Well, I have become a complete convert to Elixirs, but that's not why I'm reviving this thread.

Some new info has come to light on the possible provenance of this guitar. I was told by my friend Brian at the Ottawa Folklore Centre that it looked like a Flambeau, which was a line of late 70's/early 80's made-in-Japan guitars which were in fact designed by George Lowden and resembled Gibson J-50's. There is not a lot of info available on the Flambeau company if it even was a company...but I did find somebody's online pics of his Flambeau, which sure looked like this one. Flambeaus have a curved peghead top, a simple curve, not the more ornate compound curve which is Lowden's signature.

Don't know how many were made or are still around, but they were sure good value. Anyone see any Flambeau guitars around, take a second look. And let me know.

Willie-O