What are we looking at here?

[robw95]

This popped up on my Facebook Marketplace feed. I just messaged them for a serial or model # and they said they would get that to me. Any idea of what it is ?

Rob

[eded]

An early C maybe?

Just a guess on my part...

Ed

[ducktrapper]

Definitely an L. Similar to my '75 maybe a tad fancier with the binding and bridge inlay. Looks to have something inlaid on the head stock, as well.

[robw95]

Thanks Ducktrapper, definitely an L. Hopefully I can get the serial number from them and get some specs (nut width, scale, etc.) from Larrivee customer service but it might be too old to be in their database.

I don't know what it is worth or what condition it is in but it has been on Facebook Marketplace for 10 weeks at a pretty decent price (not sure if I can post prices here).

Rob

[flatlander]

Buy it. I've got an 80' made in Victoria and it's been a wonderful guitar and the one I still play the most after 40 years.

[ducktrapper]

Buy it. I've got an 80' made in Victoria and it's been a wonderful guitar and the one I still play the most after 40 years.

This ^^^

Also I'm wondering if it has a SN, however. Mine doesn't and I don't think a '78 would either.

[JOYCEfromNS]

I just messaged them for a serial or model # and they said they would get that to me. Any idea of what it is ?

A very nice guitar. The label will at least tell you where it was made and possibly a year is handwritten on the label. Depending on its age it may not have a serial# - I'm guessing it doesn't - also it likely never had an official model naming. I'm guessing late 70's. In todays naming nomenclature - an L-10.

Do tell us what the holder informs you of and of course if more pics are available - we luv pics!!

Edit - only saw the last pic after posting yup a 1978,  it may not have a ser#  Larrivee started using serial numbers in November 1977. This was just shortly after the shop moved from Toronto to Victoria but some in '78 slipped through without a # . I believe they called this an L-10 Deluxe at the time (late 70's early 80's)

- luvly!!!

[JOYCEfromNS]

I don't know what it is worth or what condition it is in but it has been on Facebook Marketplace for 10 weeks at a pretty decent price (not sure if I can post prices here).

Rob

Its worth might depend on the Rosewood - Brazillian (like Mr. Trappers) or Indian. Prices on used guitars are Fair game - just not retail prices Rule 4 in The Rules I'm guessing IR so assuming excellent condition $2000 give or take $300. But its worth a heck of a lot more than that IMO - just won't likely sell for more - if that makes sense 

[robw95]

Its worth might depend on the Rosewood - Brazillian (like Mr. Trappers) or Indian. Prices on used guitars are Fair game - just not retail prices Rule 4 in The Rules I'm guessing IR so assuming excellent condition $2000 give or take $300. But its worth a heck of a lot more than that IMO - just won't likely sell for more - if that makes sense  

Wow Joyce, if your valuation is correct then I would not be able to buy it from him as he has it listed for $550. He's an estate broker and has hundreds of items listed and I guess should know better but I guess he doesn't know what he has and I couldn't take advantage of someone like that.

Rob

[JOYCEfromNS]

Wow Joyce, if your valuation is correct then I would not be able to buy it from him as he has it listed for $550.

Its condition could be key

[mike in lytle]

Its condition could be key

This is true.  In a general sense, if it is from Denver (high elevation and low humidity), or Florida (sea level, high humidity) gives us a general sense of where the guitar "should be".
It is also unusual an old Larrivee would be left "out in the wild", so to speak.
If it were me (and it is not, but if it were), I would immediately buy the guitar, especially considering the price. Do not let it pass, and DO NOT feel guilty.
If the guitar is in any kind of "fair " condition, you could almost immediately resell it here on the forum if you did not like it, and you would be doing Larrivee a favor.
Mike

[mike in lytle]

Rob sent me the link for the guitar.....
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/264801374800028
Mike

[headsup]

hesitant to shoot my mouth off.

it's Priceless.
it's worthless .

mostly, it belongs in the house and hands of someone who loves and respects what it is, where it's from, who had their hands on it during it's build etc.

there os No questipm of how great it sounds, how well the build is etc.

Folks around here know that all to well.

cherished hand made builds  are meant be played and loved, not speculated as value..

play it, love it or give it to someone who will. (family member).

[ducktrapper]

hesitant to shoot my mouth off.

it's Priceless.
it's worthless .

mostly, it belongs in the house and hands of someone who loves and respects what it is, where it's from, who had their hands on it during it's build etc.

there os No questipm of how great it sounds, how well the build is etc.

Folks around here know that all to well.

cherished hand made builds  are meant be played and loved, not speculated as value..

play it, love it or give it to someone who will. (family member).

Amen brother! 

[JOYCEfromNS]

This could be of interest

[ducktrapper]

This could be of interest

It gets confusing. I've also seen the one on the left called an L-11. Mine has the birds going up the neck but the head stock is completely unadorned. Not even the word Larrivée. Then again, mine has Brazilian back and sides. I'm not sure what the thinking was, and to each their own, but I've always preferred my "plain Jane" look to the fancier models. Anyway, small differences aside, based on a catalog photo someone else posted years ago, I refer to mine as an L-11. It's probably not though. No one seems to know.

To the point, the guitar in the original post sure looks like it would be an L10 Deluxe. Could the top be cedar or something other than spruce?   

[AZLiberty]

Thanks Ducktrapper, definitely an L. Hopefully I can get the serial number from them and get some specs (nut width, scale, etc.) from Larrivee customer service but it might be too old to be in their database.

Rob

Rob,

it's a 1978.  It doesn't have a serial number.  Way to early for serial numbers. 

[JOYCEfromNS]

Rob,

it's a 1978.  It doesn't have a serial number.  Way to early for serial numbers. 

Actually the Serial#'s started in Nov of '77

[JOYCEfromNS]

It gets confusing. I've also seen the one on the left called an L-11. Mine has the birds going up the neck but the head stock is completely unadorned. Not even the word Larrivée. Then again, mine has Brazilian back and sides. I'm not sure what the thinking was, and to each their own, but I've always preferred my "plain Jane" look to the fancier models. Anyway, small differences aside, based on a catalog photo someone else posted years ago, I refer to mine as an L-11. It's probably not though. No one seems to know.  

I think calling yours an L-11 would be the closest one could get in model naming once they started (after your build was completed) naming models. And in todays naming an L-09 Braz

From the same '79 catalogue an L-11:

[Mikeymac]

I have a '79 L-19 with a Serial Number that starts with "19" ... followed by a space and four more digits/numbers.

Duck (and others who own one from the '70's/very early '80's) will have to weigh in, but a few things to know about this vintage of Larrivee:

There is NOT an adjustable truss rod. So it may need some work on the neck (mine got new frets/compression fretting and I also had them radius the fingerboard to 16"). (Larrivee started using adjustable truss rods around the same time as Martin; 1985/86.)

The necks on these tend to be a large, full profile, with a flatter fingerboard (see my comment above).

The body is very similar to a classical in having a similar depth from the neck joint to the tailblock. In other words, it doesn't get more shallow toward the neck block like modern L's and other guitars.

The Indian Rosewood on these is so nice, people often mistake it for Brazilian! (It's not - unless it's one like Duck's that actually IS Brazilian, but MOST are EIR - very nice EIR!!!)

They sound wonderful. Mine is not loud, but it is balanced with a solid bass and nice highs...they are worth owning, and for $550, you could afford to put some money into it for any needed neck work and have an excellent piece of Larrivee history (I paid $1,000 for mine several years ago, then spent the extra money on the neck work).