Larrivee newb!

[josheesh]

hell
my name is j sh and i guess u guys can tell i'm kinda new
hehe

anyways, i've had a pretty crappy fender acoustic guitar for a little over a year (possibly two now) but i've been looking at the larrivee guitars recently and i'm planning on buying a new guitar!
My budget is about $2000 Canadian, and I currently have my eyes set on the D-10 (mind u i also need a preamp)
now i know this guitar is over $2000 but when i saw it,, i think i fell in love.

is there anybody who has had experience with this guitar? or anyone have any suggestions for a larrivee newbie?
thanks a l t!

josh

[Danny]

  Are you offering donuts from hell

[Makarovii]

Thanks for the coffee and doughnuts Josh!    

I'm saving up the cash for another Larrivee to keep my '04 D-03 company. When I have enough saved I'll be looking for something with rosewood too... Meanwhile, I'll let the wise, experienced ones answer your questions. 

[jeremy3220]

now i know this guitar is over $2000 but when i saw it,, i think i fell in love.

but how did it sound?

[Danny]

  OK just kiddin, look at the way you post starts   Hell   
     Welcome to the forum, check out all the different Larrivees you can put your hands on. I had a D-09 once and it underwelmed me. I prefer the L series overall. But if I was to get a Larri dread it would be a SD-60. Which to me would be a better choice than a D-10. BUT, you alone should choose what you like. Don't just go by looks. The Larrivees are different in tone and volume from model to model. Some will sound a lot alike , but other models will be worlds apart in tone and volume.   Danny   Oh yea, thanks for the 

[josheesh]

but how did it sound?

yeah,, i tried a d-05 a while ago at long and mcquade,,, and i LOVED how the tone is so well balanced..
u'll know what i mean through this clip:

http://www.guitaradoptions.com/audio/nov06/larriveed09bz.mp3

this clip is the d-09 brazilian rosewood, but thats the kind of sound i'm looking for and i'm assuming that the d-10 is gonna be around the same (or better)

i'm gonna go to a guitar store tomorrow to see my options!

[jeremy3220]

this clip is the d-09 brazilian rosewood, but thats the kind of sound i'm looking for and i'm assuming that the d-10 is gonna be around the same (or better)

Why do you think that? I'll let you in on a little secret. The D-03R is the same guitar as the D-10 without the jewerly and supposedly half the finish thickness. I'd save some of that 2k and look for a nice sounding D-03R or buy something else in the 2k range... that's me though. If you like the D-10 go for it.

[Danny]

    The D-10 will have tight grain Rosewood and spruce and will take time to open up. JCL said as much very recently. This will vary from git to git a little though.

[josheesh]

hi guys
thanks for the replies! 
i just got back from the guitar store, and i tried out the d-03,, and i really like the tone (spruce, mahogany) and it was only about $1000!
i really like the tone, it was really well balanced which is what i'm looking for
i didn't really like the d-03r

the one that they have tho does not have a pickup and i need one

any comments? is this a decent guitar? any suggestions for pickups? is the one that the other larrivee guitars come with decent? in that case i might just order one

[L1D1]

If you found one that you really like then just install an aftermarket pickup. K & K mini's are considered top tier and arguably better than most factory offerings. The fact you found a geet with the sound you like is critical, if you order one then "who knows".

[bluesman67]

Welcome newb and thans for the donuts from hell.

You have discovered the 03 series.  They are outstanding as are all Larrivees.  O3's are identical to the other series with a few differences, but the important thing is that they all sound great.  The satin finish and "bling" are the only differences.  BTW, you can do better on price.  Larrivee L-03's are real nice too.  The L has a wider nut and is more comfortable to sit and play.

[josheesh]

Welcome newb and thans for the donuts from hell.

You have discovered the 03 series.  They are outstanding as are all Larrivees.  O3's are identical to the other series with a few differences, but the important thing is that they all sound great.  The satin finish and "bling" are the only differences.  BTW, you can do better on price.  Larrivee L-03's are real nice too.  The L has a wider nut and is more comfortable to sit and play.

hey
i tried the L-03,, but i liked the D-03 a lot better,... i found that i couldn't get the same kind of tone with any of the other guitars than the D-03.. is that right? was it possibly that the strings were older on all the other ones?

[gkella]

There is a beautiful LV 09 at the Twelfth Fret in Toronto.
It is selling for $2170.00.
Great guitar.
I almost bought it today but decided on a D 60 MR. (it was used and I got a great deal).
Glen

[teh]

Go with your eye, your ear, your heart and your gut. (Sometimes in the end, instinct is the final decider). I have both a Martin D-35 and an OM-35 so I am the wrong one to lecture anyone on spending less but the Larrivee's are pretty amazing.

I am not much on bling and am more interested in construction and tonewoods which is why I also have two satin finish Larrivees. My Parlour and LV-03 12 string both have bones saddles and I added an L.R. Baggs pickup to the 12. Since I ordered a Mahogany Top for my 12, it was a special order that took about 10 weeks to build. No regrets but if you found one that speaks to you in the store, go for it. That's how I ended up with the Parlour and the Martin OM.

You can have a pickup installed. I like the L.R. Baggs because it only required one small hole and the volume control is inside the soundhole but lots of people swear by the K&K mini.

[Danny]

hi guys
thanks for the replies! 
i just got back from the guitar store, and i tried out the d-03,, and i really like the tone (spruce, mahogany) and it was only about $1000!
i really like the tone, it was really well balanced which is what i'm looking for
i didn't really like the d-03r

the one that they have tho does not have a pickup and i need one

any comments? is this a decent guitar? any suggestions for pickups? is the one that the other larrivee guitars come with decent? in that case i might just order one

It has a clear pickgaurd. Unless it is used and someone removed it. A pickgaurd is easier to put on than changing strings. The shop would do it for you for nothing if it really doesn't have a clear one.   Buy it if the price is right. It sounds like you like it a lot.   Danny

[josheesh]

   It has a clear pickgaurd. Unless it is used and someone removed it. A pickgaurd is easier to put on than changing strings. The shop would do it for you for nothing if it really doesn't have a clear one.   Buy it if the price is right. It sounds like you like it a lot.   Danny

nono,, i need a pickUP.. not a pickguard hehehe
it does have the pickguard though

anyways,, i've been kinda doing some research,, and i tumbled upon the LR Baggs iBeam.. i noticed that the people who do use it mainly pick.. for about 90% - 95% of the time,, i strum.. would the iBeam still be good for strummers? and if so,, which one exactly? if not... well.. hehe any recommendations?

thanks a lot guys!

[josheesh]

There is a beautiful LV 09 at the Twelfth Fret in Toronto.
It is selling for $2170.00.
Great guitar.
I almost bought it today but decided on a D 60 MR. (it was used and I got a great deal).
Glen

haha i was there the same day you were!
i dunno if i was there at the same time though.. i went around 11ish.. i was that asian kid with that single strap bag playing only larrivees and only like.. 2 chords     

[Danny]

nono,, i need a pickUP.. not a pickguard hehehe
it does have the pickguard though

anyways,, i've been kinda doing some research,, and i tumbled upon the LR Baggs iBeam.. i noticed that the people who do use it mainly pick.. for about 90% - 95% of the time,, i strum.. would the iBeam still be good for strummers? and if so,, which one exactly? if not... well.. hehe any recommendations?

thanks a lot guys!

Well sometimes I am smarter than a hog, and some days I should just stay in bed.

       The L R Baggs Element Active System is not intrusive and has a preamp and volume control wheel that mounts just inside the sound hole. It is barely visible but easy to adjust. A mini mike or magnetic pick up can be added to this system. But you can't add an ibeam.  It may be a good one to start with.