The Johnson/Lowden Incident

If you know anything about guitars - really totally awesome acoustic guitars I mean - then you know more than me. Although after last Friday, I now know a little more. 

There are, apparently, only about four truly stupendous guitar families in the world. And one of them can be found just down the road in Downpatrick. Aficionados of the instrument rate Lowden above most of the others; I didn't know that. Sam (Fishbone) Bell had told me some of this a while back - perhaps as long as two years ago. But what did it mean to me? I'm not a guitarist. 

So when graphic design supremo Michael Johnson mentioned Lowden in an email and expressed his hope to visit them while over here, it only rang a vague and distant bell. Thankfully though, enough of a tinkle to prompt a couple of questions. And it wasn't long before pieces fell into place (including the fact that I actually already knew Lowden's sales manager Ricky). Then a few arrangements were made and a plan was hatched for a mini road trip to Lowden involving three men in a Mini: Me, Sam and Michael.

OK, so the instruments might not be my thing but an afternoon with Mr Johnson and a sneaky peak inside another factory/workshop was more than tempting enough for me. As it turned out, the trip and tour was ace. Michael was superb company (he basically knows everyone) and although George Lowden himself was in Italy at a trade show all the guys at Lowden were super-friendly and more than happy to talk about their work. Even I was excited by their craftsmanship and, especially, by the trappings of their workshops. Actually more than that; I was inspired…

We talk about the craft in what we do as designers. But there's craft and then there's craft; there's the craft of a carefully kerned piece of typography and then there's the, to be frank, higher-plane craft of the beautifully, hand built, world-class guitar. OK, I may not be equipped with the ability to appreciate how sublime a Lowden guitar sounds but witnessing the work in progress and hearing from a devotee I felt an irresistible energy. 

So I don't know much about guitars but I do know about passion for your craft and obsession. And I think I know how materials – beautiful and often exotic woods in this case – can make you tremble with excitement; and I totally get how intense enthusiasm for your craft can be so powerful it overrides good sense, practical considerations and any otherwise sensible urge to play it safe and comfortable. 

I think I witnessed all that on Friday; uncompromising commitment to making something unlike anything else in it's category; something unquestionably superior. Something, actually, totally fucking awesome…

 

But that's just what I think and like I've said, I'm not a guitar-head. Michael is though, so check out what he's just blogged. And see more images in the usual place.

Comments

[James]

Wow, some lovely stuff there.
I'm not really a guitar person either, but i love the craft that goes into creating one by hand. Lovely shots, thanks for sharing!

[Vicki]

Fascinating. (Also, my dad is a guitar nut, so I will pass this and your flickr link on...)

[Johnny]

This is an excellent post, thanks. The images of the workshop are really strong. And I found the commitment to craft inspiring too. Great stuff