(https://imgur.com/kmkJRwa.jpeg)

The herringbone is so pretty. This one is with my new bone saddle I've almost got dialed in for intonation.

(https://imgur.com/oWtpUdK.jpeg)

This phone doesn't do the walnut much justice. Looks better to the naked eye.

(https://imgur.com/boUFpdL.jpeg)
(https://imgur.com/Xhzp0yr.jpeg)

Pretty cool stripes in the mahogany down the neck.

(https://imgur.com/ZS0wuv6.jpeg)

Just wanted to give this guitar a shout out. I'm quite taken with it. It's a Wildwood custom guitar built roughly ten years ago: OM-03 WL in cedar over walnut (Peruvian). Cedar on a Larrivee is hard to come by, and I've been looking for one for years. Signed by JCL on the label. Comes with the Larrivee Archtop case, which is quite nice. There's a beautiful herringbone pattern around the binding and the rosette. It's done so well, and looks killer against the cedar.

I also have a 2018 OM-02 (built like an OM-40 without the rosette). So comparing them seems natural. The OM-03 WL has a slightly wider lower bout (3/8" difference), while the OM-02 has slightly more depth in the sides (also 3/8" difference). It's enough of a difference to see when holding them side-by-side. The bridge has a larger footprint than the one on my OM-02. Further, the X braces, at their crossing, sit at different distances from the soundhole: the OM-03 WL is positioned 1/4" closer to the SH than the OM-02. The bracing patterns, for those that don't know, are completely different for the two guitars. Traditional (OM-02) and Symmetrical (OM-03 WL). Geeky stuff, yes. But maybe someone will find it interesting. I sure do :bgrin: It would seem the crew at Larrivee are constantly tweaking designs to move the guitars forward  :thumb 

The OM-03 WL also sports the compound radius fretboard. Man, I wish all Larrivee's came with this fretboard. It is wonderful for a fingerpicker like myself, and it reminds me of the way my guitars from Collings feel when I play up the fingerboard. A big plus.

One of the things I really love about my OM-02 are the trebles. They gain steam as you climb the fretboard. It makes for a really sweet playing experience, and it's the main reason why that guitar is one of my faves. The OM-03 WL lacks those trebles, unfortunately. But it does have the most "3-dimensional" low E string. So pleasing to the ear. The mids are also very forward and resonant.

I'm still dialing things in, and the new bone saddle I made has helped the treble strings a bit. They're far from bad, mind you; they just don't quite hit like my OM-02 (which is one of the best Larrivee guitars I've played). If they did, this thing would be on another level. However, the OM-02 lacks that "3D" low E...so, it's hard to have it all in one guitar.

I think this guitar is a steal for the price I paid. I've always wondered how cedar would sound on a Larrivee, and now I know. Pretty dang good. There's the familiar articulate, crisp tone we all know and love from a Larrivee. Sufficiently responsive, and pretty good power. Chords ring true and clear all the way up the neck. Oh, and walnut. Lovely! More towards mahogany to my ear. I really like it. 

Any cedar Larrivee owners out there?

Sounds amazing! Thanks for sharing. Post a pic if you can.

OM guitars are such a great size. Sounds like you grabbed a special guitar, congrats!

BB,

Alway find your guitar reports interesting and educational - e.g, the X bracing differences. Curious as to the "L" designation, and assuming the "W" is walnut. Sounds like a really unique OM and as Bowie noted, hope you will post some pics.

Quote from: B0WIE on November 29, 2025, 04:51:27 PMSounds amazing! Thanks for sharing. Post a pic if you can.

Thanks, Bowie. I'll see if I can figure it out. Hopefully it's similar to posting a pic on the AGF (I use Imgur there).

Quote from: StringPicker6 on November 30, 2025, 11:11:09 AMOM guitars are such a great size. Sounds like you grabbed a special guitar, congrats!

I appreciate the well wishes, StringPicker. As a fingerstyle player, I still think a 12-fretter is more "musical" tonally than a 14-fret guitar, all else equal. That's a personal opinion, of course, but it continues to be true over and over again for me. However, the OM is a great design for fingerstyle, too. I think it's the deep-seated, blues (electric guitar) player in me that gravitates to them. The percussiveness and the punch. They're also great all-around guitars. Most of my guitars are 12-fretters, but I can't see myself ever being without at least one OM.

Quote from: Myopic Squirrel on November 30, 2025, 02:31:31 PMBB,

Alway find your guitar reports interesting and educational - e.g, the X bracing differences. Curious as to the "L" designation, and assuming the "W" is walnut. Sounds like a really unique OM and as Bowie noted, hope you will post some pics.

Hey, bud! Thanks for the kind remarks. Hope you're doing well.

I think the "WL" stands for walnut (At first, I thought it stood for Wildwood, since it was built just for them). The cedar, and the walnut (?), and the herringbone trim and rosette make it a custom, I think. It's a lovely guitar, with really wonderful fit and finish. And the more I play it, just like with most guitars (you'd think I learn by now!), it's really blossoming into a guitar I truly enjoy spending time with. I rarely post a NGD, or NuGD, even with really good guitars, but I thought this one warranted one. Working on the pics  :thumb

Easier to post pics than I thought. My apologies if they're too big. Not sure if I need to re-size them.

As you can see in the third pic, it looks the bridge has been re-glued. The risk one takes with cedar tops, and might be the reason why JCL doesn't build with cedar very often. I plan on keeping this one humidified properly year round, so I hope no issues arise. Something to keep an eye, though.

There's some fuzz or styrofoam bits on the bridge and top. Wish I had cleaned it before snapping the pics. This guitar came in GREAT condition. Can't ask for much more from a used guitar.  Frets still in good shape, neck relief at 0.005", and action just a touch higher than I like. Think I done good on this one!

Hey BB - WOW - especially after reading the FJ piece and JCL's skill for finding wood. Both the cedar AND walnut are beautiful. Add that beautiful aesthetic component to your tonal description and you really have a special guitar!  :bowdown:

Another Cedar topped Larrivee, my OO-09  Cedar/Koa.  I think it was part of a custom batch order in the early 2000s. Somewhere on the forum the Vendor posted a list of the guitars they had ordered. 

It was made in 2004 and I have had it since 2013.  My favorite guitar.  I bought it from a guitar shop in Central Coast area of California.

Quote from: Myopic Squirrel on November 30, 2025, 04:36:42 PMHey BB - WOW - especially after reading the FJ piece and JCL's skill for finding wood. Both the cedar AND walnut are beautiful. Add that beautiful aesthetic component to your tonal description and you really have a special guitar!  :bowdown:

Thanks, MS. I remember the first time I played a Larrivee, I immediately noticed something different about the guitar. I "got" what they were going for: a balanced tonality, with no one part of the spectrum overpowering any other. This lets the player shape the sound they want while not having to fight the guitar. I have immense respect for the company. And their fit and finish, even on the least expensive guitars, should be the envy of many other factory brands.

Quote from: jrdavies on November 30, 2025, 05:23:26 PMAnother Cedar topped Larrivee, my OO-09  Cedar/Koa.  I think it was part of a custom batch order in the early 2000s. Somewhere on the forum the Vendor posted a list of the guitars they had ordered. 

It was made in 2004 and I have had it since 2013.  My favorite guitar.  I bought it from a guitar shop in Central Coast area of California.

JR, that is a stunning guitar! Koa is one of my favorite tonewoods, and you have a breathtaking example. If I was to go for a smaller guitar, that beauty has about everything I'd want in a 12-fret, 00. Uber-eye candy. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks, I feel very fortunate to have found it.  Your OM is also a stunner.

I couldn't find the link listing the other custom OOs from the early 2000s but they were sold by GuitarAdoptions who was pretty active on the forum in the early 2000s.

Stunning guitars.  you guys are killing me as I sit here waiting on the custom Cedar/Mahog which I hope will arrive this month.

Quote from: jrdavies on November 30, 2025, 05:53:07 PMThanks, I feel very fortunate to have found it.  Your OM is also a stunner.

I couldn't find the link listing the other custom OOs from the early 2000s but they were sold by GuitarAdoptions who was pretty active on the forum in the early 2000s.

I appreciate it, JR. The sound is really coming around with my set-up and some play time. Not sure if it sat in its case for years, or if it got too dry (it did) at the dealer, but this guitar is waking up in all kinds of good ways. More lively. Man, I love a cedar top! And apparently walnut, as well  :thumbsup

I doubt you're any where near east Tennessee, but I'd love to play that 00-09. I've wanted a 00-12 fret or 000-12 fret of some kind from Larrivee for a while. I've enjoyed all the 12-fret wood combos I've played from them, and I've owned two 12-fret SD models (great, for sure, but I've been leaning towards smaller guitars).

I'm very impressed with yours. Cedar/koa just can't sound bad in my mind, especially considering its provenance! I don't see 00-09s very often, but I'll be keeping an eye out for that wood combo. The new forum guitars are looking amazing, too. Insane woods.

Quote from: John in Charm City on November 30, 2025, 06:52:03 PMStunning guitars.  you guys are killing me as I sit here waiting on the custom Cedar/Mahog which I hope will arrive this month.

Congrats, John. That's a wonderful wood combo, and I imagine it will make for a fine Larrivee. Which model did you go with?

Edit: Just saws your sig. An OMV. Very cool. I imagine it will have some of the same characteristics as mine. I hope it does; you're in for a treat!

Sometimes, a guitar has a look that is relaxing and, when the tone matches the appearance, I can get lost in playing. That cedar OM reminds me of a few guitars I've fallen in love with.

Quote from: BlueBowman on November 30, 2025, 07:32:44 PMI doubt you're any where near east Tennessee, but I'd love to play that 00-09. I've wanted a 00-12 fret or 000-12 fret of some kind from Larrivee for a while. I've enjoyed all the 12-fret wood combos I've played from them, and I've owned two 12-fret SD models (great, for sure, but I've been leaning towards smaller guitars).

I'm very impressed with yours. Cedar/koa just can't sound bad in my mind, especially considering its provenance! I don't see 00-09s very often, but I'll be keeping an eye out for that wood combo. The new forum guitars are looking amazing, too. Insane woods.

Unfortunately I am on the other side of the country.

I think, and someone please correct me if I am wrong, Larrivee mainly offered OO-05s, OO-09s and the occasional OO-10. I don't think they made that many OOs prior to the early 2000s. Around that time the Tradition Series introduced the OO-50 and the OO-60, as well as the OOOs.  The OO=40 was introduced after that, not sure when. Maybe the late 2000s The Forum IV which was an all Mahogany OO-03 was produced in 2010.  It may have been the first OO-03. 

For wood combos I am aware of Maple backed OOs, a couple of all Koa OOs, Brazilian backed OO-60s. Mainly Sitka, but some other Spruces as well.  There are a couple of YT demos of OOs with Cedar tops.  There was an all Austrian Walnut OO listed on Reverb recently that was gorgeous but no sound clip. I think TuneUp Guitars has a clip of a OO with a Redwood Top.  I can't wait to hear how the new Forum guitars sound.

Enjoy your OM!

I had a used cedar parlour for a very short time but didn't bond with it.

Walnut bass can (not always) sound deeper and 3D as noted.
A bit drier than hog and not as meaty trebles, as noted.

Are there pics & sound samples above because I can't seem to see these?
Being in the UK, Larrivee OOs are as rare as a Unicorn.
I just have to make do with my 12 fret parlours (which, by the way, are AMAZING -> very moreish to play)
The only OO I have is my deep-bodied Honduran hog / adi Northwood (thinking about another..)

Quote from: B0WIE on November 30, 2025, 08:26:23 PMSometimes, a guitar has a look that is relaxing and, when the tone matches the appearance, I can get lost in playing. That cedar OM reminds me of a few guitars I've fallen in love with.

I know what you mean. Sometimes the guitar has that "look," and you just know you're gonna be in good hands sound-wise. JR's 00 above also has that look. Love the traditional-meets-Larrivee aesthetics. I think it's also knowing what we like in a guitar, which can sometimes be sensed with just the eyes.

Quote from: jrdavies on November 30, 2025, 10:45:39 PMUnfortunately I am on the other side of the country.

 I think, and someone please correct me if I am wrong, Larrivee mainly offered OO-05s, OO-09s and the occasional OO-10. I don't think they made that many OOs prior to the early 2000s. Around that time the Tradition Series introduced the OO-50 and the OO-60, as well as the OOOs.  The OO=40 was introduced after that, not sure when. Maybe the late 2000s The Forum IV which was an all Mahogany OO-03 was produced in 2010.  It may have been the first OO-03. 

For wood combos I am aware of Maple backed OOs, a couple of all Koa OOs, Brazilian backed OO-60s. Mainly Sitka, but some other Spruces as well.  There are a couple of YT demos of OOs with Cedar tops.  There was an all Austrian Walnut OO listed on Reverb recently that was gorgeous but no sound clip. I think TuneUp Guitars has a clip of a OO with a Redwood Top.  I can't wait to hear how the new Forum guitars sound.

Enjoy your OM!

Thanks for the info, JR. I'm keen on trying out a similar 00. Might have to be a "take a chance" online guitar. Enjoy your 00, too!

Quote from: guitarman001 on December 01, 2025, 10:19:25 AMI had a used cedar parlour for a very short time but didn't bond with it.

Walnut bass can (not always) sound deeper and 3D as noted.
A bit drier than hog and not as meaty trebles, as noted.

Interesting you state this. That's the third time I've read that walnut can impart a deeper bass (compared to mahogany) in a guitar. It was the first thing I noticed about this OM-03 WL. Not boomy, but the Low E is deep, 3D, and very satisfying. I think it's probably too simplistic to attribute it all to the walnut, as the cedar is doing the heavy lifting, but it has impressed me, either way. And I bought the guitar for the cedar and Larrivee name more than the walnut.

I'm not getting too much "dryness" in this guitar (again, probably the cedar mostly). Cliche time: this guitar kinda splits the difference between what I think of as spruce/mahogany and spruce/rosewood. That's what I hear. I'm thoroughly enjoying it.

Glad you're still enjoying your Northwoods, G-man. If I had endless sums of money, I'd have a 00-12 and 000-12-fret from John. Cedar would be nice, too. I maintain to this day, that the deep-bodied OM I bought from him had some of the best trebles of any guitar I've owned. Engelmann/EIR. "Bell-like," rich, and round. Truly wonderful trebles. He uses the Larrivee symmetrical bracing for all his models, I think. Amazing fit and finish, as you know well.

Quote from: guitarman001 on December 01, 2025, 10:19:25 AMAre there pics & sound samples above because I can't seem to see these?

No, I didn't post sound clips. I still need to buy a good mic. I have mics for everything else, but I really want one geared for acoustic guitar. I was recommended an Audigo mic. $250, I think. I don't have much experience with capturing acoustic guitar in my personal life, but it is something I wanna remedy.

I've got a few dedicated mics but often I wish I'd just gotten an X-Y Zoom recorder (space saver).

You're bang on re the 3D bass. Some walnut doesn't develop a deeper bass so I'm glad yours has it. Btw I am loving your love for the OM02. Great, great guitar.

The best Larrivee walnut I tried is the new stuff, Austrian flamed.

Engelmann is sooo good. His "wintergrain" engelmann is even better - a bit edgier and can be hit harder. Tempted to buy another pending funds!

Quote from: BlueBowman on December 01, 2025, 03:27:33 PMNo, I didn't post sound clips. I still need to buy a good mic. I have mics for everything else, but I really want one geared for acoustic guitar. I was recommended an Audigo mic. $250, I think. I don't have much experience with capturing acoustic guitar in my personal life, but it is something I wanna remedy.

I'm an audio engineer and I recommend just setting up some of your mics, moving them around, and finding what sounds good to your ear. A neutral mic is usually a good idea but really any type of mic can work as there's a HUGE variety of sounds coming out of an acoustic, depending what angle and distance you're listening at. A lot of the advice I see out there regarding acoustic ranges from uninspired to just bad. Remember, acoustics were mixed pretty terribly for decades. Thin and jangly, like a tambourine. Just like people are learning that there's more to the acoustic than the dread, they're also getting treating acoustic recording with more respect. To truly get the most out of your recordings, learn about phase relationships between mics and experiment, experiment, experiment. Don't feel that you need a certain mic until you've worked with your current mics. While I have Schoeps as my main acoustic mics, I consider ALL of my mics to be acoustic mics as any one might work well for a certain sound on a certain guitar.

Quote from: guitarman001 on December 01, 2025, 04:57:52 PMI've got a few dedicated mics but often I wish I'd just gotten an X-Y Zoom recorder (space saver).

You're bang on re the 3D bass. Some walnut doesn't develop a deeper bass so I'm glad yours has it. Btw I am loving your love for the OM02. Great, great guitar.

You might be right about keeping it simple and going with a Zoom. I have used their products in the past, and they always work well. I've come to really enjoy SIMPLE in life, which probably is one part why I've gone all-in on acoustic guitar. It's my (unintended) rebellion to our overly saturated techie lives  :winkin:  Me and the guitar. No rig, no gear. The purity of tone. I love that.

That's right, you also have an OM-02! Do you know what generation yours is? Mine is a fifth, which they designed to be like the OM-40. It's quite a guitar. I leave it Open D most of the time. Glad you dig yours!

Quote from: B0WIE on December 01, 2025, 05:24:17 PMI'm an audio engineer and I recommend just setting up some of your mics, moving them around, and finding what sounds good to your ear. A neutral mic is usually a good idea but really any type of mic can work as there's a HUGE variety of sounds coming out of an acoustic, depending what angle and distance you're listening at. A lot of the advice I see out there regarding acoustic ranges from uninspired to just bad. Remember, acoustics were mixed pretty terribly for decades. Thin and jangly, like a tambourine. Just like people are learning that there's more to the acoustic than the dread, they're also getting treating acoustic recording with more respect. To truly get the most out of your recordings, learn about phase relationships between mics and experiment, experiment, experiment. Don't feel that you need a certain mic until you've worked with your current mics. While I have Schoeps as my main acoustic mics, I consider ALL of my mics to be acoustic mics as any one might work well for a certain sound on a certain guitar.

Great stuff, Bowie. You may have just saved me a lot of time. 

Most of my musical life has revolved around playing live. But I always just show up, focus on the music, and get out after. I wish I had paid more attention to the sound techs and engineers. Not a bit of that stuff rubbed off, unfortunately. "Learn about phase relationship between mics." Definitely will. I thank you for the advice.

Quote from: BlueBowman on December 01, 2025, 06:16:09 PMGreat stuff, Bowie. You may have just saved me a lot of time. 

Most of my musical life has revolved around playing live. But I always just show up, focus on the music, and get out after. I wish I had paid more attention to the sound techs and engineers. Not a bit of that stuff rubbed off, unfortunately. "Learn about phase relationship between mics." Definitely will. I thank you for the advice.

Happy to help and, you can always feel free to message me as consulting people about audio-related topics is a big part of my job.
Live sound is a very different beast than studio recording so you didn't miss a lot. Regarding phase relationships, the traditional mic positions you'll learn about (spaced pair, X/Y, etc) are ways of setting up mics so that they aren't collapsing the sonic image. When sound waves arrive at the same time, they null. You can either get the sound waves to arrive at different times (one mic close, one 3' away), or get them to perfectly null, then flip the phase on one of them. That's 80% of acoustic recording right there and the rest is just deciding what position compliments that particular guitar and song.

 All that said, pointing a mic at the 12th fret from 2' away is your all-purpose safe bet. And, that's why you see so many acoustic guitar reviews/sales on YouTube done that way.

Quote from: B0WIE on December 01, 2025, 07:17:21 PMHappy to help and, you can always feel free to message me as consulting people about audio-related topics is a big part of my job.
Live sound is a very different beast than studio recording so you didn't miss a lot. Regarding phase relationships, the traditional mic positions you'll learn about (spaced pair, X/Y, etc) are ways of setting up mics so that they aren't collapsing the sonic image. When sound waves arrive at the same time, they null. You can either get the sound waves to arrive at different times (one mic close, one 3' away), or get them to perfectly null, then flip the phase on one of them. That's 80% of acoustic recording right there and the rest is just deciding what position compliments that particular guitar and song.

 All that said, pointing a mic at the 12th fret from 2' away is your all-purpose safe bet. And, that's why you see so many acoustic guitar reviews/sales on YouTube done that way.

This is gold, Bowie. Thank you. I'm way behind the curve on this stuff.

And no wonder why I think half (or more) of all acoustic guitar recordings sound terrible, even when a fine guitar is the subject. It would seem it's not so simple. I'll see what I can come up with.

I recall being in a store in Glasgow trying two Furch guitars. One was walnut, the other rosewood. I just could not choose between them. The walnut was definitely the in betweener - a sweet deep bass with a bit of that 3D sound and still had some of mahogany's punch. The rosewood was deep and lush, a bit plinkier in the trebles and less mid range but the deep dark bass was alluring (I would never call rosewood warm - mahogany bass is warm but rosewood I would call deep/dark).

The answer is obviously to have one of each.

Quote from: BlueBowman on December 01, 2025, 05:42:03 PMYou might be right about keeping it simple and going with a Zoom. I have used their products in the past, and they always work well. I've come to really enjoy SIMPLE in life, which probably is one part why I've gone all-in on acoustic guitar. It's my (unintended) rebellion to our overly saturated techie lives  :winkin:  Me and the guitar. No rig, no gear. The purity of tone. I love that.

That's right, you also have an OM-02! Do you know what generation yours is? Mine is a fifth, which they designed to be like the OM-40. It's quite a guitar. I leave it Open D most of the time. Glad you dig yours!

I'm with you on simplicity. I used to play in a band and did the hi-tech electric guitar playing for 20+ years until my wife died. That side of me died. After 8 years of not playing, it hurts (because my electric gear is soooo good and costs a fortune new) I have decided to sell on most, if not all of it. The winds of change! Yesterday my Suhr Pro S4 sold. I was in the guy's house and he had a few electrics and one acoustic in the corner and my heart said "that acoustic is what it's all about" - simplicity (plus, you ARE the band... Voice + acoustic and no amps/cables/troublesome bandmates)


My 02 is a 2010 original or 2nd gen, Canada. No scalloping, which is my preference. To be completely honest I've had it up for sale because my 05 has more girth in the bass register and sounds harmonically richer BUT... The satin finish also sounds good, I'm a different way.. and unlike most I really love the compound radius fretboard. It plays like butter and has a matured sound (I AB'd it against a sinker hog custom shop Martin costing a LOT more and there was barely anything in it). Maybe I should just keep and give it some love. Problem is I need to reduce the collection (simplicity, space) if want to buy anything else (engelmann/special-back Northwood OO or Larrivee 60th model...)

Quote from: guitarman001 on December 03, 2025, 02:45:23 AMI recall being in a store in Glasgow trying two Furch guitars. One was walnut, the other rosewood. I just could not choose between them. The walnut was definitely the in betweener - a sweet deep bass with a bit of that 3D sound and still had some of mahogany's punch. The rosewood was deep and lush, a bit plinkier in the trebles and less mid range but the deep dark bass was alluring (I would never call rosewood warm - mahogany bass is warm but rosewood I would call deep/dark).

The answer is obviously to have one of each.

That describes this guitar pretty well. The mids are so saturated. The triads up the fretboard on the D, G, and b strings sound quite good -- alluring even.

Quote from: guitarman001 on December 03, 2025, 02:51:48 AMMy 02 is a 2010 original or 2nd gen, Canada. No scalloping, which is my preference. To be completely honest I've had it up for sale because my 05 has more girth in the bass register and sounds harmonically richer BUT... The satin finish also sounds good, I'm a different way.. and unlike most I really love the compound radius fretboard. It plays like butter and has a matured sound (I AB'd it against a sinker hog custom shop Martin costing a LOT more and there was barely anything in it). Maybe I should just keep and give it some love. Problem is I need to reduce the collection (simplicity, space) if want to buy anything else (engelmann/special-back Northwood OO or Larrivee 60th model...)

If you're not playing it, definitely move it on. Had I kept every good guitar I bought, I'd be sleeping with cases!

The problem is when I do play it and think "wow" :D but yes, I hear you..

Well, I'm now over a month in of owning and playing this guitar, and I gotta say, it's growing on me ever more. My gut instinct that cedar would sound great in a Larrivee package is outperforming expectations. This is a REALLY good guitar.

I would also like to readjudicate my thoughts on the trebles. They have improved. Not so much from the playing (well, maybe a little), but I think mostly because the guitar is fully humidified now. It never ceases to amaze me how much a very dry guitar can improve in sound once properly humidified (which can sometimes take much longer than people think). 

Too early to say for sure, but I think this beauty might be with me for a very long time. Cedar and walnut is a wonderful combo!