To all you "Hog" owners

[CycleBob]

The one guitar I've owned and have always regretted letting go was a Martin D-15 solid Mahogany satin finish. Easy to play, nice tone, beautiful to look at and when you opened up the case you could smell the wood. Can anyone compare this  to a Larrivee they have now or have owned in the past and give me some background on the model. Thanks in advance

[abalone at last]

A Larrivee like this one would be nice!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Bdy5e01bxU

[tuffythepug]

Cyclebob, I've heard many people say how much they like the Martin D-15.  My own experience is a little different.  I bought one many years ago and could never quite bond with it.  It was a fine guitar but it just didn't have the sound I was looking for.   Since then I've had two all hog Larrivee guitars.    My Forum III LS-03MT ranks high on the list of guitars I've had the privilege to own.  It may be the best all mahogany guitar I've ever played.    I also had a Larrivee 000-50MT which was very nice as well.   Perhaps it was the particular Martin D-15 that I had but it just didn't live up to my expectations.   

[ffinke]

I don't have experience with all hog guitars but I do have experience with the Martin D-18 ('67 vintage). It was my ONLY guitar from '67-'82 and, much like Tuffy, I never quite bonded with that guitar either. I now own an L-03 (okay, Sapele or the African version of Mahogany) and it constantly amazes me with its balance, sustain and power. I consider the L-03 to be far superior to the D-18 but that could just be a manufacturing anomaly. I've only played one Martin that I think I should have bought (a Marquis OM-28 with Adi top) and that compared favorably to a Larrivee OM-09 that cost (new) only 2/3 of what the Marquis cost USED. I'm NOT saying Martin is a bad brand but for my money I think Larrivee is "consistently" better.

f

[bluesman67]

In my experience, a smaller bodied 12-fretter is the way to go for a hogtop.  My OM-03MT 12 fret Larrivee is the best sounding and feeling hogtop I've played.  I have played a Huss & Dalton, a Borgeois, owned a Martin 000-15 slot head and Martin D-15 slot head.  The Larrivee is top of all.  The H&D and Borgeois were amazing instruments but still by Larrivee sounded better to me, probably because it's been played and played and it's opened up nicely.  The Martin 000 was great but I liked the Larrivee a little better.  The D-15 was my least favorite.  I think it's because hogtops just sound better in a smaller body.  As for a 12-fretter, it just lends itself to the hogtop tone, if at all possible get a 12-fretter if you ever get another hogtop.

[ducktrapper]

If you don't also require a hog top, a D-05 is a very nice mahogany guitar. At least, mine sure is.  

[Walkerman]

Larrivee does "hog" right

[MCOOKOC]

i have a guild gad-25 and i think it is one of the best sounding guitars i've ever heard. i have some nice guitar, also taylor gc-5, larrivee p-09 and the quality and sound of this guitar is every bit as good as either one.