How much more bass presence does the rosewood give the D-03R over the D-03?  Is it minimal, or very noticable?

Thanks much!

its going to vary from guitar to guitar. but in my experience, the larrivee rw guitars, particualarly the dreads, are very loud with lots of bass. its not that the 03 is not loud, or that it doesn't have bass...because it does, but the rw is going to have more punch in most instances.

here's a thread with some killer sound clips that should be helpful:
http://www.larriveeforum.com/forums/index....t=ST&f=2&t=4953 (http://www.larriveeforum.com/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=2&t=4953)

I tried both and took the rosewood. I like mahog also, but there was something more authoritative about the bass from the rosewood D-03R. Some also depends on how you adapt your playing to the guitar, IMO.

I was wondering the same thing.  Some people say rosewood has a warmer darker sound, while others say it has a brighter almost metallic sound.  I don't know who to believe.  So I went to my local shop yesterday to compare the D-03 and the D-03R.  Unfortunately they didn't have either at the time.  Instead I had to compare an L-03 and L-03R.  After about 10 minutes of going back and forth between the two I've decided that I could hardly tell the difference between them.  I was hoping to hear distinct difference but was a little frustrated that I couldn't.  They were both brand new guitars and their strings seemed new as well (Elixers).  Maybe it was the small practice room that I compared them in???  Anyways, I wish I could help you out but maybe I just needed some more time with them.  I might go back and try out the D's once they get them in.

Andrew

The guitars will need to "play in", but a fine guitar made of rosewood will have a somewhat fuller, warmer, more complex sound that mahogany.  Mahogany will give you better clarity, sweetness, midrange.  But the guitars will need to play in, and I think the better the guitar the more this is so.

Geoff

Could hardly tell the difference?

Now I'm wondering if I need to make another trip to Seattle to try out the differences between rosewood and mahogany models... I thought the difference was like night and day, and I wouldn't consider my ear so much attuned to such differences. Maybe that's why I was wrong? Then again I'm also comparing the Dreads, so maybe there's more of a difference there?

To my ears, the rosewood has a "smoother" (more blended) and "warmer" sound to it than the mahogany does. At least that is what I make of it after listening to Dave's sound clips here.

Jeff  

Rosewood = more grunt (IMO)

Rosewood imho definitely is more warm and deeper tone qualities...

I'm finding in some reviews (not that I'm putting too much stock into them) that the D-03R seems to be more picked on for not being a good fingerstyler while the D-03 seems to be praised for its ability to do both fingerpicking and strumming, but I've never seen a direct comparison between the two. Anyone find this to be true?

Well, they're the same guitar but with different tonewoods.  Similarly the -05 model is an upgrade of the same model.  I do find these guitars are versatile, and that's really valuable, but you'll need to play them and decide if you really like the guitar.

The best approach really is to play a lot of guitars (which is really a lot of fun, and that's what music stores expect, and they'll really welcome that from customers who are polite and visibly careful with the instruments).  So play some guitars!

People tend to think that smaller-than dreadnought guitars, with wide fretboards (1 3/4" at nut), and light strings lend themselves to fingerstyle.  This sort of describes an OM make of guitar.  Even so, this is a generalization.  Myself, I play both pick and fingerstyle and these models you mention work out fine.  For instance, the D-03 is a standard width, but still plays a little bit wide for a standard 1 11/16" -nut guitar, and I think all the discussions about fretboard width-at-nut is a bit overdone.

On the matter of rosewood vs mahogany, if in doubt go with the rosewood.  I play mahogany but the simple fact is that most guitars are rosewood.  Generally, mahogany is a little crisper and lends itself to playing lead or single notes.  Rosewood is more well-rounded.

You might also try Martin guitars (darker, traditional), and Taylor (brighter, more modern sound), though these run more expensive for the value.

You are on the right track purchasing a "solid wood" (no laminates) guitar from a reputable manufacturer.  Less expensive guitars are disposable in the end, and so are ultimately more expensive to the owner.

Geoff

Quoteand I think all the discussions about fretboard width-at-nut is a bit overdone.

agreed. while other body shapes and nut widths can and do make a difference, its mostly about the player imho. have you ever seen eric johnson blow minds with his martin dread---doing fingerstyle? or phil keaggy fill the room with the bass rumble of his auditorium style guitars?  

Quote

Quoteand I think all the discussions about fretboard width-at-nut is a bit overdone.

agreed. while other body shapes and nut widths can and do make a difference, its mostly about the player imho.

I'm with you to a certain extent but personally I found that the Larrivees I played with 1 3/4" nuts just didn't feel right in the same way that the 1 1/16" did.  Having said that, I don't doubt that a guitarist superior to me (and trust me, there are many!!  :P  ) could make either sound great.