let's hear some opinion comparing these 2 guitars, and how much does a Collings D3 cost anyways?

The only Collings I've ever had a chance to play was a D2H.  It was incredible!!  I didn't have my D-09 at the time, so A/B'ing them wasn't possible.  The thing I seem to recall about the Collings is that, as great as it was, I didn't think it was light years better than the Larrivée's I had played.  The list price for Collings is significantly higher than Larrivée.  The actual price-paid difference is even higher because the Collings instruments are not discounted nearly as much.  I think the D-09 is a much better value.

HAHAHA!
Is this for real?... I guess so.
I had D3 which is exactly what D2H is with different cosmetics. The list price on D3 is $4000 and sells for 10% off MSRP which will bring the street price to $3600 and you will not find any dealer selling them for less. Having said, Larrivee D-09 sells for $1200-$1500 plus. For sure D-09 is better value, for collings tone and quality is not 3 times better.

I am bg fan of Larrivee only under $1500. If I had $2000 to spend, I would definetly look at Santa Cruz D/PW or used collings D2H.

But anyhow, I only own Larrivee right now. I just don't think any other brands come close when it comes to value.

how about Santa Cruz OM/PW vs a Larrivee OM-09, I've never heard of Santa Cruz before, but did some reading just now and they seem like good guitars.

Quotehow about Santa Cruz OM/PW vs a Larrivee OM-09, I've never heard of Santa Cruz before, but did some reading just now and they seem like good guitars.

I am not sure if you are aware, but the price of Pre war Santa Cruz went up by $400 plus. Which means, it's now in the same price range of Collings Om2H and D2H.

How about just a Santa Cruz OM, and how does the sound compare w/
a Larrivee OM-09 regardless of price

QuoteHow about just a Santa Cruz OM, and how does the sound compare w/
a Larrivee OM-09 regardless of price

Never played Standard OM line from Santa Cruz guitars.

Check out santa cruz guitar forum and collings guitar forum. I can not think of Santa Cruz forum address, but you can find it through serach engine. For Collings, Collingsforum.com (I think).

Hi slowslow,

As an owner of a Collings D1H and a Larrivee D-03 (both are mahogany back and sides) I think I am in a position to comment.  First rule is, just because a guitar cost twice or three times as much as the other, it usually won't sound twice or three times better.  The Collings is in a league of its own when it comes to tone, balance and quality in my opinion.  Yes, it costs me more than 3 times the price of the Larrivee but it truly is a magnificant guitar.  The Larrivee is distinctly great in its own way.  The tone is different, great low end and super mids.  It is in every way, the best value and guitar in that price range one could buy today.  Like other mentioned, I would think comparing the SCGC OM/PW would be more even comparison and I would probably tilt the scale a bit toward the OM/PW on the tone side.  Both are great guitars and if you get a chance, your time would be well spent to A/B them.

Good luck in your search for that perfect guitar.... that is almost as fun as playing one!!

NewStrings

You might check with Dave at Guitar Adoptions. He sells both Santa Cruz and Larrivee.

QuoteHow about just a Santa Cruz OM, and how does the sound compare w/
a Larrivee OM-09 regardless of price

I love Larrivees.  They are great guitars period (not just "for the money"). I have a D-05 and a walnut Parlor.  I have played numerous other models.  I've played several of the -09 series guitars, both Ds and OMs.  BUT, I am yet to play one that equals my Santa Cruz OM (custom - sitka/mahog).  Truthfully, I think I was tremendously lucky to find this guitar, and I'm certainly not worthy of it.  It absolutely blows me away.  It is loud, resonant, and lush with tone, yet articulate and balanced at the same time. I haven't played a Larrivee (or any other guitar) that has affected me this way, but as everyone has said, each guitar is unique.  And because every guitar is unique, you're going to find some gems and some duds from every builder, but mostly you'll find a whole lot of beautiful sounding instruments (especially from Larrivee and Santa Cruz).  Just play as many as you can and take home the one that you can't live without - you may not have found that guitar yet, but you'll surely know it when you do!

Frank    

I have an OM03R and a Santa Cruz OM/PW, so I can speak from experience. The OM03R is a great guitar, a like the tone, great bass, works well for both fingerstyle and strumming, HOWEVER the OM/PW has alot more tone, guts, meat, sweetness, dynamics, I can get a huge range of tones from it depending on how I attack it. I can feel the OM/PW rumble against my chest when I really dig into it. Now keep in mind that the OM/PW is more than 3x the cost of the OM03R. Soooooo, if you want to spend the extra dough, it is worth it, but that doesn't mean the Larrivee is a BAD guitar (it is a great value though!)
Hope that helps!

QuoteI have an OM03R and a Santa Cruz OM/PW, so I can speak from experience. The OM03R is a great guitar, a like the tone, great bass, works well for both fingerstyle and strumming, HOWEVER the OM/PW has alot more tone, guts, meat, sweetness, dynamics, I can get a huge range of tones from it depending on how I attack it. I can feel the OM/PW rumble against my chest when I really dig into it. Now keep in mind that the OM/PW is more than 3x the cost of the OM03R. Soooooo, if you want to spend the extra dough, it is worth it, but that doesn't mean the Larrivee is a BAD guitar (it is a great value though!)
Hope that helps!

egordon99,

could you describe some more of the tonal differences between the om-03r and the sc om/pw? for example, is it primarily a more complex tone?

very simplistically, does the om03r have more/less bass, more/less balance, more/less overtones, more/less volume, etc.? sorry, i know describing tone is not that simple...

i've been fascinated by the scgc om/pw and the om-03r, but have not had the change to play a scgc om/pw...i'm also interested in an om-03r b/c it's such an incredible value.

thanks!

I think comparing Larrivees to Collings or Santa Cruz is totally unfair. Jean Larrivee has done an outstanding job of placing great sounding, great playing, wonderful quality guitars in the hands of thousands of players for a great economical price. "Tons of twang for the buck." Collings and SCGC are both boutique, bench made guitars. The average Larrivee is not. Let's suppose that Jean Larrivee hand built a custom guitar to my specs, and Collings and SCGC did the same. Would that be more of a fair comparison? I would think so. I would love to own a Collings one day. I know they are fantastic guitars and I am a native Texan so owning a hand made "Texas" guitar would be a wonderful thing  .....but......will I ever have one?..I don't know...we'll see what the future holds ;) . But for now I am thrilled to be able to own a Larrivee OM-03R with an L-03R on its way.
It's not so much what you play but  that you play. Sure is fun to talk about different guitars though....ain't it?
charliep

QuoteI think comparing Larrivees to Collings or Santa Cruz is totally unfair. Jean Larrivee has done an outstanding job of placing great sounding, great playing, wonderful quality guitars in the hands of thousands of players for a great economical price. "Tons of twang for the buck." Collings and SCGC are both boutique, bench made guitars. The average Larrivee is not. Let's suppose that Jean Larrivee hand built a custom guitar to my specs, and Collings and SCGC did the same. Would that be more of a fair comparison? I would think so. I would love to own a Collings one day. I know they are fantastic guitars and I am a native Texan so owning a hand made "Texas" guitar would be a wonderful thing  .....but......will I ever have one?..I don't know...we'll see what the future holds ;) . But for now I am thrilled to be able to own a Larrivee OM-03R with an L-03R on its way.
It's not so much what you play but  that you play. Sure is fun to talk about different guitars though....ain't it?
charliep

I too agree that comparing Collings to a Larrivee is not fair. But i guess that's what the thread starter(slow slow) wanted to know.  

When searching for an OM, I played all the aforementioned OMs.

Santa Cruz OM/PW: Mice but overly warm for my tastes. Bottom end was muddy and it was overdriven easily.

SCGC Std OM-More balanced and bright, closer to a Larrivee sound, but with more depth and richness.

Collings- I liked my D2H when I owned it but it was overpowering in the upper mids and treble and the tone was a little stale. Their OMs gave me the same impression. No one comes close for build quality.

Larrivee-As said before, best bang for the buck. If I had the money to spend on a boutique again, I probably would, but two Larrivees would be tempting. I would be nearly as satisfied with a Larrivee. They lack some fullness and note seperation that others deliver, but for the price, you get a lot.

Bourgeois-My favorite guitars. I would own any one of them, but I really like my OM.

Now, with that said, go out and try them!!! :P

Think i've decided on the Larrivee, no need to be set on more and more expensive guitars when the Larrivee is better sounding than I'll ever need.

QuoteThink i've decided on the Larrivee, no need to be set on more and more expensive guitars when the Larrivee is better sounding than I'll ever need.

Sound choice. What model? Let us know what you decide.

D-09 or L-09, will decide while falling asleep tonight

do all collings have 1 11/16 nut width?

Quotedo all collings have 1 11/16 nut width?

1 3/4" is a common option which you can order. The 12 fret series has 1 13/16" as standard.

I am another Collings/Larrivee owner - a Collings C-10 Deluxe and a Larrivee OM-09.  Both are great guitars, but I have to give the Collings the edge (if I was absolutely forced to choose).  It is true that Collings are not "3 times better" than Larrivees.  However when you get into spending thousands of dollars for a guitar, you can't expect a linear improvement.  You might very well pay a lot of money for a marginal improvement or a certain nuance.  Suffice it to say that both are well made guitars and both sound great.  When you buy Collings or SCGC, you are paying for a small production line and the individual attention that a small builder is able to give.  It is said that Bill Collings personally checks every guitar that leaves his facility.  Obviously this would be impossible in Larrivee's case given their volume.

The vast majority of the sound comes from you and not the guitar.  

Ken