Larrivee Necksets?

[george kraushaar]

I read an interview of Jean Larrivee one time in which he claimed that the bracing systems on Larrivees are so carefully designed and the dovetail so carefully fitted that Larrivees very rarely need neck resets.  Have any of you experienced a Larrivee neck run amuck and needing a net reset?

[Denis]

Considering that the oldest Larrivee steel string guitars date back only to the mid 70's, and most were made within the last 15-20 years, I'm not sure neck resets are going to be an issue for some time.    

[george kraushaar]

Sorry to say that I've seen some Martins (HD-28s) that have needed them within 10 years and some Tacomas which have needed them almost immediately.

[ronmac]

HI George,

Welcome to the Forum.

Several Forumites here own older Larrivees and I have never heard any of them speak of neck resets. I own a 1984 L that has been strung to normal tension its whole life, flown around with it a fair bit and its logged a whole bunch of land miles to boot. Neck angle is perfect. I think that I last adjusted the relief about 6 years ago. I have scheduled it for a refret in 2015 <_<

All in all the most maintenance free acoustic I have ever owned.

Ron

[Mikeymac]

The neck on my '92 OM-05 is in perfect shape; never been a problem, and I've used either 12-54 (about 60% of the time) or 13-56 (40%) strings on it all it's life.

I'm even being tempted by unclrob to do the manly thing and try those 14-58/60's!!!

:(  

[unclrob]

Ok kids there's nothin Manly about my string guage.I have REALLY REAALLY LOW action on all my guitars.When ever anyone plays my guitars then generally can't believe there playing 14 to 58.There once was a thread about neck resets,in the 30 years I've been repairing the only Time I ever had to do a neck set was to abused guitars.They were left in attics or barns.I have done around 30 resets.I have had people who wanted there necks reset because they don't conform to spec's.I wouldn't do the work it was needless.I had one guy who paid to have a neck reset because it was 1/64 of an inch off of spec's at the bridge.I don't ever expect to set a Larrivee neck.

[george kraushaar]

Well, that's right good news, folks!  I reckon I got the right guitar.

[Big Martin]

Hey!  Wecome, George.  Good to have a champion player and star here on the forum.

Funny you should mention it, but I have never noticed this before.  But, it is true, I have NEVER heard of a Larrivee neck problem or need of a reset.  This is purely amazing too considering other brands frequently need resets...  

I wonder if it is, as you posted, because Larrivee so carefully DESIGNS their bracing to be this strong and is so careful with their dovetail neck joints.  

If so, I wonder if it means there is some room for some brace shaving to give extra depth in the bass register if a guitar could use it.  In particular I am curious if one of the parlor models or other smaller body models could be improved in this way.

[george kraushaar]

I remember reading an interview with Larrivee where he talks about how careful they are with setting necks and how only the most skilled and experienced workers perform that function.  He stated plainly that Larrivee never has guitars coming back for necksets.  As for your other question, anytime you mess with the bracing it's kind of a crap shoot.  It helps on some heavy braced guitars.  But I remember one time when I scalloped the braces on a Mossman that I went past the point of no return, and the thing turned out muddy and boomy.  Luckily, someone else thought that was a great sound and I got rid of that guitar.  But Larrivee symetrical bracing pattern is different than anyone elses, so who knows?

[Ratishna]

I'm not sure its just the bracing, but rather the care given during the neck set process.  What got Tacoma was that the care was not there during this complex and exact procedure.  The outcome for them is that some guitars left the factory needing a neck set.  A further outcome is that they are now, for all intents and purposes, out of business, having been sold to Fender.

The fact that Larrivee dovetails every guitar neck/body joint is a big plus in my opinion.

E. Shoaf

[drathbun]

I remember reading an interview with Larrivee where he talks about how careful they are with setting necks and how only the most skilled and experienced workers perform that function.  He stated plainly that Larrivee never has guitars coming back for necksets.  As for your other question, anytime you mess with the bracing it's kind of a crap shoot.  It helps on some heavy braced guitars.  But I remember one time when I scalloped the braces on a Mossman that I went past the point of no return, and the thing turned out muddy and boomy.  Luckily, someone else thought that was a great sound and I got rid of that guitar.  But Larrivee symetrical bracing pattern is different than anyone elses, so who knows?

I hate to disagree with the idea the Larrivees aren't perfect because I love them so much. However, my first Larrivee (2002 L03) was in need of a neck reset. I played it for a year before I figured out what specifically was wrong with it. I took a test from Frank Ford's website (www.frets.com) and applied it to the guitar to test neck angle. If you lay a steel straight edge on edge on top of the fretboard and slide it down to the bridge, it is supposed to slide just over the top of the bridge. If the straight edge points to a point lower than the surface of the bridge, the neck angle is wrong.

I did this with the L03 and the straight edge pointed to the centre of the thickness of the bridge. To get a normal action the saddle was very low. Strings 1 and 2 had almost no break angle over the saddle to the bridge pins. This guitar also had an obviously repaired crack in the upper treble side bout (inside) but was not marked as a second and was sold to me full price by the dealer. I eventually traded the L03 for a L05 which is perfect in every sense.

So, I guess, a few imperfections will come out of the best factories.

[Caleb]

Ok kids there's nothin Manly about my string guage.I have REALLY REAALLY LOW action on all my guitars.When ever anyone plays my guitars then generally can't believe there playing 14 to 58.

...and the really cool part is when unclrob is done with his strings, the local feed and supply store buys them off of him and resells them as bailing wire.
:lol:

[unclrob]

Actually I save them to send to Deb's daughter who turns them into crosses and in fact I'm the proud owner of one.The box is almost full so I'll be sending her somemore soon. :D

[honkytone]

This guitar also had an obviously repaired crack in the upper treble side bout (inside) but was not marked as a second and was sold to me full price by the dealer.

This sounds to me far more an issue of the dealer and not the guitar itself.  Obviously the guitar was damaged, repaired, and passed off as new.  The damage could easily have affected the neck joint stability but was not dealt with.

I'll add this to the discussion:  not only are Larrivee neck joints and bracing supremely strong, they're also elegantly and delicately rendered, using the least amounts of wood possible, resulting in one of the most RELAXED acoustic guitar structures I've ever seen.  My favorite part of Larrivees is the narrow and graceful neck heel contour.  All this translates to their uncommon playability over most other acoustics--it's why the actions can be set so low, why the same strings feel looser on Larrivees than on other guitars, and on and on...

[Caleb]

Actually I save them to send to Deb's daughter who turns them into crosses and in fact I'm the proud owner of one.The box is almost full so I'll be sending her somemore soon. :D

thats pretty neat, unclrob. all that steel shouldn't go to waste!  :P

i bet your tone is insane w/ those heavy strings on there!  

[unclrob]

I've got no complaints,the tone is lush and the vol is great. :)  

[Peter Cree]

It's generally known that most guitars need a neck reset at around 30 years.

recently did my first reset on a Martin dovetail join.  It was interesting but a pain.

really didin't think  it was all that big a maintenance issue.  wood is dynamic.  meaning it moves.  All glue joins fail in time.  Woodworkers all know this.  Especially we restorers.

the last few years have had me studying Japanese beam joinery.  Now those are some amazing joins!!!!!!  but if the necks were joined in that way, they'd still need a reset at some point.

I'm still amazed the sound boxes (bodies) don't explode in time since you glue across the grain in bracing, and only finish the outsides.  Luthery seems to break all the "rules" of woodworking but they stay together for a very long time.

[canada]

I have a 1996 L05-no problems ever...hovever yesterday I noticed a small gap on my 2003 D03K at the heel-was able to insert a piece of paper. Took it to the dealer and we shall wait and see what develops.

[Jim Bo]

I recently purchased a new D-60 and noticed the action was extremely low. Having read the internet exhastively about relief, backbow, neck adjustments, string guage, humidity, etc, I immediately rehydrated my guitar since I noticed a hump at the 14th fret and a downward angle of the fretboard from the 14th fret to the end of the fretboard. I checked the neck and there was a noticeable backbow even after hydration and an attempt to adust the adjusting rod. The rod had been turned counter-clockwise to the point it was almost free-wheeling. I installed medium strings but the action was practically unaffected. How well do I know how to check the relief by depressing the string at the first fret and 14th fret.I also know Larry necks are supposed to have at least some relief but mine has none. I suppose I should take it to the shop where I bought it but they sold it to me in that condition. Help!! I need some relief...literally.

[jwieties]

Hey Jim
Welcome to the forum.
Sounds like you really need to take it into the dealer.  I would not be to worried, even if it is a big problem (sounds like it might be) Larrivee will take care of it.  You can always contact Larrivee's customer service but I would start with the dealer.  The other thing you may want to do is have a good tech look it over, hopefully it is an easy fix.  Unclrob may be able to give you a little more insight into what is going on.
-josh