Did anyone notice the Larrivee models available through Sweetwater with American Red River Gum back and sides? I saw them included in the Larrivee News link yesterday in my email. I'd love to hear feedback if anyone plays or buys one.
They also announced some nice deals on B stock inventory.
Yeah I saw that, pretty fancy! I always get GAS when I look at the b stock link!!! :nana_guitar
They look great in person. I saw them, unfinished, when I went to the Larrivee factory, end of July.
Not many guitars built with Red Gum. I owned a Kronbauer built with Red Gum b/s. It's very beautiful and quite different to any other wood (visually) I've seen on a guitar.
I've never heard of this wood. What are its sonic characteristics? Is this just the 24 series with a different tone wood? I wonder if this was Sweetwater's idea. I've bought a couple of guitars from Sweetwater (Martin's). I'm kind of surprised that for all their Larrivee offerings they don't have one lefty. As far as Sweetwater's lefty offerings, most of the good instruments are either "We can get it" of "on backorder" LOL. The good stuff has been replaced by cheap Epiphones made in China weighing around five pounds. I periodically get a call from the salesman I bought from asking if there is anything I need. I just tell him I'm not seeing anything that interests me LOL.
Yeah, their lefty selection is kind of sad. From time to time there will be something interesting, but never a Larrivee, unless it's Gear Exchange. Better off with Jerry's or Woodstock.
It's definitely not common but I've seen it used a few times. Very striking. All I know about it is that it's not the same as the Reg Gum of Australia, it has interlocking grain (like mahogany) and hardness around the same as African mahogany so I'd expect behavior similar to mahogany. That said, every wood has it's tendencies to emphasize it de-emphasize certain overtones so hardness only tells part of the story. Plus, the builder can make it thicker or thinner which will change the behavior. Larrivee works with so many woods that I'd have complete confidence in their ability to get the most out of red gum.
Interesting that the specs on the Dread RRG shows a 1.75 nut. To me, that's just a little more comfortable than the 1 11/16 on most dreads
Quote from: jasonchamb on September 05, 2026, 08:51:50 AMInteresting that the specs on the Dread RRG shows a 1.75 nut. To me, that's just a little more comfortable than the 1 11/16 on most dreads
I missed this post and didn't see the specs. If there is one thing I'd change about my Larrivee dreadnaught's it's that 1 & 11/16" nut width. I'm used to it, but when I play a different neck with the 1.75 width, I see why most prefer this spacing. I think I may be also preferring a thicker type of neck. For whatever reason, my hand seems to get less tired and feels less pinched over time. Maybe this width was a Sweetwater request.
Quote from: William2 on September 05, 2026, 11:13:53 AMI missed this post and didn't see the specs. If there is one thing I'd change about my Larrivee dreadnaught's it's that 1 & 11/16" nut width. I'm used to it, but when I play a different neck with the 1.75 width, I see why most prefer this spacing. I think I may be also preferring a thicker type of neck. For whatever reason, my hand seems to get less tired and feels less pinched over time. Maybe this width was a Sweetwater request.
Concur. I played a 1 11/16 dread for years, then played my L03 and saw the light.
Here are some random thoughts on a Saturday morning that finds me groggy and getting over the flu...
In all my years of playing guitar, I have never taken the time to investigate or understand things like nut width, scale length, bracing, finish material, etc. I have no idea how long my guitar is (D03BW) or its nut width. I get that a wider nut allows more space, etc.
Also, who else can't shake the idea of a wood being called "gum" as being a bit weird? It conjures up images of softness and pliability, not something I mentally associate with wood.
:wave
Quote from: Silence Dogood on September 05, 2026, 11:46:30 AMHere are some random thoughts on a Saturday morning that finds me groggy and getting over the flu...
In all my years of playing guitar, I have never taken the time to investigate or understand things like nut width, scale length, bracing, finish material, etc. I have no idea how long my guitar is (D03BW) or its nut width. I get that a wider nut allows more space, etc.
Also, who else can't shake the idea of a wood being called "gum" as being a bit weird? It conjures up images of softness and pliability, not something I mentally associate with wood.
Yes, gum just doesn't do it for me LOL. But with the exception of a couple of standard tone woods, I'd never be inclined to buy an instrument based on the tone wood's looks. I probably won't be buying anymore, but a new interesting model might change that. I thought I read some comment recently that it was a shame Gibson and Martin tried to copy Taylor by making their necks thinner. I've never played a Taylor but if their necks are thin, I'd probably not be interested in their models either. I like a full C shape with a 1.75" width.
:wave
@William2 - I love Taylor guitars and have owned a couple of them just to flip (which I did very quickly and with great success). The necks on them feel more like an electric guitar neck to me than an acoustic. I personally like that but some won't. But as a whole, a Taylor isn't traditional enough for my Luddite taste. They are the iPhone of the guitar world with all their gadgetry and forward-thinking, and I'm still very much a rotary phone-type guitar player. But I also love how the Taylor company grew and blossomed from such humble beginnings to what it is now. It's a true American Dream type of company. I do like that.
Quote from: Silence Dogood on September 05, 2026, 12:19:20 PM@William2 - I love Taylor guitars and have owned a couple of them just to flip (which I did very quickly and with great success). The necks on them feel more like an electric guitar neck to me than an acoustic. I personally like that but some won't. But as a whole, a Taylor isn't traditional enough for my Luddite taste. They are the iPhone of the guitar world with all their gadgetry and forward-thinking, and I'm still very much a rotary phone-type guitar player. But I also love how the Taylor company grew and blossomed from such humble beginnings to what it is now. It's a true American Dream type of company. I do like that.
LOL! I love that comparison. I don't know where I stand between an iPhone or a rotary. I also admire Taylor and have often thought they might be an ideal instrument for fingerstyle. And I wish they hadn't discontinued the American Dream line. I might have popped for one. I do think I prefer the Furch self-adjusting neck system, however. Anyway, my luthier in Green Bay handles Taylor. The next time I get up there I will hold a Taylor and get a feel for the Taylor neck.
Quote from: B0WIE on September 04, 2026, 08:03:34 PMIt's definitely not common but I've seen it used a few times. Very striking. All I know about it is that it's not the same as the Reg Gum of Australia, it has interlocking grain (like mahogany) and hardness around the same as African mahogany so I'd expect behavior similar to mahogany. That said, every wood has it's tendencies to emphasize it de-emphasize certain overtones so hardness only tells part of the story. Plus, the builder can make it thicker or thinner which will change the behavior. Larrivee works with so many woods that I'd have complete confidence in their ability to get the most out of red gum.
With my one and only experience, I heard the guitar leaning toward mahogany: less overtone heavy, but also not dry; maybe even more similar to Koa -- an in-betweener.
Quote from: BlueBowman on September 05, 2026, 03:23:17 PMWith my one and only experience, I heard the guitar leaning toward mahogany: less overtone heavy, but also not dry; maybe even more similar to Koa -- an in-betweener.
This describes my Blackwood guitar.
When is Larrivee going to come up with something new besides unusual tone woods to sell their guitars? I'm done!!!
Quote from: William2 on September 07, 2026, 08:26:19 PMWhen is Larrivee going to come up with something new besides unusual tone woods to sell their guitars? I'm done!!!
Didn't they just release the 24 series in the past year or so? I actually like how often (or unoften) they introduce new things. It's not constant gimmick spam like some brands, but it's an ever expanding line that seems to grow at a pace that justifies the changes. When a brand has a completely new design line-up ever NAMM, it makes me feel like they're more into marketing than just making the best instruments they can.
As a follow up to Bowie's comment, when Larrivee introduced the 24 series in early 2024, they offered a variety of body shapes and added an Adirondack Spruce Top, Radial Rosewood Purfling and Rosette, Tulip Tuners, Vine Headstock Inlay and a pyramid bridge. I requested a mahogany top 00 and I played that guitar most of the weekend. I also believe Larrivee is doing a great job of building and offering a nice selection of guitars at affordable prices that can meet most player's budgets.
Tonight I checked out the America Red River Gum guitars on Sweetwater's website. They stated that Matt Larrivee found a small stash of American Red Gum wood that had been air drying for 25 years. They had enough to build 18 guitars, 6 each in Dreadnought, OM and 00 body shapes. Each guitar will also have an Adirondack Spruce Top and open gear tuners. Sweetwater has photos and a 4 minute video posted online and demo'ing all three body shapes. When I look at videos, I generally reserve final judgement but I must say these guitars sounded good. If I was in the market based on what I heard, I would lean toward the 00 or the OM and I would probably make the 6 hour drive to Indiana to check one out. I watched another short video with Jean Larrivee on Wikipedia where he stated that he designed a symmetrical bracing pattern. This made it easier for him to build right and left handed models. That seems to be a more efficient way to build for left handed players.
Quote from: B0WIE on September 07, 2026, 08:45:51 PMDidn't they just release the 24 series in the past year or so? I actually like how often (or unoften) they introduce new things. It's not constant gimmick spam like some brands, but it's an ever expanding line that seems to grow at a pace that justifies the changes. When a brand has a completely new design line-up ever NAMM, it makes me feel like they're more into marketing than just making the best instruments they can.
I'm in agreement here. I have no idea what some of the Martin significations consist of. Taylor makes a little more sense, but I get the feeling they remake the wheel a lot.
Just some thoughts on what Larrivee offers:
I'm not Larrivee's ideal customer. I have only ever owned one of their guitars, and I got it used. But it made me a fan for life and I've enjoyed keeping up with their business.
I just jumped over to their site and noticed that they have 17 different series of acoustic guitars, and under each series there are multiple options available. Then they have the electrics currently in production.
In the recent past they did the Simple 6 (which I thought were completely cool). They made those RS electrics, and in the not too distant past they did mandolins and ukes. That's a ton of options from a small, family-run shop.
And now Matthew Larrivee locates a cool stash of rare wood, so they make a run of 18 unique models for the serious Larrivee nerd. I just think that's pretty cool. If it were Taylor or Martin it would be a run of 20,000 -- also pretty cool in the grand scheme, but not nearly as special as someone ending up with 1 guitar out of 18.
Quote from: Silence Dogood on September 08, 2026, 09:45:38 AMJust some thoughts on what Larrivee offers:
Not to mention, a fact that everyone here is fully aware, Larrivee doesn't make inferior guitars like most (all?) other big factories. You can find a great guitar in the -01, -02, -03 series just as easily as the higher numbered models. A plain ole sitka/mahogany OM-02 is still my favorite Larrivee I've owned to date. It sounds utterly huge in Open D and other drop tunings. Tuned down, it can hang with most guitars. A great Larrivee rings like a bell.
Quote from: BlueBowman on September 08, 2026, 10:59:19 AMNot to mention, a fact that everyone here is fully aware, Larrivee doesn't make inferior guitars like most (all?) other big factories. You can find a great guitar in the -01, -02, -03 series just as easily as the higher numbered models. A plain ole sitka/mahogany OM-02 is still my favorite Larrivee I've owned to date. It sounds utterly huge in Open D and other drop tunings. Tuned down, it can hang with most guitars. A great Larrivee rings like a bell.
You are correct that their basic models are still a high-end guitar. I've said many times here that my own guitar stays tuned down a whole step (and down from there into 432Hz in recent years since I've become familiar with that whole thing).
It's cool how it worked out for me since I was going to end up gravitating toward lower tunings, but when I bought my Larrivee I wasn't really familiar with the concept. It was fortuitous and serendipitous to choose a Larrivee since they apparently like and can handle the lower tunings -- some guitars apparently cannot. Some guitars just go lifeless if not in A-440 but my Larrivee comes alive with the tension of standard tuning off.
I've got a friend who owns a 25-year-old, unplayed D02 model. He bought it as a milestone birthday gift and never learned to play. The thing just sounds insanely good, and it was one of the cheapest ones Larrivee ever put out. While I'm a fan of Martin in general, in contrast their lower-end models are made elsewhere and out of some kind of weird pressed wood. But every Larrivee is a real Larrivee.
Matt Larrivée has also done a remarkable job with that Baker T electric.