Help me with customizing my birthday present :)

[Alexrkstr]

Alright, forum friends. I'm looking to get something special for my next birthday and I am thinking it can be a nice Larrivee 00 guitar. However, i need guidance and your input on how to go about this...

This is what I would like:
- Size: I think 00 would be the ideal size, I will finger pick and strum lightly with it, likely will record as well. 
- Top wood & bracing: I'm not sure what option would come close to this --> I love my Martin CEO-7 which is a slopped shoulder 00 size with 1) an adi top and 2) X bracing that is scalloped - these two specs make it incredibly resonant and a joy to play. I believe the thickness of the CEO top is slightly less than the average top?
- Rosewood back and sides: I am looking for a warm-sounding guitar with nice overtones. That rosewood sweetness...
- Custom Appointments: I am interested in an elegant appointment, nothing over the top like an adorned fretboard. But instead, a nice headstock inlay (like the torch inlay) and maybe the abaolne rosette

[StringPicker6]

You might also want to research walnut for back and sides. It's a great tone wood! There are some great headstock inlay examples on the website. The torch is very nice and I also like the larrivee initials. Happy shopping! 

[B0WIE]

Smaller guitars tend to be less "warm" sounding, and have far fewer overtones, just due to physical proportions. You might consider a mahogany top. The back and sides have a somewhat small influence on the sound in a 00 compared to the top.

If warmth and overtones are more important than physical considerations, consider something a little larger. The lower bout of the 000 adds a lot when it comes to fullness and overtones.

[Alexrkstr]

Good input, guys.

A couple of notes:
- the reason for rosewood was so I can sing along. Walnut may interfere in some of the mid-range frequencies
- I tried and loved the 00-28 Martin (2021) so looking for an equivalent
- the smaller body is for comfort and a must

I also agree that the walnut OO-'s with the torch inlays are awesome... I just worry walnut is not what I am looking for.

[jrdavies]

If you play more using your fingers than a pick you may want to consider a cedar top.

Here is link for a OO-40R with a cedar top https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxGhN2rKZ4g

[B0WIE]

- the reason for rosewood was so I can sing along. Walnut may interfere in some of the mid-range frequencies
- I tried and loved the 00-28 Martin (2021) so looking for an equivalent.

I think you're possibly misleading yourself with that. The one area in which EIR and most walnuts are similar is actually in the midrange. They differ mostly in the high frequencies.
Though I personally consider walnut to be superior to EIR, it really doesn't matter in a 00 and I'd take either. That's all top wood and bracing. The back on that guitar is too small to contribute much to the sound (relatively speaking) and I'd say even string choice matters more in this case.

Also, Martins are very different beasts. Larrivees are more about articulation while the Martin voicing is generally deeper.

A mahogany top is excellent for a darker/warmer tone where you don't need or want a lot of sustain. Cedar was a good recommendation. Wonderful if you want a warm/harmonically rich midrange and mellow top end.


What I wouldn't do is build it like the Martin and expect it to sound like the Martin. The Larrivee bracing and build style are different (in a good way, IMO).

[teh]

I bought my second Larrivee for my 50th birthday, 12 string custom all mahogany and my third Martin, 000 12 fret custom spruce over 3 piece mahogany back and sides. I am waiting patiently for my third custom, a FORUM VI that I ordered for retirement. I'll be interested to see how moonwood spruce sounds. I tend to agree with Bowie's comment.

Take your time and choose carefully.