Just got it yesterday and it's a lot nicer than I expected. I've played various models, the OM-03 and the OM-03R as well as some other, higher-end models and I must say, so far, I'm pleasantly surprised.
Of course, now that I own a Larrivee, I figured I'd have to join over here (I've been a member for a while, but I haven't really posted before). Just what I need, yet ANOTHER forum to kill time ;)
Welcome Guyute! There are some other members here that speak very highly of this model.
It's nice because it seems similar to ovangkol in that it's sort of between rosewood and mahogany, tonally speaking. I'd say it leans more toward mahogany whereas ovangkol is just about dead in the middle of the two.
From a purely aesthetic viewpoint, the grain is really impressive compared to the standard OM-03.
Welcome and congratulations!
Great grab Guy. Those who have been lucky enough to get their hands on sapele seem to be very happy with it.
Welcome to the forum and post often.
-josh
Guyute,
Welcome to the forum and as the newest member to the Sapele Society. These are great little guitars.
:GRN> Don't forget to post pics.
kdonovan
Quote from: Guyute on April 25, 2006, 05:47:24 PM
It's nice because it seems similar to ovangkol in that it's sort of between rosewood and mahogany, tonally speaking. I'd say it leans more toward mahogany whereas ovangkol is just about dead in the middle of the two.
From a purely aesthetic viewpoint, the grain is really impressive compared to the standard OM-03.
Congrats Guyute. I'm one of those that ronmac spoke of and a founding member, along with kdonovan and dcarey, of the Sapele Society. I think the three of us all bought our OM-03SP's within a few days of each other.
You hit the nail on the head with your comments about sapele's tone. It's got the best of the woody, dry resonance of mahogany but it seems to have some of the great sustain and overtones of rosewood as well. I've only ever tried ovangkol on a couple of Taylors but tend to agree with you there as well.
Welcome to the forum, to the Sapele Society and as kdonovan mentioned, pics are a must here so we can all see your new prize.
What's weird is that no one seems to be buying or have bought, the D-03's in sapele? Any forum members with one? I seem to remember hearing 100 D-03's and 30 OM-03's were going to be made in sapele. So I guess 4 of those 30 are right here on the forum.
Interesting....did you others happen to get them from Jason or from Dave?
Oh well, here's a couple pics :)
The front...aka the centerfold:
(http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/690/om03spfullfrontnatural6bs.jpg)
Headstock has a nice ebony grain streak (as well as some dust which I noticed when I looked at the pic..heh):
(http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/8575/om03sphsnatural5in.jpg)
The back's got an interesting flaminess that I couldn't really catch, so here's on with natural light:
(http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/6026/om03spbacknatural6sn.jpg)
and finally one with the flash:
(http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/2844/om03spbackflash2zr.jpg)
Guyute,
That sure is a sweet one. :SHK>
Denis, Last count was
kdonovan
Denis
dcarey
Mr Jones
and the latest member Guyute
Cheers
kdonovan
Mine is showing up Thursday, so one more for the forum. I really don't need another guitar, but I think I've owned a Larrivee OM in pretty much every other wood they make, so it seemed like my duty... :GRN>
Quote from: kdonovan on April 25, 2006, 06:42:59 PM
Guyute,
That sure is a sweet one. :SHK>
Denis, Last count was
kdonovan
Denis
dcarey
Mr Jones
and the latest member Guyute
Cheers
kdonovan
Actually, I believe MrJones sent his back and got an L-03 instead. Told me he wanted something with more bass.
Quote from: Guyute on April 25, 2006, 06:34:46 PM
Interesting....did you others happen to get them from Jason or from Dave?
Got mine from Dave at GA. Where d'you get yours?
Mine came from Jason at Notable. Let's not discuss pricing even in private and just assume we all got the same deal :GRN>
Quote from: Guyute on April 25, 2006, 11:24:10 PM
Mine came from Jason at Notable. Let's not discuss pricing even in private and just assume we all got the same deal :GRN>
Agreed. I'm assuming we all paid less than we would have for a standard mahogany OM-03 so we all got more than what we paid for.
So that means there's me, kdonovan, dcarey, Guyute are already in possession and JasonA is to receive his this week. And everyone's got the OM...where are the dread owners...there have got to be a couple out there somewhere???
great looking wood....nice catch...we need to get a sound sample of one of these up on this site for sound comparison...
Welcome!
Blue
I'm very happy with it. Installed the K&K last night (a bit nerve-wracking, but eased by the pre-bored endpin hole) and plugged it in, works great!
The only part of it I'm not 100% happy with is the case. Seems to me that Larrivee used to have a higher-quality case :UND>
The only part of it I'm not 100% happy with is the case. Seems to me that Larrivee used to have a higher-quality case :UND>
Quote
I agree!
Enjoy your new honey!
:mellow: J.
Quote from: Guyute on April 26, 2006, 11:37:36 AM
I'm very happy with it. Installed the K&K last night (a bit nerve-wracking, but eased by the pre-bored endpin hole) and plugged it in, works great!
The only part of it I'm not 100% happy with is the case. Seems to me that Larrivee used to have a higher-quality case :UND>
Did you get the 5 clip case with the red interior like this one:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v243/dturbide/IMG_0139.jpg)(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v243/dturbide/IMG_0134.jpg)
I like it better than the 3 clip one I had gotten with the OM-03R a couple of years ago.
Hey Guyute! nice one. I know yer gonna like it!
It's gonna take a while for me to get mine "broken in"...just got back from a job in Mexico and I'm leaving for Kuala Lumpur
in the morning.
I haven't even played mine in FIVE WEEKS.......I'm going to try t o get an hour or two in tonight.
Dan
denis,
That's the one. I don't know, I seem to recall something more Geib-like. Maybe I'm mistaken. All in all, it's not a bad case. I guess I'm used to my brown Taylor case. Either way, I'm not planning to check the thing on an airplane ;)
Oh, and I DO like the lining :)
I once had a '34 Martin 0-17 that I loved
had a beat, alligator case
with duct tape and a bungie cord
someday my OM case will be beat and I will love it
Quote from: Guyute on April 26, 2006, 04:52:11 PM
denis,
That's the one. I don't know, I seem to recall something more Geib-like. Maybe I'm mistaken. All in all, it's not a bad case. I guess I'm used to my brown Taylor case. Either way, I'm not planning to check the thing on an airplane ;)
Oh, and I DO like the lining :)
This is now the standard case sold with all the 03 series guitars I believe. The 05 and up all come with the nicer archtop cases. THOSE are nice and very sturdy.
Quote from: Guyute on April 26, 2006, 04:52:11 PM
denis,
That's the one. I don't know, I seem to recall something more Geib-like. Maybe I'm mistaken. All in all, it's not a bad case. I guess I'm used to my brown Taylor case. Either way, I'm not planning to check the thing on an airplane ;)
Oh, and I DO like the lining :)
Yeah, my OM-03R just came with that exact case. Not a bad case at all IMO. The latches are nice and smooth and the OM fits like a glove. Both the case and guitar are a big step up from what I've had. I got a Squier case for my Takamine a couple of years ago and it's like a cheap piece of luggage in comparison - the case I mean.
No, it's a decent case. I don't know what I was expecting. I'm shrill, demanding and impossible to please :GRN>
Quote from: kwakatak on April 27, 2006, 02:29:23 PM
Yeah, my OM-03R just came with that exact case. Not a bad case at all IMO. The latches are nice and smooth and the OM fits like a glove. Both the case and guitar are a big step up from what I've had. I got a Squier case for my Takamine a couple of years ago and it's like a cheap piece of luggage in comparison - the case I mean.
I agree. I have the same case with my L-03. It's one of the best fitting cases I ever owne. I like the 5 latch system too.
Did they make any SP body guitars in the L size? I'm thinkign about an L-03/L-03R, and a L-03SP would greatly interest me... I like to strum, but I need the wider nut...
Quote from: ejj on April 27, 2006, 06:22:21 PM
Did they make any SP body guitars in the L size? I'm thinkign about an L-03/L-03R, and a L-03SP would greatly interest me... I like to strum, but I need the wider nut...
Sadly no. I wondered about that too when I heard about the sapele models. I love my OM but I might have bought an L-03SP if they'd offered one.