My Lefty Larrivee D-03R Deluxe

[pjmuck]

Hello, everyone! First-time poster here.

After a VERY long and anxious 4 month wait, I am now the proud owner of a lefty Larrivee D-03R Deluxe. This is my first Larrivee, after playing my old Takamine F360s for the past 20 years. (I've got that one set up for open G tuning for good now when I need to switch off). I'm primarily a singer/songwriter/bassist, but in recent years I've been playing more rhythm guitar in various bands. Now I'm pursuing more intimate one man performances, necessitating the need for a good dreadnought. I tried over 30 different guitars (some lefty, most righty) before stumbling upon a used lefty D-03 (It's probably still sitting there). I was blown away by the sound vs. price point, and I kept coming back to it after trying just about everything else.

Ultimately though, I went with a custom order, and found out about the limited run of Deluxe D-03s Larrivee was doing for the same price as the standard D-03, and ordered mine thru Guitar Adoptions. The guitar features many of the custom Deluxe appointments usually reserved for their higher end 10 series deluxe instruments, including deluxe fretboard and bridge inlays just like the 10 Series, herringbone, maple wood binding, etc. To the best of my knowledge, this is the only lefty made to date.

Ordering and waiting was a rocky road, as I was frequently fed misinformation about it's ETA and at one point they even shipped me the wrong guitar! (A standard righty D-03), but when all is said and done it finally arrived and I have to say it was worth the wait. (Larrivee's sales rep called me when it was shipping to say how stoked the guys in the production plant were when they were working on a lefty Deluxe. ). I'm thinking about posting a full blown review, but let's just say I think you'd be hard pressed to find better made, better sounding guitars at this price point. Compared to the old Takamine, there's simply no comparison. It has a beautiful full, warm airy sound with excellent volume/projection. Such impressive note clarity and definition. Notes just leap off the fretboard all the way up the neck, and as a non-fingerstyle player looking to expand my playing, I'm finding fingerstyle nearly effortless on this guitar. Very responsive to dynamics too (On the Takamine, I really had to dig in to get any volume out of it). REALLY really loving this guitar!

Images here:

https://picasaweb.google.com/101806303684625867671/LarriveeD03RDeluxe

Here's a righty for comparison which has better photos:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LARRIVEE-D-03-DELUXE-AWESOME-LIMITED-EDITION-GUITAR-10-SERIES-INLAYS-/180760669006?pt=Guitar&hash=item2a162ceb4e

[LeftyBlake]

Awesome guitar! I love the inlays. Good to see another lefty around here as well; welcome to the forum! 

[crescent]

Welcome to the forum that,s one nice guitar enjoy your new Larrivee.

[cbarclay]

  and 
I really like the headstock inlays on those.

[Mikeymac]

That is sweet! I really can't justify another Larrivee dread, or I'd be wanting to order the next lefty - you are blessed, my friend - enjoy!

[tuffythepug]

Welcome pjmuick.    I was the one who invited you to share this with us from from the Lefty Frets forum.   Glad you made it.   That's a very nice D-03R deluxe edition.  I hadn't heard about these previously.   As a lefty myself I can appreciate it when special guitars are made available to us too.

[Mr_LV19E]

That's a beauty, congratulations!

Talk about obscuring the series lines, here you have a 03 Deluxe and I have just recently seen both 05 and 09 series special editions with satin finish.   

It's hard to keep up with those Larrivee's.   

[HAMFIST]

Cool guitar.



PS: Forum rule hints ... the new guy is responsible for bring donuts and coffee.

[psr-740]

Congratulations ! beautiful guitar. and Dave from Guitar adoptions is a wonderful  man.

[Mikeymac]

That's a beauty, congratulations!

Talk about obscuring the series lines, here you have a 03 Deluxe and I have just recently seen both 05 and 09 series special editions with satin finish.   

It's hard to keep up with those Larrivee's.   

Wow. That IS odd. I can't imagine getting an 05 or 09 series and getting the satin finish...but, it's a free country (still...).

[Mr_LV19E]

Wow. That IS odd. I can't imagine getting an 05 or 09 series and getting the satin finish...but, it's a free country (still...).

P-05 satin

and a LV-03R Deluxe

Looks like the 03 is a better deal, Deluxe inlays, Venetian cutaway and Rosewood for less than the 05 satin.   

[pjmuck]

The only aesthetic issue with the guitar I feared WAS the satin finish. I'm happy to say I think I may actually prefer it over gloss now. I'm sure the back of the neck will gloss up over time anyway.

[Jammertime]

Awesome guitar!   

[Mr_LV19E]

The only aesthetic issue with the guitar I feared WAS the satin finish. I'm happy to say I think I may actually prefer it over gloss now. I'm sure the back of the neck will gloss up over time anyway.

Thats funny because the back of the neck is the one place I would never want a gloss finish.

[broKen]

Really glad to hear of your high opinion of your new Larrivee. Happy for you too! Took you long enough to come around though. 

Come back anytime and