Noone of my guitar heros plays larrivees, why?

[old folky]

I believe that Garnet Rogers plays a Larrivee or at least he used to. 

Old Folky

[Caleb]

Great thread....

I think alot of it simply boils down to tradition. Some folks just "have to" play a Martin. Or whatever other brand for that matter.  Some are honestly convinced that their brand of choice is the best one out there.  It doesn't bother me, because I understand that a musical instrument is an emotional object.  I find also that there are so many people who simply still don't know about Larrivees.  And, as most know, folks are normally afraid of things that they don't fully understand.

And then there are the endorsement deals... 

If I were a touring musician and someone was paying me to play their brand of guitar, as long as it didn't hinder my playing and as long as I could still get the sound I wanted, I'd do it.  It's just business in my view.  Some of us can sit here and throw stones at these guys for playing Takamines or whatever brand that we may find inferior, but in the end, the guy on stage got paid to play while we did not.  And if I were a touring musician and I were not getting paid to play someone's brand of guitar, I'd play my Larrivee, or whatever else made me sound better.

Intereresting Takamine story:  I got a CD by an artist named Troy Cassar Daly who was touring with Tommy Emmanuel last year.  He was playing this absolutely phenominal sounding (and looking) 000-style Takamine. THe sound was simply unreal.....extrememly crisp and clean.  I bought his record and inside he wrote that he plays Takamine because "they simply make the best plug-in-and-play guitar around".  He honestly believes that, where most here would call them inferior.

Go figure.

.02

[Cowgirlie]

Guitar company's "endorsement deals" do not usually involve an artist getting payment for playing a particular brand. They are typically special pricing for some, a "comped" guitar here and there for others, and ads ... The ads are great validation, and free exposure into some great markets for players and touring entertainers.

I'd play Larrivee guitars anyway....they are great plug in and play guitars, and the price difference between Takamine's top of the line and Larrivee's 5 and 9 series is nada...why not play the best?

[Thinman]

I was thrilled to go to Wintergrass in Tacoma on the weekend. Chris Thile was first on stage ,then the Jerry Douglas band with Guthrie Trapp.You have to scroll way down this message  to see the link[youtube=425,350]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqlVckotWJw[/youtube]
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqlVckotWJw
Here is a tiny clip shot with my Canon still camera.
Bluegrass, it's not just for Martin's anymore. That is a Larrivee OM isn't it?