Anyone know the major differences between a D 03 and  D 50 besides bling and better tuners??  Thank you for any info! 

I think the bracing is different, bone nut/saddle, and the larger soundhole.

All specs are listed on the Larrivee homepage.

E. Shoaf

If you can afford it, go for the D-50.  I had one, the tone hooked me...awesome.  The appearance is impressive as well.  I'm not a dreadnaught kinda guy so it got sold.  Sometimes I wonder about that one.  I'm also not a big fan of satin finishes, just a personal preference.

Thank you for responding to my continuing posts about a D 50.  My problem is that I simply can't find one to play anywhere near where I live in South Jersey so I may have to mail order one.  I will be doing so in about a month.  I love my D 03 but sometimes the urge to play something else comes along.  I've decided against a D 18 and want to stick with Larrivee. I just wonder if there are any sonic differences with the D 03 and D 50, but I know how subjective sound is ...Thanks again   Jon :)

Can't tell you about the D-50, but I can tell you that the SD-50 has a more "open" sound than my D-03 does. The D-03 seems more constrained or restrained than the SD-50 is. The SD-50 also sounds more transparent with a very deep, but not overwhelming bass and clear, ringing trebles. The tone is very balanced.

I would imagine that the D-50 would sound somewhat similar tonally to some extent perhaps.

Jeff

I played a couple D50s and really thought they were great playing and sounding guitars.  I ended up with an L03, but would like a D50 one day if my playing ever warrants that kind of money for a guitar.  Compared to an L03, the D50 is fuller sounding and has a deeper bass - but I like both sounds.  I'm not sure how it would compare to a D03, though.  The D50s look cool, too - I like the herringbone trim around the soundhole that replaces the abalone that they orignally had on the 50s and 60s.  I'd call around to dealers on the Larrive dealer page, depending on how far you are willing to travel - I think Alto Music in NY had a D50 when I called them.  Of course, the gas costs of travelling around NJ PA and NY to play one would probably be more than the two-way shipping costs if you order one on line and end up returning it . . .  The ones I played were in New England . . .

Good luck.

Lark Street Music    http://www.larkstreetmusic.com/cgi-bin/stock.cgi   in Teaneck NJ shows a D50 in stock. Thats probably a bit of a drive for you though.

Hi. I'm new to the forum. I just bought a D-03R and was surprised to find it sounds better than my D-60. I assume a D-05 would be braced
like the D-03... I'm thinking of parting with the D-60 since the D-03R sounds so much better!
Gary :mellow:

Well, the D-03R might be better sounding, right now.  Are the strings the same type and age?  Do both have the same type of saddle and nut?

I'd check out those things before making a decision which might be correct but could haunt you down the road.

Quote from: guitararmy on July 30, 2006, 02:34:38 PM
Hi. I'm new to the forum. I just bought a D-03R and was surprised to find it sounds better than my D-60. I assume a D-05 would be braced
like the D-03... I'm thinking of parting with the D-60 since the D-03R sounds so much better!
Gary :mellow:

Please do explain what makes D-03R better than D-60. I never played a D-60 so I am very curious of such statment.

jimmyd-thanks for the tip on the D50 at lark music.  It's about 85 miles from me but I may get a buddy to ride up with me.  Their price is 200 bucks higher on their website than an add they were running in Vintage Guitar Magazine the past two months on a D50 and other instruments... I'll be real curious to see how the 03 and 50 sound against each other.  Thanks for all the help guys, I appreciate all of your opinions. 

Bring cash. I've not dealt with Buzzie but I've got a strong feeling that he will give you a good deal if you make a reasonable offer especially if the guitar has been in his inventory for awhile.

I have a D-03 that will blow away any D-50 I have ever seen - though I have only seen 3 or 4

It is much deeper, richer, and has more of what might be termed "overtones" though mahogany guitars really arent really noted for overtones.  I am fairly certain I have an exceptional D-03 too though I have heard a few more almost as nice.

The D-03 may be one of the best all time values in an all wood guitar...   and that is NOT to say the D-50 is a slouch either, just that the 03 is so nice

I'm a fan of the 03's as well! :GRN>

That's part of the "problem", my D 03 is just an awesome dread.  I just don't get a green light very often to buy a new guitar, hence the difficulty of what to buy. Thanks again....Jon  -_-

Why not go for an OM?

Well, i'm offering no recommendations other than . . . if it's a matter of a rare opportunity to buy a new guitar, why not look (and more importantly play) around a bit and see what else is out there?  I wonder if another mahogany D is going to give you that much of a difference from your current one (even with the design differences) . . . I'd expand my horizons a bit . . other woods, body shapes . . . maybe one with twice as many strings  . . . something with or without electonics (the opposite of whatever you have now) . . . or, dare i say it, another brand?  etc.?  just thinking, it's nice to have a sense of variety in your guitars . . .

I still love those D50s, personally  :-)

Anyway, good luck with whatever you do.

Hi. My D60 has new DR rarePB strings, and doesn't have the clarity, bass and volume of my pre-owned D03R which is supposed to be strung with
D'Addario light PB's. Even before I compared them, the D60 just didn't impress me.  Maybe my D60 (also pre-owned) just isn't a good example
of the model. Sure looks nice, though!
Gary :UND>