New truss rod tool and access

[mike in lytle]

A couple weeks ago I got a new OM-03 MH which had just left the Larrivee factory.
The guitar has a new truss rod and access. The access is through the brace just in front of the soundhole.
Behind the brace, extra wood is added under the fingerboard area to guide the truss rod tool perfectly into place.
The older tool will not work on the new system.
Upon inquiry, Larrivee said "the fretboard radius was changed first then the truss rod very soon after".
Mike

[B0WIE]

Any idea what size allen wrench it is?

[mike in lytle]

Any idea what size allen wrench it is?

It is 5/32. No change from recent.
The adjustment arm length is 3-3/4, you have about 3/4 clearance in the pic when engaged.
Mike

[Mikeymac]

So Larrivee has basically gone to a Martin-style truss rod design.

[mike in lytle]

So Larrivee has basically gone to a Martin-style truss rod design.

Rev,
Good point.
I guess I simply assumed the truss rod itself had not changed, just the tool and access.
I sent a followup inquiry to ask if the current dual action truss rod design itself has been changed.
Mike

[AZLiberty]

So Larrivee has basically gone to a Martin-style truss rod design.

Martin Style Fretboard Radius
Martin Style Truss-Rod
Martin Style Pickguard

The list goes on...

[mike in lytle]

I followed up with an inquiry asking Larrivee to confirm the truss rod itself was not changed.
So... Larriveee answered (on a Sunday afternoon, no less)....

"The truss rod is the exact same dual action rod. Only the access was changed. It needed to be simplified"

[Zohn]

Not sure I like this, the original method and associated tool is somwhat tricky but not a real problem.
It does make it easier though...

[Mr_LV19E]

So Larrivee has basically gone to a Martin-style truss rod design.

Same truss rod, they just added a piece of wood with a hole in it to guide the tool to the rod. Is that the way Martin does it?  I thought Martins rod came all the way to the sound hole. 

[Mikeymac]

Same truss rod, they just added a piece of wood with a hole in it to guide the tool to the rod. Is that the way Martin does it?  I thought Martins rod came all the way to the sound hole. 

Nope. The Martin truss rod starts around the 15th fret - the tool has to be inserted in about 3" past the edge of the soundhole (end of the neck) before it makes contact with the truss rod. (I just checked on one of my 2019 Martins.)

[AZLiberty]

Nope. The Martin truss rod starts around the 15th fret - the tool has to be inserted in about 3" past the edge of the soundhole (end of the neck) before it makes contact with the truss rod. (I just checked on one of my 2019 Martins.)

Older Martins the truss-rod came in further.  I think it was changed around 2004 or so.  My 2005 D-35 is like yours, you need a pretty long tool to reach it.

[Mr_LV19E]

Nope. The Martin truss rod starts around the 15th fret - the tool has to be inserted in about 3" past the edge of the soundhole (end of the neck) before it makes contact with the truss rod. (I just checked on one of my 2019 Martins.)

Thanks, I didn't know that.

[eded]

Martin Style Fretboard Radius
Martin Style Truss-Rod
Martin Style Pickguard

The list goes on...

Sorry, but what's the big deal?  As long as it doesn't affect the tone or playability, and increases income for the company...  good job Larrivee's.

Just my take, but I'm an hmmm....  I shouldn't say that word here.

Ed

[Mikeymac]

The old truss rod design is harder to use/adjust. That might be a good thing if it keep amateurs from cranking too much on the truss rod...

But the redesign makes it "the industry standard" (not just Martin's standard), so it's easier for unknowing (inexperienced with Larrivee) guitar techs - who otherwise are good at what they do - to actually find the truss rod on a Larrivee guitar.

[ducktrapper]

I'm sometimes a little disappointed with Larrivée's "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" philosophy. I mean, ten guitars and every one of them has a dark plastic pick guard. I've always said the obvious change for them to make in order to sell more guitars in the USA, since Americans struggle with French names (Favre?), would be to Anglicize the name. At least, on the Martin like models. Call them Matthews.  

 

[Mikeymac]

I'm sometimes a little disappointed with Larrivée's "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" philosophy. I mean, ten guitars and every one of them has a dark plastic pick guard. I've always said the obvious change for them to make in order to sell more guitars in the USA, since Americans struggle with French names (Favre?), would be to Anglicize the name. At least, on the Martin like models. Call them Matthews.  

Interesting idea...

[AZLiberty]

Sorry, but what's the big deal?  As long as it doesn't affect the tone or playability, and increases income for the company...  good job Larrivee's.

Just my take, but I'm an hmmm....  I shouldn't say that word here.

Ed

Well, the Martin style radius reduces the playability up the neck.  The Martin style pickguard is simply ugly.

Just seems that they are chasing Martin rather than embracing their own unique design.

[JOYCEfromNS]

Just seems that they are chasing Martin rather than embracing their own unique design.

Certainly are moving away from their uniqueness IMO. Good thing I don't have to run a guitar co. What sells, sell and what doesn't, doesn't.... sooner or later you can't keep the lights on

[Mikeymac]

Certainly are moving away from their uniqueness IMO. Good thing I don't have to run a guitar co. What sells, sell and what doesn't, doesn't.... sooner or later you can't keep the lights on

This is so true, and a common complaint about ALL guitar companies. Martin is catching a lot of flack for their new-fangled bolt-on neck acoustic-electric that they introduced at NAMM this winter.

There's nothing new under the sun (in the guitar world...).

[ducktrapper]

Certainly are moving away from their uniqueness IMO. Good thing I don't have to run a guitar co. What sells, sell and what doesn't, doesn't.... sooner or later you can't keep the lights on

I'm actually serious with my suggestion. Build L's and traditional Larrivée designs, (including clear pickguards) under the Larrivée logo and the Martinesque models under an Anglicized name. Even Bert Faver might buy a couple.