2008 Ralph Bown OM Acoustic Guitar – Mint Condition

Includes Original UK Calton Flight Case & Brand-New Boxed K&K Trinity Preamp

Overview

Available for purchase is a masterfully crafted 2008 Ralph Bown OM, a stellar example from one of the UK’s most respected luthier masters Ralph Bown. This guitar represents a rare opportunity to own an instrument that perfectly balances traditional pre-war design and structural integrity with the nuanced, overtone-rich voice favored by modern fingerstyle players.

This OM is in impeccable, collector-grade condition, offering a playing experience that is both responsive and incredibly dynamic. It comes completely performance-ready with a premium dual-source pickup system, its matching outboard preamp, elite flight protection, and dedicated care accessories.

Specifications

• Model: OM (Orchestra Model)

• Year: 2008

• Top Material: Premium Lutz Spruce with traditional scalloped X-bracing

• Back & Sides Material: Highly figured Ziricote

• Bindings: Elegant Koa wood bindings

• Fingerboard & Bridge: Premium Ebony fretboard (bound in ebony) and ebony bridge with ebony pins

• Fret Wire: Gold EVO wire (offering exceptional durability and a silky-smooth feel)

• Inlays: Classic slotted mother-of-pearl diamond and square fingerboard inlays

• Nut Width: 1 3/4"

• Scale Length: 25.4"

• Saddle Spacing: 2 1/4"

• Headstock: Script Bown logo with open-gear Gold Waverly tuning machines

• Rosette: Brilliantly colored New Zealand Paua Abalone

• Pickguard: Tortoiseshell-colored Tortis guard

Premium Included Extras

• The Case: Original UK-made Calton heavy-duty flight case (custom-fit, offering virtually indestructible structural and climate protection).

• The Electronics Package: The guitar features an internally installed K&K dual-source system (combining discrete bridgeplate transducers with an internal microphone).

• Included in the sale is a brand-new, boxed K&K Trinity Pro Preamp. This outboard belt-clip preamp supplies the necessary 9V phantom power to the internal mic and features independent +/- 20 dB EQ (bass, mid, treble) and gain trimpots for both channels, allowing you to blend a flawlessly natural acoustic tone for live performance or direct recording.

Voice & Playability

This instrument is widely recognized for its "modern-boutique" versatility. The pairing of the responsive Lutz Spruce top with the dense, reflective nature of Ziricote produces a voice that is both expansive and articulate. It offers substantial headroom for more aggressive playing, yet remains sensitive enough for delicate fingerstyle work. The neck profile features a comfortable, rounded carve that makes navigating the fingerboard effortless, providing a "played-in" feel that complements its impeccable setup.

About the Luthier: Ralph Bown

Operating out of his workshop in York, England, Ralph Bown has quietly established himself over the decades as one of the world's premier acoustic guitar builders. Bown’s path began early, building his first classical guitar while still in school before traveling to Paris to study the masters. While he is largely self-taught in the realm of steel-string acoustics, his work blends the rigorous, purist internal construction techniques of classical lutherie with the demands of modern acoustic projection.

Who Plays Bown Guitars?

Bown instruments are heavily favored by elite acoustic virtuosos and British folk royalty who demand absolute tonal perfection. His guitars have been famously owned and played by:

• John Renbourn (The legendary Pentangle guitarist, who prized his Bown parlour guitar up until his passing)

• Martin Simpson (One of the world's most revered acoustic and slide players)

• Clive Carroll (Renowned fingerstyle virtuoso)

• Allan Taylor and Henry Kaiser

Why Are They So Special & Hard to Find?

• Ultra-Low Production: Ralph Bown operates as a true low-profile, low-volume solo luthier. He does not use assembly lines or large teams; every guitar is completely handcrafted by Bown himself. Because of this meticulous pacing, very few instruments leave his workshop each year.

• The "Grail" Voice: Bown guitars are famous for an incredibly expansive, "holographic" headroom and a remarkably rich overtone profile. They manage to retain the woody fundamental punch of a vintage pre-war Martin, but inject a level of modern resonance, balance, and clarity that massive factory builds simply cannot replicate.

• Generational Keepers: Because the waitlist to get a custom build directly from Bown is notoriously long, players who acquire them rarely let them go. When a prime-era example like this 2008 OM surfaces on the secondary market—especially in mint condition, packaged with its original Calton UK case, a brand-new matching preamp, and dedicated care accessories—it is considered a landmark event for serious fingerstyle collectors.

Structural Health & Setup

• Condition: The guitar is in perfect, near-mint condition throughout with no finish wear, cracks, or structural issues. It has been meticulously maintained in a climate-controlled, smoke-free environment. There is ample saddle height remaining, leaving plenty of room for future adjustments.

• Truss Rod: Fully functional and turns smoothly in both directions.