Differences Between Om-03r And Om-09

[davideo0]

so if i don't like the 1- 3/4" nut, that is easily fixable, but is the neck width the same as the dreadnaught? or is the overall neck wider as well

[AUGuy21]

Just my opinion, and this can be argued, but I think that a satin finish might sound a little different than a gloss. I happen to think that a satin finish sounds a little more woodsy compared with a gloss finish. But, it could be that i've had my LV-03RE the longest and it has had more time to open up...

[AUGuy21]

I forgot to mention....

The dreadnaught neck is slimmer than an L series neck, so usually a 1 11/16 nut will have a slimmer neck and a 1 3/4 nut will have a wider neck....

[davideo0]

i was just reading the specs on the larrivee website, and the fretboard radius, fret width. and fret height are the same for all OM, D, and L models. I dont know if that means its the same size neck though, can someone verify?

[el guitana]

Difference in nut width, and therefore, string spacing. Most of the D-s are 1 11/16. Most of the rest are 1 3/4. There are some wider, and some exceptions.

[Fingertwister]

If you're bold/foolhardy enough, you can do a 'roundover' op on the fingerboard edges ( filing fret-ends to more of a slant & filing the sharp edge of the binding to a rounder profile) which, in conjunction with re-spacing the strings on a replacement nut (if required) can go a long way toward making a too-large neck more comfortable; of course, it pre-supposes knowing pretty much what you're aiming for, & having the requisite skills & confidence - but such a move is endorsed by highly-esteemed luthier Paul Hotstetter,( which helped assuage any reservations I had about butchering a nice instrument), but probably best to practise on a cheapy first tho, before laying into that lovely Larry..

Good luck..

[davideo0]

I would never want to do that to mine. I also went and played some guitars today at a store, and the slightly wider nut width is actually more comfortable for me, so i'll be going with the OM body after all. Thanks for your help guys

[kwakatak]

I also wondered what the hype was with the wider nut myself, but after finally getting my hands on an OM with the wider nut I was converted! THe only grip I had was that the high E string was prone to slipping off the end of the fret if I wasn't careful.

That's a minor gripe IMO, but overall there was much less collatoral noise (squeaks, fingernail clicking off adjacent strings, etc). than if I were trying to fingerpick on my non-Larrivée dread that has the narrower 1.6875 nut.

[alieu]

i was just reading the specs on the larrivee website, and the fretboard radius, fret width. and fret height are the same for all OM, D, and L models. I dont know if that means its the same size neck though, can someone verify?

If neck sizes are all the same, does that mean you can change a 1-11/16 nut to a 1-3/4?  I have a D03 and I'm thinking of getting the nut replaced.  I've been playing on some friends' guitars with 1-3/4 nuts and I find it quite comfy.

Andrew Lieu

[slowslow]

alieu, I'm pretty sure you can change to the 1-3/4" spacking, but not positive. Also I was curious if anyone here has played both the OM-03R and the OM-09 and what the difference in sound was.

[el guitana]

You'd probably end up with your E strings too close to the edges, and have problems going over the edge. 1 3/4 nut usually means the neck is wider than one with 1 11/16 - most guitar makers, anyway. Never took out a measuring stick to Larrivée's but I'd be surpried if the two had the same neck width.

[alieu]

Thanks guys,

I'll talk to my luthier.  He probably knows if it's possible.

Andrew