Sponsored By
 

Sheeran by Lowden W01

 

This affordable parlor size guitar is a collaboration with Lowden and pop superstar Ed Sheeran.

 
May 14, 2019
 

With hits such as “Photograph,” “Perfect,” “Castle on the Hill,” and others, British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran has become one of today’s most successful recording artists and live acts. An accomplished guitarist, Sheeran often uses a loop pedal in performance, and while many of his songs feature pop-style production, an acoustic guitar is often the driving force behind his sound. Sheeran began playing Lowden guitars several years ago, which led luthier George Lowden to develop a prototype of the parlor-size Wee Lowden model (check out our demo of a WL-35x) in hopes that Sheeran, who has long preferred small guitars, would play it. Sheeran did indeed start using Wee Lowdens as his main guitar, and the size has become a popular model for the Northern Irish company. At last January’s Winter NAMM show, Lowden surprised the industry by coming out with a co-branded line of guitars with Sheeran, who hopes that by offering a relatively affordable version of his favorite guitar, his fans will be inspired to take up the instrument. Sheeran by Lowden instruments are built in a brand-new factory located near the Lowden workshop in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland. We had a chance to check out one of the first Sheeran by Lowden guitars available in North America, a W01, courtesy of Gryphon Stringed Instruments.

The W01 has the same parlor-size dimensions as the Wee Lowden. Our demo guitar’s walnut back and sides had beautiful figure, and the cedar top had a rich color and even grain. While the W01 follows the Lowden template in many aspects, it has been simplified in several ways to allow for a much lower price. However, all the materials used are of very high quality, and the craftsmanship is excellent throughout. The W01 has no neck or body binding, a one-piece neck, a single-piece saddle, a simple rosette, and a satin finish.

The W01’s compact dimensions make it very comfortable, and the short 24-inch scale makes fretting-hand stretches much more manageable than on most full-size guitars. The guitar’s tone emphasizes midrange frequencies, and its quick response, typical of guitars with cedar tops, makes it a very lively instrument. It had respectable volume when I strummed open-string chords up the neck using a progression similar to Sheeran’s “Photograph,” and it had excellent definition and balance when I played it fingerstyle. Though the guitar doesn’t have the same level of attention to detail and sophistication as a standard Lowden (which costs four or five times the price of a Sheeran), it definitely conveys a good amount of the tonality Lowden is famous for: rich overtones, a fast attack, and excellent volume.

Overall, the W01 would be a fabulous choice for a beginning player, regardless of whether they want to play like Ed Sheeran. And it would also make an excellent instrument for anyone looking for a compact guitar with a full sound. Players who want to capture a bit of the Lowden vibe at a previously unheard of price should also check out the Sheeran line. In addition to the Wee size, Sheeran by Lowden instruments are also available in Lowden’s S body shape, and wood options include santos rosewood back and sides and spruce tops.

SPECS: Wee Lowden size body with 14-fret neck. Cedar top. Walnut back and sides. Mahogany neck. Ebony fingerboard and bridge. 630 mm. (24-inch scale. 1.71-inch nut width. Enclosed chrome tuning machines. Made in Northern Ireland.$825. Sheeranguitars.com

 

Related New Gear Posts

 

Lowden WL-35 Jazz

A parlor-size crossover nylon-string with a big sound and an LR Baggs pickup.

Read More

 

Lowden S-35 12-Fret

A modern small-body steel-string with a 12-fret neck, cedar top, and walnut back and sides.

Read More

 

Lowden Jon Gomm Signature Model

The percussive fingerstylist’s guitar features an innovative hybrid top design.

Read More

 

Lowden S-35M

An exquisite small-body steel-string with a body made from fiddleback mahogany.

Read More

 

Lowden WL-35x

The Wee Lowden is a modern parlor guitar that offers a big sound and premium woods.

Read More

 

Yamaha FG9M

A high-end dreadnought with intercontinental origins.

Read More

Taylor Builder’s Edition 812ce LTD  

Taylor Builder’s Edition 812ce LTD

Part of Taylor’s 50th Anniversary Collection, this redwood-topped grand concert is a special variation of a classic model.

Read More

Martin SC-18E video demonstration  

Martin SC-18E

The mahogany version of Martin’s modern masterpiece delivers easy playability and rich sound.

Read More

Martin SC-28E  

Martin SC-28E

The new flagship of Martin’s cutting-edge SC line gracefully fuses tradition and innovation.

Read More

Taylor 614ce LTD  

Taylor 614ce LTD 50th Anniversary Collection

A maple and spruce grand auditorium in a transparent white finish.

Read More

 
Sponsored By
 
 
 

Peghead Partners

 
Peghead Partners feature image
O’ahu HG-28 | Martin Guitar
A brand-new model with a reduced-size dreadnought body celebrates Martin's history in Hawaiian music.
 
subscribe sample lessons
 
 
 
 
  Follow Us: facebook icon instagram icon twitter icon youtube icon newsletter icon  
 
spotify icon facebook icon instagram icon twitter icon youtube icon newsletter icon
  About Us       Shop         Support         Contact Us         Email Sign up         Advertise         Sitemap         FAQ         Privacy         Terms         Subscribe   Sign In  
 
    ● Courses
    ● Live Workshops
    ● Instructors
    ● Sample Lessons
    ● Notation Guide
    ● For Beginners
 
    ● Workshops
    ● Advice
    ● Repertoire
 
    ● Vintage Vault
    ● New Gear
    ● Fine Lutherie
 
    ● Recordings
    ● Events
    ● Breaking News
 
    ● In The Studio
    ● Live Onstage
    ● Backroom
 
    ● New Products
    ● Inside Look
    ● Performances
    ● Partner Pages
 
Peghead Nation logo
 
© Copyright 2024 PegheadNation.com
 
 
spotify icon facebook icon instagram icon twitter icon youtube icon newsletter icon
    ● Courses
    ● Live Workshops
    ● Instructors
    ● Sample Lessons
    ● Notation Guide
    ● For Beginners
 
 
    ● Vintage Vault
    ● New Gear
    ● Fine Lutherie
 
 
    ● Workshops
    ● Advice
    ● Repertoire
 
 
    ● Recordings
    ● Events
    ● Breaking News
 
 
    ● In The Studio
    ● Live Onstage
    ● Backroom
 
 
    ● New Products
    ● Inside Look
    ● Performances
    ● Partner Pages
 
Peghead Nation logo
 
© Copyright 2024 PegheadNation.com