Another year, another NAMM show done and dusted. The Lowden team have all arrived back in N.Ireland after a busy week in California. If you don’t know what NAMM is, this annual trade show brings together more than 1700 exhibitors along with over 100,000 visitors packed in to 700,000 sq ft of exhibition space! Sound like a music lovers dream? It quite possibly is but don’t forget to wear your earplugs if you dare to venture in to the drum hall!
NAMM gives us a platform to debut new products for the year ahead whilst providing the chance to catch up with dealers, artists and suppliers from all over the world.
This year we launched two new models. The Baritone Fan Fret, the FM along with a limited run of all Koa 50 Series models. However, the jewel in the crown was The Genesis Guitar. Back in 2016 we celebrated the landmark of making our 20,000th guitar.
To mark the occasion George decided he would make a special, one of a kind guitar. He chose his favourite model and tonewoods (F-50 African Blackwood with Sinker Redwood) and dreamt up something truly special. The back of guitar No.20,000 was given to renowned inlay artist Larry Robinson and with the simple brief of ‘Creation,’ Larry went to work. To say that the end result blew us away, is an understatement. You can find out more about this special guitar here. We are delighted to announce that the guitar will be for sale from Heartbreaker Guitars, Las Vegas, NV
One of the highlights of the NAMM show is getting the chance to catch up with some of our artists.
This year was no exception and we were able to hang out with not one, not two but three of our Signature artists!
Richard Thompson, Thomas Leeb and Alex de Grassi all stopped by and Thomas even stuck around all weekend to perform on our stand. His fingerstyle pyrotechnics had people in awe as they came across the Lowden stand.
RT and George Lowden
As has been the case for the last few years, our good friends and Lowden artists Shawn Jones and Stephen Inglis hung out with us all week and along with Thomas, helped to show off what our guitars are capable of each day.
The new Baritone Fan Fret received a lot of attention and the incredible bass response impressed everyone who dared to take it on.
The FM was a hit with our US dealers who loved the way it projected. It has the classic Lowden sound but with slightly brighter, more pronounced lower mids making it an ideal tool for flatpickers or those who need their rhythm playing to cut through the mix a little more.
Model shown: BAR-50 FF African Blackwood/Sinker Redwood FM-35 Cocobolo/Sitka Spruce
Alongside these new models we also revealed a new Wee Lowden wood combination for the 35 Series. Chechen is a recent addition to our range, stunning in appearance and tone and this can now be paired with either an Alpine Spruce or a Redwood top.
George will soon be heading off on his annual design retreat and so the process begins all over again for 2018 but in the meantime, we still have a lot to share with you throughout 2017. Follow us on social media to keep up to date with all things Lowden!
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