How did you find Larrivee?

[DaveyO]

I may have asked before
But how did you come upon Larrivee
guitars?
What's your story?

[B0WIE]

 Fun topic. I'm sure I've said it many times but about 13 years ago I WANTED to get into acoustics, but the ones I tried just sounded too twangy to me and I preferred my classical. Then, a Canadian client sent a sound clip of a microphone I upgraded for him. He was playing Celtic music and the guitar he used in the clip blew my mind. I had to know what it was. A Larrivee L-05. I had finally found an acoustic with a more articulate, sort of classical sensibility. I got one. Then another. Etc. The Larrivee family and their way of doing business are admirable, which is important to me as a small business owner. And, this community was so cool I just stayed all these years and I enjoy it more than the big forum.

[teh]

In May 2004, a co-worker took me to Trinity Guitars in Jamestown, NY that was owned by Jim Holler, a retired wood engineer and luthier, who ran the shop out of his basement. I came home with my first new guitar purchase in 27 years, a spruce/flamed maple Larrivee special edition parlor.

Imagine if you can, walking into a basement showroom filled with Larrivee guitars. When I bought my parlor, I had five to choose from including two mahogany, two rosewood and the flamed maple model that came home with me. Over the next three years, I ordered a custom 12 string from Larrivee and Jim began selling Martins. In 2007, I added a new sunburst Martin OM-35 that Jim found for me to match my Shade Top D-35. Over time, Jim purchased a building, moved the shop and added several other brands including Taylor, Gallagher, National and Weber.

Until he closed up shop and retired in 2018, my son and I were frequent visitors to Jim's brick and mortar store. In 2015, I ordered a 12 fret 000 from Martin's custom shop through Jim which is truly one of a kind. From 2004 until 2018, I had the opportunity to play well over 100 guitars of all shapes, sizes and wood combinations. I also had a front row seat when Jim put together the Forum III and Forum IV offerings. It was a fun ride while it lasted.

[Silence Dogood]

As BOWIE says, fun topic!

For me it was good old Guitar Center circa 1997/98 or so. 

I started seeing these plain-Jane guitars on the wall in their acoustic room and finally picked one up (probably a D03, the best guitar in the world).  I was blown away by the huge, clear sound from such a no-nonsense guitar. 

I played a bunch on my trips there during that season and always liked the Larrivee sound over everything else on the wall.  I just couldn't figure it out since back then an -03 guitar had a sticker price of something crazy like $499 (which I didn't have then, being broke and in my early 20s) and the lower-end Taylors were selling for around $1k.   

Around this same time I started seeing ads for Larrivee in the guitar mags with Barenaked Ladies, Brad Paisley, Pete Anderson, et al.  By now they were on my radar and stayed there. 

I finally got my own Larrivee in 2003 and still have it.  It's my only acoustic guitar. 

[Michael Howard]

It was my first proper (quality) guitar. Shopping for my 21st present, I was looking in shops and on the eBay equivalent here in NZ, and I came across a D-03e. Larrivee's didn't have a big name in NZ so I hadn't heard about them. My guitar ear wasn't well trained then since I'd only been playing for just over a year, but I knew I was onto a good thing when I found this one-year-old dread (2005). I paid over $2000 for it back then which would have been close to RRP in our currency and it was worth every penny. I sold it earlier this year to a visiting Canadian and he was pretty happy with it. Was a fantastic guitar but so too is my 1995 C-09, which I have treasured for the past 2 years. Fantastic guitars.

[Myopic Squirrel]

Had to downsize from dreadnaughts, and at the time was playing an Eastman, so staying with the brand, bought an Eastman OM. Eastman necks are hand carved, and the OM's was like a baseball bat compared to the dread. The OM size was a great fit so while looking for a replacement kept seeing favorable posts about Larrivees on the "other forum". Found a Larrivee OM in GC's FL store, had it shipped, and never looked back - a great guitar and the neck was perfect!* The OM resulted in Goldilocks Larrivee purchases of a Parlor, a 00-40, and currently a 000-40 because of the 12 frets to the body vs the OM's 14 - a wonderful guitar journey!

*As posted elsewhere, Larrivees ironically led me to Halcyon, which uses the same necks as the Larrivees.

[jpmist]

For me it was good old Guitar Center circa 1997/98 or so. 

Took me a moment to consider, but I think that's where I saw and bought my first Larrivee. Probably in the later 2000s or so. It was a really nice LSV-11 I treated myself to and enjoyed for a while, but sadly one of the quietest guitars I've ever owned so it got sold.

From that LSV-11 I must have found this very guitar forum right around the time of a Forum III group order which stimulated quite a bit of forum activity at the time. When the IV order rolled around I joined in and have been a loyal Larrivee OO 12-fret fan and active forum member ever since.

[Strings4Him]

Interested in getting a parlor guitar and stumbled upon Larrivee's model.  It's been quite a journey since then 👍😀

[Queequeg]

Interested in getting a parlor guitar and stumbled upon Larrivee's model.  It's been quite a journey since then 👍😀

Exactly how I ended up with my first Larrivee.

[gtrplayer]

Back in around 2005 I saw an ad in a guitar magazine for Larrivee's new Traditional model an 000-50 and I had to have it.  Since then and 11 Larrivees. a forum III and one custom Larrivee later I'm still a devoted Larrivee fan.

[unclrob]

First in a shipping box,next in a guitar case,then on a guitar hook.

[jazzereh]

I was going to say 'just walked into my music room and there they were'.   

But, going back a few years, I had other acoustics and started on a journey to find Canadian made guitars.  Eventually there happened to be a used OM for sale in a local shop so I went and played it.  Came home with me.  Started to sell off the others.  While I eventually sold that OM, due to the 14 fret, I now have the FVI and am waiting for the FVII.  Also have a couple of other acoustics built for me by Ed Bond who worked in the Larrivee shop when it was in Vancouver.

I currently keep an eye out for used Larrivee's that include the older Canadian built LS model and the 12 fret OM.  Would certainly buy those if I ever see one for sale.

[jpmist]

I currently keep an eye out for used Larrivee's that include the older Canadian built LS model and the 12 fret OM.

Hmm, if ever there was a model that might entice me away from an OO it would be a 12 fret OMV. I capo a lot and I might get a more richer tone past the 3rd fret with a bigger OM body. Was that model ever a thing or are you dreaming of a custom find of a lifetime? 

[jazzereh]

The OM 12 fret is a thing.  I know it was done as an all mahogany for example back in 2012

Would post a photo if I could.....

[jpmist]

A quick google found me some OMV 12s. A Koa 60 model is on Reverb now, but another I saw was posted as a 2006 model with the note "now out of production" implying it might have been at one time. Another from a dealer as a 2018 model OMV-05. That one had the generic label inside where I would expect to see "Custom" something but no.  I even found my Forum WTB post of 2018 which never happened.

Perhaps there's hope for you as this model might have been in production a couple of years ago!

[BlueBowman]

Great stories!

I grew up in the 90s playing guitar around my uncle, who was an avid songwriter and a habitual GAS-er (like, had to downsize his house type GAS). Every week it was another amazing guitar. SCGC, Collings, vintage Martin and Gibson's, Goodall, Bourgeois, more luthier-built guitars than I can recount, etc. And one week there was a new (maybe used) Larrivee OM  sitting on the stand. I can't remember the exact model #. I just remember loving the sound it made. Being a poor 15-year old, I never thought I'd own one. That was the age where I (we) would just marvel at such craftsmanship, thinking such magical objects would never be within reach.

From then until 2017, it was electric guitar. Bands. Etc. That year I decided to start hunting for an acoustic guitar, because that's what I spent my formative years learning on. I was lucky enough to find a Larrivee dealership within 45 minutes driving distance (still there, too!). The owner had just received his order from the NAMM show, and he had 25-30 Larrivee guitars in stock. New and new-old stock. Yeah, great times, I know. I decided to play them all without looking at price or model number. It was my humble, but much beloved, OM-02 that won the day. It just sounded killer from jump street. And it has only gotten better over time. I should really do a review of that guitar, because the list of illustrious brands and models that have come and gone, while that OM-02 remained steadfast....people wouldn't believe me.

I could go on about what I liked in the sound of the guitar, but I really like Bowie's "classical sensibility." That's exactly right.

[StringPicker6]

2008 I was dead set on a Martin D-28. The young sales guy in the Sam Ash store said to me, "just buy a Larrivee. They are less expensive and better". I disregarded his advice and for 10 years played an HD 28. I wanted a smaller parlor guitar, found a brand new P-03, and never looked back- full Larrivee convert now.

[guitarman001]

Every few months I try my local shop to see what could be good. Today there was a wild grain custom shop Martin, CEO7, D18, a few Atkins, a few Collings, Alvarez. The punch from the scalloping on some of these is nice. I've just come home, as usual, and played my Larrivee's and Northwoods. These guitars are untouchable. The whole package is here and at affordable prices for real musicians. Easiest necks to play, stunning build quality and sound of the heavens. At some point I'm going to have to try the 50/60 series (rare in UK..) but yeah... Nothing is standing toe to toe with these guitars.

[shellback]

Once upon a time there was a guitar shop in a distant & yet to be gentrified part of Ballard,Wa called the Guitar Emporium run by one Rob Eagle,I was more into paying my bar tab in those days rather than buying something you don't piss away,that smells better than hangovers and was in tune! My Wife and I walked into the store and Rob tried his best to get the pint out of my hand for a guitar case handle of one gorgeous L03-Sitka over Bubinga.The guitar Emporium is long gone,but that's was my first becoming aware of Larrivee Guitars & very fortunate to have a couple that were ringing from the moment I opened those Larrivee guitar cases.

[guitarman001]

I ended up going back to the shop and getting a custom shop OM28 ADI & wild grain EIR! It was one of those good ones that haunt you so I slapped down the credit card. I've done a few recordings now with my OM05 back to back with it and it's 50/50 whether people can hear the difference. But I can. The Larrivee definitely has more balance, which is real nice. Never thought I'd buy a Martin, let alone an EIR (I'm generally a hog player). Good to have some variety. It's brought home just how great the Larrivee sound is - there's so much harmonic richness in it. I hope I didn't make a mistake passing up an OM10 to get this!