What did this poor Larrivee ever do to you?

[Silence Dogood]

...to make you put such a hideous pickguard on it!?!?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/167266552387?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=OEZgsfeDQJa&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=qjtxw2rut6w&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

    

[William2]

That is an ugly guard. I also don't like the electronic controls exposed on the upper bout. And I've never liked a cutaway guitar except for this one with the Florentine configuration. This one I'd buy. And look at the elegant simplicity and beautiful sound of this CS 09 MT. I always love Mr. Allen's demos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xk4Fddf22eg&list=FLS3tqXJPPAJqoixuwOYW9yg&index=4

[jpmist]

My guess is that under that massive home made pick-guard are a lot of pick marks he doesn't want seen. Mint condition? Tsk, tsk . . .

[B0WIE]

The barn door on a 10 series is the true crime, IMO. Thankfully, we've grown as a society since those dark days.

[Gill]

The barn door electrics are certainly the worst of the 'sins' perpetrated on this Larrivee,why people do it to class instruments like this is one of life's great mysteries to me,the pick guard only compounds the heresay on this guitar,I'm not a fan of cutaways on acoustics either,but I love my C-10 Florentine

[Silence Dogood]

Barn doors were all the rage for a time (a dark time, as has been pointed out).  If I got a used guitar with such a device, I'd remove it and use the hole as a side port. 

I'll also reluctantly admit that for stage work, the barn door electronics are quite handy, way more so than the now-popular inside-the-soundhole, half-moon design that has become ubiquitous. 

As far as cutaways go, I've always found Larrivee's Venetian too rounded but their Florentine is just beautiful to me. 

[ty56]

That is an ugly guard. I also don't like the electronic controls exposed on the upper bout. And I've never liked a cutaway guitar except for this one with the Florentine configuration. This one I'd buy. And look at the elegant simplicity and beautiful sound of this CS 09 MT. I always love Mr. Allen's demos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xk4Fddf22eg&list=FLS3tqXJPPAJqoixuwOYW9yg&index=4

I have one like that. It is a great guitar. You would love it.

[Sandstorm]

I don't think I'd buy a guitar with barn door electronics. 

Seems that pickup systems are so personal from reading a few forums.

Gibson has discreet electronics but its got that undersaddle plasticky sound and the battery, velcro and soundhole controls makes me want to vomit in the soundhole.

K&K pure mini is my personal favourite and it is also most discreet and doesn't influence the acoustic sound.  Larrivee production is the best because the endpin is already enlarged so it's an undetectable modification.

I don't know if I'd want to enlarge the endpin on an expensive new Martin for example.  Reaming that end pin...there's nothing gentle about that process.

[B0WIE]

I don't think I'd buy a guitar with barn door electronics. 

Seems that pickup systems are so personal from reading a few forums.

Gibson has discreet electronics but its got that undersaddle plasticky sound and the battery, velcro and soundhole controls makes me want to vomit in the soundhole.

K&K pure mini is my personal favourite and it is also most discreet and doesn't influence the acoustic sound.  Larrivee production is the best because the endpin is already enlarged so it's an undetectable modification.

I don't know if I'd want to enlarge the endpin on an expensive new Martin for example.  Reaming that end pin...there's nothing gentle about that process.

It doesn't affect value at all, if it's done right. Reaming is really the way to go as drilling can sometimes cause tear out and other issues. It's really quite safe when done properly because of the end block in the acoustic. You're not just going through a fragile side wall. A couple of my SCGCs had it done and, though I was quick to take out the electronics, I don't think twice about them having an enlarged end block hole.

While I don't care for the sound of acoustic pickups, I think the mic method that Baggs and others are using now (there's there's a small mic or two inside the guitar body) is a huge advancement. They don't sound great, but they are free of that robotic sound that traditional pickups give. I recently tested one out and it just sounded like a poorly mic'd guitar rather than something not resembling an acoustic (which is how under saddle and piezos sound to me).