Can Larrivee beat a Martin HD-28?

[William2]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UhNGZl482bk

[jazzereh]

Didn't watch.  But, why care?  So many variables and issues for both player and listener.  Why do this?   Probably getting myself into trouble with this post.       

[StringPicker6]

Gotta create new "content" constantly...

[William2]

I found it an interesting comparison by a dealer that sells both. For all the hype Martin has, I've seen a lot of videos where it just doesn't sound as good to my ears as the competitor in this case Larrivee. I found the Larrivee more focused and balanced, and it had a much better higher register than the Martin. The Martin had a bigger bass, but I thought this would cloud things except if you were doing something like bluegrass. and I thought it sounded tubby. I think Alamo was looking for a product that is more affordable but performs equally well. And while it is mentioned that these instruments are only a couple of a hundred dollar apart and probably not a factor at this price point, the reviewer pointed out the things you get with Larrivee and not with Martin for their $200+ price. The reviewer mentioned that Martin is something people looking for an heirloom instrument would buy but why? I wouldn't with all their binding issues etc. For me, this was a great review.

[StringPicker6]

Alamo does good reviews. They are big fans of Yamaha which is refreshing to see.

[DaveyO]

I'll put up my D03R against the Martin D 28 any day
And no binding issues
I'm not harping on Martin's because I love the way they sound
But I love the sound of a Larrivee
Just as much or maybe more

[teh]

After watching the video and as a fan of both Martin and Larrivee guitars, I would be happy with either of these two models. Admittedly, I fast forwarded through the first few minutes of the video to get to the actual playing. While I like to save a few bucks as much as the next person, the $200 price difference for the Martin is negligible when spread out over the life of the guitar. When I bought my D-35 almost 49 years ago, it cost $75 more than a D-28 which works out to less than $1.50 per year. For my style of playing the D-35 was and still remains the right choice.

On my next trip to see my son in San Antonio, I will check out the Larrivees at both Alamo and Guitar Tex. I purposely avoided Guitar Tex back in June because a) my schedule didn't allow it and b) they had my birth year (1955), an all mahogany Martin, on their web page.

Respectfully, the reported and repeated binding issues with Martin are of little concern to me. I own three Martins each purchased new (49 years, 19 years and 10 years old). The only binding issue I've ever had occurred on my D-35 about 20 years ago. The neck binding and body binding came loose and the repair was fully covered under warranty. My four Larrivee acoustics including two Canadian built guitars (2004 and 2005) and two American built guitars (2021 and 2022) have had zero binding problems.

[Silence Dogood]

I've watched some of the reviews on that channel and find the sound very underwhelming.  I can see all the fancy mics and setup going on, but to me all the guitars just sound flat.  I posted a video of myself in the D03/L03 thread that was recorded with my iPhone sitting on a table in front of me and I think it sounds a lot better (especially with headphones) than these Alamo videos.  I give them props for showcasing the Larrivee line, but none of these videos would get me interested if I were among the uninitiated. 

[guitarman001]

Agree re the demo sound - the o40 one was the best.

I was at the shops today and Larrivee just wipes the floor with most guitars.
Saying that, there was a nice Martin OOO18MD but man, it's expensive and the bridge spacing is narrower than a P-03!

[William2]

I thought the demo sound was fine. Regardless, both instruments were getting the same treatment. I actually prefer the demos by Chris. He plays slower and allows you to hear if the instrument sustains well. If you look at a Larrivee demo from Heartbreakers Guitars, they always sound like there is some sort of processing going on. Even his voice sounds processed LOL. And most of the demonstrators are hotdogs. What's with this stupid slapping sound they all do?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFPMDaAK2WI

[guitarman001]

Haha love it! Don't mind a little slapping, never heard the hotdog comparison before!
That D05 demo is great.

[B0WIE]

 Since it's received a lot of discussion here I skimmed through it.
First, I don't understand how they could set up two mics in those particular positions without phase issues. I suspect only the SDC pointed at the 12th fret is in the actual vid. I could be wrong but it certainly sounds like a single mic at 2.5 to 3' away without EQ. They might have had both mics up to create options, or to blend one in low for extra warmth. Being that far might not be ideal for a solo recording but it's a great way to do comparisons as acoustics vary in where their "sweet spots" are. Being this far back creates a more level playing field.

 The HD28 is a great instrument, and still sounds "traditional", even though it's a newer design. I personally never cared for the Martin bass rumble. It feels good when you're playing but is disadvantageous in recordings and typically needs to be filtered out. I've always heard the big 3 as; Taylor having pronounced highs, Martin having deep bass, Gibson showcasing the midrange. For me, Larrivee is the porridge that is neither not nor cold, but right in the middle. Sound-wise, I tend to be drawn toward tones that give me a little bit of everything and never too much of one thing. I'm just glad there's instruments for every person and every mood. After all, that's what music is about.

[mike in lytle]

I used to have an HD28, then I found Larrivee.
This is a post from 2016.

http://www.larriveeforum.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=ie3fa7mb4k6t8r0g3vi6hebq13;topic=50501.msg444294#msg444294