my next acoustic: larrivee l-03r vs gibson j-45

[ataylor]

hey all, first post here.

i haven't had a chance to play any larrivees and gibsons at the same time. do any of the larrivee models compare to the gibson j-45 sound? i'm in love with both the j-45 and the l-03r (for different reasons aesthetically), but haven't had much experience playing the larrivee as they're harder to come by. is the l-shape comparable to the gibson slope-shoulder dreadnought?

obviously the gibson is twice as expensive, but for now i'm trying to compare the sounds and the products and not as much the price (although that will be a factor in the end, trust me!)

a bit of background: i own a taylor 210, which i love. i'm looking for a new acoustic sound though. i thought i wanted another taylor, but i must have got lucky with my 210 (solid sapele, not laminate rosewood) because every taylor i've played since -- even up to the gs series -- sounds about the same or not quite as good! so i'm looking elsewhere and larrivee and gibson are where i'm looking at the moment. i'm new to larrivees and i'm impressed so far.

thoughts and advice?

ataylor

[tuffythepug]

hey all, first post here.

i haven't had a chance to play any larrivees and gibsons at the same time. do any of the larrivee models compare to the gibson j-45 sound? i'm in love with both the j-45 and the l-03r (for different reasons aesthetically), but haven't had much experience playing the larrivee as they're harder to come by. is the l-shape comparable to the gibson slope-shoulder dreadnought?

obviously the gibson is twice as expensive, but for now i'm trying to compare the sounds and the products and not as much the price (although that will be a factor in the end, trust me!)

a bit of background: i own a taylor 210, which i love. i'm looking for a new acoustic sound though. i thought i wanted another taylor, but i must have got lucky with my 210 (solid sapele, not laminate rosewood) because every taylor i've played since -- even up to the gs series -- sounds about the same or not quite as good! so i'm looking elsewhere and larrivee and gibson are where i'm looking at the moment. i'm new to larrivees and i'm impressed so far.

thoughts and advice?

ataylor

ataylor
I haven't played a J-45 because, as a lefty, I haven't come across a left-handed version yet.   I do have a Gibson Hummingbird which should be similar in sound due to being the same wood and shape.  I'm not sure if they have the same bracing, however.     I can tell you that my L-10 Larrivee is hands-down the better guitar of the two.
Everyone has raved for years about the "honey tone" of the Gibson Hummingbird but it doesn't stand up to comparison with the Larrivee.   I know the J-45 is considered the "workhorse" of American Made acoustic guitars (at least that's what their ads say)  but I don't believe it is any better than the L-03 your are considering.
Tone-wise I'd bet that the L-03 is going to fall right between the J-45 and the Taylors you are used to.  The Tayor being more bright and jangly and the Gibson being more dark and mellow if other variables such as strings and setup are equal.
I own 2 Larivees and 2 gibsons.  The Larrivees are the better value in my opinion.

[Tycho]

Remember that J-45s are shorter-scale than the Larrivee L.  Some say that has something to do with their distinctive "dry" sound, though it's all shrouded in mystery.

I love the sound of the Gibson slope D's but I don't find that they sound anything like Larrivees.  They're a whole different animal.

[woodruff]

yeah, they are not similar at all. i always liked the gibby J-45, but always also out of my price range/guitar budget. i also am a huge L fan, and i like your idea of the L-03r for some added depth with the rosewood. i cant see how you would be disappointed in either choice, but since they are so different, i would have to play them side by side to really know if the J-45 was worth the extra grand....gibson acoustics are just as cool and unique as larrivees, so this makes the decision harder. i have a L-03 WL, and i have played some J-45s, and i guess if it were my "dilema", I prefer the smaller size of the L vs the J-45, and the tighter sound.....but that is to my ears alone....too bad gibby doesnt make the working man's 45 anymore, cause those were more competitve price wise to the L-03....good luck!

[jwb]

Remember that J-45s are shorter-scale than the Larrivee L.  Some say that has something to do with their distinctive "dry" sound, though it's all shrouded in mystery.

I love the sound of the Gibson slope D's but I don't find that they sound anything like Larrivees.  They're a whole different animal.

The short scale makes for a different feel as well as the narrow nut and thinner neck on the Gibson compared to the Larrivee.  The nut on the J-45 is approx. 1 11/16" compared to the 1 3/4" on the L-03.  I love the sound of the Gibson J-45s, too, but like Tycho pointed out the L-03 and the J-45 are completely different.  Personally, I would take the L-03 over a NEW J-45...an old J-45 from 50s is a different story but that would really set you back!  If you like slope dreads, why not the SD-60 Larrivee?  There's one for sale here on the forum...

[stuco]

 

In terms of playability the nut width will make the biggest difference as the larrivee nut is a 1 3/4 and the J45 is 1 11/16. 

In terms of sound, the Gibson will likely have more of a low end boom while the larrivee will likely be more balanced(some say between a martin and a taylor, but I say just right) 

I like gibsons as much as the next guy but I feel their consistency is not on par with Larrivee and larrivee offers a better value.  that being said, why not get the L-09, its less than the J45 and gives you a gloss finish, bone nut an saddle, abalone and pearl inlays etc.

[woodruff]

In terms of playability the nut width will make the biggest difference as the larrivee nut is a 1 3/4 and the J45 is 1 11/16. 

In terms of sound, the Gibson will likely have more of a low end boom while the larrivee will likely be more balanced(some say between a martin and a taylor, but I say just right) 

I like gibsons as much as the next guy but I feel their consistency is not on par with Larrivee and larrivee offers a better value. 

i totally agree with all of this. both martin and gibson pale in comparison to build model consistency vs Larrivee and Taylor, though Taylors sound kind of thin and blah. Larrivees are just as consistent but sound like they got some balls, like youd think a gibby or a martin would sond like, but more balanced. i have always found, having owned two taylors for briefs periods of time, that what taylor makes up for in balance and bling and consistency and sparkle(shrill more like it), they just lose it in terms of bottom end and umph, for lack of a better term. larrivee has all of that, but sounds like its got a soul. hope that doesnt offend and die hard taylor owners here, i just could never figure out the attraction of Taylor. and i owned two....they are like sirens.(not like polic cars, i mean the hot chicks on the rocks that sing beautifull and caused odysseus, ah never mind)...........

[Tycho]

I'm going through a bluegrass dreadnought fixation right now, so I'm temporarily off my earlier fixation with Gibson slope Ds, but there's something about the Gibson sound that no other guitar has.  It's great for hard strumming, but it's also surprisingly interesting for fingerstyle.  For a great example of that, check out all Davy Graham's recordings from the 1960s, which were done on (I believe) a J-50.

[tiffer]

I used to have a WM45 which is the same as a J45, but simply a plain jane.  Also had a Larrivee L09.  First, the nut width on Gibsons is not 1 11/16 but rather 1 23/32 or 1.725.  It is in between the 1 11/16 and 1 3/4.  Very comfortable, and the string spacing at the saddle is exactly the same as a Larrivee.  Due to shoulder problems I am unable to play the slope dreds do to their larger lower bout.

But, these are two entirely different animals and you will get two completly different sounds from them.  I currntly have a Larrivee OM-50 and also a Gibson L130 Advanced 00.  Although both are the same size guitars their sounds are completely opposite.  Plus as has been said above the J45 is short scale as is the L130.  Larrivees and Gibsons are just completely different animals sound wise.

I love my Larrivee, and also my Gibson and both have a really great sound.  But they are also completely different.  You really need to play both to see which is the better fit, or which sound is the one you are looking for. 

Chris

[Tycho]

I used to have a WM45 which is the same as a J45, but simply a plain jane.  Also had a Larrivee L09.  First, the nut width on Gibsons is not 1 11/16 but rather 1 23/32 or 1.725.  It is in between the 1 11/16 and 1 3/4.  Very comfortable, and the string spacing at the saddle is exactly the same as a Larrivee.  Due to shoulder problems I am unable to play the slope dreds do to their larger lower bout.

It depends on the year, doesn't it?  Some of those mid-60s Gibs had very narrow fretboards, and were often referred to as "pencil-necks".

[ronmac]

They really are two different guitars.

I haven't played a recent vintage J45 that did much for me. I played a late 50's J45 this weekend that was very nice. It was beat up pretty good (it was the guys camping guitar!), with 4 or 5 large cracks in the back, 1 loose back brace (it rattled, but if you were careful you could make it work as part of your "rhythm section") and a face only a mother would love. But what a player! A very nice dry sound that worked well for both fingerstyle or flatpick styles. Short scale guitars are fun to play!

[Tycho]

There are a couple of contemporary Gibson slope Ds at L&M in Toronto right now that I really like.  One's a J-45, one's an Advanced Southern Jumbo or something (I can't tell the difference, even after extended scrutiny of the Gibson website).

The Twelfth Fret had two J-45s from my birth year, 1957.  They were both all beat-up-looking, with tons of visual mojo.  (Much like my 50-year-old self, I like to think.)  I really liked the idea of getting one.  Tried 'em both, didn't like either of them.

[TeleScope]

Hi,

As has been mentioned - these are two pretty distinct guitars.  I have a J-45 that I enjoy very much.  It could never be mistaken for my new L-03, and the J-45 I would imagine, would be even less like the L-03R.  Along with other things mentioned, my 45's deeper body makes it feel much larger to me than my L-03 (even though the actual bout dimensions aren't that different).

I can't say that one is 'better' in terms of tone - But I do feel more comfortable playing my L-03.  And there's nothing that the J-45 can do, that the L can't match.  For me, comfort has a lot to do with enjoyment.  And I really love the L's body depth and the feel of its neck.

I would say that it would be best to try and play a few, for you to make the best decision for YOU.

Take care,
Scope