Recommendations for non-Larrivee's to supplement a Larry collection?

[plankspanker]

Have you considered Lakewood? I know they can be a bit costly in US (but not always - I had mine shipped from over there, back to Europe). For me the A-series is what they do that is special. Twelve frets. Upper bout is "OO" size, lower is "OOO" size, tiny waist. Sits on your lap like you don't know it's there. Four inches at the deepest (more would be welcome). Nut is 46mm or one and thirteen sixteenths; well wide spacing at the saddle - a whisker more than on my Larry OOO-50. Mine is the Engelman/RW A-32 model. They certainly have their own sound - some have said clinical, but I would say precise. Mine has now "opened-up" (if there is such a thing) or dried a bit (that does exist for sure) and it is the sweetest thing. I sometimes think of it as a steelstring claassical guitar that makes you improve, if you know what I mean. It can do tinkly rags sound like some of S Grossman's records (but I can't) but also sounds great in low C tuning, and you can tune it all down to Eb standard and capo for a short scale if you need it. Other guitars do loud strumming better (and in my view a Sigma DM is good enough for that kind of thing). All in all a great "European" guitar from Germany - home of the original Herr Martin. It is certainly different to Larrivee sound: different but equal - it'obvious. 

[Tony Burns]

Sounds like you need a Martin OM !

[Danny]

I've taken the plunge on a second hand McIlroy A25c (walnut/cedar with cutaway) with a K&K mini western after playing a new one (and an A20c) earlier today. Absolutely stunning guitars - the best I've played, I think! (I've played a bunch of Larrivees, and some high end Martins, a few Lowdens, a Breedlove and a few custom builds). Hopefully it arrives tomorrow (or possibly Tues/Wed next week) for delivery .... very excited (and very impatient!).

The actual guitar I'm buying is featured on the McIlroy website: go to product range, A series gallery and scroll right. My A25c is the middle of the three guitars.

Now I need to sell the Taylor 510 (which has stunning tone, I just can't deal with the 1 11/16 neck) - and maybe the LV-19 CA too - to create the space (and funds!).

Thanks for all the tips, which will no doubt come in handy for the next GAS attack!

Dan

    I reposted this after a few more responses so others could see that you HAVE found what you wanted. I do have a question about the 1 11/16 neck, exactly what was your problem in dealing with it. I really would like some thoughts on this, if you want to share a few, Thanks, Danny

[mrrinse]

Thanks Danny - and everyone else for the replies.
I just find 1 11/16 necks to narrow. I know it's only just over 1 mm, but it seems to make a big difference to me (I play pretty much exclusively fingerstyle).
I'm finding the McIllroy suits somethings better than others. It's very loud, very light and treble notes have a richness and thickness to them.

[shadco]

.


Might I suggest something like this

00-18VS

Sorry Denis

[SNP]

I know that my next guitar will be european and it will have a cedar top.
(either that or a 9 series L :D)

The question comes down to whether it will be a Lakewood or a Furch(aka Stonebridge) , a German or a Czech:)

Antoine Dufour has a Furch (and also a Jumbo Larri!) and Ulli Bögershausen has a Lakewood. Fine fingerstyle players if you ask me :D

[mrrinse]

SNP - if you're in the market for a european cedar topped guitar, definitely do checkout McIlroys!

[SNP]

McIlroys have too steep a pricetag for me though :(
I think that they are similar ato Lowden's as far as price is concerned.

Anyway, by the time I'll be going for that second guitar, hopefully, I'll also have that amount of money to spend :D

[mrrinse]

Yup - though they are a bit cheaper than Lowdens. I've seen a few s/h A25c (walnut/cedar with cutaway and no-cut electronics) McIlroys going in the £1150-£1350 price range (if I'm allowed to talk prices!), including the one I picked up. They don't come along all that often though!
I guess that's still more than many Lakewoods, but not hugely. FWIW, Lakewood were also on my shortlist!
Best of luck with it,
Dan

[royforever]

Hi Dan,

Could you tell me where you find such prices for Mc Ilroy ?

Cheers,
Franck

[mrrinse]

There was one on e-bay about a month ago - relisted 3 times. Didn't sell at around the £1k mark and then sold for more later. It looked like it was in vgc. I get the impression that their pretty hard to come across s/h and often go for more. Hanks in Denmark street has a AS15 but they're asking more, it has no pickup, and it's not in great condition. I suspect you'd have to wait around to find a price like that...

I guess there's no harm in contacting Dermot directly either to see if he know about the s/h market.

New, a shop near Ealing had a couple in and would do a deal for cash.

PM me if you need any more info.

Hope this helps,

Dan

[Calvin]

Martin OMC (not cheap for a factory guitar), Yamaha LS-26/36, Taylor 512/GC5, Guild OC-something (can't remeber the exact model name, but it's the small OM that's made in USA).

If you want to go boutique, can't go wrong with a Bourgeois OMC, or a vintage OM.

[The Guitarman]

How about an older Martin D28

[ducktrapper]

What we need is more Larrivées and less of this ... crazy talk!!!   

[Calvin]

How about an older Martin D28

I think he said he played finger style exclusively.  Although a D-28 is pretty good for anything.

[The Guitarman]

I think he said he played finger style exclusively.  Although a D-28 is pretty good for anything.

You are absolutely right.   I was thinking about a replacement for the Taylor 510 he was selling.

Even though a D-28 would be a good addition to any collection, A Martin 00-18V or VS with an 1 3/4" neck and a short scale would be a better choice for finger style playing.  The only thing to get used to might be the Martin V-Neck.  At my age with all the aches and pains in the left hand the Martin neck feels better to me than a lot of others.

[Danny]

Yep, Age, Aches and Pains are re-forming my guitar selections a lot. Danny

[royforever]

There was one on e-bay about a month ago - relisted 3 times. Didn't sell at around the £1k mark and then sold for more later. It looked like it was in vgc. I get the impression that their pretty hard to come across s/h and often go for more. Hanks in Denmark street has a AS15 but they're asking more, it has no pickup, and it's not in great condition. I suspect you'd have to wait around to find a price like that...

I guess there's no harm in contacting Dermot directly either to see if he know about the s/h market.

New, a shop near Ealing had a couple in and would do a deal for cash.

PM me if you need any more info.

Hope this helps,

Dan

Thanks for the information Mrrinse !


It sounds pretty hard though to find one on Ebay...
Anyway, I'm a owner-to-be of a LV-05E and I'm sure it will fulfill all my needs for some time !


I might come back to Mc Ilroy later on even if the 3000€ price tag begins to get scary..