My D-40E may just be magical...

[Aahzz]

Ended up with a couple hours in Nashville yesterday, so of course I took advantage and hit up Gruhn and Carter Vintage. Got to play some stuff I've never been able to play around the Cincinnati area, and quite enjoyed it. Gruhn has more Martins than I've ever seen in one place! Also, lots of other stuff.

I got to play Collings, Martin, Santa Cruz, Bourgeois, Lowden, Oregon Breedlove...some notes

Martin D-28 Authentic 1937 - nice, deep, very full and dry sound. Played really well.

Collings D1AV - I was expecting more wow factor. Don't get me wrong, it was very nice, but I now really understand why I've heard people say that Eastmans sound a lot like Collings, because it sounded a whole lot like my E6D-TC, at 4 times the price. I didn't get to play them side by side, since I didn't have my Eastman with me, but the vibe was very similar.

Lowden The Old Lady - quite possibly the loudest acoustic I have ever played, and chock full of overtones. Sounded utterly amazing, but would so not be the right guitar to accompany my singing, which is my primary style.

Martin D-28 Satin - Sounded surprisingly dull - I expected to like it, and I just didn't. Also, I don't care for the satin amberburst in person.

Martin D-18 Standard - had to play something as a control, since I didn't have any of mine with me. I'm a sucker for Sitka over Mahogany, and it didn't disappoint.

Santa Cruz Dread - not recalling the model, because I hated the neck instantly.

Bourgeois - played a couple, a slope and something smaller - sounded good but I hated the neck.

Oregon Breedlove - GA-ish in size, sounded nice but didn't wow me.

At the end of the day, I prefer my Guild D-40E to any of them except the Lowden, which isn't for me. Runner up would be the D-18 Standard. The D-40E has cured any of the lust I previously had for boutique guitars, because it just sounds so dang good, with playability to match .

 

[GGJaguar]

Have "the one" that inspires you to play is always a great thing. Enjoy!

 

[twocorgis]

Which Lowden model was it? There's really only three sizes "S" (small) "F" (medium) and "O" (large) I love my O22.

 

[Aahzz]

Which Lowden model was it? There's really only three sizes "S" (small) "F" (medium) and "O" (large) I love my O22.

The Old Lady is the model - it's the Pierre Bensusan signature. It's an O size.

 

[twocorgis]

The Old Lady is the model - it's the Pierre Bensusan signature. It's an O size.

Actually, he Pierre Bensusan signature is based on the "F" body. The original "Old Lady" was "O" size, and was one of the first guitars George Lowden made. Also had no cutaway. those he Pierre Bensusan signatures are way too expensive for me, and it makes me realize how lucky I was to find my O22 for the price I did,

 

[Aahzz]

Actually, he Pierre Bensusan signature is based on the "F" body. The original "Old Lady" was "O" size, and was one of the first guitars George Lowden made. Also had no cutaway. those he Pierre Bensusan signatures are way too expensive for me, and it makes me realize how lucky I was to find my O22 for the price I did,

There are 2 Pierre Bensusan models. One is indeed an F body. The other is The Old Lady, and it's an O.

Pierre Bensusan 'Old Lady' | Lowden Guitars

lowdenguitars.com

There are pics of the original Old Lady on this page, including the cutaway

Lowden Pierre Bensusan ''Old Lady'' O Model

Ancient Cuban mahogany back and sides and a Red Cedar top produce a crisp, clear tone that's warm without sacrificing detail.

themusicemporium.com

Pierre Bensusan | Lowden Guitars

lowdenguitars.com

If your O22 sounds anything like the Old Lady I played, it must sound incredible .

 

[wileypickett]

. . . Pierre Bensusan signatures are way too expensive for me, and it makes me realize how lucky I was to find my O22 for the price I did,

I have a couple Lowdens I’m quite fond of. But I feel the same way — lucky to have found them when I did. It seems like their prices really skyrocketed during the pandemic.

 

[Aahzz]

This is the exact one, if anyone's looking to drop 8 grand

Gruhn Guitars

guitars.com

 

[twocorgis]

There are 2 Pierre Bensusan models. One is indeed an F body. The other is The Old Lady, and it's an O.

Pierre Bensusan 'Old Lady' | Lowden Guitars

lowdenguitars.com

There are pics of the original Old Lady on this page, including the cutaway

Lowden Pierre Bensusan ''Old Lady'' O Model

Ancient Cuban mahogany back and sides and a Red Cedar top produce a crisp, clear tone that's warm without sacrificing detail.

themusicemporium.com

Pierre Bensusan | Lowden Guitars

lowdenguitars.com

If your O22 sounds anything like the Old Lady I played, it must sound incredible .

I didn't realize there was more than one Pierre Bensusan Signature model. They, like the Richard Thompson Signature model (cedar/ziricote) are from the "premium line, and supposedly have higher grade woods. Looking at the top of my "regular" O22, it's hard to believe that cedar could get much nicer than that, but I'm certainly no expert. I imagine my O22 sounds a bit different than the Pierre Bensusan Signature, due to the different woods, but all Lowdens do have a similar vein to their sound.

I have a couple Lowdens I’m quite fond of. But I feel the same way — lucky to have found them when I did. It seems like their prices really skyrocketed during the pandemic.

It's not just Lowdens Glenn. All the so-called "boutique" guitar prices have gone through the roof. Even more normal guitars like the US built Guilds are quite pricey, especially on the top end. I too feel very lucky to get my Lowden for what I did, basically $2K plus a fretless Pilot bass I was into for about $350. And everyone was happy. The guy still texts me once in a while to tell me how much he loves the bass!

 

[GGJaguar]

It's not just Lowdens Glenn.

It's not just boutique guitars. Before the pandemic, you could order a G&L with a standard set of options and the one I wanted would have run me just under $2000. That same guitar today would be $3500. And these new prices have pushed up the prices of used G&Ls and it's a lot harder to hunt down bargains.

 

[twocorgis]

It's not just boutique guitars. Before the pandemic, you could order a G&L with a standard set of options and the one I wanted would have run me just under $2000. That same guitar today would be $3500. And these new prices have pushed up the prices of used G&Ls and it's a lot harder to hunt down bargains.

Very true Greg. In early 2021, I paid $1450 shipped to my door for an ASAT bass with upgrades like a quartersawn neck, blue burst finish, and an ebony fretboard. that same bass is at least double that now. And it's a similar story with my shell pink Empress wood body JB. I think I could sell both of them now for more than I paid for them new with no difficulty.

 

[wileypickett]

It's not just boutique guitars. Before the pandemic, you could order a G&L with a standard set of options and the one I wanted would have run me just under $2000. That same guitar today would be $3500. And these new prices have pushed up the prices of used G&Ls and it's a lot harder to hunt down bargains.

Yep, what I observed too. And the price rise seems to have affected most brands, new and used, including Guild.

 

[davismanLV]

Don's Avalon L-32 was purchased used at GC for $1500. It was their first year making guitars in Ireland after Lowden left the factory. So same woods, same luthiers, same everything with a different name on the headstock. Nobody knew what it was, so it sat there. I just went to the Avalon site and although the model names and numbers have changed, the same model is now listed at almost $5700!! So I think we got a deal with that one!!

 

[JohnW63]

That's the way to shop! I keep looking for guitar brands that only forum people have ever heard of, trying to find killer deals at the usual places, but EVERYONE know how to look up things on the web, so that sort of luck ignorance just doesn't seem to exist anymore. Or, if it does, you need to see it first and be ready to pull the trigger on the sale.