C-50

[Googster]

Hey, Larrivee Gang:

Brand new member here. I have owned a Larrivee C-50 cutaway for coming up on 20 years now. Wonderful guitar to play, but I have absolutely no information on it. I bought it new in '94 from a dealer in Santa Fe, N.M, before I knew anything about guitar bodies--I didn't know a dreadnought from an OOO from a parlor. I've learned a bit more in the years since, but information on my own guitar is very scarce on the web. I have a warranty card card with the model and serial numbers. That's it. I have no idea about the history of the model, the woods, etc. Is anyone familiar with this guitar? Would Larrivee be able to help me?

Thanks,

Googster

[brandon]

  and 

You can check out the email address and phone number for Larrivee Support here: http://www.larrivee.com/support.php

You usually email them your serial number and they can give you a manufacture date and any other useful info.

This sounds like a rare guitar. I'd love to see pics of it. I'm sure you've found out that the "C" body style is the Larrivee "L" body with a florentine cutaway.

The 50 series usually has mahogany back and sides and is most likely a sitka spruce top.

Got  ?

[Mr_LV19E]

94 was before the Traditional series designated with 50 for Mahogany or 60 for Rosewood so you have a rare florentine cutaway that may well be Rosewood. Check out Larrivee's Facebook page  for additional info. If you post a picture there and request info you may get a quicker response.

[JOYCEfromNS]

  Likely is Rosewood & Sitka as mentioned. The model numbering was a little different then. Believe it had the large sound hole though.

Not too many of them around but I do recall a member or two here having one. Hopefully they will chime in.

for sure!!

[brandon]

94 was before the Traditional series designated with 50 for Mahogany or 60 for Rosewood so you have a rare florentine cutaway that may well be Rosewood. Check out Larrivee's Facebook page  for additional info. If you post a picture there and request info you may get a quicker response.

Ahhh, I learn something new every day! 

[Googster]

Thanks all for the warm welcome and advice! Wow: my old warhorse may be a thoroughbred? Now I'm fascinated. I have written Larrivee and will let you know what they have to say. Meantime, I'll post a pic or two.

Best,

Googster

[JOYCEfromNS]

I'll post a pic or two.

Looking forward to the pics. Maybe describe your guitar as well.

Is the soundhole a little larger than those on most guitars?

Inlay on headstock and fingerboard? As I recall they closely resembled the 19 series

Describe the soundhole label. Was it signed by chance by JCL?

[Googster]

Hi! I finally got the chance to snap some photos of the C-50. I emailed Larrivee about a week ago with the serial number, etc., and have heard diddly-squat.

JOYCE: Yes, the soundhole is larger, about 4 3/8". Absolutely nothing specific on the label.

I will try again and let you all know what else I can find out about this axe. In the meantime, enjoy the pics and let me know what you think! Thanks much. --Googster

[Googster]

And here's the label and registration.

[mlejeune67]

Here's what I think - 

[brandon]

Please don't ever sell that guitar! If you do, I will probably buy it and the end result will be discourse with Mrs.

Lovely guitar!   

I love the marquette.

[Mr_LV19E]

Definitely Rosewood, beautiful guitar, you're a lucky owner.

[headsup]

It does appear to be rosewood, from the label pic, which would make it a C-60 no?
There was another one of these came up a while ago.
I believe Matt or John Jr. chimed in on the matter.

[J M Larrivée]

Hi! I finally got the chance to snap some photos of the C-50. I emailed Larrivee about a week ago with the serial number, etc., and have heard diddly-squat.

JOYCE: Yes, the soundhole is larger, about 4 3/8". Absolutely nothing specific on the label.

I will try again and let you all know what else I can find out about this axe. In the meantime, enjoy the pics and let me know what you think! Thanks much. --Googster

The C-50 was a watered down version of the C-60. It was Jean's first attempt at a large soundhole body. The large soundhole and the inlays, used on the 60, were the only two differentiating specs from their C-09 and C-10 counter parts.

[ZachStevenson]

Beautiful guitar!

[brandon]

It does appear to be rosewood, from the label pic, which would make it a C-60 no?
There was another one of these came up a while ago.
I believe Matt or John Jr. chimed in on the matter.

I thought the same thing but was corrected. 1994 was before the traditional series designation so 50 didn't refer to mahogany and 60 didn't refer to rosewood, as I understand it.

Mr_LV19 educated me on this. 

[Googster]

Hey, all:

I wanted to thank everyone who helped out with pointing me to more information on my C-50 back in late March. I feel kind of bad, because when I last posted, I said I'd written Larrivee with some questions and (at the time of writing) I had heard nothing back. I left it off making Larrivee sort of sound like a bunch of slackers. Well, they have been anything but. It's me who's been slacking off.

So the good folks at Larrivee wrote me shortly after my last post and here's what I found out:

My C-50 is a 1993 with a one-piece rosewood back & rosewood sides. It has a Sitka Spruce Top, a South American Mahogany neck, Ebony bridge and pins with Abalone inlay. Manufactured in Canada. The Rosewood came from India during this time.  They're not quite sure about the saddle and nut, but I'm thinking bone. They weren't able to help on the marquetry materials on the soundhole, but I was just nitpicking there anyway.

Larrivee was also kind enough to answer my inquiry as to why I can find virtually nothing on the internet about this model: no product info, none for sale, virtually no mention anywhere (not even here!). It seems there weren't that many of them. I'm told there were only 276 original series guitars produced from 1993-1996. Mine is on the earlier side, manufactured November 8th, 1993.

Lastly--to my surprise--they were very forthcoming with some some ballpark estimates of its current worth, based upon their knowledge of recent trading, in case I wanted to value it for sale, trade, insurance or, as was my case back in March, estate planning. Turns out it's currently just about what I paid for it brand new back in '94. Not bad, depreciation-wise.

I can't believe how helpful, available, friendly and professional the Larrivee people have been. Really, really remarkable. It's hard to believe it took me twenty years to wonder about my old six-stringed buddy, but it's been an an odd set of circumstances over the past three that led me to it....and, well, now to my surprise I have some decisions to make. I may be checking back in for some advice.

Till then, thanks again, forum, for your help!

[Mikeymac]

 

[Googster]

Oh--I forgot one more detail I discovered about my C-50 (I actually discovered it myself!): Check out the country of origin on the Schallers:

'90's FLASHBACK, BABY!!