Lowden S-25c 1995 – Red Cedar / Indian Rosewood – Hiscox Hard Case – Used Very Good
George Lowden has been building guitars in Northern Ireland since the mid-1970s, and the reputation he has built over that time is one of the most quietly authoritative in the acoustic guitar world. Players who find their way to a Lowden tend to stay there. The S body — introduced in 1994 as Lowden's concert-sized offering — is the smallest of the three main Lowden body shapes, and what George did with the geometry and voicing of this body is worth understanding. Knowing that a concert-sized instrument would naturally produce good mids and treble by virtue of its size, he deliberately adjusted the soundbox geometry to accentuate the bass — the result being a small-bodied guitar that sounds considerably larger than it looks, with a warmth and balance that defies the convention that you need a dreadnought to move air. The red cedar top is the tonal centerpiece — warm, immediate, and touch-sensitive in a way that spruce simply is not, responding to the subtlest variation in right-hand pressure and producing a voice that rewards nuanced, expressive playing. Indian rosewood back and sides bring complexity and depth to the low end and a shimmering clarity in the upper register that complements the cedar's warmth beautifully. Lowden's signature fan and relief bracing pattern is engineered to work specifically with this tonewood combination, extracting maximum resonance from the top while maintaining the structural integrity that these guitars need to age well over decades. The five-piece mahogany, rosewood, and walnut neck is stable and comfortable, the ebony fingerboard and bridge are smooth and beautifully finished, and the single cutaway gives clean access to the upper register without compromising the body's acoustic integrity. Mahogany binding, abalone and wood rosette, gold Lowden tuners, and the understated finish that Lowden has always preferred — a muted gloss on the body that lets the wood speak, with a high-gloss back on the neck — complete an instrument that is as thoughtfully designed as any production acoustic guitar made anywhere in the world. This one was built in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland in 1995, when Lowden's reputation was already firmly established and the craftsmanship was at a very high level.
This is a really sweet player. The sound is punchy and mid-forward with exceptional low-mid presence that makes it outstanding for fingerpicking and flatpicking — articulate, focused, and musical, with a nice blend that also works well for pick strumming. The neck fills the hand well and is immediately comfortable. No fret wear, good neck angle, plenty of saddle remaining for adjustment in either direction. Cosmetically in great shape — a few small impressions and nicks on the top and some light pick scratching, nothing dramatic, finish overall in excellent condition. Comes with a Hiscox hard case.
- Make: Lowden
- Model: S-25c
- Year: 1995
- Country of origin: Northern Ireland (Downpatrick)
- Body shape: S (concert), single cutaway
- Top: Solid red cedar, muted gloss finish
- Back and sides: Solid Indian rosewood
- Bracing: Lowden fan and relief bracing
- Binding: Mahogany
- Rosette: Abalone and wood
- Neck: 5-piece mahogany, rosewood, and walnut, high gloss finish
- Fingerboard: Ebony, no position markers
- Bridge: Indian rosewood
- Nut: Bone, 1-3/4"
- Saddle: Bone, plenty of material remaining
- Scale length: 25.5"
- Frets: 20, no fret wear
- Tuners: Gold Lowden
- Modifications: None
- Condition: Used Very Good – few small impressions and nicks on top, light pick scratching, finish overall in excellent shape
- Includes: Hiscox hard case
Ships carefully packed and insured for full value. International buyers are welcome — please contact us for a shipping quote before purchasing.
About Mill River Music
Mill River Music is an independent, human-powered music shop located in downtown Northampton, MA, run by a team of players, enthusiasts, and certified repair technicians. Every piece of used gear we sell is personally inspected, tested, and set up before it ships — we don't list it until we'd be happy to play it ourselves.
As Martin and Taylor certified techs, we hold our guitar work to a high standard, and we're committed to full transparency about the condition of everything we sell. No surprises.
When you buy from Mill River, you're supporting an independent local business that genuinely cares — about gear, about players, and about doing things right. We're here every step of the way. Reach out anytime.
