LOWDEN S-23 12-FRET

The Lowden S-23 came to us as part of a pair of 12-fretters, its accomplice on the day being the smaller-bodied WL-25, one of the company’s ‘Wee Lowden’ range. Part of the charm of an acoustic where the neck joins the body at the 12th (as opposed to the 14th) fret is that the bridge is placed at the widest part of the guitar’s soundboard. This means, in theory at least, a more efficient transfer between strings and top, and we often find that a 12-fretter is actually louder and prouder than even a dreadnought with a 14-fret join. We praised the S-23’s singing, airy voice and its surprising dollop of refined tone that would please even the most demanding connoisseur.