"We have built a team of real craftsmen who build Lowden guitars by hand using Japanese chisels, planes, knives and spokeshaves...we create guitars which feel and sound like individual works of art."
~ George Lowden
The Music Emporium has been an authorized Lowden Guitars dealer since George Lowden first brought his instruments to the United States, making us his original U.S. dealer and one of the longest-standing Lowden retailers in North America. That relationship, built over decades, continues today from our Lexington, Massachusetts shop.
Made in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland, Lowden guitars are known for their distinctive voice - a warm, complex tone shaped by George Lowden's original bracing design and the workshop's commitment to traditional luthiery. Players often describe them simply: unlike anything else.
That singularity is why Lowden remains a cornerstone of our acoustic selection. Whether you're considering an O, F, S, or Wee Lowden - or one of the signature collaborations with artists like Pierre Bensusan, Richard Thompson, or Ed Sheeran - our team can help you find the model and tonewood pairing that fits your playing.
Visit our showroom at 165 Massachusetts Ave in Lexington, MA to play a Lowden in person, or reach out to discuss current inventory and special orders.
(photo: acousticguitar.com)
Design
Curvy, smooth soundbox shapes combined with carefully voiced internal bracing and soundbox profiles, and use of natural wood decorations with Lowden's unique hand rubbed satin finish, all combine to make the Lowden guitar what it is today.
Workmanship
Lowden’s careful, hand-crafted assembly avoids stress that can dampen tone. Their signature “Dolphin Profile” bracing and meticulous joinery help each guitar deliver maximum sustain, volume, and balance - no shortcuts, just thoughtful design and expert build quality.
Wood
Lowden hand-splits their bracing, re-grades every top, and sources the world’s finest tonewoods - natural beauty that shines without man-made flash. George Lowden remains deeply involved, constantly refining the voicing, feel, and playability of each guitar.
Lowden Guitars FAQ
Common questions about Lowden acoustic guitars - the builder, the craft, and why players come to us for them.
Why is The Music Emporium the place to buy a Lowden guitar near Boston?
The Music Emporium has been an authorized Lowden Guitars dealer since George Lowden first brought his instruments to the United States - making us his original U.S. dealer and one of the longest-standing Lowden retailers in North America. That relationship spans decades and means our team knows the catalog, the tonewoods, and the models in genuine depth. Our showroom in Lexington, Massachusetts is about 20 minutes from downtown Boston, and players from across New England travel to compare Lowdens in person and discuss special orders.
Who is George Lowden and where are Lowden guitars made?
George Lowden is the founder and guiding force behind Lowden Guitars, built by hand in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland. His workshop uses Japanese chisels, planes, knives, and spokeshaves to craft instruments that George describes as "individual works of art." He remains deeply involved in the design and voicing of each guitar, constantly refining the feel and playability alongside a team of dedicated craftspeople.
What is the Lowden Dolphin Profile bracing?
The Dolphin Profile is George Lowden's proprietary bracing design - the structural architecture inside the guitar that shapes how the top vibrates and how tone develops. Lowden hand-splits all their bracing rather than sawing it, which preserves the natural grain alignment for maximum resonance. Combined with meticulous joinery and stress-free assembly, the Dolphin Profile is a primary reason Lowden guitars deliver their characteristic sustain, volume, and tonal balance.
What Lowden models does The Music Emporium carry?
Our Lowden selection draws from across the lineup: the O (Orchestra), F (Folk), S (Stage), and Wee Lowden body sizes, in standard and custom tonewood configurations. Lowden also produces artist signature models in collaboration with Pierre Bensusan, Richard Thompson, and Ed Sheeran. Inventory rotates with what is available; reach out to our team to discuss what is currently in stock or to spec a special order.
Who plays Lowden guitars?
Lowden has built artist collaborations with Pierre Bensusan, Richard Thompson, and Ed Sheeran - a range that speaks to how far the Lowden voice travels across styles, from solo fingerstyle to folk to contemporary songwriting. Players consistently describe the tone as simply unlike anything else: warm, complex, and immediately distinctive under the fingers.