Main Forums => Larrivée Guitars => Topic started by: MJG on June 30, 2006, 09:37:57 PM

Poll
Question: Which would you choose?
Option 1: Martin D-28 votes: 2
Option 2: Martin D-18V votes: 1
Option 3: Larrivee D-09 votes: 3
Option 4: Taylor GS Maple votes: 1
Option 5: Taylor GS Rosewood votes: 1
Option 6: Larrivee L-05 votes: 10
Option 7: Larrivee L-09 votes: 6
Option 8: Other - specify below votes: 9
Title: Best Vocal Accompaniment Guitar
Post by: MJG on June 30, 2006, 09:37:57 PM
In your opinion, which would work best to complement a singer that's performing solo or joining 2-3 others?  Think 80% strumming, 20% fingerstyle.  Plugged in most of the time.  Music style is Comtemporary praise and worship, blues, acoustic rock.

I am thinking Rosewood as it tends to "wrap around" vocals well.  If you have any other thoughts on body styles or tonewoods I would like to hear them.

Thanks,
Mike
Title: Re: Best Vocal Accompaniment Guitar
Post by: jeremy3220 on June 30, 2006, 10:16:52 PM
I think there are too many factors to pinpoint one guitar. But some of my favorite accompaniment guitar sounds are Dylan's (surprise  :rolleyes: ) Gibson Nick Lucas and 00-21. So small bodied rosewood get my vote, they can be full yet focused when strummed. I'm talking about bassy small bodies though, I'm not sure a Larrivee OmR would fall in this category.

worship guitarist seem to go for a lighter sound though, so a L-05 would work good if thats the sound you are going for.
Title: Re: Best Vocal Accompaniment Guitar
Post by: roknroll on June 30, 2006, 10:51:39 PM
Why aren't estebans a choice?  I like to play a guitar that sounds worse than my voice thank you very much!
Title: Re: Best Vocal Accompaniment Guitar
Post by: unclrob on June 30, 2006, 11:01:32 PM
For me its what pickup sound's best with your voice.Well not really as I don't use pick ups.I'm old and like things in my way so I use a mic. :GRN>
Title: Re: Best Vocal Accompaniment Guitar
Post by: dermot on June 30, 2006, 11:50:31 PM
SD60
+
K&K

Title: Re: Best Vocal Accompaniment Guitar
Post by: MJG on July 01, 2006, 07:00:54 AM
Quote from: dermot on June 30, 2006, 11:50:31 PM
SD60
+
K&K



The K&K is a given....
Title: Re: Best Vocal Accompaniment Guitar
Post by: Jackwr on July 01, 2006, 10:29:21 PM
Quote from: jeremy3220 on June 30, 2006, 10:16:52 PM
I think there are too many factors to pinpoint one guitar. But some of my favorite accompaniment guitar sounds are Dylan's (surprise  :rolleyes: ) Gibson Nick Lucas and 00-21. So small bodied rosewood get my vote, they can be full yet focused when strummed. I'm talking about bassy small bodies though, I'm not sure a Larrivee OmR would fall in this category.
You just described my 00 19!
Title: Re: Best Vocal Accompaniment Guitar
Post by: expatCanuck on July 01, 2006, 10:57:37 PM
Quote from: MJG on July 01, 2006, 07:00:54 AM
The K&K is a given....

Nonsense.  K&K works for many.  Never did for me. 

Much prefer my Baggs iMix.  Goes over well at the open mikes I attend. (Helped me get a pending featured gig.)

Best plugged in sound I ever heard came from a dual source Fishman (90's vintage) in a '92 Beneteau I owned briefly.

Nothing really wrong with a B-Band A2.2 either (has been put in many a Larrivee).

- Richard
Title: Re: Best Vocal Accompaniment Guitar
Post by: MJG on July 01, 2006, 11:45:26 PM
Quote from: expatCanuck on July 01, 2006, 10:57:37 PM
Nonsense.  K&K works for many.  Never did for me. 

Much prefer my Baggs iMix.  Goes over well at the open mikes I attend. (Helped me get a pending featured gig.)

Best plugged in sound I ever heard came from a dual source Fishman (90's vintage) in a '92 Beneteau I owned briefly.

Nothing really wrong with a B-Band A2.2 either (has been put in many a Larrivee).

- Richard

I meant the K&K is a given FOR ME.  I've tried all the aformentioned units and the K&K sound more like my guitar than any of them.  For me, It's K&K.  But I asked about guitars anyway, not pickups...
Title: Re: Best Vocal Accompaniment Guitar
Post by: MJG on July 06, 2006, 01:46:44 PM
Interesting feedback all...not what I expected.  Anyone else want to cast a vote?

Thanks,
Mike
Title: Re: Best Vocal Accompaniment Guitar
Post by: Teddeo1000 on July 06, 2006, 02:40:43 PM
Each to his or her own. I think strings have a lot to do with matching a guitar with ones voice. I seem to harmonies better with light strings. JMHO Teddeo1000
Title: Re: Best Vocal Accompaniment Guitar
Post by: CF Larrivee on July 06, 2006, 02:47:21 PM
For me, my Martin 000-28 Norman Blake would be the first thing I would grab. You just have to hear one to know how I feel about this instrument. Just a wonderful guitar to back up voice, IMHO.
Title: Re: Best Vocal Accompaniment Guitar
Post by: FNG on July 06, 2006, 03:08:01 PM
I think they all would work.  Don't forget the traditional series, since you have a bunch of dreads listed.
Title: Re: Best Vocal Accompaniment Guitar
Post by: Fstpicker on July 06, 2006, 07:49:45 PM
I'd have to say my D-16RGT is one of the best, along with my Larrivee D-03 for accompaniment.

Jeff
Title: Re: Best Vocal Accompaniment Guitar
Post by: davidsowk on July 06, 2006, 09:37:10 PM
In a small room, without other instruments, I like the sound of a small bodied guitar to accompany vocals.  OO size mahogany or rosewood, finger picking or light strumming.  The small body size provides a range of tone that , to me, suits vocals.  Complements, not competes.

In a large room, plugged in, I do not think that it makes any difference what type of guitar is used.  The electronic variables overrule everything.  Any guitar can sound good with the right pickup system, appropriate equalization and good amplification.
Title: Re: Best Vocal Accompaniment Guitar
Post by: Randy_R on July 06, 2006, 11:18:14 PM
The OM-03mt forum guitar is the best accompaniment guitar I have, for a small non-amplified setting.
Title: Re: Best Vocal Accompaniment Guitar
Post by: MJG on July 07, 2006, 06:38:04 AM
Thanks all....  I didn't expect people to suggest a OOO or OM for 80% strumming and vocal accompaniment.  I was assuming Rosewood Dread or Jumbo would be favored.  The L-05 winning the poll is also a surprise as I didn't think that mahogany worked as well with vocals due to it's lower overtone content than rosewood.

Looks like I need to forget my preconceptions and start playing some of these guitars and start really listening.  My only concern with an OM is that it my not handle my occasional heavy and percussion right hand attack...will it?  Perhaps a traditional series OM may?

Mike
Title: Re: Best Vocal Accompaniment Guitar
Post by: jeremy3220 on July 07, 2006, 07:47:42 AM
"My only concern with an OM is that it my not handle my occasional heavy and percussion right hand attack...will it?  Perhaps a traditional series OM may?"

My OM/PW and the OM-21 I had handle strumming very well. You might want to look at something with an Adirondack top like a Martin OM28 Marquis (it's pricey though).

Title: Re: Best Vocal Accompaniment Guitar
Post by: MJG on July 07, 2006, 03:25:38 PM
Thanks Jeremy...

Is your OM/PW a Larrivee, Santa Cruz or other?  I like the OM-21 by the way.  For this application I am currently using a Rosewood/Sitka Taylor Grand Auditorium.  It is an older model, 1996, and has matured nicely.  To this day I can't find it's equal in a Taylor.

A couple of questions...

Do you know if an OM-21 can handle more aggressive strumming that a Taylor GA?

I like the Idea of an OM with an Adi. top.  However, my budget is $1500.  Any ideas.

Thanks again and thanks to all.

Mike
Title: Re: Best Vocal Accompaniment Guitar
Post by: jeremy3220 on July 07, 2006, 03:48:01 PM
Quote from: MJG on July 07, 2006, 03:25:38 PM
Thanks Jeremy...

Is your OM/PW a Larrivee, Santa Cruz or other?  I like the OM-21 by the way.  For this application I am currently using a Rosewood/Sitka Taylor Grand Auditorium.  It is an older model, 1996, and has matured nicely.  To this day I can't find it's equal in a Taylor.

A couple of questions...

Do you know if an OM-21 can handle more aggressive strumming that a Taylor GA?

I like the Idea of an OM with an Adi. top.  However, my budget is $1500.  Any ideas.

Thanks again and thanks to all.

Mike


It's a Santa Cruz. I don't know how an OM-21 would compare to a Taylor GA (don't think I've played one).

Check out the Larrivee L , D, SD body styles in rosewwod and mahogany, a  used OM/PW, and there are alot of Martins you can get in that range new and used (OM's, M's, OOO's). I also like the Gibson AJ.
Title: Re: Best Vocal Accompaniment Guitar
Post by: NotRevGDavis on July 07, 2006, 04:00:36 PM
I'll take a Stella Parlor or Kalamazoo KG-14 for my voice.
Title: Re: Best Vocal Accompaniment Guitar
Post by: Brett Valentine on July 07, 2006, 10:07:46 PM
Because you said mostly strumming, blues/rock, I went with the D-28 :SHK>.  Sounds like you're going to need that big bottom end and compressed upper midrange to help wrap around the voice and give you the punch for blues/rock.  My next choice would have been the L-05.  The L-09 seems to be a slightly different animal that what it sounds like you're looking for.   That said, I love my C-09 for everything, but in the studio, I needed that Martin D28 sound.  RIght tool for the job, I guess.

Brett
Title: Re: Best Vocal Accompaniment Guitar
Post by: MJG on July 07, 2006, 11:15:32 PM
Yeah Brett...  I love the D-28 because it has a nice bottom end but doesn't seem as boomy as say a D-35 or HD-28.

As I currently have a Rosewood Grand Auditorium I go back and forth between thinking I should have Mahogany as something different...or that large rosewood voice.  Most of my playing is contemporary praise and worship which, as someone stated earlier, typically has a "lighter" sound.  But man my strong right hand technique loves to thrash at times pushing my GA over the top.

I've been agonizing for months as I have one shot at another guitar.  With a family of 7, guitar buying opportunities don't come around often.

Considering I have a rosewood/sitka Grand Auditorium already and a $1500 - $1700 budget, I am torn between going with one higher end guitar, or say two lower end, such as an L-03 and D-03R.

I also ask many question of you good folks because Larrivee inventory is very limited in my neck of the woods.

Thanks all for your feedback.

Mike

Title: Re: Best Vocal Accompaniment Guitar
Post by: Brett Valentine on July 10, 2006, 12:14:38 PM
Larrivee's a funny situation as the 03 series are also great sounding/playing guitars.  Considering your options,  it would probably be worth it to try the D-28 alongside the D-03.  If you like the sound you get with the D-03, I'd go for the D-03/L-03 combination!  You're getting quality wood/construction either way, and I think the L series (including the C and V)  is probably one of the best "everything" guitars you can buy without having to take out a second mortgage.  I use my C-09 for praise and worship and it literally covers every base (I'm more geared towards fingerstyle so I was drawn more to that body shape).  On the other hand, I will eventually end up with a D-28 (Lord willing) just because I want that sound (and I dreamed of owning one as a kid).

Brett