OM-03MT Forum II #2 has a new home

phil · February 23, 2007, 08:40:44 PM

It has a new home and it won't be going anywhere for a long long long time. Thanks very much to kdonovan for selling me this guitar. I couldn't be happier. I know that the buying and selling of these forum guitars has been a little controversial in the past. I believe that this one has had three previous owners in it's short life, but they've all been forum members, as am I. It's pretty hard to know if you're going to love an instrument without playing it first, so I'm not surprised that a few of these guitars have changed hands already. This one had to take a few UPS rides before it found a home.

Take a look.

Denis · February 23, 2007, 09:07:22 PM

Nice...ever have trouble picking which to play? What's the nut width on the LG-0? It looks like you've had the original plastic bridge removed and a rosewood one installed in it's place?

Congrats Phil.

kdonovan · February 23, 2007, 09:10:57 PM

Phil,
The guitar looks like it's in good family.

Enjoy

kdonovan

prof_stack · February 23, 2007, 10:50:34 PM

Quote from: kdonovan on February 23, 2007, 09:10:57 PM
Phil, The guitar looks like it's in good family. Enjoy kdonovan

Kevin, is that revolving guitar door still revolving? Wow, that's amazing!

So, is the walnut your main player nowadays?

sgarnett · February 24, 2007, 12:05:16 AM

Quote from: phil on February 23, 2007, 08:40:44 PMI know that the buying and selling of these forum guitars has been a little controversial in the past. I believe that this one has had three previous owners in it's short life, but they've all been forum members, as am I. It's pretty hard to know if you're going to love an instrument without playing it first, so I'm not surprised that a few of these guitars have changed hands already.

There's a lot of reasons for selling a guitar. Various Forums have been sold due to money problems such as school or legal fees. Some have been sold just to finance or make room for something even more special (those "I'll never find another one" buys). Some just didn't sound or feel right because a previous owner had very different setup tastes, but that's easy to fix-. Some just weren't the right size. I'm not pulling any of those out of the hat; those have all been reasons for Forum guitar sales.

They are fine guitars. Don't try to read to much into it. A group that loves trying "new" guitars while limited by finite income, space, and marital concerns has to make choices.

prof_stack · February 24, 2007, 12:43:09 AM

Quote from: sgarnett on February 24, 2007, 12:05:16 AM
There's a lot of reasons for selling a guitar. Various Forums have been sold due to money problems such as school or legal fees. Some have been sold just to finance or make room for something even more special (those "I'll never find another one" buys). Some just didn't sound or feel right because a previous owner had very different setup tastes, but that's easy to fix-. Some just weren't the right size. I'm not pulling any of those out of the hat; those have all been reasons for Forum guitar sales.

I'll add a point you didn't mention but probably assumed - the guitar just didn't sound that special to the owner! Sometimes we see lots of reasons for selling our guitars here (and I have sold a couple), and most never mention it, but we grew tired of the sound and wanted to try something different.

phil · February 24, 2007, 08:59:31 AM

Quote from: Denis on February 23, 2007, 09:07:22 PM
Nice...ever have trouble picking which to play? What's the nut width on the LG-0? It looks like you've had the original plastic bridge removed and a rosewood one installed in it's place?

Denis - The nut on the LG-0 is really narrow. I'm not sure what it is exactly, but it's narrower than my OM-02 which is 1 11/16. The bridge had already been replaced when I bought it. It's a very comfortable and fun guitar to play. It's got an unusual sound. Some notes sound very sweet and others land with a thud.

I never have any trouble deciding which to play. I try to play them all as much as possible!

sgarnett · February 24, 2007, 09:28:45 AM

Personally, I'm convinced that the Forum guitars and their other rare cousins (Pete Anderson and apparently a few custom 12 fret OM-05s) are about the best thing since sliced bread, and #II-2 is a real beauty. I've been told that it was the most highly figured hog top out of the second run (dunno about the first run). Have you taken any pictures of the back yet?

Denis · February 24, 2007, 11:10:57 AM

Quote from: phil on February 24, 2007, 08:59:31 AM
Denis - The nut on the LG-0 is really narrow. I'm not sure what it is exactly, but it's narrower than my OM-02 which is 1 11/16. The bridge had already been replaced when I bought it. It's a very comfortable and fun guitar to play. It's got an unusual sound. Some notes sound very sweet and others land with a thud.

I never have any trouble deciding which to play. I try to play them all as much as possible!

Yeah, I love the old Gibson LG's but they have such narrow nuts that I don't see myself ever buying one. A local shop has 2. I tried this one and it was really sweet sounding but for fingerstyle, the nut is too narrow:

http://www.retrotownmusic.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=65&products_id=1161

Love the old Gibsons though. Especially when they've got mojo like this!

DreaminColor · February 24, 2007, 06:07:32 PM

Wow - great looking guitars there Phil. Congrats on the new one! I just bought a Sigurdson from Kevin and am LOVING it (Thanks Kevin).

Enjoy!

kdonovan · February 24, 2007, 06:56:26 PM

I am glad that I could help you guys

It is a great comfort to me to know that they both have good homes.

kdonovan

LookingForLarri · February 24, 2007, 11:14:52 PM

phil,

I am glad to see #2 found a good home. I was the orignal owner and I loved the guitar but this sweet short scale Santa Cruz came along and well you know the story. SO i guess I fell into the "I'll never find another one category" As for being the most figured of the second batch, I think that is a true statement.
These hog top forum models are very special guitars, I mean why else would he play one ?

Here's a few pictures when #2 when I got her straight from Jason, including one of the back.

Congrats....

Randy_R · February 25, 2007, 10:04:34 AM

Here's a picture of your guitar with its brothers and sisters before leaving home...

LookingForLarri · February 25, 2007, 12:42:51 PM

Nice pic Randy, that was really fun waiting for the Forums to complete...

Here are a couple of NUDE shots of #2

Celticjam · February 25, 2007, 02:28:50 PM

I too was a previous owner of this fine guitar. It definitely has a great look and sound. I traded it on a whim to KDonovan for an equally special guitar, an OM-03 with an Engelmann top and black walnut back and sides. I forwarded on a ton of pix of Phil. If this guitar collected frequent flyer miles I think it would be vacationing in Hawaii this year. I'm not taking anything away from this guitar, I think it was just mere coincidence that it wound up in previous unsettled homes, I have another Forum (Spruce topped 4 of 17, first run) which is also a stunningly good guitar. Enjoy your guitar Phil.

phil · February 25, 2007, 05:24:47 PM

Thanks all for the great pics and comments. I've spent the weekend with this guitar and I can't get over how easy it is to play, along with the strength and balance of it's tone. I hope the people at Larrivee take notice of all of the compliments that these 12-fret/long-scale OM's get and consider adding a model like this to the permanent lineup.