OK, WE love our Larrivees, what else do you play?

[Tio Kimo]

Definite bucket list item for me, an SG like this. Very nice. Would love to hear these pickups in it as well. (I've got a pair in my RS-2)

[bobw]

It's actually noted as #2  

Actually, it should read as follows...

1. Jesus & Bible
2. Wife of 34 years
3. Larrivée OO-03r/IS
4. H&D CM
5. Larrivée P-09
6. RK RP2-626



Ok... it's my # 1 guitar...  it's a bad day if she doesn't get played.... BobW...

[dbirchett]

I do love my Larrivees and they are my only acoustics (well, technically I still own a Mossman 12 but it is on a long term loan). But I do love my electrics too. In order of longevity I have a Guild X-170:



An American Standard Stratocaster (that is probably going to be a forced sale):



A '90s Custom Telecaster:



A Gretsch 6120DC "Nashville":



Gretsch Electromatic 5422-12:



A Guild Starfire 5:



And my latest toy (which is going to cause the sale of the Strat), a G&L ASAT Thinline Deluxe. The pickups are Harmonic Design Z-90s:

[kwakatak]

My '06 OM-03R is still my go to guitar and a cherished gift but my guitar build project gets most of my attention for obvious reasons. Next on the list is a custom ukulele made by my friend Tim McKnight. My Martin D-16GT is next but it doesn't get much play time My '06 OM-03R is still my go to guitar but my guitar build project gets most of my attention for obvious reasons. Next on the list is a custom ukulele made my Martin D-16GT but it doesn't get much play time at all. Then there's my '98 American Standard Fender Stratocaster which hasn't been out of its case in a long long time and my '89 Kramer Striker which gets even less attention.

[hodagg]

So in addition to my Larrivee OM-09W I've got a Taylor 710CE, a Martin D41, a Baby Taylor (Bubinga), an Epiphone Masterbilt solid maple, and a Taylor T5 12 string (cocobolo), which I'd sell or trade in a minute for something else, as I've never bonded with it---though it's a wonderful guitar.

[tuffythepug]

Acoustic it's all Larrivee now.   But on the electric side it's one of these paired with a Fender Tweed Blues Deluxe amp.

[Mikeymac]

Acoustic it's all Larrivee now.   But on the electric side it's one of these paired with a Fender Tweed Blues Deluxe amp.

In that case, Lynn, you really need to consider the "new" Lancaster (or is it "Santa Monica" now - I can't keep track of the names of Larrivee's electrics!). You need some single coil/Stratty goodness in that tonal mix!

[ZachStevenson]

In addition to my Larrivee OM-03, I have an old Fender F-35 circa 1979 or so, that I love, was my first full size guitar, a Samick Greg Bennett D2 that I bought for campfire beater purposes (a surprising fun and good sounding instrument for the money) and a Fender CD-220SCE that I bought for open mics, it's nowhere near my Larrivee in terms of materials and fit and finish but it's a solid top and well built guitar that puts out a decent amplified sound. 

Different guitars for different purposes and I love them all.

[tuffythepug]

In that case, Lynn, you really need to consider the "new" Lancaster (or is it "Santa Monica" now - I can't keep track of the names of Larrivee's electrics!). You need some single coil/Stratty goodness in that tonal mix!

Actually I have a strat but I have fallen under the spell of the Gretsch filtertrons for now and seldom play it.     

[Mikeymac]

Actually I have a strat but I have fallen under the spell of the Gretsch filtertrons for now and seldom play it.     

Gotcha. 

The Gretsch I'd love to have is the Chet Atkins one ... is it the Tennessean? Anyway, it's the one with the curved wang bar on the Bigsby in dark wine or walnut... but they run around $2800 - $3300 new. Finding a lefty used won't be easy. Oh well...

[tuffythepug]

Gotcha. 

The Gretsch I'd love to have is the Chet Atkins one ... is it the Tennessean? Anyway, it's the one with the curved wang bar on the Bigsby in dark wine or walnut... but they run around $2800 - $3300 new. Finding a lefty used won't be easy. Oh well...

I'm sure you could find a Chet Atkins style in a lefty if you spent some time really searching.   I found  my "used" Cadillac-Green G6196 Country Gentleman (Lounge Lizard) by accident.   You never know what you might find hanging on the wall the next time you go into a guitar shop.

[Tuba Mike]

I see this thread has expanded to include a variety...

I realize this is not what Tio Kimo had in mind but this is what I play when I am not playing my Larrivee's.  Although, I must admit that the old silver back don't see much action these days.  If I have free time to play music it is usually spent on guitar.  If I were to own a guitar other than a Larrivee, I have been salivating over the Brook Taw and the Brook Taw Custom they have at Shoreline Music.  Quite nice. 

[Mikeymac]

I'll soon be playing one of these - a lefty Epiphone Casino Limited Edition!

The only thing "Limited Edition" about it is that it's a lefty that's not in their regular line. They have 3 or 4 lefty Limited Editions available right now (for 2014); this is the main one I'm interested in.

I ordered mine locally and am getting a very good price - $550. Which means I can afford to pay the tax locally AND get an Epi hardshell case for it. Not bad...

...the downside is that the local store called in the order and was told "30-60 days". I'll wait...   

I did play the righty one the store had and am very impressed with the quality of materials and the build. These are made in S. Korea, not China, a plus in my book.

[Mikeymac]

I'm sure you could find a Chet Atkins style in a lefty if you spent some time really searching.   I found  my "used" Cadillac-Green G6196 Country Gentleman (Lounge Lizard) by accident.   You never know what you might find hanging on the wall the next time you go into a guitar shop.

Lynn, I did see a used one somewhere recently - they wanted around $2,200 for it. Unfortunately, with my daughter's recent wedding and her ongoing college, I don't have that lying around without something's name on it!    (On another forum my tag line is "Life gets in the way of my GAS.")

The Casino will have to cover my gas for now.

[DJ in FL]

Martin, ALvarez and recently sold my Gibson 'Bird...

[Mikeymac]

I'm being very tempted by a guitar I don't need ... (GAS is chronic, isn't it?!)

The local shop got in a used lefty Takamine dreadnaught with a nice solid cedar top and hog b/s (probably laminate?). Made in Japan. No pickup. Comes with hardshell case. The neck on this thing is incredible! Action is actually just a tad LOW - I had the sales guy tweak the truss rod just a hair, the action could stand to be raised just a little more to be perfect for me. Dead on straight neck, though.  It plays beautifully up and down the neck and it sounds very nice.

They have it priced at $425, and he said I could have it for $375.

I've become a real sucker for Japanese made guitars lately - they're always top notch materials and workmanship, and I think Japanese guitars will continue to increase slightly in value (esp. when we get out of this tanked economy!). (Okay, okay ... I'm also tender about Japanese stuff cuz my daughter lives there...)

Do I need it? NO! But it's so nice to play, and it's saying "Put a pickup in me and use me when you don't want to endanger one of your Larrivees..."



See, we can always justify GAS!

[Mikeymac]

And, alas, GAS struck yesterday and the Takamine came home with me!

It is in very good to excellent shape; a couple small dings and very slight wear right under the high E string where it looks like someone rested their finger (& nail). As I said, comes with hardshell SKB "Takamine" branded case also in great shape, however it's got a nasty glue smell inside that a few of my older Carvin cases also suffered from. I have it open in the basement with a couple of room air fresheners in/near it. I may also have to try an open box of baking soda in it with the case closed for a few days.

I've also learned from research online that this guitar is all solid woods: cedar top and hog b/s/neck. Very simple wood soundhole rosette and body binding, satin finish. Gold "Takamine" branded tuners with what are called "tortoise pearloid" buttons. Neck is just two pieces - with the typical heel extension glued on. (See pics below - from online, not my actual lefty.)

I'll need to take it back for some minor (free) set up; it has one or two frets that need some minor leveling, and they may have to raise the saddle just a hair, we'll see. The nut slots also need to be lowered; surprised this wasn't addressed by the previous owner...

...who left the original sales receipt (from the same music store) inside with all the original case candy. So I know he originally paid $699 + $110 for the case, so $809 plus tax in Sept. of '05. Somewhere online I found the original MSRP of $899, I believe.

[L07 Shooting Star]

So do you like how it sounds and plays or?

[Mikeymac]

So do you like how it sounds and plays or?

How it sounds - yes. It's a little drier sounding than the typical Larrivee sound. So different is good (but not as "good" as a Larry, you know?)

How it plays - yes and no. I like the action and shape of the neck, BUT, boy how I wish it was just a little wider at the nut. I WILL be getting the string spacing widened a little (not a lot of room to widen, but even a little will help). When making chord shapes that put a finger on the B string, I constantly mute the high E unless I'm really careful. I'm just used to the 1.75" nuts on my Larrivees (and a few of my Warmoth electrics, too). It will also help to lower the nut slots - that may be enough to fix the muting issues; we'll see. I'll do that myself on Monday.

Playing it back to back against my D-03, it's pretty obvious that the Tak has a cedar top - you can't drive it like you can the D-03 - MAN - that thing can produce some volume when you bear down on it! I LOVE IT!!!

The Tak really excels more at fingerstyle and lighter strumming. For this reason it's a good candidate for a pickup, and I'm thinking of just having them put my Baggs M1A from my C-10 in the Tak, and I'll get some thing different for the C-10. I hate having the sound hole filled up on that guitar with a magnetic pickup - just destroys the aesthetics.

Enough for now... yeah, I like the Tak, it's a great grab and go guitar for when the Larrys would be at risk for damage or theft. I just have to adjust my playing style a little.

[L07 Shooting Star]

Thanks for the review.  Looks like you made a good purchase.  Enjoy.