Forum V Cedar top and walnut b/s.

[jamesb1101]

To all,

Got an email from Jim Holler regarding the cedar/walnut request and he stated that Larrivee would not work with cedar. Would anyone be interested in a L-09 walnut with a spruce top as I have emailed Jim back to inquire about this...

This would be a step up from the 03's as they would have the gloss finish, 09 rosette and other attributes of 09. It would cost more, but we could ask about a July 4th deadline to give everyone time to put money away and recover from paying for the forum IV. These would probably also arrive right before Christmas, so those of us who are married could get our spouse to donate as a Christmas present (just thinking out loud).

The reason for moving to an 09 series would be due to many of you who posted an interest in a gloss finish.

Other suggestions for an F-V are welcome...

Please reply to this thread if there is an interest.

-James

[gitnoob]

FWIW, there's a Larrivee on eBay advertised as having a cedar top.    I can't tell from his pictures if it's really cedar, though.

[jamesb1101]

I will have to check it out. I heard that they used to build with cedar, but no longer do...

-James

[AZLiberty]

I will have to check it out. I heard that they used to build with cedar, but no longer do...

-James

They have used Cedar in the past, though not many.  I played a Cedar OM-09W in or about 1999 or 2000 that was simply fabulous.  Agreed that with e-bay pics it's hard to tell, but in person it's pretty apparent what type of wood a top is made of (especially as a cabinet maker's son who's been around wood all his life)

Sonically, Englemann would probably be the next best choice, but I already have an Englemann toped Larrivee.

[Danny]

  Webber makes some nice cedar topped round bodies. Like a custom Larrivee.

[KenHolden]

Just a few ideas for this project.


L body.
04 series - No bling, just something simple, but still with the gloss.
Enlarged soundhole

Walnut back and sides.    With walnut, there are few different types, plus the amount of figuring in the wood.
Adirondack or Englemann spruce top.

Short scale 24.9" would be awesome.
I'm partial to gloss necks, but I could live without it.
****Gloss finish on the headstock would be nice if the neck is satin.


Just some ideas.   I already do have one walnut guitar, hopefully this will be different enough to be justifiable

I hope this will catch on. I'm now sitting with an odd number of guitars, which needs to be fixed (without selling)

[Mr_LV19E]

They would have to come up with a new pick guard to put on a L body with a 24.9" scale 14 fret neck. There is only 1/4" between the guard and the bridge on a standard scale. 
Maybe you could do a 24.9" scale 12 fret to the body LV.

[Michael T]

I have been lusting (not quite Gassing) after a Bourgeois Celtic Style JOM black walnut cedar for about a year now. Unfortunately my health issues have bills with lots of zeros and commas in them that has taken me out of any market. Too bad JCL has decided not to work with cedar. Maybe he would consider redwood? In either case "Black Walnut" has an amazing tone though not the figure of claro, if a redwood/black walnut "L" gloss were available it truly would be a temptation to gas after though I doubt I could make the dollars work this year or next for that matter, but ya never know the ways of my higher power and what tomorrow may bring.

[KenHolden]

They would have to come up with a new pick guard to put on a L body with a 24.9" scale 14 fret neck. There is only 1/4" between the guard and the bridge on a standard scale. 

The 24.9 scale means for a shorter neck as well as the movement of the bridge closer to the neck join. Also the hopefully enlarged soundhole would mean for a different pick guard as well.   And the other option that I forgot in my other post would be to have no pick guard.

A 12 fret L would be nice to see as well.

Lots of options and time to get it all figured out.   

[Stephen Basil]

I played a ten year old Lowden cedar/walnut over the holidays that was amazing... very clear,  punchy and resonant.  It's unfortunate that Larrivee Guitars are so dogmatic about cedar... my cedar/walnut may have to be either a Morgan, Northwood or the above-mentioned Webber  By the way, on the 12th Fret website there is mention of Larrivee opening up a building facility in Washington:

"John Larrivée is setting up another facility in Washington state I gather...more news on that as things progress."

[Danny]

I played a ten year old Lowden cedar/walnut over the holidays that was amazing... very clear,  punchy and resonant.  It's unfortunate that Larrivee Guitars are so dogmatic about cedar... my cedar/walnut may have to be either a Morgan, Northwood or the above-mentioned Webber  By the way, on the 12th Fret website there is mention of Larrivee opening up a building facility in Washington:

"John Larrivée is setting up another facility in Washington state I gather...more news on that as things progress."

WOW

[Stephen Basil]

WOW

http://www.12fret.com/new/NAMM_2010_pg.html

It's stated right below the pic with JCL, Bill Collings and M. Gurian

[Danny]

http://www.12fret.com/new/NAMM_2010_pg.html

It's stated right below the pic with JCL, Bill Collings and M. Gurian

"John Larrivée is setting up another facility in Washington state I gather...more news on that as things progress."
                      John is his son. JEAN is his name. I've met two of the three in this picture. ie. JCL and Bill Collings.

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[Stephen Basil]

"John Larrivée is setting up another facility in Washington state I gather...more news on that as things progress."
                      John is his son. JEAN is his name. I've met two of the three in this picture. ie. JCL and Bill Collings.

It's a new (young) guy doing The Fret's website, but the mistake is a bad one!

[Danny]

It's a new (young) guy doing The Fret's website, but the mistake is a bad one!

Well Jean did sign his labels JOHN about 40 years ago

[Mr_LV19E]

Well maybe they're moving the Oxnard plant to Tacoma so they can pick from the best workers from the old Guild factory and be closer to the Vancouver plant. Its a long way from Oxnard to Vancouver and Jean goes back and forth between plants, I hear.
Just a thought, we did have that member/employee awhile back that said they were closing the Oxnard plant.

[Stephen Basil]

I suspect you're right, Mr. L.

[Danny]

Well maybe they're moving the Oxnard plant to Tacoma so they can pick from the best workers from the old Guild factory and be closer to the Vancouver plant. Its a long way from Oxnard to Vancouver and Jean goes back and forth between plants, I hear.
Just a thought, we did have that member/employee awhile back that said they were closing the Oxnard plant.

YUP... somethin like that.

[jamesb1101]

Stephen, great link thanks...

-James

[Mikeymac]

As I've shared before, I don't get real excited about walnut. I might be more tempted if it were something different, like an LS, LJ, or Jumbo body size in an 09 walnut. Or, if there are enough orders, maybe we could have a choice between walnut b/s or flamed maple b/s (as was done on the Forum III - choise of woods; same model) ... now flamed maple - THAT would tempt me in any of the above body sizes (or even a regular L).

Did I pull this thread back on track, after the hijack?