Which Larrivee guitars have you let go of and why?

Started by kwakatak, March 22, 2006, 01:30:16 AM

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QuoteI've seen the term used, but what exactly is a forum guitar?

A couple of limited-edition runs made by Larrivee for special order by members of this forum a couple of years ago.  It was before my time so I can't tell you too much about them.
D-03RE
D-03-12
00-50 TSB
OM-02

...and several other guitars.  Former Larrivees: P-01, OM-03R SH (Twelfth Fret special edition), P-01 Chris Hadfield special edition

Quote from: knight_lite_1974 on March 22, 2006, 08:07:42 AM
I've seen the term used, but what exactly is a forum guitar?

A year or so ago, Jason brokered a deal with Larrivee for a specially built guitar that was designed by and made available to forum members.
I understand that this was the second time this was done.
L-04 koa
L-03-12
Parlor (mahogany)
Forum III MT
Yamaha FG-180
Gretsch Sundown Serenade
Fender Stratocaster

My lefty LV-09 is currently up for sale (see the For Sale section of this webpage for more info). I think I've discovered I'm more of a mahogany person.  The LV-09 is a beautiful guitar (Larrivee's rosewood is always between stunning and spectacular), but I haven't bonded with this guitar like I have my OM-05. 

1999 D-02 Left-handed
2002 L-05 Left-handed
Larrivee owner since 1992

I traded my L05-12 for an OM03R-12 because I didn't like the fit of the L, and, it gave me a chance to have a Rosewood guitar.
The Dude abides.


I've just sold my recently acquired OMV-03RE to one of my friends as it suits his playing style more than mine and the 1 3/4" nut is more to his liking, too.  I'm glad I bought it in the first place as it's a great guitar but it was nice to able to pass it on to someone who would do it more justice. 
"Looks like satin, feels like silk!" 

Larrivee D-03
Larrivee J-03R 
Larrivee D-03E Mahogany Top
Larrivee L-03 12 Mahogany Top 
Larrivee OMV-03RE (sold to friend whose style just suited it better!)

I've bought and sold a bunch.  OM's are the most comfortable but just don't have the fullness of an L or a D body.  I've had about 5 and the best sounding of those is up for sale now in the BST section.  I've had 3 L body's consisting of an L09, 05MT and now a C05.  The 09 was too boomy and the MT was great but not what my ears wanted to hear.  The C05 is a great guitar.  It produces the sounds my ears want to hear and is quite comfortable.  The dreadnaughts became unfomfortable after I got my first OM and I got to where I couldn't deal with the 1 11/16 necks.  I now have an SD50 that is a great guitar for strumming and fingerstyle.  Can't say enough good things about it.  We're still bonding.
More than I deserve.

Hmmm... lots of L and OMs seem to be trading hands with the odd parlor and even rarer SD switching hands. I also see that rosewood and koa don't have the staying power of mahogany. Good to see that it's mostly all in the family, though.

Thanks for you replies and patience with my vicarious GAS folks. I've yet to purchase my first Larrivee but when I do I want to be sure it's a keeper. I tend to hold on to things for the long term, whether or not I'm happy with them. 
Neil K

2026 (unfinished) DIY 00-18 (Sitka Spruce/S. American Mahogany)
2025 DIY 000-28V (Sitka Spruce/Black Walnut)
2023 DIY Medium Jumbo (Carpathian Spruce/East Indian Rosewood)
2013 DIY Medium Jumbo (western red cedar/S. American Mahogany)
2013 McKnight Ukulele (redwood/mahogany)
2009 Martin D-16GT
2006 Larrivée OM-03R

I dont mind Koa (at all), but I've just never grown to like it better than mahogany.  I like punchy, and clear.  Wouldn't mind a koa though.

Never sold a Larrivee, dont really plan to (hopefully I will manage my financial situations such that I would never have to).  BUY BUY BUY!!!!
Larrivee LSV-05
Larrivee LV-09FM
Larrivee CS-30
Yamaha Chronos LL-16
Yamaha Pacifica 112J
Martin LX-1
Fender American Stratocaster Delux
Fender Mexican Stratocaster
Fender Mexican Telecaster
Rivera Sedon

QuoteI tend to hold on to things for the long term, whether or not I'm happy with them. 

Thinking back over the experience of buying and selling all these used Larrivees, it may have saved a lot of time to just go to a store and get an L body Koa or blackwood.  For me, I'm guessing that either would  likely have been a keeper.  Of course if you want bling, it would have to be a 9 series.  I just get a little nervous committing to something I know will be worth a lot less once it makes it out the door.  I've gotten my money back out of all the used guitars I've ever bought and I've had the opportunity to try some geat guitars.
More than I deserve.

QuoteI've yet to purchase my first Larrivee but when I do I want to be sure it's a keeper.

I should clarify that my conveying of the OMV-03RE to my friend was done in the rather fortunate, perhaps luxurious, context of having another four Larrivees to fall back on (metaphorically and hopefully not physically...).  If that had been the only acoustic I owned, it would have stayed put! 
"Looks like satin, feels like silk!" 

Larrivee D-03
Larrivee J-03R 
Larrivee D-03E Mahogany Top
Larrivee L-03 12 Mahogany Top 
Larrivee OMV-03RE (sold to friend whose style just suited it better!)

Quote from: tikabear on March 23, 2006, 08:16:18 AM
Thinking back over the experience of buying and selling all these used Larrivees, it may have saved a lot of time to just go to a store and get an L body Koa or blackwood.  For me, I'm guessing that either would  likely have been a keeper.  Of course if you want bling, it would have to be a 9 series.  I just get a little nervous committing to something I know will be worth a lot less once it makes it out the door.  I've gotten my money back out of all the used guitars I've ever bought and I've had the opportunity to try some geat guitars.

I can appreciate that. I've bought two new cars in my life and the biggest depreciation hit occurs when you drive it off the lot. That's why I hate shopping for new cars! I'm approaching buying a guitar in the same way, except the obvious difference in financing options! Like a good automobile, I just want the thing to last me at least 10 years like all my other guitars have. It doesn't have to be a perfect fit to my style since I know it will change, but I want something that's versatile. So far I'm eyeing up the OM-03R because it seems to really fit my style of playing right now, but after playing an L-03 and getting involved in the band at church I began to wonder if the OM would be versatile enough to handle strumming/flatpicking in a band with 3 other acoustic guitars, an electric keyboard and a drummer.
Neil K

2026 (unfinished) DIY 00-18 (Sitka Spruce/S. American Mahogany)
2025 DIY 000-28V (Sitka Spruce/Black Walnut)
2023 DIY Medium Jumbo (Carpathian Spruce/East Indian Rosewood)
2013 DIY Medium Jumbo (western red cedar/S. American Mahogany)
2013 McKnight Ukulele (redwood/mahogany)
2009 Martin D-16GT
2006 Larrivée OM-03R

The only Larrivee guitar I let go is a walnut parlor I got from papatar. It was a beautiful guitar in excellent condition but we never bonded. It just seemed to have a constricted sound. It was good for fingerstyle but I guess i wanted more from it. My only other Larrivee is a D-02 which I could never get rid of. First it has two big ole cracks on the back that were fixed at the Mr Magoo School of Luthiery(Could they have put any more glue on it)Secondly it was so cheap and sounds so good i would have to be certifiable to get rid of it. Am sure I could sell it for more than I got it. Patrick
CA Bluegrass Performer, Larrivee D-02 (sapele),  Martin LXK2 \"If we weren't all crazy, we would go insane"


My OM-50 went down the road last week.  I just never seemed to play it.  Great guitar though. It needed a loving home.  My taste currently is more toward the small bodied guitars and resonators.  I took the proceeds from the sale of my OM-50 and my Epi LP and ordered a National Resophonic M2.  Should arrive next week.  If I buy another acoustic it will be either a Stella reproduction ala Fraulini or maybe a Gibson L-00 reproduction ala Clarksdale or Santa Cruz H. Its possible I might pick up another Larrivee OM or L or even a D but not until they are available with a short scale length.  I LOVE short scale guitars.
Rob



Bourgeois Vintage OM
Larrivee D-05 MT

Let go of a 000-60. Still haven't been able to decide if it just wasn't my cup of tea or if it was a dud. Getting a Martin 000-28 Norman Blake didn't help the Larrivee either.
"The hardest thing in this world .... is to live in it." - Buffy the Vampire Slayer

I've let go of a D03BW, an OM03, and an L03BW. In a couple of cases I was trading up to a higher end guitar. The final judgement is that they were all nice instruemnts but none really inspired me.  I know that ispiration is mostly internal but there are instruments that have  mojo that really works for me. When I started playing after a two decade layoff I had really lost my touch and feel for an instrument. In some cases it took months to figure out if an instrument had the stuuf that turns me on. I've gotten much better at it. If I can play for 20-30 minutes  I pretty much know if an instrument is a "keeper".

Traded in my L-O3R for a D-60. Love the sweet tone and the 1 11/16 inch neck.

D02-12 - cuz I'm an idiot (well, and needed money to move)
L03R - cuz I'm an idiot (well, and needed money to get into house from apartment)
Parlor P01 - cuz I'm an idiot (well, see above)
LS10SE - cuz I'm an idiot (slow learner?...this time had to fund a literal one-chance opportunity)

Hopefully now that we have a mortgage and do not intend on moving, the trend will end.

Last year, I sold an OM-03R because I needed the money for my ill-advised quest for the perfect Martin. It took me about a week after I sold it to realize that for me, the perfect Martin is a Larrivee. I have since sold all my Martins and now have a Larrivee L-03 and a D-03R. Next up, I want to replace the OM-03R.

Jim


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