Satin to Gloss

[tak2larri]

Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

Well, I did it last night.  I was nervous, but found that having a beer calmed those nerves a little.   :TON> I may have been a little too cautious because I still get a tiny bit of the "swishing" on the soundboard... but it is noticeably less.  I left the neck and headstock alone.  Overall, I'm pleased... it looks great!  Oh, and I did 6 applications of ScratchX... do you all think I need to do another step?  Like some kind of polish?  Or should I just leave it how it is?  Thanks for all the help!

--Ross--

[whiskeyjack]

I just found out that glossing a new Larrivee guitar will void the warranty?  'Think I'll put off glossing indefinitely.   ^_^

[Peter Cree]

What?  We've contacted Larrivee numerous times on the warrantee issue.  they always said it did NOT void it.

Anyone have a definitive answer here because people who called on that were told the opposite.

C'mon Larrivee, what is it?

[Peter Cree]

My point here is that if it voids warantee and that we've called on this, then the Larrivee forum and any of us who have been asked advice on this topic..........................well, guess we have to eliminate this from the FAQ's page and I can no longer give out the info.

It would have been the responsible thing to do to inform us of this policy change.

[whiskeyjack]

I received an email today from Larrivee customer service after having asked the question.  Before I post a portion of that email, I will contact them again and ask the same question.

[whiskeyjack]

Here is the email I received from Bryan with my question attached:

4)      I'm planning to gloss both of my Larrivee guitars: will it void the warranty?  And do you have clear pick guard replacements for these guitars?

a.       Yes it will void the warranty, and we do not recommend doing it.

b.       We do have a few gloss pickguards. They will be available at the online store when it comes back up in a few weeks

I just got off the phone with Bryan and he confirmed that the Larrivee family said it will indeed void the warranty.

I was surprised too.  I sure didn't mean to stir up trouble, folks.

[Daysailer]

Not good news about the warranty policy change concerning polishing .  I wonder why they have changed thier position ?? 
Does anyone know what Martin or Taylor do  with this same question ???

The quoted answer about the clear pickguards,  said "gloss".  Was that a mispirint or misunderstood question ??

phill     :mellow:

[heartwood]

Well, I have completed the back and sides of my D-03R and it looks great! More importantly,oIt has reduced the annoying "swoosh" 85% on the back and sides. I will finish the front and be glad that I did it. I can now use this wonderful guitar on recordings.  As far as the warranty goes, mine was purchased used and not under warranty anyway.  But, I would appreciate knowing the rationale behind Larrivee's new policy. 

I will give the folks at Larrivee the benifit of the doubt, but an explanation would clear things up for me. What does this process effect that is actually covered by warranty?

Michael

[Peter Cree]

It's changing horses in the middle of the stream.........

Only buy used Larrivees.

[Scuby]

...Does anyone else have this same problem polishing their top?

My top came out OK.  I had to spend extra time on the four corners-they just wouldn't buff out-and the areas around the bridge and fretboard, but the result was quite even. 

Lew

[whiskeyjack]

I did this one a while ago.  It's hard to show the loveliness of it in photos.

[Peter Cree]

That 00015s is gorgeous.  Alot like mine!!!!!!!!!  Fantastic guitar worth much more than the price.

Larrivee has made its reputation as a quality, Canadian, "human" , company that when contacted , you could get quality interaction and dependable service.

It's not as if the company is completely abandoning that.  BUT when you could call Brian just 6 months ago and get a response of "sounds like a good and inexpensive way to get a gloss finish" and now its "warrantee void".........well I guess theres a price to pay for growth.

[Denis]

I don't get it...so does it void the warranty for the section that glosses naturally with playing?  My Martin OM-15, when I had it, did that after about a year, where my arm rested.  I took the 0000 steel wool to it to even everything out.  I hope Mathew chimes in on this or Brian.  It would be nice to get a clarification.

[Peter Cree]

Great point.  Whats the cut-off date?  Since we were told it was OK previously, then the warrantee should still be good for that date?

This'll get complex.........

[whiskeyjack]

Larrivee has made its reputation as a quality, Canadian, "human" , company that when contacted , you could get quality interaction and dependable service.

I'll tell ya what. . . .you are dead on with that statement!!  Martin is simply NOT that way.  Taylor hedges somewhat as well.  And everything to do with either of them is slowwwwwww. . . .as in, geologic-time-slow.  My hair has gotten thinner and grayer, and it looks as though a glacier has formed to the west of my house since I ordered my Martin custom twelve.

There is someone at Larrivee to field the question and to make suggestions if I don't like the answer.
The recent case-quality issue regarding my OM twelve string is a case-in-point.  They are responsive, and they are concerned. . . .and they do used this forum as a business tool.  It just might take some time.

[naboz]

Well I think that 00015 sure looks purty in the photos; great job!  I dont see how anyone cant think of doing this to a satin finish (but thats just me).
Now, concerning that warranty...my eyes are all ears ( :UND>) with the policy change.  Lets hope Matthew is logging in here, and sees this.  I should be getting 1st hand information soon, as I have to get a R.A.# from Brian per Matthew; and said guitar has had the gloss job.

[Scuby]

Here is the email I received from Bryan with my question attached:

I just got off the phone with Bryan and he confirmed that the Larrivee family said it will indeed void the warranty.

I was surprised too.  I sure didn't mean to stir up trouble, folks.

Was he specific?  Does it completely void the warrantee?  What happens if I polish my D-03 (I did) and the tuners turn out to be defective?  And what about changing policy retroactively?  I didn't polish it until I saw Brian give it a thumbs up in this forum.

I've been a crusader for Larrivee since I got mine.  I'm kinda losing the warm fuzzies over this.  What's the address of the Martin Forum?

Lew

[whiskeyjack]

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Larrivee Forum:

Ahem. . . . .I started this mess by asking Larrivee customer service if glossing, (altering the factory satin finish), my two OM-03R Larrivee guitars would void the warranty.  The first answer was "Yes. Glossing will void the warranty."  And that answer is correct.  But, there is more to it. 

"Glossing" an -03 series guitar alters the finish of a guitar. If someone were to mess up polishing the instrument and "burn through" to the wood, or just do not like the result, Larrivee is not responsible to fix the finish. Therefore, when you polish your guitar, you lose any warranty claim to any finish work on the guitar. We would still honor a warranty claim if something else was wrong (like a broken truss rod, etc) but not on the finish of the guitar. The other thing to remember is that by polishing the instrument you are removing some of the finish, making the guitar more subsceptible to climate change/damage - This type of damage is not covered under warranty

I'm told that this policy has NOT changed.  Altering the finish on a Larrivee guitar under warranty will NOT void the ENTIRE warranty.  The clause in the warranty that applies to glossing a factory satin finish reads: "Unauthorized repairs or alterations may void this warranty."  Further, "This Warranty" refers to ". . . defects in materials and workmanship. . . .."  So, it follows that, if I alter the finish and screw it up OR create conditions which are detrimental to the structure of the instrument, the Larrivee family business is not responsible to repair it. . .ever.  I lose ANY warranty claim to ANY finish work on the guitar and ANY structural problems related to altering the finish.

I would sincerely like to apologize for the corn-fusion and heartburn I may have caused.  But it IS good to know this stuff beforehand

[whiskeyjack]

I know I don't deserve it, but I would like a fritter. 

[Denis]

I know I don't deserve it, but I would like a fritter. 

Sorry whiskeyjack but I already ate mine.  Still got lots of my Tim Horton's coffee though, wanna sip?

So they have confirmed that the only part of the warranty that is voided is the warranty on the finish, right?  So if I need a neck reset on my OM-03R in 20-30 years, it's covered?  If the bridge pops off for no reason, it's covered?

How's your OM-03R BTW?  I know you like the 12 string version.  Wondered if you got your 6?

I tell you mine just keeps getting better all the time.  I think part of it is the guitar itself but part is in the bonding with the instrument.  I've had mine a year now and every time I pick it up, I seem to learn a bit more of how to get the most out of it.