Question About the SD Instrument and Traditional Dreadnought Guitars

[William2]

I'm going to buy most probably my last instrument this year. I have two Larrivee rosewood 40 series instruments (SD-40RW & D-40R). I am going to get a mahogany tone wood instrument either the SD-40 or SD-50 or D40. While I have talked about this in the past, things became more complicated when I learned Larrivee was coming out with a D-40 12-fret model. The dealer I work with will be getting one of these. And what he thinks between the 12-fret and 14-fret instrument will answer that question. I love my SD-40RW and think this instrument in mahogany may be right for me.
It is slightly deeper than the 000 and is so comfortable to play. I've read on a number of occasions and places that the SD-50 is so powerful ("a beast") on several sites. Is the Larrivee mahogany instrument punchier than the rosewood instrument? Does that gloss on the 50 series give a sound edge over the matt finish which I prefer? Would I be better off ordering a SD-40 and making changes I would want (moon spruce top, enlarged sound hole) or getting the SD-50 and possibly eliminating the gloss finish. I suppose for me the deciding factor will be the sound of the D-40 12-fret instrument when it comes in. I like both 12-fret and 14-fret instruments. The one advantage I see in the 14 fret dreadnought is it has more frets.

[ducktrapper]

A D-05 is fantastic. I sold mine because I didn't like the barndoor pickup but I want another sans the barndoor. I also sold my 12 fret OOO-50. Beautiful guitar but, in the end, I found 12 frets a limitation and didn't play it a lot. The only Larrivee I've ever played that I didn't like was an SD-60. I still believe the L model is the best Larrivee. I think Jean does, as well. 

[William2]

A D-05 is fantastic. I sold mine because I didn't like the barndoor pickup but I want another sans the barndoor. I also sold my 12 fret OOO-50. Beautiful guitar but, in the end, I found 12 frets a limitation and didn't play it a lot. The only Larrivee I've ever played that I didn't like was an SD-60. I still believe the L model is the best Larrivee. I think Jean does, as well. 

I was considering an L model. What changed my mind is this 12-fret dreadnought coming in and my curiosity as to how it sounds compared with a SD-40 and a D-40 14-fret instrument. And I must say I love all the Larrivee necks, but I am particularly partial to the 1 & 11/16" spacing. I believe the L model has a 1 & 3/4" neck. That's not a problem, I can play most necks but unlike Martin Larrivee offers both sizes. And while a 14 fretter is easier up high, I just free my thumb from being behind the neck like a cellist does. I'll talk with Dave after the holiday and see if he has any timelines on the incoming 12-fret D-40 and the 14-fret D-40.

[ducktrapper]

I was considering an L model. What changed my mind is this 12-fret dreadnought coming in and my curiosity as to how it sounds compared with a SD-40 and a D-40 14-fret instrument. And I must say I love all the Larrivee necks, but I am particularly partial to the 1 & 11/16" spacing. I believe the L model has a 1 & 3/4" neck. That's not a problem, I can play most necks but unlike Martin Larrivee offers both sizes. And while a 14 fretter is easier up high, I just free my thumb from being behind the neck like a cellist does. I'll talk with Dave after the holiday and see if he has any timelines on the incoming 12-fret D-40 and the 14-fret D-40.

To my way of thinking, the 40 series is to appeal to buyers who think all headstocks must be squared off and have herringbone in order to look like a Martin and all guitars must have a dark visible pickguard. I guess I prefer the look of the D-05. It just says Larrivee to me. Although I see even it now has a dark visible pickguard. I want to find a used one without. I think Jean has decided if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Shame.       

[William2]

To my way of thinking, the 40 series is to appeal to buyers who think all headstocks must be squared off and have herringbone in order to look like a Martin and all guitars must have a dark visible pickguard. I guess I prefer the look of the D-05. It just says Larrivee to me. Although I see even it now has a dark visible pickguard. I want to find a used one without. I think Jean has decided if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Shame.       

My preference for the 40 series is sustain. The dealer I work with and has opportunities to play them all contends the scalloped bracing offers more sustain. To me this makes sense, less wood more movement of the top. As a fingerstyle player, I need my melodic line to sustain while putting something like an arpeggio underneath it. And as a fingerstyle player, I agree that I prefer not having a pickguard on my instrument. I like the old Larrivee's with the clear pickguard. Why hide that beautiful wood? I have been watching Tune Up Guitars recently. They have been demoing new Larrivee's and all of them either don't have a pickguard or have a clear one and the instrument looks so much better. But I assume most steel string player use a plectrum, so I suppose it is necessary. I don't have a real headstock preference, but it is like all things, some people prefer different things. Here is a link describing the difference between a Martin D-28 and an HD-28. One of them is the scalloped vs non-scalloped bracing. It boils down to what you want to hear.

https://www.maurysmusic.com/maury_s_blog/view/185830/martin_d_28_vs_hd_28

[mike in lytle]

And I must say I love all the Larrivee necks, but I am particularly partial to the 1 & 11/16" spacing. I believe the L model has a 1 & 3/4" neck.

Well, not to throw another wrench into your decisions, and I am not recommending anything, and you probably know this already, but you can order the 1-11/16 neck for an L-body (and others, of course). They are called "fast necks", and some are on reverb. Not lefties though. The fast neck is a recent development. I like the idea.
Mike