C-flat: there is a lot of rumour and conflicting information about the five years or so that Lowdens were not made in Ireland and were sort of made in Japan.

Flambeau was definitely a brand name that these guitars were marketed as, at quite a reasonable price. ($300- $400 Cdn, early 80's). They didn't much resemble the completely distinctive Lowdens of today, and have a more than casual resemblance to a Gibson J-50, but they were at least designed by George Lowden, and were and are a great players' guitar, play great and sound huge, with no frills or excessive ornamentation. I don't consider them copies, they are a lower-end Lowden. Haven't heard of Tremeleux.

A number of these guitars, like mine/once Rick's, never had ANY brand name on them. Others from that same production period in Japan were actually branded as Lowdens. The latter are undoubtedly a case of the name adding to the value. I don't know if they are much different in appearance/construction to what I have. That's why I'm curious about this guitar in Brattleboro.

W-O