What is the Best All Around Larrivee Guitar?

[Tony Burns]

What ever one you own !

[canoe65]

"The Best All Around Larrivée Guitar" is the Larrivée L-03.

For my vote the L-03 is the best 'value for money' guitar in the Larrivée line.  Absolutely no 'bling', but all the Larrivée workmanship, quality materials, styling and playability and ... the sound.   

[NotRevGDavis]

OOO-50

[PortHueneme]

Just gotta add another note here.
Last night I was at a song circle with my regulars and I had my SD-60.
A new guy joined us and came armed with an OM-03 RW.
He did some finger picking, some strumming and I gotta say the guitar sounded awesome.
He is a good player, but was a little nervous in the group for the first time and he made some small errors.
The guitar was unbelievable though. He was using bluegrass strings (12-56).
I really think the OM is a true all around guitar. When you look at the prices of good guitars the 03 series is a bargain.
I don't get to sit in front of many Larrivee's and hear what comes out.
Next time I am taking my OM-03 koa and have him play it so I can compare the two voices.

[bluesman67]

Just gotta add another note here.
Last night I was at a song circle with my regulars and I had my SD-60.
A new guy joined us and came armed with an OM-03 RW.
He did some finger picking, some strumming and I gotta say the guitar sounded awesome.
He is a good player, but was a little nervous in the group for the first time and he made some small errors.
The guitar was unbelievable though. He was using bluegrass strings (12-56).
I really think the OM is a true all around guitar. When you look at the prices of good guitars the 03 series is a bargain.
I don't get to sit in front of many Larrivee's and hear what comes out.
Next time I am taking my OM-03 koa and have him play it so I can compare the two voices.

YES!  The OM-03R is amazing!  Mine is set up w/ bluegrass as well, I love the phos/bronze on it.  I had the opportunity to play a Bourgeois OM, rosewood, and I must say that even after that, I am still so impressed with my OM.  The Bourgeois was amazing, a beatiful finish and detail, and the sound was amazing...but my simplier looking (which I actually prefer) OM is also amazing sounding.

[greatgit]

    I may be wrong but it seems to me that a few years ago the Larrivee web sight recommended the OM shape for players who wanted something for both strumming and fingerpicking, then at some point they switched their opinion to the L for both instead.  Anyone remember it like this?

    I sure love my OM-03R.

[jwb]

I gotta throw in my opinion, like PortH said...keep the Martin if you can.  Then get a L-03R or OM-03R.  I had a L-03 in rosewood that was one of my favorite Larrivees, but sadly sold it.  It had excellent bass response and cost around a grand new.  Just a great guitar for everything...I think it sounded better than more expensive L-09s I've played (my very humble opinion).  Don't count out the -03 series...you may be able to afford one and keep the Martin.

But now I have to play the devil's advocate for a bit here.  If you are interested in a trade I have an OM that would fit your needs just perfectly.  PM if you would like more info.

Justin

[dberch]

Q: What is the Best All Around Larrivee Guitar?
A: Whichever one is in my lap at the moment. 

[PastorMike]

I would think, in my humble estimation, that if one is talking simply about Larrivee guitars, the most "Larrivee" of all would be the L serives. Whether or not one thinks it is the "best", it is the one on which he built his reputation. Now, in terms of best, my opinion is simply my opinion, but experince moves me to say the L series (I own a C-10 from the 90's, a recent 00-5, and a D-03) is the most versitale.  Does that make it the "best"? Yeah, I think so.
Mike

[kwakatak]

I'm not sure on the exact model but in general I'd have to say a mahogany L of some configuration. It used to be a no-brainer for me when the L-03's were mahogany but I've never played one of the new sapele ones. I've also changed my opinion of the Florentine cutaways after playing an LV-03RE.

So to cut it short, I think my vote would be for the LV-05 that's on the Larrivee home page. 

[ElJefe]

In a recent double-blind placebo test with laboratory guitar playing rats it was determined to be my ^000-50.

[NotRevGDavis]

In a recent double-blind placebo test with laboratory guitar playing rats it was determined to be my ^000-50.

A mighty fine choice.

[Dale_I]

In a recent double-blind placebo test with laboratory guitar playing rats it was determined to be my ^000-50.

ElJefe -- I read that report. The problem, as I see it, was that the rats they used were midwest Tennessee rats. Known for finger style and their short arms. Of course they preferred the smaller body and more responsive 000-50. They did a similar test on the West Coast using San Francisco Wharf Rats and they loved the L-Body and wanted electronics in all of them.
But, admittedly, they did have some problems getting the blindfolds on...

[tiffer]

Another consideration would be the OM-50 or OM-60 depending on your prefereance for Mahogony or Rosewood.  They just seem to have more punch than the standard Larrivee OM's.  I take lessons from one of the top flatpickers here in the St. Louis area and he just makes my OM-50 sing flatpicked.  Your not gonna get the volume or bass that the D-28 has, but I will say the OM-50 will take it all strumming, flatpicking and fingerstyle.

But keep the D-28, you'll miss her when she's gone. 

[dgrose]

Q: What is the Best All Around Larrivee Guitar?
A: Whichever one is in my lap at the moment. 

Truer words were never spoken! They all sound different. They all sound great... and they tell you what style you should be playing bu virtue of what each model seems to do best in your hands.

dg

[PCT57]

Got to be the OM-50.

The versatilty of this guitar is amazing. Looks good too!!

[ken35]

My vote is for the L-03

[saintandsinnerguy]

I vote for my MT D-03.  It rumbles and is also a good fingerstyle.  I play bluegrass alot, so it works great for that.  I also have a satin mahog parlor that gives me flexibility. 

[dp36]

I would have to agree with allot of the guys suggesting you keep the d28 and get an OM (or an L). The 03 series are super values and then you can go to the D28 when you want rattle stuff off the shelfs.

However if you are going for the 'one guitar' thing (a hopeless goal is you ask me  ) I second the suggestion of the Martin OM-28v. Small body size great fingerstyle, strummer and 90% of that dread bass. Average used price is $1700.

[shadco]

From Larrivee I'd vote for an OM-50 a very sweet guitar

If you wanna give dred's a run for their money a Collings OM2