and not five, or look inward to the neck joint and find it’s a departure from their traditional style, and is instead a bolt on, that you begin to see where it’s different. Lowden’s approach is to find solutions to satisfy the desires of players without changing who they are or what, at the core, they make. 

I love that high end builders are adapting to the market and the significantly lower price points they are doing it at. Lowden’s offering is in between- it’s not priced as low as the others, but it is certainly more accessible and is still, undeniably, a Lowden.

Both models are available from $3,800 with Indian Rosewood back and Sides. The F-10 with a cedar top and the F-12 with Sitka. If you’re interested and don’t find any available on our site, contact us for ordering information as they are currently in very high demand and are backordered.