Why Do Larrivee Guitars. . .

[Strings4Him]

seem to weigh more than some other makers?  It seems that Larrivee guitars are constructed more heavily than others?  Why is that?  Does this make Larrivee guitars more durable?

Thanks.

[AZLiberty]

I would put them in the middle of the range actually, heavier than some lighter than others.

Guilds,on the other hand...    now those are heavy, especially the old bowl-backed ones.

[ducktrapper]

Why? I don't believe that that's even a fact. My Martin is heavier than all my Larrivées except my RS-4, if that means anything.

[Strings4Him]

I guess it depends on what guitars have passed through one's hands.  In my experience with several makers, Larrivees have tended to be heavier.  Of course, this has not negatively affected the sound.  I am merely curious if from a construction standpoint Larrivees are built more heavily than others.

[ffinke]

Strength of construction has to be balanced against projection of tone. Larrivees are built on the heavy side to guard against warranty issues BUT they are built with techniques that don't inhibit sound. My Collings OM is a bit on the heavy side while my SC is on the light side. ALL of them (including my L-03) are in the same class as far as sound is concerned. In fact, my L is the only one that will reliably project harmonics at the 4th/9th fret.

I had a salesman at Elderly tell me the best guitar is the one that feels like its going to cave in on itself at any moment. At THAT particular moment I was holding a Merrill that felt like it was made from Balsa.

f

[flatlander]

Generally they are built heavier. Also you have to make sure you are comparing apples to apples with wood type. In a previous life I read interview with Jean Larrivee where he said he wanted his guitars to be in good playing order after 100 years with little work. My dread Gallagher wieghs half of what L-10 does, Partly because of lighter build all around and partly because it is Mahogany and L-10 is Rosewood. The Gallagher also needed neck reset and has a little bulge behind bridge.  The L-10 with non adjustable truss rod has had no neck work and still plays great after 30+years. I love both of them.

[Mikeymac]

Both my current Larrivee acoustics feel very light...

...as do my RS-4 and RS-2 as well, compared to some other set-neck hog electrics!

[ducktrapper]

Reality check. We're talking several grams here, not pounds. Sheesh. People have been so misled on these subjects. But hey if I could sell you the same guitar for twice as much (or more) and you INSISTED, I guess I would. The only Olsen I ever played was a tank. SCGCs in the same ball park as Larrivées, as are Collings. The two Lowdens were heavier than my 1975 L. The two Ryans were about the same. I'd like to put all these guitars on a scale and find out just how much lighter  these other guitars actually are. JCL knows what he is doing. Then again maybe I'm crazy but I weigh things for a living and have a very acute sense of weight. I can pick up a handful of wheat and put 50 grams, plus or minus a gram, on a scale every time.            

[Chasjax]

Here is a quote from a recent post by Matthew Larrivee -

"To be a little frank, I have to get say I get a little annoyed by the "larrivee's are overbraced" comments – and here's why:

Every guitar maker faces a dilemma in the design of bracing – Strength, or Tone. One of the key ways that the tone of an acoustic guitar can be "altered" (Notice that I didn't say improved) is by thinning out the woods (back/sides/top/braces), but this comes at a price. Reducing the thickness of wood increases the instruments susceptibility to structural changes due to string tension, impact damage, and worst of all climatic damage. Often times the differences in tones between two different manufacturers comes down to which way they have leaned in the strength-tone dilemma.

I don't believe our guitars to be over or under built – I find them to be a perfect balance of tone and strength. This was my father's intention, and an important lesson that both my brother and I have carefully learned.I've been reading these online discussions as far back as RMMGA – and as I recall the "over-braced" comment came from someone who was selling brace shaving services (not just on Larrivee Guitars). Then as the internet goes someone read it and repeated it, then someone else repeated it, and so forth. The seller, in my opinion, was an uneducated "luthier" who looked at our bracing and saw that it didn't look like a martin and thus thought it was overbraced – not thinking that parabolic bracing was an intentional design. Often times these types of claims are made by people who have not even built a guitar, or maybe built one or two (and somehow they know better than someone who has built over 100,000 instruments)."

[Michael T]

Here is a quote from a recent post by Matthew Larrivee -

"To be a little frank, I have to get say I get a little annoyed by the "larrivee's are overbraced" comments – and here's why:

Every guitar maker faces a dilemma in the design of bracing – Strength, or Tone. One of the key ways that the tone of an acoustic guitar can be "altered" (Notice that I didn't say improved) is by thinning out the woods (back/sides/top/braces), but this comes at a price. Reducing the thickness of wood increases the instruments susceptibility to structural changes due to string tension, impact damage, and worst of all climatic damage. Often times the differences in tones between two different manufacturers comes down to which way they have leaned in the strength-tone dilemma.

I don't believe our guitars to be over or under built – I find them to be a perfect balance of tone and strength. This was my father's intention, and an important lesson that both my brother and I have carefully learned.I've been reading these online discussions as far back as RMMGA – and as I recall the "over-braced" comment came from someone who was selling brace shaving services (not just on Larrivee Guitars). Then as the internet goes someone read it and repeated it, then someone else repeated it, and so forth. The seller, in my opinion, was an uneducated "luthier" who looked at our bracing and saw that it didn't look like a martin and thus thought it was overbraced – not thinking that parabolic bracing was an intentional design. Often times these types of claims are made by people who have not even built a guitar, or maybe built one or two (and somehow they know better than someone who has built over 100,000 instruments)."

+1 and thanks for the explanation too.

[Queequeg]

Let's see if we can get some digits injected into this thread.
Surely somebody here has a quality scale (not the typical bath scale) and can lend some concrete comparisons between a Larrivee and another brand (dred to dred and/or OM to OM).

[JOYCEfromNS]

Let's see if we can get some digits injected into this thread.
Surely somebody here has a quality scale (not the typical bath scale) and can lend some concrete comparisons between a Larrivee and another brand (dred to dred and/or OM to OM).

Anyone recommend a decent scale for this purpose, I'd drop a $100 or so to have one and possibly use now and again for other things?

And Duck you'd be worth way more than $100 

[ducktrapper]

Anyone recommend a decent scale for this purpose, I'd drop a $100 or so to have one and possibly use now and again for other things?

And Duck you'd be worth way more than $100 

Nah, I'm a $99.00 special. I'm different though but unlike guitars where too many people confuse different with better, I hardly ever get that reaction.   

[Mr_LV19E]

Let's see if we can get some digits injected into this thread.
Surely somebody here has a quality scale (not the typical bath scale) and can lend some concrete comparisons between a Larrivee and another brand (dred to dred and/or OM to OM).

and Rosewood to Rosewood or Mahogany to Mahogany.

My OM-03MT and LS-03Hog/Spruce are considerably lighter than my LV-19E with its bigger Rosewood body, gloss finish and simple B-Band A-2.2 pickup system. My limited experience has shown me that the Rosewood guitars I've owned were heavier than the Mahogany ones so don't compare your Larrivee Rosewood with a Mahogany guitar from a different manufacturer.

[Queequeg]

something like this Pesola Hanging Scale.  Capacity:40kg or 88lbs. (divisions to 10g or .5 ounce)
About $75 USD

[ducktrapper]

something like this Pesola Hanging Scale.  Capacity:40kg or 88lbs. (divisions to 10g or .5 ounce)
About $75 USD

Incorporate a tuner and we've got something! 

[jeremy3220]

My limited experience has shown me that the Rosewood guitars I've owned were heavier than the Mahogany ones so don't compare your Larrivee Rosewood with a Mahogany guitar from a different manufacturer.

My mahogany Larrivee is heavier than my SCGC rosewood and I think even heavier than my mahogany dread. I'll try to post the actual numbers later.

[Mr_LV19E]

something like this Pesola Hanging Scale.  Capacity:40kg or 88lbs. (divisions to 10g or .5 ounce)
About $75 USD

I like the  on the front.   

[Strings4Him]

Wow, I did not anticipate such passion.    It's good though.  My original intent was merely an attempt to get some feedback regarding a perception I have had.  But, let me be clear.  My original post was in no way a knock against Larrivee guitars.  I LOVE MY LARRIVEES!  However, I was seeking more objective feedback from those who might have facts.

[jeremy3220]

OM-03MT 69.7oz (1976g)
Kit Dread - Adi/Hog w/bolt on neck 66.6oz (1888g)
SCGC OM/PW - Sitka/IER 63.4oz (1797g)

Btw, Honduran Mahogany is closer to Sitka in density than EIR; clearly the rosewood B&S more than offsets the hog top of the Larrivee.