Larrivee d10

[DaveyO]

I got the chance to play a D10 today
Beautiful wonderful instrument
A real looker
But to be honest
I don't know if it sounds so much better than my DO3R

[StringPicker6]

Same woods and construction, just prettier.  You are in good shape with your D-03R. 

[rockin_ron]

Same woods and construction, just prettier.  You are in good shape with your D-03R. 

True, but not entirely true.  I've always read that Larrivee picks the better woods as you go up in Series.  Now can you hear the difference, that is a whole different debate.  But from an aesthetic point of view, I can give you an example.  I used to own a late 90's Brazilian D-09 and it had worm hole fills on the side panels.  Still functional and still pretty grain, unless you know what you are looking at.  I don't believe you would find that on a D-10 though.   

[B0WIE]

Higher wood grades on the gloss models. Woods are graded for cosmetics, not sound. But, some of the cosmetic qualities can relate to well quartered wood so there's maybe some debate to be had. I've found many of the 9'a and 10's to have tighter grain, which relates to slower growing (potentially stiffer) trees. But, again, that doesn't mean that particular board is going to resonate better.

My gloss Larrivees have all sounded better than my satin models but that's a bit anecdotal. Go with what pleases your ears. If YOU do or don't hear a difference, that's all that matters.

[BlueBowman]

I've always read that Larrivee picks the better woods as you go up in Series.

I remember reading an interview with Matt on this very forum years ago where he discussed the selection process for sorting tops. In general, the more flexible tops went to the -01, -02, and -03 series, while the stiffest tops got kicked up to the -40, -50, and -60s. Don't know if they do that anymore, maybe it's more (or all) cosmetic, as most factories do.

Sometimes a soft top can be just what a factory guitar needs. I think that's one reason why my OM-02 sounds great and is so responsive. I can push on the top at the bridge and see a large amount of flex. Doesn't mean all soft tops work brilliantly, of course. Sometimes a stiff top will be on the money. In factory guitars, you're gonna get hits and misses in both directions.

Now can you hear the difference, that is a whole different debate.  But from an aesthetic point of view, I can give you an example.  I used to own a late 90's Brazilian D-09 and it had worm hole fills on the side panels.  Still functional and still pretty grain, unless you know what you are looking at.  I don't believe you would find that on a D-10 though.   

I don't know if worm holes were historically acceptable on BR (I would guess not), but today you can find them on $15,000 guitars. Bruce Sexauer, for example, has used BR with filled worm holes. As you say, still functional. With limited resources, the luthiers gotta make do, and many players still believe BR is the ultimate tonewood.