How many here are COMPLETE converts ?

[Dream_0n]

I try to read quite a few of the topics here and as I do , I hear alot of people mention they have owned other high end guitars before they found or tried Larrivee . I have heard names like Taylor , Martin , Collings , Guild , Santa Cruz and others . So this is the question . How many Larrivee players here don't just own a Larrivee as part of their "herd " but actuall dropped the other brands of guitars  and now own ONLY Larrivees ? I mean as their " good " guitars , not counting the $50.00 yard sale special that some keep to play around the campfire or whatever .I am NOT trying to knock ANY guitar builder here , as guitars are a matter of taste and there are certainly those who prefeer the sound of a Martin or Taylor  or some other brand . I'm just curious to see how many here feel Larrivee is so right for them that they don't play any other makes now .

On a personal note my first real guitar was a Fender 12 string acoustic that I had for a short time and then bought my first Larrivee . I have only owned one of the other brands and that was a Guild 12 string , that I brought back to life but it was no match for my 12 string Larrivee so I sold it after I had it all done .

snacks anyone ? 

[bluesman67]

I do have just Larrivee acoustics, OM-03R and L-03.  However... I am quite sure that if I had a Martin, Santa Cruz, or Bourgeois, I wouldn't be getting rid of it.

Especially the Bourgeois.

But, you know what?...if I ever got another guitar, it would probably be a hog top Larrivee.  So I guess that might make me a semi-convert.

[flatlander]

I went thru quite a few as teenager/early 20's, yamahas, epeiphones ect. Then I got a pretty nice guitar. It was a Hohner probably when I was about 19. It was shaped pretty much like an L body Larrivee, had some inlay and a wide neck. We'll just say it had an accident. As soon as I got a decent job in a year or so I went lookin for a really good  guitar. I found the L-10 in spring of 81 and spent some time comparing to Martins and Gibsons. About a week later I got it and it's the only acoustic guitar I've owned since. Have gone thru 2nd guitars but have had baby Taylor for 5 or 6 years now. I was lucky. Wouldn't mind having a good Martin and Gibson if they were the right ones when I have extra money. I really liked the shape of the hohner
and it was so cool to find a guitar shaped the same with wide neck but much better tone.

[prof_stack]

I try to read quite a few of the topics here and as I do , I hear alot of people mention they have owned other high end guitars before they found or tried Larrivee . I have heard names like Taylor , Martin , Collings , Guild , Santa Cruz and others . So this is the question . How many Larrivee players here don't just own a Larrivee as part of their "herd " but actually dropped the other brands of guitars  and now own ONLY Larrivees ? ....

As my signature shows, I have other brands.  Different flavors, different strokes, and all that.  Actually, I've had four Larrivees, two Martins and one Guild among several Asian guitars (Takamine, Yamaha, Yamaki, etc.) and a few others.  Would like to bring home a Gibson someday...

Point is, variety is good.

[Tycho]

I have four Larrivees and (of all things) a beater Martin (DXB).

My head is frequently turned by J-45s and D-18s and various Santa Cruzes and Dana Bs, so I would never say never when it comes to other brands.

[Dream_0n]

Well I didn't mean that someone would never own any other brand , I just meant that like myself , some of use don't have many guitars and it's often a choice between one guitar or the other as opposed to simply adding one more to the gang so we have one of everything . I'd actually LIKE to get a Martin D 35 ( love that back ) or a D 28 . but just can't find one for a price I'm willing to pay at the moment . I got my first Larrivee , a 12 string many years ago when one guitar was all I thought I needed . Two years ago I hit on a no brainer good deal on a Larrivee D-02 on Ebay . I REALLY like my D-02 and when I look at the price of a Martin or Taylor or Gibson , I just can't see how it could be THAT much sweeter than my D-02 . So for now at least , I'm pretty much just a Larrivee guy .

and damn happy to be lol 

[dotpitch]

I'm actually moving in the opposite direction. I've owned five Larrivees over the past two years but after playing a number of luthier-built guitars, I've passed all but one of my Larrivees on to help finance some custom builds. That last Larrivee is going to the office with me tomorrow, hopefully to be sold to a coworker.

They've all been great guitars and I don't hesitate to recommend Larrivee to someone looking to purchase a new guitar for under $1500, 'specially the -03 series - I'm just finding that the custom builds match up with my tonal preferences a little better than the Larrivees. That's not to say I'll never buy another Larrivee... I am still really curious about the 000-60, but that baby's not cheap! 

[prof_stack]

... I am still really curious about the 000-60, but that baby's not cheap! 

Compared to a custom, the 000-60 MUST be a bargain!

Who are the luthiers of the custom(s) you are looking at?

[dotpitch]

Compared to a custom, the 000-60 MUST be a bargain!

Who are the luthiers of the custom(s) you are looking at?

That's what I thought before I started looking into it, but there are actually a large number of reputable small luthiers who have base prices that are *well* within reach. There's a list on the AGF in a thread titled, "A short list of less expensive builders".

I have a Kronbauer on order which I'm hoping to see in about a month and I have a beautiful cedar/walnut Fay that leaves me grinning every time I play it. I snagged a 26+ year-old Laughlin a couple weeks ago and it's replaced the OM-03R as my "go to" guitar (and didn't really cost me much more than the OM). It doesn't quite have the action of the OM, but it's a slightly shorter scale, so it plays almost just as well and the tone.... oooooh! 

[RKV]

I've owned Martin, Santa Cruz and Taylor in the past. But, now I've got 2 Larrivee guitars and plan on adding a third next year. The other brands are good but there is something about the balance, tone, quality and affordability that led me to being strictly a Larrivee owner at this point in time. Things can change but it's obvious there's something special about Larrivee that keeps grabbing my fancy

My fingers and ears don't lie. They honestly tell me Larrivee and I were meant to be

Randy

[Sober]

I've always owned just one guitar at the time. Why? It's making me more creative. There are no other options. You have to do it with just one guitar. That's pushing your/my creative borders. Right now it's a 0M 03. Of all the guitars I have owned in the past (Seagull S6, Taylor 214, Loweden 0 10, Lowden 0 32 and a Taylor 714) this ones pleases me the most. Why? It isn't making me neurotic like those really expensive guitars and...it makes wanna play guitar and create songs. Besides that I love the simplicity of it. Less is more....and it is affordable.

The only guitar I wanna own in the future next to mine Larrivee is a Martin 00 15 or a Larrivee L 03. But those are hard to get in Holland especially second hand.

[Queequeg]

I recently sold a Taylor 812ce to finance the acquisition of a hogtop Larrivee. This makes for my 5th Larrivee. I sold my only Gibson last year. I have never been a Gibson fan. I sold the CFM 00-15 last year. I still have a few CF Martins, but they're not getting much out-of-the-case time these days. Still, I will probably only sell one more of those. The Larrivees pretty much take care of it for me, now.

[canoe65]

In 1997, I started off with an Ibanez PF-10, which I traded in to buy a Seagull S6+ Cedar, in 2002.

I then also bought a La Patrie Etude classical guitar in 2003.

I traded in the Seagull and the La Patrie in 2006 to buy my Larrivée L-03, which is now my only real guitar ... and I am now converted FOREVER to Larrivée acoustic guitars.

PS. I have a Martin Backpacker for hiking and canoeing, but I don't count that as a REAL guitar.   

[PortHueneme]

PS. I have a Martin Backpacker for hiking and canoeing, but I don't count that as a REAL guitar.   

Do you use it for paddling ?
I have an Applause (fiberglass back) I take sailing, my friends joke whether it doubles as a paddle or flotation device.

[canoe65]

Do you use it for paddling ?
I have an Applause (fiberglass back) I take sailing, my friends joke whether it doubles as a paddle or flotation device.

Very funny, girl.  No, I don't use it as a paddle ... but now that I think about it, I suppose I could if I had to.

When you play your 'Applause' around others, do you hear 'applause'?

Really, though PortH-ette, I DO like your sense of humour ... that what makes this Forum as likeable as it is.   

[jeremy3220]

I'm actually moving in the opposite direction.

Me too, a year or two ago I had three Larrivee's as my only acoustics. I realized they sounded way too much alike, I felt like I had three of the same guitar with different features. 

[PortHueneme]

When you play your 'Applause' around others, do you hear 'applause'?

Really, though PortH-ette, I DO like your sense of humour ... that what makes this Forum as likeable as it is.   

Years ago I bought the Applause for a camping & carry around guitar. It was pre-Baby T's and decent parlors. My job had me traveling by car around my sales territory and I did want to tote my Gibson. Being I dislike the bar scene I wanted to play guitar in my motel room at night. The Applause is a good sounding/playing guitar and seemed durable too.
My playing has never been good enough to receive an "Ovation" so I opted for the under brand Applause. I still drag it out for campfire song sessions, but when someone asks me to play a little guitar I use my Larrivee "O".

BTW thanks for the complement on my humor, I am sometimes afraid I will hurt someones feelings, since they can't see me smiling while I am writing. I really do enjoy the forum and get a kick out of many of the posts. For most of us playing is for pure enjoyment and if I can contribute any humor to the cause,  it pleases me.

[woodruff]

. I'm just curious to see how many here feel Larrivee is so right for them that they don't play any other makes now .

i am one for sure. Spent most of my guitar playing life playing martins, and then a very brief irrelevent period with taylor, now i am blessed to be a total and irevocable Larry convert. cool post!

[saintandsinnerguy]

For me I only look at purchasing Larrivee now (0-3 line).  To me, the Larrivee line is the most consistent brand out there.  I can grab ANY 03 and know that it will be an AMAZING sounding guitar!  I can't always say the same about other guitar brands that compete in the 03 price range.  I only choose the 03 line because I  prefer the simplicity of satin, less bling, and beautiful tone for a killer price.  I've grabbed Martins, Taylors, Seagulls, Bluerigdge, Guilds, etc.  but for me, NOTHING compares to the Larrivee line in the 0-3 price range.  I can't say the same for the upper line of Larrivee with other upper line brands because I honestly do not grab a Larrivee over the 0-3 price line, so I can't even say how they would compare in the 2 grand and up range.  I'm sure they more than compete.

But yes, for me, it is only Larrivee.......3 in my house.....2 are mine and 1 is my wife's.

[Cowgirlie]

Though I do own other guitars, like my 57 Martin 5-18, which I will not part with, I perform only wirh Larrivees. They just sound right to me.