My "Very Cherry" Cherry Sunburst Flamed Maple Larrivee

[George]

This guitar looks just as incredible as it sounds.  It is a D-03 FM Custom that was built in Vancouver, BC.  It is another of my "keeper" Larrivee guitars...

[George]

Two more pics.

[George]

headstock pics.  These tuners match the body colors quite well...

[flatlander]

Nice. And how does it sound? I was so pleasantly surprised at how warm the Pete Anderson I got was. I thought maple was always going to be really bright.

[George]

Maple is one of my favorite tonewoods, not the only one, but one of the favorites.  This guitar sounds just as awesome as any Larrivee does and every combination sounds different to me.  I think how it sounds depends a lot on how you play it...  This one is not as loud as rosewood, but not as warm as walnut, maybe somewhere between mahogany and silver oak? 

[Walkerman]

Is that a satin finish?

[George]

Embellished satin...

[Walkerman]

Embellished satin...

Meaning what?  TIA

[George]

It simply means that when a satin guitar has an obviously really nice underlying figure that is not prominent, I sometimes enhance it by using a microfine cream based polishing compound that only reduces the satin sheen on top of the finish just enough to enhance the figure in the wood.  I have intentionally done this to only three of my nice Larrivee guitars.  Most of my satins are natural and not "embellished".  It does not shine like a gloss finish and will only semi-gloss if you are determined to achieve that effect.  The product I use is a commercially available guitar finish scratch remover that is intended for use on nitro-gloss finishes.  I accidentally discovered its polishing capabilities while dressing up some tiny tool marks from a nut replacement on a satin finished electric guitar.  This guitar has such beautiful flame in the maple and trim, I just had to bring it out.  This is the only satin I have ever applied any at all to the top, and it really made the cherry glow slightly while bringing out the slight figure in the spruce...  This may be more information than what you asked for?