A Dream In The Making...

[Walkerman]

Awhile back, I decided to order what will probably be my last guitar.  As such, I wanted it to be something special.  I decided to combine in this everything I had always wanted.  So, I ordered a Brazilian Rosewood Larrivee body 12 string, with the vine of life fretboard, and a very personalized headstock inlay.  This would truly be a one and only.  I had talked to Matthew and Wendy, and when everything was set, I told Matthew that I wanted really nice Brazilian, and, if it was OK, I would like to photograph some of the stages of its making.   Matthew told me that they had a special "stash" of Brazilian rosewood, but that it would be about a year before they would be ready to use it.  Well, that was about a year ago, and so, a couple of days ago, I got an email from Matthew telling me to come by and take some pictures.  I was expecting to take some pictures of a semi-completed box.  I had no idea what was in store for me...so, here is what happened today.......

I showed up at Yarnell Place with a couple of dozen KrispyKremes in hand, and I was greeted by Matthew.
He took me back into the shop, and he showed me these, described each one to me and said...pick one...

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y122/trav...te/f8963435.jpg

Here is Jean and Matthew with the one I chose

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y122/trav...te/DSC00148.jpg

Next, he took me back to a small room and showed me five or so tops that he had pre-selected, described the pros and cons of each,  showed me the tap tones,and said...pick one  Here is Matthew and Wendy with the one I chose

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y122/trav...te/DSC00153.jpg

Next, he showed me some "wedges" for the back, and I chose a piece of quilted maple...here is Matthew putting it in...

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y122/trav...te/DSC00158.jpg

And here is Matthew sanding it down

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y122/trav...te/9e593232.jpg

Next, Matthew showed me some backs he had pre-selected, we discussed them, and I chose one.....

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y122/trav...te/89148889.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y122/trav...te/841e29c7.jpg

After that, Matthew showed me how they
do the inlays, and I will be back to take pictures of that next week.

I hope the pictures come out.  This is truely going to be the guitar of my dreams, and how special it is of the Larrivee family to treat me this way.  To me, this goes way beyond a simple customer relationship thing.

PS...there's more left for all of you too

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y122/trav...te/2b9925b9.jpg

[FNG]

That is so cool.  Couldn't exactly tell from the top picture, L body style?  

Not to derail your thread, but I see a rack of what look like jumbos... :o  

[JohnM2001]

Wow!  Great post and pics, how exciting for you!  I hope it comes out great.  That is truly a dream guiar.  Tell usabout the appointments, will be 10 series ab around the top?

[FNG]

Reread your post...still cool.  How did the tap test go with the tops?  Man, no pressure there!!  Did you close your eyes?  Sound over looks, or a balance?  That sure sounds like a lot of fun.

[sacredground]

Wow...big time congrats walkerman! A brazilian guitar is like nothing else. To my ears it has a a bit more velvety lushness together with more clarity. You won't be disappointed. Thanks for the cool pics!

[Walkerman]

Reread your post...still cool.  How did the tap test go with the tops?  Man, no pressure there!!  Did you close your eyes?  Sound over looks, or a balance?  That sure sounds like a lot of fun.

A whole lot of it was I took Matthew's advice, which was sound over looks.  Yes, you can actually tell the difference in the tap tones.  Especially if an expert is helping you.  What was really cool was the smell of the Braz, esp. when it was being sanded.

[Randy_R]

Fantastic....

Jean still has that hands-on attitude that makes his instruments special.

Wish I could be there to watch my D-10braz being built too.

On another note.

So does this mean that Larrivee is getting ready to do some more Brazilian L bodies? It would appear that several more Brazilian sides are formed, yes?

[HanSoo417]

i really like the look of that back peice. very nice.

[MH3]

Too cool.  What I see here (aside from some really nice pieces of wood being made into really nice guitars) is people doing something they are passionate about, and sharing it (meaning the experience) with people that enjoy the fruits of their labors.

Congratulations on what is sure to be a fine instrument that you will cherish.

[el guitana]

Really cool. Thanks!

[Fergy07]

way cool! Good luck with the guitar and enjoy the process of the building of it.


Andy

[naboz]

...And then you woke up?!  I would think I was dreaming!  :o
I love that last "here's more for you" picture.  All of those future awesome guitars!!

[Walkerman]

...And then you woke up?!  I would think I was dreaming!  :o
I love that last "here's more for you" picture.  All of those future awesome guitars!!

Yes...those two smaller stacks in the foreground are the Brazillian.  They look light in color,  but Mathew put some liquid on a couple of them, to show me how they would look when finished. They become verrrry dark....really beautiful.

[Walkerman]

Fantastic....

Jean still has that hands-on attitude that makes his instruments special.

Wish I could be there to watch my D-10braz being built too.

On another note.

So does this mean that Larrivee is getting ready to do some more Brazilian L bodies? It would appear that several more Brazilian sides are formed, yes?

There were at least 3 L's, and what looked like dreads to me, also.

[baj2k]

Wish I could be there to watch my D-10braz being built too.

My D-60braz is in that stack somewhere too... walkerman please go visit it for me...  ;)  Randy: thanks for sending a heads up to RMMGA or I'd have missed out. Also, thanks to my wife for saying "yes"... well sort of... it was prefaced by "you must be (insert FCC beep tone here) kidding me...".  :o  

-Barry

[guitaradoptions]

To try and answer a few of the questions here about Brazilian...
All the bodies you see pictured are old orders which are now finally being completed.
One could order a Brazilian right now, but no Adirondack option is available.
A new order for a Brazilian would take approx. 3-4 months to build.

[jcbuggs]

Walkerman,

Congrats on a true dream come true. What does it say about a company, that they treat their customers like this? How many ways can you say "very cool'? Wish I had better words but I don't. I am as equally impressed with the guitar you are having built as I am by the way the Larrivee family has included you in the production.

BTW - Waiting a year for your guitar to be built demonstrates way more patience than I think I could muster. Somehow I get the feeling it will be worth the wait.

very cool

Joe

[HangFire]

Sweet tour, thanks for the pics! :)