Why is Larrivee Mahogany so much more orange in color than the other builders?
We have TV presenters in the UK who suffer in the same way! :P
Actually, I've wondered the same thing, especially when looking at the all-mahogany models compared with something like a Martin 15 series instrument. Whatever the shade, it certainly sounds good, but I'm still intrigued as to the reason.
I don't think they apply any stain.
(http://www.pbase.com/shadco/image/39926347.jpg)
QuoteI don't think they apply any stain.
Ya don't need stain when ya got the grain!
That would make sense; there's something appealingly organic about Larrivees.
I'm not too knowledgeable about Larrivée... but I thought I did read that Larri just keeps the natural mahogany color while other companies usually dye it. I like the unique, brightish quality to the wood!
[edit]oops someone beat me to it[/edit]
I'm not sure if they apply a stain either but you can definitely see the different shade of mahogany on the inside of the guitar as opposed to the outside. Either way, I like it.
Andrew
Jason from Notable guitars told me some time ago that Larrivee does not stain their tone woods.
Most makers stain their mahogany to some degree. Martin traditionally used a dark walnut type stain as well as a stained wood filler. That's why the old D-18s look so dark and the grain is obscured. My several year old D-05 looks like it has a maple stain. It's definitely darker than the current Larrivees, but you can still see the grain clearly, as oposed to the older D-18s. Totally unstained mahogany isn't really that attractive. The wood generally needs some kind of stain to bring out the contrast in the grain.
The Larrivee in the picture posted by shadco clearly has a stain. It looks like a maple stain to me.
The dark spots are a dark filler. The "amber" cast is the finish coloring. Most finishes leave an amber color.
I'd say they are left natural. and i would think that Larrivee is using a higher grade mahogany than Martin. You usually only stain mahog if the quality is less and you can't bookmatch the tops. Thus the red stain and dark filler, Martin uses. sometimes stain brings out the grain of certain woods. Straight Mahog. is pretty simple and doesn't need it.
Also Mahogany will darken with the amount of light it receives. So if your guitar has darkened over time , that's why. My parlour is about two shades darker than when i got it.
There is no stain on the wood at all.Looking out from my cave were I have 12 Larrivee's in mahogany hanging There is from very very lite to really dark coloured mahogany hangin.Wonderful aray of Natural mahogany.......Got love it..... B)
I think Larrivee and Lakewood has the finest looking standard production mahogany.
However sometimes I really drool over the crazy quilted and flamed mahogany that some of the smaller builders put out. Take a look at this:
http://www.luthierscollection.com/acoustic...llum/mc38a.html (http://www.luthierscollection.com/acoustics/mccollum/mc38a.html)