Larrivee vs. ???

[Glennd]

Just trying to learn more and to keep this thread interesting. There has been a suggestion and an agreement that a dread may be so close to my existing L that the dread might be a little redundant. I am trying (at the rate of one per year) to acquire a few real nice guitars. What other body sizes would be an asset to a collection? I play about 70% fingerstyle (Jim Croce, John Prine, Bob Dylan, fingerstyle blues and such). The other 30 % is flatpicking (bluegrass, old rock and roll and vintage folk). Would be very interested in body shape/sizes wood combos and brand suggestions.

[tuffythepug]

Glenn
, a Larrivee D shape will, in fact, be very similar sounding to your LV.    If you are looking for a good fingerpicking machine I would strongly recommend that you try out a 000-50 or 000-60.   Wider nut, large soundhole, 12 fret neck.
These are perfect for fingerpicking or medium-heavy strumming.    A cheaper alternative would be an OM style.

[unclrob]

Try getting a D in a different wood then the L,this will give you a different voice.I would add an OM.Also don't limit a body style to playing style.I grew up playing dreads and played every style on it as I also do now on the bodies I have.Some sound better in alt. tunings then others as do some songs.I guess I'm saying look for more voice's over body style's.If you have a mahogany L get a rosewood dread.Though right now out of all my acoustics only one is a rosewood the rest are maple.Now that I've just typed this I see that what I need to do is add a mahogany with a spruce top as I do have an all mahogany Gibson B15 which I'll be using for slide work.

[jeremy3220]

Just trying to learn more and to keep this thread interesting. There has been a suggestion and an agreement that a dread may be so close to my existing L that the dread might be a little redundant.

The L is basically a dread. Yeah, it's more round but it's actually larger than a Martin dread (both upper and lower bouts) and has a longer scale. Larrivee could have called it a slope shoulder dread or jumbo (like a J-45) and no one would have questioned it. More important though is playing enough guitars so you can form your own educated opinion.


On a side note: I think the same phenomena occurs with guitar buyers as music listeners - they like/buy what they are familiar with. It's fine if someone wants to buy similar guitars but when I hear they tried eight different top brands and ended up with almost the same thing because they say nothing else was as good... I know it isn't because they weren't as good. I also know people have different motives for buying guitars and that makes a big difference in what guitars they end up with.

[Pilgrim]

To each his own I guess.  I recently played a room full of Larrivees and not one would touch the Martin OM18V, OM28V or the D18GE sound-wise in the same room.  In fairness, the Martins were about 50% more $$$ than the Larrivees.  But compared to the Larrivees, the sound lept from those three Martins.  

The same holds true at home.  My D-03 and OM-05 are sweet sounding, but they are definately a step below my Martins (that cost more), especially in volume where the Larrivees are topping out when the Martins hit mid stride.  

Some would argue that the comparison isn't fair due to the cost differences.  However my experience playing more expensive Larrivees suggests more money buys bling and prettier wood, but not differences in sound.

[ceemonster]

while you're listing Martin dreads, don't forget the all-hog D-15, an incredible, world-class dread for a very low price....I think they may now have a D-15M, which would be guaranteed mahogany as opposed to taking your chances and possibly getting sapele (if you even care, sapele being, after all, a solid mahogany-family wood).....i love the chocolate Martin dread....

[teh]

I notice that you didn't try a D-35, HD-35 or D-21 Special but after reading the posts, it doesn't seem like Martins are your cup of tea. Here's a clip of Jim Croce's lead guitarist playing a D-35 w/ BRW back and sides here but keep in mind that the sound technology was significantly different in 1972 and 73 when this was recorded.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2iS8XctJKo

[Glennd]

I notice that you didn't try a D-35, HD-35 or D-21 Special but after reading the posts, it doesn't seem like Martins are your cup of tea. Here's a clip of Jim Croce's lead guitarist playing a D-35 w/ BRW back and sides here but keep in mind that the sound technology was significantly different in 1972 and 73 when this was recorded.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2is8XctJKo

Thanks for the link, I'm a big fan of Jim and Maury, really like the way they compliment each other. I haven't tried any of the Martins you mention simply because they have been unavailable. I found a Martin D-21 Jim Croce Brazilian (JCB) in new almost unplayed condition for a price that was more than my first home. Its not that I have any thing against Martins, I honestly feel like everyone is supposed to like them. They are after all great instruments and the company would never have survived (much less prospered) if they didn't have a quality product and good customer service. I feel like Martin is to the guitar world what Harley Davidson (I have a 2003 Road King Classic) is to the motorcycle world. I have played a few Larrivees that didn't really impress. I am curious about the Taylor 8 string baritone, but have yet to play a Taylor that I wanted to take home. The only two guitars that really appealed to me in my search so far have been Breedloves, a Revival (dread) and a Fusion as I mentioned earlier. If you are following this thread and think I am confused and moving in several directions at once you are correct. I am going to expand my search to more than just dreads and simply look for a quality guitar that wants to go home with me! I will be on vacation most of the month of December and will most likely plan a little travel time to play as many brands and models as possible. Many thanks to all who have made suggestions as that gives me a direction.

[madoclake]

I am also looking for a dread to own along side an L. I agree with an earlier comment that the L basically is a dread variation. I actually got a store assistant to play an L then a Larrivee D while I had my eyes closed. When I admitted to myself that I couldn't actually tell them apart in any significant way I focused on finding the right L body simply because I have large hands and fingers so the wider nut appealed. It wasn't the volume or the sound. I bought an L-09.

Now I've found a dread I like. Morgan DR. Played it at a store in Orangeville, Ontario while waiting between hockey games at a tournament. It has that Larrivee tone and quality and feel. But more of the "dread" sound. It is like a hybrid Martin-Larrivee. Made in Canada. Bascially the same price as a d-09/d-10. They have a website.

[ST]

Hi Peter,

If you are talking about a Morgan, I have a Morgan Concert Cutaway (nearly identical to a C10) and it is a daily player alongside my Larrivées.  David Ianonne, founder of Morgan Guitars apprenticed with Larrivée and that is apparent from his work.

Fine guitars.

Here is a link to the Morgan DR series - Is this what you played?

[RickI]

The L is basically a dread. Yeah, it's more round but it's actually larger than a Martin dread (both upper and lower bouts) and has a longer scale. Larrivee could have called it a slope shoulder dread or jumbo (like a J-45) and no one would have questioned it. More important though is playing enough guitars so you can form your own educated opinion.

On a side note: I think the same phenomena occurs with guitar buyers as music listeners - they like/buy what they are familiar with. It's fine if someone wants to buy similar guitars but when I hear they tried eight different top brands and ended up with almost the same thing because they say nothing else was as good... I know it isn't because they weren't as good. I also know people have different motives for buying guitars and that makes a big difference in what guitars they end up with.

I have a Martin D-35 that Ive been playing for 35 years...   great sounding guitar...  When I try other guitars, I realize that I'm always stacking them up against the D35, and most smaller bodied guitars just dont seem to have "enough" ... volume, bass... whatever...   But I know its because of what Im used to..

Recently got a Larrivee LV-09E ...  I really like it alot...  Maybe because the L body is "dread-like", I dunno.  But it's a different sound, a "clearer" sound  than the Martin, The D-35 has more overtones maybe...   Anyway, they are different enough that Im glad to have both of them.

Rick

[madoclake]

Hi Peter,

If you are talking about a Morgan, I have a Morgan Concert Cutaway (nearly identical to a C10) and it is a daily player alongside my Larrivées.  David Ianonne, founder of Morgan Guitars apprenticed with Larrivée and that is apparent from his work.

Fine guitars.

Here is a link to the Morgan DR series - Is this what you played?

Yes, it was DR series. Very similar neck to a Larrivee. Nice guitar.

[markslife]

I am of the opinion that the same woods between an L and D will be quite comparable. Between the two D03s I have owned, the rosewood and mahogany were substantial in tonal quality difference, so a different wood (custom or lesser expensive mahogany) may be your ticket in a Larrivee dread.

Outside of Larrivee, you owe it to yourself to get your hands on a Collings to tryout.

[teh]

Glennd:

After reading your original post, it appears you and I share the same goal: To acquire and assemble a small collection of different guitars. Taking your time and doing your research is the best fomula for making the best purchase to meet your needs and wants. The gaps in my collection include a 6 string mahogany, 6 & 12 string maple (jumbo) and possibly a baritone.

The rest of this post is only my personal opinion based on playing a lot of different guitars over the past 20 years in my price range. For new guitars, I have played several Martin D-21 Specials (1 & 3/4 inch neck) and M-36 models (3 piece back, 1&11/16 neck) and I would have taken any of them home if I needed to replace my D-35 (1&11/16 neck) or OM-35 (1&3/4 neck). Generally speaking, I like the tone and playability of the Martin 15 series over the Larrivees but I give the edge on workmanship and design of Larrivee for comparably priced mahogany guitars.

I think the older Guilds are better and more consistent than the newer models (especially 12 strings) and I have not found a Gibson that I like but I am sure they are out there. I don't own a Collings, Huss&Dalton or similar guitar but they are on the upper end of my price range.

I had the opportunity to play an 8 string Taylor Baritone last month and while I found it interesting, I didn't find it interesting enough to bring home given the list price. On the flipside, my son has a Taylor 214 (All solid wood, not laminate) near the lower end of their price spectrum that is a great sounding guitar.

In closing, if you are buying new, make sure you solicit opinions about the long term value of a lifetime warranty. My 34 year old Martin (Purchased new) is in for warranty work (bridge lifting) that was covered no questions asked. Over the past 20 years, this guitar has been in for warranty work three times (curling pickguard causing hairline crack on top, loose binding, neck reset) and I have never a problem or hassle on any of the work. My son upgraded his Taylor reference above with new gold tuners and had two that were defective and Taylor sent him a complete replacement set no questions asked. Can't comment on Larrivee because I have never had to test their lifetime warranty.

[Glennd]

I continue to be thankful to all of you who take the time to respond. It is obvious that the participants on this forum actually take the time to think and formulate an answer before responding. There is a lot of very thought provoking information here and some tips on guitars that I have not played (or even considered). Looks as if I may be doing "research" for a while. Its hard work but someone has to do it. Again: MANY THANKS