Have any of you who once owned high end guitar(1500 or less build per year) come back to Larrivee???
IF yes,
Any regrets?
What highend guitar did you own?
Why did you make such a switch?
I for one just sold my Collings Dread and have Larrivee LV-09E on the way. My main reason was the size. THe dread is bit too big and OM is bit too small.
I owned mutiple Collings and Santa Cruz guitars at diffferent times. I always sold my Larrivees to finance Collings and sold Collings to to finance Larrivee.
It seems as if everytime I have a nice Larrivee guitar, I want Collings or Santa Cruz and vice versa.
I'm kind of curious to how many of you made the switch from highend guitar to Larrivee.
My Larrivees ARE highend guitars.... :cheers
Quote from: Walkerman on February 09, 2007, 02:19:36 PM
My Larrivees ARE highend guitars.... :cheers
OK, Let me correct my question.
Those who once onwned guitars from a compny who builds less than 1500 guitars a year.
Quote from: SongMan on February 09, 2007, 02:25:08 PM
OK, Let me correct my question.
Those who once onwned guitars from a compny who builds less than 1500 guitars a year.
Just because they are small companies doesn't mean they make a better guitar than Larrivee.
I also think my Larrivees are high end guitars. :tongue:
Welcom back Songman..~~
Quote from: Walkerman on February 09, 2007, 02:19:36 PM
My Larrivees ARE highend guitars.... :cheers
:+1:
I doubt I'll ever own a guitar fancier than my 05MT....or one that sounds better... :bgrin:
Glad to hear that you keep coming back to Larrivee...just stay this time!!!
:cheers
Blue
My collar is not only blue, but has grease on it! Larrivee is high end here too :thumb I can't even say Froggy Bottom, Olson or Collings without putting on my best leisure suit :roll
If you want better sound from a guitar, play it better. :bgrin:
Hey SongMan, just to be difficult, I consider that my Larrivée is THE high-end guitar.
Many big name guitar companies may make guitars that are more expensive, but they don't make them better.
The way I see it, you don't come 'back' to Larrivée ..... you come 'up' to a Larrivée.
Quote from: SongMan on February 09, 2007, 02:10:08 PM
Have any of you who once owned high end guitar(1500 or less build per year) come back to Larrivee???
IF yes,
Any regrets?
What highend guitar did you own?
Why did you make such a switch?
I for one just sold my Collings Dread and have Larrivee LV-09E on the way. My main reason was the size. THe dread is bit too big and OM is bit too small.
I owned mutiple Collings and Santa Cruz guitars at diffferent times. I always sold my Larrivees to finance Collings and sold Collings to to finance Larrivee.
It seems as if everytime I have a nice Larrivee guitar, I want Collings or Santa Cruz and vice versa.
I'm kind of curious to how many of you made the switch from highend guitar to Larrivee.
I would have to agree with the other posts. Maybe you meant boutique, small maker or custom. My 3 series is not fancy, but it played and sounded better than some guitars more than twice it's price. Some credit might be due to the shop that is a repair specialist and makes a point of going over all the guitars they sell, but I could only find trim as a real difference between it and more expensive models.
Sound is subjective, and I might be crazy by some because I also chose sapele over same thing in rosewood and walnut. It was not because of price because I started out shopping for rosewood Martins that were much more expensive. Maybe my loud and lively sound is wrong, but I like it and my wife does not banish me to the basement as is the case with my Strat and Ovation.
Guys!
I really didn't mean to ask if Larrivee was highend guitar or not. I know where Larrivee is in terms of quality and craftsmanship.
So, if you are stating Larrivee is highend because of this that and that, plesase remember that I am asking to those who came back or"up" to Larrivee.
OK, here is a serious answer.
I have a Collings D1A and two Larrivees. I play the Larrivees more.
It's all good!
I have a Morgan and play my Larrivees more. Does that count?
Uhhhhh, SongMan? Larrivee IS a high end guitar. I own Taylors, a Lowden, and have ALWAYS had more than one Larrivee in the fold!
So, I guess I'd have to say that I've never had a reason to come back..I've always been here!
OG
C'mon - give him a break. yes, Larrivee is high-end, but we know what he means...
I never have had a custom/small shop/low production...but I did play a Santa Cruz D/PW and OM/PW recently. I must say, the tone beats my Larrivees, but cannot touch them when you combine looks/service/and value! (Tone/price value, that is). I'm love to add the D/pW one day, but the Larrys more than compensate.
After reading this thread a couple of times I stopped at the local Larrivee shop and played a bunch of Larrys. The nicest to my ears was the D-03R, OM-09 and L-03R. Something about Larrivees and rosewood that is reallly nice. But the L-05 and LV-05 were outstanding. The still-not-sold (and I don't know why) L-05MT was bassier than my Martin hog-top and pretty sweet all around. The 00-50 was boxy sounding and not as sweet as I would expect it to be.
Back home I got out the SD-50 and was reminded why I love the guitar. It would be hard to leave Larrivee as I don't ever want to sell it. A finer guitar would be hard to find, at any price.
Quote from: SongMan on February 09, 2007, 02:10:08 PM
Have any of you who once owned high end guitar(1500 or less build per year) come back to Larrivee???
IF yes,
Any regrets?
What highend guitar did you own?
Why did you make such a switch?
> Have any of you who once owned high end guitar(1500 or less build per year) come back to Larrivee???
> What highend guitar did you own?
> Why did you make such a switch?
Yep. I sold an '89 Beneteau Sitka/Mahogany (which I bought new back in the day for about a $Cdn1K from John Laroque at Toronto's Ring Music) to finance the purchase of an L-09FM. Just fell in love with the FM and felt it was time for a change.
> Any regrets?
Hell, yeah. I have since sold the FM. I miss 'em both. Much.
But fiscal reality and domestic harmony don't always see eye to eye with one's woodly desires. I yield to the former.
But I still have my choice of 4 guitars which range between nice, very nice, sweet and remarkable (and a KILLER custom Weber Bridger mando), so you won't hear me whining. Much.
But if anyone is considering a trade of L-09FM for an L-09 (plus a modest sum) ...
- Richard
What do you call "high end"
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y122/travette/DSC01810.jpg)
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y122/travette/DSC01803.jpg)
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y122/travette/a73f8c1b.jpg)
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y122/travette/DSC00105.jpg)
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y122/travette/DSC00073.jpg)
Quote from: SongMan on February 09, 2007, 02:10:08 PM
Have any of you who once owned high end guitar(1500 or less build per year) come back to Larrivee???
Nope, and I doubt it will happen. If you like Larrivee's tone enough, I could see someone choosing it over a boutique company or individual luthier. but I think the boutique builders are in a different league than most factory guitars can compete with. Factories have to produce guitars in volume, and compromise in areas; heavier build to cut down on warranty issues, and cheap tuners to cut cost, less attention to fret ends, and other little touches. Most of the boutique companies voice their tops; I imagine all Larrivees are cut to a thickness that yields the best sound on average and maybe a safe thickness. I know some hand shape braces depending on the top and how flexible it is.
There is a song I play called "Birthday Blues" by Bert Jansch, it uses a lot of single notes in the higher frets. It isn't hard to play but it's hard to get the tone I want, but I noticed one day how much smoother it sounded on the Larrivee. The OM/PW is so sensitive it is hard to control the dynamics sometimes, in addition to showcasing all the other imperfections in my playing.
If I were trying to be an objective guitar critic I would say the boutique's are better guitars, but Larrivees sound so great I wouldn't think much of it if someone picked one over a Collings or Huss and Dalton etc. I still need to play an SD-50, from what I've heard it could give some boutiques a run for their money.
i dunno if this counts... but when i was about to purchase a new guitar around christmas time, i was going back and forth between a LV09E and a taylor 810ce. it took about 3 hours that day (and countless others prior to) to decide but eventually i purchased the taylor.
then i needed something smaller and thought about getting another taylor... maybe a x14ce. but in a short period of time, i grew attached to the OM03 that's at home now (sitting in pieces waiting for new parts... :bgrin:). the 40 minutes or so i spent playing the OM made me realize why i spent 3 hours the first time around.
i couldn't have asked for more. well, i could have... but i just didn't have the money to do so. :tongue: yeah, it doesn't have as much shiny things as my taylor does but honestly, picking the larrivee up is so much easier than picking the taylor up.
I have a limited edition Martin D-42 Koa, and I consider my Larrivee D-10 Brazilian my high-end guitar.
My tastes have shifted from high end Larrivees to the understated -03 series. Does that count?
I have owned a D-03R that was an amazing guitar, but I had to have the action set way too high in order fot it not to buzz. So I sold it. Then I bought an L-05 that had a very beautiful voice but could not handle much strumming without breaking up. Also, the intonation was off on this guitar to an unacceptable point. I also sold this guitar. Then I bought a D-50 which has no issues at all! I love this guitar just as much as the others in its own way, but it has no issues. I recently purchased a Taylor 814ce with englemann top because I have never played a guitar that I could "control" as well as this Taylor. Also the intonation was the most accurate I have ever heard. And finally, the highs are unlike any other guitar I have ever heard. "Clean" is the way I describe them. Others describe this as a crytstal clear sound. The Taylor doesn't fit every bill, but it has a very unique voice and will suit many applications.
TAYLOR TAYLOR TAYLOR. I thought that would get your attention!!!!
Quote from: Walkerman on February 09, 2007, 09:01:21 PM
(http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y122/travette/DSC00105.jpg)
Wow Walkerman! Nice uke! :thumbsup Do you live anywhere near Calgary? If you do, take a look at this post:
http://www.larriveeforum.com/smf/index.php?topic=15211.0
Richard
:donut :donut :donut2 :coffee :coffee :coffee
Hey how about this? Jean and Co. make only 1,499 guitars next year and then they will be "really' good.
He only made 200 a year when my L09 was built. Two future "boutique" builders were his assistants. Two bad he decided to share these fine guitars with more people eh?
The thing we forget is that Jean Larrivée was one of these "high end" builders well before those other mentioned.
Quote from: ducktrapper on February 11, 2007, 09:03:53 AM
Hey how about this? Jean and Co. make only 1,499 guitars next year and then they will be "really' good.
He only made 200 a year when my L09 was built. Two future "boutique" builders were his assistants. Two bad he decided to share these fine guitars with more people eh?
The thing we forget is that Jean Larrivée was one of these "high end" builders well before those other mentioned.
True. And let's not forget that many, many, fine canadian builders started out with Jean Larrivée before going on their own and opening their shop. Jean Larrivée is a fine luthier and a great individual who is not affraid to share his knowledge and his love of guitar making. And it's a good thing for everyone, Larrivée, builders and players.
I used to play on my friend's fine Gordon Barry. Great pleasure playing this guitar. I think it was the second guitar Barry built (and the first one he sold) after he left Larrivée and went on his own. He's now been building fine guitars for about 25 years. Another "high end" guitar I love to play is a Thompson T-1R. If i'm not mistaken, Ted Thompson is another luthier who started out with Larrivée.
I am a vintage Martin guy but I got my first Larrivée in December (2000 O-01 parlor) before getting a 1999 Larrivée concert ukulele. I love my Larrivée tremendeously and I am now contemplating very seriously getting an OM-03R.
Richard :donut :coffee
I'd have to say my D60 is the best guitar I have owned. It challenged me at first but after I built up the strength for the beast ...it rocks. Lovin it!!
Quote from: uke richard on February 11, 2007, 04:55:14 AM
Wow Walkerman! Nice uke! :thumbsup Do you live anywhere near Calgary? If you do, take a look at this post:
http://www.larriveeforum.com/smf/index.php?topic=15211.0
Richard
:donut :donut :donut2 :coffee :coffee :coffee
I live in Oxnard...CA
I bought a used Larrivee OM-5 almost 10 years ago. My first nice acoustic guitar. A few years ago I bought a Bourgeois JOMC for an unbelievable price in a pawnshop. I sold the Larrivee to a friend shortly after. I'd go over to his place and play the Larrivee and ask myself "why did I sell this?". I ended up buying the Larrivee back from my friend and I've since sold off the Bourgeois. Nothing against the Bourgeois, it was a nice guitar but I just bonded more with the Larrivee. Plus it wasn't too hard to sell off the Bourgeois. I ended up making a really nice profit on it as well as getting to play it for a few years!
Quote from: Shredkratcher on February 14, 2007, 09:18:35 AM
... I just bonded more with the Larrivee.
And that's all about the bonding. Has it happened to you guys, when shopping for a guitar, to try two guitars exactly the same; same model, same year, same set up, and liking one more than the other? I has always striked me how much guitars, even new, have their own personnality. You instantly fall in love with certain or have to get to know another one before you hit it off - or you have to sell one to realize how much you miss it. Good for you, Shredkratcher, that you could get yours back.
Richard :donut :donut :donut :donut :donut :donut
It's interesting to read the reasons people have for their attachments to a brand name. Some are based on cost/value, retained value, etc, and some are in great part an emotional association. We develop an affinity for brand names in cars, jeans, sports teams, etc, Why not guitars ? The more I invest myself into acoustic guitars the less I identify with any particular name brand. I have several guitars that I like very much. It took a lot of horse trading, and some months building two of them myself to get the instruments that are right for me. I really don't much care who made them including the ones I've built myself. Each is unique and offers something special to me that inspires me to want to play more.
Well, I think I understand the question. The best guitar I have owned (and most expensive) was a Larrivee OM-03MT. While I thought it was great, I never considered it high-end. High-end to me would be a Ryan, Claxton, etc. I guess I would also consider the more expensive Larrivees to be high-end, but not really the 03 series. To me, they are more "practical" guitars. They get the job done well without all the bling. Personally, I am at the point I want to move back "up" to the Larrivee from my Seagull.
I've left, come back, left again... and may come back again. I agree with JimmyD that it's less about brand than individual guitars.
I've had tons of Larrivees. I don't miss most of them at all. Probably the two I miss most were my very first Victoria OM-09, and an old 00-09. Just something about those two that I really liked and hasn't been duplicated in similar models. Same with my Collings OM1A that I sold to Tuoti. That was a mistake. But that's the lot of an acquisition addict!
QuoteSound is subjective, and I might be crazy by some because I also chose sapele over same thing in rosewood and walnut.
Sapele is a fabulous tonewood - many lament it because it's being substituted for mahogany, which is a break from tradition. However, it is used by many builders and produces a wonderful tone. I have a Martin 12-fret dread with sapele back/sides that I love dearly.
My *next* guitar will have its roots in Larrivee - it's going to be a handbuilt Paragon. As for Larrivees, I think they're great guitars.
I have not owned any other high end guitars, but have played many Santa Cruz, Collings, Weber, Bourgeois not to mention Taylor and Martins. The "boutique" guitars are all fabulous players. I'm not saying my Larrivee D10E is better than the others, but it has a certain tone that I just love. It is deep and rich, yet hits the highs beautifully. The great thing is I can strum or flatpick the heck out of it, or fingerstyle on it and it always sounds incredible. And you won't find a prettier guitar than the 10 Series abalone inlays.
Let me add my non-answer to your question. (I will preface this by saying that tone is very subjective and myopinions are my own.)
I mainly have 3 acoustic guitars. The one I play the most is my Martin D-17. Why? Because it is my gigging acoustic. It is also my band practice acoustic. It is sturdy and I don't care if it takes a few knocks. It has a pickup installed in it. It sounds good in the band mix live, but has inferior tone to the other 2 acoustics.
The one I play the most at home is my Froggy Bottom F (Koa/Adirondack). This is my dream guitar. I love the tone. I will never let go of this guitar. This guitar will leave my home to be recorded and then will return to my home.
The middle one is my Larrivee D-10 Brazilian. This guitar is growing on me slowly. At first I wasn't convinced. After much tweaking, I like it more now. The other guitarist in my band loves this guitar above all the ones I own. So when we jam on acoustics at my place, there is no fighting :smile:. He has a great ear. I say this to illustrate that tone is subjective. This guitar has never even had a strap pin, so it is an indoor guitar too.
I have played a good many "boutique" guitars that I like better than the Larrivees I've played. However, many other "boutique" guitars are not (to me) worth the extra cash - in some cases I preferred Larrivee regardless of price.
My experience playing a Ryan? Nice guitar. About $6,000.00 too much, however. I thought it was almost as good as my 1975 L09 though to be fair, my guitar had longer to open up. I played a couple of McPhersons at the Podium last year and couldn't figure out why Paisley would choose one over his D10. Must be the interesting design because they didn't exactly thrill me. I preferred my D05.
I thought Walkerman's photos said it all...
...Larrivee's are just great PRODUCTION guitars; my experience is that they're more consistent in quality of woods and tone than Martin, Taylor and (definitely) Gibson, while usually costing MUCH less. So they're a great value.
I don't want to get rid of my Larrivee's to move up; I'd end up regretting it (done that too many times with too much gear involving too much money...). Call me crazy, but the one non-Larrivee I'd like to get someday is a Martin Johnny Cash signature...and I know it's just an emotional, signature artist thing; I'm sure just about any Larrivee D style would sound as good or better, and I know I'd like the SD-50 or SD-60 much better because of their specs (slot head and wider nut, sloped shoulder). So I'd also like to eventually get one of those.
All in good time...
I've had Martin and Taylor, Middle of the road models, but I like the D-03R better.
didnt grit laskin pass though the larrivee shop when his started? do any of you have laskins or got to play any and how do they compare to larrivees? i was always told that laskin makes some of the nest flattops in the world.
I always come back to my original 1976 Larrivee that I bought from Ring Music in Toronto almost 30 years ago!
Be well,
EP
Perhaps the better question is; would you rather have a high quality production guitar or a high quality custom guitar? That may not be as much of a no-brainer as you might think.
Sure, I'd love to custom-order exactly what I wanted. I do have several fine "custom" instruments, including (arguably) one or two from the Larrivee custom shop, but I didn't specify any of them myself. I'd still like to do that once.
On the other hand, I'm almost "bound up" with irreplaceable instruments, though they probably have more sentimental value than monetary. Tricycles, microphones, and beer bottles have no respect for "irreplaceable", or for delicate old laquer and wood. I don't need or want a plywood or plastic "beater" that I can paddle a canoe with. What I do need is something that sounds good and "right" when I play it right, has a modern cross-linked finish, and can be readily repaired or replaced if something happens. My tastes are also shifting from silk to flannel, so to speak.
Quote from: mekobebe on February 17, 2007, 03:42:54 PM
didnt grit laskin pass though the larrivee shop when his started? do any of you have laskins or got to play any and how do they compare to larrivees? i was always told that laskin makes some of the nest flattops in the world.
Correctomundo! As did several of the world's ranking luthiers. Manzers and Laskins comand big bucks and they learned their craft under Jean Lariivée. These folks make nice guitars. Like Eban, I always return to the guitar that started my love affair with Larrivée. My 1975 L09. Manzer, Laskin and Larrivée may have all worked on her. I've seen a 1976 Manzer that was a dead ringer for my '75. Laskins sound like Larrivées to me. However these two have kept their output small and totally hand and self made. Jean Larrivée had a bigger dream. Ebin and I were lucky enough to be there when the ball got rolling but fortunately for everyone else they're available to a lot more people.
I sought to commission a custom Martin OM-35 once: CFM wouldn't build it to my specs for $4200. Then I commissioned a Paragon OM for around $3000 but it didn't work out either. My custom guitar dreams ended with a Martin J16C-RGTE twelve for $2700: they have quality control issues with some of their customs and I sold it to buy another Larrivee OM twelve string. And I once owned an Arlo Guthrie Signature twelve string (0000-AG) that was every bit a custom guitar.
That pretty much summarizes my effort to get into the boutique, less-than-1500-per-year custom club. There'll be no more of that nonsense!
I'm not sure why it is that a guy has to go through so much money to find the right combination of tone, build and voice in a guitar. Part of it is certainly a disease :laughin:. Another part of the behavior is reminiscent of a raven drawn to shiny objects. Geeze, I used to love Taylor guitars for their looks. . . . Just like Pokemon or something. . . .collect 'em all just for the sake of having them!! :? :rolleye:
QuoteMy 3 series is not fancy, but it played and sounded better than some guitars more than twice it's price
Well said! And THAT is the reason I own Larrivee guitars and have no desire to buy higher end makes and models. Yes, I'd love too own a Tim Vines someday but I won't have $7500 to spend on guitars. And I'll probably build a couple guitars in the near future. But what keeps me interested in Jean Larrivee's guitars is the voice and the value. It just took a while to 'get my mind right'.
Quote from: whiskeyjack on February 18, 2007, 10:33:55 AM
Then I commissioned a Paragon OM for around $3000 but it didn't work out either.
Whiskeyjack. I'm curious as to how the tone of the Paragon you owned compared to both your Martin and Larrivee. Could you share your thoughts on the quality and how it compared to a factory model for much less? Thanks!
Do you buy a BMW/Mercedes that you can drive everyday in and out, or do you buy a Ferrari or whatever car that has a name ending with "a e i o" that cost $1200 for an oil change? There is haveing luxury and there is being exclusive. If have have the money to blow, a Ferrari... er... an Olson or Ryan is great. Else get a Larrivee or Martin from their regular line up, trust me, you are 90% there.
QuoteWhiskeyjack. I'm curious as to how the tone of the Paragon you owned compared to both your Martin and Larrivee. Could you share your thoughts on the quality and how it compared to a factory model for much less? Thanks!
Welcome aboard, fingerstyl. :wave :donut2 :donut :coffee
I posed exactly the same question to Paragon owners. Unfortunately though, my custom Paragon guitar never was completed due to a glitch in construction. And I never did play a Paragon guitar. But the consensus among Paragon owners was that the low end had better definition (more growl) than a Martin and the overall voice of the guitar was generally better balanced.
Rob Bustos is a conscientious and fair man who works closely with his customers. He works diligently to make sure there are no oversights. And when there is one he's level-headed and articulate enough to reason with. I can't say enough good about Paragon's management style and quality control. If I were wealthy enough to commission a custom it would be a Paragon. http://www.paragonguitars.com/ (http://www.paragonguitars.com/)
Thanks Whiskeyjack! It looks like a lot of builders have come from the Larrivee camp, like Paragon, and I'm sure they have some of the Larrivee flavor in them. I have a L-lite that sounds amazing to my ears, and it didn't cost me an arm and leg to get. I don't get much chance to play a lot of the big dollar guitars discussed here, but the pictures are sure nice :thumb I think I'll go take my Larrivee for a little spin right now! :nana_guitar