First Larrivee

[Skip Ellis]

Received my first ever Larrivee, an L-10, today. First I'd like to thank and put in a glowing recommendation for forumite Russ Brown - he's a real gentleman to do business with.; We e-mailed and talked on the phone and made a deal - smooth as silk (although I sorta screwed up on my end of the shipping). 
       Now for the guitar: the only Larrivee I ever played was an early parlor at Sam Ash, years ago - I was underwhelmed to say the least. However, when I started reading this forum and heard everyone raving about the guitars, I started to get interested. I've played only Martins and Gallaghers for over 40 years and recently decided to branch out a little - the first step being a Taylor XXV GA and while it was a beautiful guitar and very well made, I just couldn't get with the Taylor 'edge'. When  I was approached by Russ about trading guitars, I decided that even if it didn't sound good, it sure was pretty, so we hit on a deal. WOW!! - maybe the 'L' body or choice of woods or both makes this one of the finest sounding instruments I've ever owned - big bottom but not muddy or overwhelming, great mids and strong highs without being 'jangly' - and everything balanced from low to high. I think this is a keeper.........hmmmmm.........that LSV11 sounds interesting, too, and maybe down the road that 000-60 looks real nice........I think I'm hooked.

[woodruff]

congrats! i love the L body too, got me a L-03 WL. i also played martins for years and was underwhelmed by taylor's lack of balls. larrivee is the prefect mix, while having a tone and feel all its own. i am a total convert, even though my wife plays our lone martin, it's Larrivee or bust for me now! i plan on getting a parlor for my kid when she is old enough....

[ducktrapper]

Hi Skip. Welcome. I've owned an L09 for 32 years. Yesterday I picked up a used L01. The L's are what Jean made his reputation on. Great guitars. Oh, the L01 is my 6th Larrivée, btw. Watch out!

[woodruff]

Hi Skip. Welcome. I've owned an L09 for 32 years. Yesterday I picked up a used L01. The L's are what Jean made his reputation on. Great guitars. Oh, the L01 is my 6th Larrivée, btw. Watch out!

hey duck, of all your larrys, which one gets the most play time?

[ducktrapper]

Tough question. I brought the L01 out tonight and many of my friends had a look. Approval all around. I played the L09 almost exclusively for 26 years. Then I got the D05E and to be my gigging guitar. Very nice player, as well. I semi retired the L09 because after so many years it needed some TLC and I was unsure where to send it. After getting my OOO-50, I arranged to send my L09 to Oxnard for a total refit. When it came back, it took some months to open up again. Meanwhile ... what the hell was the question again?     

[tuffythepug]

Tough question. I brought the L01 out tonight and many of my friends had a look. Approval all around. I played the L09 almost exclusively for 26 years. Then I got the D05E and to be my gigging guitar. Very nice player, as well. I semi retired the L09 because after so many years it needed some TLC and I was unsure where to send it. After getting my OOO-50, I arranged to send my L09 to Oxnard for a total refit. When it came back, it took some months to open up again. Meanwhile ... what the hell was the question again?     

So Duck is the 000-50 the one you were talking about getting recently but weren't telling us what it was for fear of jinxing the deal. ?   Oh, yeah, the question from Woodruff was 'which one of the larrys gets the most playing time."  I'd guess, if your'e like me, the latest one acquired gets the call most of the time for quite a while. Well which is it ?


Skip....Gotta agree completely with your assessment of the L-10.  My first Larrivee was my OM-03R which I was just totally impressed with.  Then I impulsively bought Bhika's mint condition L-10 when he offered it for sale a couple of months ago.  If anything was going to get the OM-03R out of my hands it was going to be another Larrivee.  It is a wonderful playing and sounding guitar.  I was afraid that the fancier inlays would send it over the edge bling-wise but I don't find it distracting at all.   I've not given that a thought since I first took it out of the case and strummed it softly with my fingertips then attacked it with a flatpick and realized it was not only a keeper it was going to be a good friend for a long time.    (Thanks again Jeff for parting with it)
I have it strung with Ej-16's now but I've heard that heavier strings would improve the sound even more.  What do you have on yours ?  and do you think different stings could improve the tone  ?

Oh yeah, welcome to the forum.  I guess you know everyone wants to see pictures of your L-10. May as well  get 'em up.

[RKV]

Skip,

Glad you love the guitar! Thanks for the nice review. Actually, I've been plannng on getting an L-10 early next year. Your review surely doesn't hurt my plans

Randy

[ducktrapper]

Tuffy - My L09 is my oldest friend. But she's too pretty and valuable (at least to me) to take very many places. The OOO is kind of in that category as well. The dread is my expensive beater and playing with a sound system guitar. I'll take it pretty much anywhere half civilized. It gets played a lot. The electric is not used much but when I get an opportunity hoo hoo! The newest, the L01, is looking like a second guitar to bring along with the dread, in case of emergency and string breakage. I still can't answer you're question though. Lately I've been playing my tele and my Yamaha 12 string a lot. It just varies, I guess. 

[Dale_I]

Skip - Welcome to the forum. And... good luck with your GAS. Not many here have conquered it. But, I hear admitting the problem is the first step.