Forum III impressions and discussion

[gtrplayer]

Larrivee is supposedly known for consistency but perhaps some of the forum III guitars are not up to the level of  the rest.   

My contention all along.  I will say that initially I was very underwhelmed with my Forum III.  The bass was, as someone previously noted, analagous to a "thud".  And for me, when purchasing a guitar, it's all about tone and nothing else.  However with continued playing there has been a slight improvement.  It still has the bone saddle and I've replaced the original strings with some medium EJ17s. The D'Addarios seem to pull a little more from the bass and help in defining the bass tone.

I agree that Larrivee has usually been consistent in producing decent guitars/tone.  With regards to the initial reports about how wonderful the Forum IIIs were, I always took with a grain of salt.  I'm sure there may be some that are good tonally and others that were evaluated under the spell of "Forum III Fever".   

I like the idea about a cutaway on a twelve fret so I'm giving my Forum III more time in the hopes that tonally it will improve.  If not, she'll get cut from the herd and to the FS forum tout de suite.

gtrplayer

[dragon1952]

I've got a bone nut and haven't had any tuning problems. I did take a piece of 500 grit sandpaper and smooth the slots up real nice though. for a while I thought I had a high E that wasn't ringing out like it should, but that problem has passed. Either I smoothed and widened the slot enough or it was just an adjustment period. But I haven't had any tuning issues whatsoever. In fact, it holds tune exceptionally well.

[es-335]

Anybody like tusq saddle better on their F3 than bone?

I went to a local luthier and hung out with him for awhile trying the bone and tusq saddle..(he is still pretty upset at me for not telling him about F3 back in the days... hehe) we both very much favoured tusq...

it was much more punchy and chuncky. sure, the bone was good as well; created very lady like tone.. soft and buttery..

but for me.. I am staying with as is...


I can proudly say I like my STOCK F3 :)

[Daysailer]

   I'm also wondering before I start tinkering tomorrow morn, is the nut glued in or did Jim leave it floating? My L-10 has a floating nut, so I'm just hoping...
     Jeff   

Jim SuperGlued (CA), the bone nut he made for my F-III...
wish I had asked for it to be floating.

[photomat]

   Also, did all receive a pack of 3 pearloid "Larrivee Forum III Guitar" picks. Haven't heard anything about them, thought some one would bring them up. I got a pack, & if others didn't, I'll post a pic for all to see! Let me know?
     Jeff   

Yep, that was my contribution to the Forum III party. (Thanks Jim for putting them in the cases!)  I had posted a photo long ago before the tour.

Here it is again

Jim decided the ones with the doughnuts might melt in the case   

[BlastersFan55]

I'm very happy with my guitar.        

[Safricanplayer]

Anybody like tusq saddle better on their F3 than bone?

I went to a local luthier and hung out with him for awhile trying the bone and tusq saddle..(he is still pretty upset at me for not telling him about F3 back in the days... hehe) we both very much favoured tusq...

I can proudly say I like my STOCK F3 :)

I'm in the process of evaluating the tusq against the bone in my all hog Forum III, (arrived on Wednesday) as my initial impression was that the guitar sounded a bit 'thin'. It might be that the bone saddle in the all hog is a tad too bright. I'm possibly going to put some Newtone's on and will report back with the results.

Megan's IS/RW really sounds great and is still exactly the way it arrived from Jim. While I have not played a IS/Hog Forum III, my 2 cents says the IS/RW might possibly be the best top and tonewood combination in the series.

Are there any other All Hog owners out there who have experimented with changing out the bone for Tusq, or found different strings tonally more pleasing?

~ Ray ~

[Danny]

   prof_stack, I had absolutely no problems withe SD-50 I got from Jim either. Intonation dead on. My time is not being utilized to put all towards my F-III. Will probably do the string change tomorrow, like you. I'm a little bummed right now with this guitar, not being all I was expecting by all of the posts. Now, I don't know if I believe them all. Some, from peple I know are experienced, others I'm just not sure. Jim told me my guitar was great (his words), but know I'm also thinking of throwing the Tusq nut & sadde back on & then check it. Soemthing went wrong somewhere. Hopefully some minor treaking & string change will take care of all, but not too sure. The buildup I think, from some, was just a reason to post. Not all.
   Also, did all receive a pack of 3 pearloid "Larrivee Forum III Guitar" picks. Haven't heard anything about them, thought some one would bring them up. I got a pack, & if others didn't, I'll post a pic for all to see! Let me know?
     Jeff  

Jeff, my F-III is everything I have said it is. I like it very much and never said anything that I want to retract. Others can say what they please. I stand by my statements.

[iDavid]

I'm still waiting on my F-III and you guys are freaking me out!

I had a pick-up pick put in, so wouldn't the nut have to be floating?


david

[Danny]

I'm still waiting on my F-III and you guys are freaking me out!

I had a pick-up pick put in, so wouldn't the nut have to be floating?


david

The nut is at the tuning head side of the guitar and the saddle is on the bridge. Your pick up is probably under the saddle.
         Personally I really think this is all much ado about nothing, but I'm not supposed to say such naughty things.
               Anytime someone says a bad thing about anything, it gets multiplied and an imagined problem becomes real to others who really didn't have a problem at all. It's just that negative food is somehow more easy to digest.

[prof_stack]

  The nut is at the tuning head side of the guitar and the saddle is on the bridge. Your pick up is probably under the saddle.
         Personally I really think this is all much ado about nothing, but I'm not supposed to say such naughty things.
               Anytime someone says a bad thing about anything, it gets multiplied and an imagined problem becomes real to others who really didn't have a problem at all. It's just that negative food is somehow more easy to digest.

I basically agree with that, but on the other hand, when many posts praise the FIII for its many wonderful attributes, it sets in motion an expectation which, as we have seen, can be broken. 

This is my 5th Larrivee and right now its not what I hoped for.  But I'm not going to make a quick decision to sell it.  New uncoated strings and lots of playing time will bring out what it truly is. 

Speaking of strings, when I put EXP's on my Martin D-18GE I didn't like the sound for the first week or so before they leveled off and brought out that guitar's lovely sound.

[iDavid]

See, I really was in a pAniC!

So, the saddle is always floating ya?

I though Jim wasn't doing bone nuts for the F-III, just the saddle

[Danny]

See, I really was in a pAniC!

So, the saddle is always floating ya?

I though Jim wasn't doing bone nuts for the F-III, just the saddle

Jim only did bone nuts if asked. The saddle was his free extra item, and yes it is not glued in. If a bone nut does not improve tone on a git I would say it's probably not making proper contact with the neck or not cut right. I just don't see Tusq being an improvement if the bone is made right.

[Safricanplayer]

I basically agree with that, but on the other hand, when many posts praise the FIII for its many wonderful attributes, it sets in motion an expectation which, as we have seen, can be broken. 

This is my 5th Larrivee and right now its not what I hoped for.  But I'm not going to make a quick decision to sell it.  New uncoated strings and lots of playing time will bring out what it truly is. 

Speaking of strings, when I put EXP's on my Martin D-18GE I didn't like the sound for the first week or so before they leveled off and brought out that guitar's lovely sound.

With 78 guitars being built with 3 different wood combinations, it is inevitable that a there will be some folks who end up not satisfied for one reason or another. At the risk of sounding repetitive, it is important to remember that this is essentially an $1100 guitar. It is not a boutique built guitar, and in fairness should be compared against other 03 Larrivees. I personally helped a friend of my daughter pick out a OM-03R Larrivee late last year, and I can say without question that Megan's IS/RW Forum III is a superior guitar, IMHO. Add to that the 'joy of the journey' and the fact that this is a limited run etc., and I think you'll find the vast majority of Forum III owner are happy campers. 

Is it likely that the euphoria created by the Forum III's might have resulted in some lost objectively when member started reporting on their Forum III's? I think it would be naive not to expect that. That said, I think a 'true poll' of Forum III owners (taken in say 3 months) would show that the vast majority of owners are very satisfied with their Forum III's

~ Ray ~

[strawintogold]

I'd like to to interject that what seems to be on the verge of getting lost is personal preference. In other words, it's not the guitar. Or rather it's not everyone's guitar. As the Rock Man says 'You see what you want to see and you hear what you want to hear.' Everyone , mostly, had a preconception of look and sound, if you don't hear or see what you want, or prefer, well, that's to be expected because we didn't try them out first.

So before the Sacred Guitar line is drawn in the sand, let's not lose sight of that. It doesn't mean it's bad or a criticism towards anything very tangible. Frankly, if someone thinks it sucks and out and out says it, so what?

I prefer the sad and lady like (not my words,lol) tone so I'll stick with the bone saddle. Plus I'm lazy and too inexperienced to tell enough of a difference to switch it back and forth.

We are all simply tweaking the item to our point of preference. At the end of the day, it may simply not be the right guitar for some. But to say so isn't disparaging all of those (including me) who are as pleased as punched. I'd like to hear forthright opinions, it's helpful to me because I don't know very much.

The idea that anyone isn't supposed to say anything pro or con is ludicrous.  I like my guitar, a lot. Have no problem saying so. I also admit that someone who knows more may pick out faults that I simply don't know enough to hear, yet.

There is room for opinions on both sides, stated respectfully and replied to with respect. In other words, it's not what you say, it's how you say it. I don't think negative anything is easier to digest or carries anymore weight. I don't even think there is a negative aspect to this. I've yet to read a critical review that was anything but forthright and well thought out.

It's subjective on both sides unless there's, I don't know, a neck hanging off or something.

Feedback is important, not personal. It's not the self being evaluated, it's a guitar.


holly

[gtrplayer]

I'd like to to interject that what seems to be on the verge of getting lost is personal preference. In other words, it's not the guitar. Or rather it's not everyone's guitar. As the Rock Man says 'You see what you want to see and you hear what you want to hear.' Everyone , mostly, had a preconception of look and sound, if you don't hear or see what you want, or prefer, well, that's to be expected because we didn't try them out first.

So before the Sacred Guitar line is drawn in the sand, let's not lose sight of that. It doesn't mean it's bad or a criticism towards anything very tangible. Frankly, if someone thinks it sucks and out and out says it, so what?

I prefer the sad and lady like (not my words,lol) tone so I'll stick with the bone saddle. Plus I'm lazy and too inexperienced to tell enough of a difference to switch it back and forth.

We are all simply tweaking the item to our point of preference. At the end of the day, it may simply not be the right guitar for some. But to say so isn't disparaging all of those (including me) who are as pleased as punched. I'd like to hear forthright opinions, it's helpful to me because I don't know very much.

The idea that anyone isn't supposed to say anything pro or con is ludicrous.  I like my guitar, a lot. Have no problem saying so. I also admit that someone who knows more may pick out faults that I simply don't know enough to hear, yet.

There is room for opinions on both sides, stated respectfully and replied to with respect. In other words, it's not what you say, it's how you say it. I don't think negative anything is easier to digest or carries anymore weight. I don't even think there is a negative aspect to this. I've yet to read a critical review that was anything but forthright and well thought out.

It's subjective on both sides unless there's, I don't know, a neck hanging off or something.

Feedback is important, not personal. It's not the self being evaluated, it's a guitar.


holly

Well said holly.  Your objectivity is refreshing and sorely missed around here as of lately.

gtrplayer

[Jagadis]

As usual, Holly's honestly blunt comments are right on the money...

So last night I finally took my new FIII over to my guitar teacher's place to have a lesson and to let him have a look at my new baby.  This is a guy that has been a professional musician for his entire career (30 years+) and teaches, writes and performs 8-10 hours each day.  To make a long story short...his words were "this is a really cool little guitar".  He was quite surprised at the volume of sound coming out of the guitar.  He kept switching between his main stage guitar (Gibson Custom Shop "Doves in Flight" dread) and my FIII and was surprised that the FIII was louder.  He was also surprised by the base response.  He liked the woody sound of the hog top and indicated that he would like to record some fingerstyle tunes with this guitar due to the unique sound.  It was also my first experience hearing someone else (who is an incredible musician) play my FIII.  It definitely has a unique sound/tone and this was even more evident when you are sitting in front of the guitar listening to someone else playing something on it. 

It was a fun night that reinforced the old saying...."Spend $10,000 on guitar lessons before you spend $10,000 on a guitar).  My FIII isn't a $10,000 guitar but I still have quite a bit of learning to do in order to appreciate its ultimate capabilities... 

Jordan.

[Jagadis]

Here are two brothers from a different mother.... 

My Forum III #19 on the Left.  Photomat's Forum III #54 on the Right.  Guitar porn at its finest....

Jordan.



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[strawintogold]

I'm know I'm not the first to remark on this but it just rings on and on and on.....  I can just imagine what the RW sounds like if the Mahogany keeps this kind of sustain. It's the only Mahogany backed guitar I've played. The other is all Mahogany. The difference between the two is remarkable. Neither better or worse, but very different.

If it ever gets sunny here I'll take some pictures.

holly

[Safricanplayer]

I'm know I'm not the first to remark on this but it just rings on and on and on.....  I can just imagine what the RW sounds like if the Mahogany keeps this kind of sustain. It's the only Mahogany backed guitar I've played. The other is all Mahogany. The difference between the two is remarkable. Neither better or worse, but very different.

If it ever gets sunny here I'll take some pictures.

holly

I put on a set of Curt Mangan's (Med light) on my all hog, kept the bone saddle, and it's already a very nice improvement over the factory D'addario's, IMHO. Holly,  Megans IS/RW has those same sustain characteristics, but with the RW overtones. Given continued playing these should continue to mature into very nice little guitars Somebody needs to jump on that ebay Forum III

~ Ray ~