Hello all, I've been a lurker for awhile :gotdonuts: and have lusted for one of Jean's guitars for a long time.  I wanted a mahogany top but need a narrower body so I've thought about getting an OM.  But recently I was told that mahogany tops are no longer being built.  Is that true?  Has anyone heard this? 

Also, I haven't been able to find an OM05MT, but I've found a parlor body.  I know the parlor is a smaller but how do they compare tonally?  Is the parlor not as robust as an OM?

Any and all advice woud be great!

Thanks,
Joe

Ya and thay are nice!!!!!!!!!

The parlor and OM are completely different guitars in sound and feel.  We have a couple of true OM-05MT, and OM-03MT(less expensive, satin finish version) maniacs on the forum...paging Blue in VT or dberch!!!!

I have an all mahogany parlor and as fingerstyle guitars go...it rocks.  Just awesome guitars though, any Larrivee is worth owning.

Welcome to the forum.

QuoteThe parlor and OM are completely different guitars in sound and feel.

Right on the money Denis.
They each have their own beauty. The Parlor is a shorter scale and not everyone can get used to that (ME) on the other hand the OM-03MT is a regular scale and they have a very sweet sound to them...worth looking into.

Thanks for the advice.   :donut

I guess the decision is to find an OM.  The parlor seems to be out of the question.  I want a fuller sounding body. 

I think the next real question is - are the MT's no longer being built?  Actgually, rrgguitarman raises another question - an OM03 or OM05?  Are the woods on the two bodies different or is it just the finish?

Thanks again for the information!!!

I believe the MT's are no longer being made - I am not sure about the differences between the 03 and 05's -but I think it is mainly the gloss finish VS satin finish.

I love my OM-03MT, it is currently my favourite guitar.

Guitar Adoptions has an OM-03MT custom in stock - get in quick though, it won't last long! :

https://www.guitaradoptions.com/store/product.php?productid=17850&cat=257&page=6 (https://www.guitaradoptions.com/store/product.php?productid=17850&cat=257&page=6)

Thanks Lynn.  I'm going to contact Guitar Adoption to find out some info regarding the OM-03MT.  Thanks again.

I bought both my OM-03MT and my OM-03MT-12 from Dave at Guitar Adoptions - he is a very nice guy and gave me great service.

I hope you can get the guitar, it is lovely!   :thumb

Joep,

GO FOR IT!!!!  Larrivee's Mahogany topped guitars are fantastic....I just can't seem to play my MT enough...whenever I have a couple o minutes to spare...you can bet I'm off playing my OM.  The tone is mellow...yet clear and just perfect for the type of music I play...mostly Blues and rags. 

I agree with the others that the main difference between 03 and 05 is finish...the woods on the 05 may be slightly higher quality...visually...but I think tone wise they are comperable.  You are mostly paying for the extra labor in glossing the finish and the abolone and other bling.  The custom 03 at GA is a great middle ground.  If you are patient and prefer 12 fret OM's I would suggest you keep an eye open for one of the forum hog tops to go up for sale...they come around fairly often.

here are some sound clips of my OM-05MT in another thread....

http://www.larriveeforum.com/smf/index.php?topic=16773.0

:cheers

Blue

I could be wrong here, but I though Larrivee were still building the 05 series with MTs, but it's a $500 or so upgrade. The 03 MTs were - I think(?) - discontinued.

I've got a L-05 MT. Love it to bits, and a nice complement to my LV-09 (which has a much more scooped, churchy reverby sound vs the round warmth, yet clarity, of the MT).

Best of luck in the search ...

D

I also have a hog and in love with it.  Its an L05MT and its my favorite.  Had it about 3 years now.  My limited experience says the difference you will find in the sound between the 03 and 05 is incredibly subtle if any - and that would most likely be the individual guitar vs the 03 and 05 build.  Then - like others have said, its taste and disposable funds.  Great guitars! 

jeff

Did somebody mention hog-tops?  :bgrin:

My go-to guitar - #1 in my arsenal.  If I can bring only one, this is it.
(http://www.davidberchtold.com/db3/00256/davidberchtold.com/_uimages/DSC_0820cropped.JPG)
By the way, Larrivee OM hog-tops and K&K Mini pickups are a match made in heaven, IMHO.

David

So I've been GASing for a hog top?  Never heard that term.  Thanks everyone!  I need to sell my Taylor and then I am going to decide which MT I will buy.

I forgot to mention - Welcome to the forum, Joep!

 :welcome: Joep

I can't get enough of my hog-top.
If I had to describe the sound in one word it would be, Sweeeeet!
I would definitely recommend checking it out.

Roger

First off I gotta say that this is one of the coolest forums I've been around.  Not loud and noisy.  It just appears to be a small community of good people who love Larrivees.  So thank you for all of the information.  :bowdown:

I think I've boiled it down to two guitars - a OM-03MT and an 00-50MT.  I have to decide if I am willing to drop.

THANKS!

Nice. Best of luck with the decision. I don't think you can go wrong either way!
The 03s probably have the edge in sheer bang for buck, but that doesn't make it the right guitar for you.
The only think I would add is if you're planning to do much serious recording it with it, you may find that gloss finish is better - simply because some are affected by a swooshing sound as their arms brush a satin finish (like on the 03). YMMV.
:donut
D

If you have leanings toward an 03 series MT, I would not waste much time when you see one. They have a tendency to be in very short supply.

I think I need to pass out more donuts to the forum because I have another newbie type of question.   :donut :donut2 :coffee  :donut2 :donut

There has been a recent thread about the L body and picking styles and how the OM is really meant for fingerpicking.  I am a flatpicker (and that's a stretch - I don't play well!), and I am not agressive in my picking style.  Saying that, is the OM body still okay?  The reason I am looking at the OM is the body depth - my current acoustic is a bigger body guitar and I am shying away from it because it isn't comfortable to play.  Am I barking up the wrong tree? 

Just wondering.

Thanks,
Joe

I've been through alot of Larri's and the one that really got me was the OM-03mt.  that and all the parlors are my favorites.

Quote from: Joep on June 28, 2007, 09:21:19 AM
I think I need to pass out more donuts to the forum because I have another newbie type of question.   :donut :donut2 :coffee  :donut2 :donut

There has been a recent thread about the L body and picking styles and how the OM is really meant for fingerpicking.  I am a flatpicker (and that's a stretch - I don't play well!), and I am not agressive in my picking style.  Saying that, is the OM body still okay?  The reason I am looking at the OM is the body depth - my current acoustic is a bigger body guitar and I am shying away from it because it isn't comfortable to play.  Am I barking up the wrong tree? 

Just wondering.

Thanks,
Joe

OM works for whatever you want to do with it.  Rev. Gary Davis yused to play fingerstyle on a big ol' Gibson J-200 jumbo...I'm sure a flatpick on an OM will be fine...

Quote from: Denis on June 28, 2007, 01:09:38 PM
OM works for whatever you want to do with it.  Rev. Gary Davis yused to play fingerstyle on a big ol' Gibson J-200 jumbo...I'm sure a flatpick on an OM will be fine...

Sorry to go OT, but I have two Guild Jumbos that I think are outstanding fingerstyle guitars. Nice balance for a Jumbo. After all the JF stands for Jumbo Folk.

To answer your question Joep although you might get a little more low end from an L the OMs are great for light to moderate strumming, flatpicking.

Quote from: bhika on June 28, 2007, 01:15:20 PM
Sorry to go OT, but I have two Guild Jumbos that I think are outstanding fingerstyle guitars. Nice balance for a Jumbo. After all the JF stands for Jumbo Folk.

To answer your question Joep although you might get a little more low end from an L the OMs are great for light to moderate strumming, flatpicking.

The L is, IMO, the best all-around guitar you could ask for.  Whether your fflavour is mahogany, rosewood, koa...whatever, there are tons of great L's out there.

Hey bhika...didn't Paul Simon use Guild Jumbos back in the Simon and Garfunkel days?  And he never used a pick if memory serves.

Yes Denis I believe he did, also Dave Van Ronk played a F-50R

Joep, Larrivee OM and L bodies are all fantastic.   I prefer the OM because it excels at live shows.  Great tone and never a hint of feedback, due to the slightly thinner and smaller sound chamber.

If you are NOTgoing to play live much, and you ARE going to get together with friends and jam occasionally, then I'd recommend the L.  An OM in an unplugged jam with a room full of dreads may have trouble keeping up, volume wise. An L will hang there quite nicely. 

Other than that, it's really a toss-up.  Best thing to do is find one of each and try them on for size. :)

Cheers!
David

David,

Here is my problem - I play a Taylor 314.  Nice guitar but the depth of the body (and it's 4 5/8) is a bit uncomfortable.  I would rather get a narrower body.  The L and the D are both wider bodies.  The OM is smaller, so I have to go with an OM.  Sadly, I hesitated buying the 03Mt that was at Guitar Adoptions.

Joe