New here, much love for the parlors, chime in.

[On The Grass]

Hello to all here at the larrivee forum. My name is Mike and i live here in beaufitul vancouver B.C.. Im new to this forum but have been on the UMGF for awhile, same user name. I have been reading here for some time as well and decided to join up. First let me say Martins are my first love but larrivees are quickly becoming a close second. I love martins for their classic tone, and find larrivees have amazing tone aswell but seem to come from a more modern place, equally pleasing. I do not currently own a larrivee but im goin to purchase one very soon, a P-09. I went to tom lee downtown last weekend and played a whole whack of guitars, Guilds, Martins, Taylors(not a big taylor fan BTW), and a bunch of Larrivees. There are two large acoustic rooms, of the two, Larrivee gets the larger one all to itself. Theres a killer range of models there. I played most of what they had, all makes. The one that really struck me was the P-09, i play an alvarez sitka/hog dread right now and am looking for an upgrade. I think a rosewood small-body would be a great compliment to my other acoustic, oh yes it will be mine  . Well thats all i wanted to say in my first post, new to Larrivee but looking to stay awhile. Id like to hear what you guys think of the parlors, am i making the right choice. Thanks fellas, I love guitar forums.

Mike, here in beautiful B.C.


-its all in the ear of the beholder-

[Queequeg]

Welcome OTG. 
lots of parlor lovers here. I bought my first one in 2002, and added a second one last year, a P-09 and I dig it a lot. it is very fast and responsive. Most folks like them best with medium strings on them. the resale value is good as there remans strong demand for especially the first plain jane parlors.
Most people agree they're not as well suited for strumming as fingerstyle.
Not everybody is a parlor fan here but its a substantial and growing club.

[BlastersFan55]

  

Hi Mike,

I bought my first Larry parlor about a month ago, and I love it.  I played it quite a bit over the weekend doing both flatpicking and fingerstyle stuff, and I really think it's a great guitar.  I have light strings on it now, but most likely I'll throw on some mediums soon, and see how that goes.  Good luck buying the P-09, and let us know how yiou like it!

[Larrivee4me]

Hi and welcome,
   Rosewood parlor owner here. I bought it mainly for travel though I play it around the house quite a bit too.  Play the parlor in every wood you can find before you decide. I still love my rosewood but I also like the mahogany flavor too. If you're not stuck on the parlor size, play the larger cousins also. The slightly larger lower bout has a different voice and fuller bass.
I also use medium gauge strings on the parlor. That and the bone saddle make this little sweetheart ring.  Good luck with your search!

[hatofthecat]

Hi On the Grass same as you I bought my first parlor last year as a contrast to my full body guitars and whilst it took a little while to get used to its certainly a "must have" now.  The plain Jane satin I had was sold last month to help pay for a Rosewood as I was looking for more overtones and boy did I get them.  Currently strung with GHS Bright Bronze mediums and sounds great though I am having a Colosi saddle fitted (hopefully Saturday) as whilst it had an upgraded saddle fitted by previous owner I think it needs tiny setup tweak and I also know there's a plastic shim under the existing saddle..... just don't like knowing its there     ...still given how she sounds and sustains now any improvement on that will be a miracle...

Hey Larrivee4me I think our parlors must be pretty close cousins as yours has a very similar top to mine 

[Larrivee4me]

The shim must go!   

[On The Grass]

Thanks for the replies, i think im making the right choice. I play about 95% flatpick and i really like how the parlor responds to strumming. That is some remarkable bear clawing on those tops guys, very nice. The one im looking at buying has no bear claws and barley any cross silking, very straight grain Adirondack quality to it. Nice to see some variety in the same model. I cant wait much longer  . Later all.


Mike, here in beautiful B.C.

-its all in the ear of the beholder-

[Paulw128]

Mike;

Welcome and good luck with your P09. I own a Martin HD28V, had it for almost 10 years and purchased my first Larrivee in Sept., a P09. I LOVE it, it plays, sounds and looks beautiful. I still love my Martin but there's something about that little  P09 that just grabs you, you'll see what I mean when you get yours.

Regards
Paul

[bogie]

Hello, Mike:

Lyle here, from Toronto. I am a confirmed parlor addict, have a plain jane unbound sitka/hog from '99 and just bought a P-09 Walnut that is amazing. Soon to add a full hog 03 to my stable, too.

These are the most amazing guitars. Remember, size isn't everything.

My plain jane has such a huge voice, I hope that your new P-09 makes you as happy.

[Denis]

Soon to add a full hog 03 to my stable, too.

Lyle, as a hog lover and an owner of one of these little gems, I can safely say that if it's anything like, mine, you will be more than happy!

Are you buying the one in the Buy and Sell section here on the forum>  I got mine from a forum member here as well.  I am waiting for a K&K mini I ordered online to arrive.  Then I can start playing it at my usual open mic on Monday nights.  I was juyst playing it last night after not having touched it in nearly a week.  Amazing guitars..

[bogie]

Are you buying the one in the Buy and Sell section here on the forum> 

Yes, Denis, that is the one that I am seriously considering. However, my wife might insist that I sell my P-09 Walnut if I buy it.

Our small Toronto apt. is already getting overrun with guitars, I guess. Plus, you can only play one at a time as they say.

I am also considering the K&K mini Western pickup. Won't you have to drill a hole in the heel of your 03 to accomodate it, I don't beliieve it has a strap pin does it?

[Denis]

Yes, Denis, that is the one that I am seriously considering. However, my wife might insist that I sell my P-09 Walnut if I buy it.

Our small Toronto apt. is already getting overrun with guitars, I guess. Plus, you can only play one at a time as they say.

I am also considering the K&K mini Western pickup. Won't you have to drill a hole in the heel of your 03 to accomodate it, I don't beliieve it has a strap pin does it?

Yes, yes...the dreaded one in, one out policy.  I know it well.   

I had a strap pin put in already but it's not the Larrivee kind that you have to drill a 1/2" hole to accomodate.  It really doesn't matter because I won't be doing the drilling.  My tech will do it and he'll take the strap pin that I have already and he can put it in the heel of the neck...just like he did with my L-03.  I love the K&K minis.  They sound great but I have one of those Behringer mini boards with the mic preamps built in and when I bring the parlor to the open mic, I plan on bringing the mixer to use as a preamp for the K&K.  Bet it'll sound awesome.

All mahogany Larrivees are very special bogie.  I loved the rosewood /sitka parlor I used to have but the all mahogany is so nice.  If you check my videos at myspace (click on the small earth icon under my ID on the left) you can see/hear it on a few tunes.

[bogie]

  If you check my videos at myspace (click on the small earth icon under my ID on the left) you can see/hear it on a few tunes.

I have seen your vids, Denis. In 20 years or so, and with a little luck, I will be able to play like that. Funny thing, I don't hear any of that supposed satin "swoosh" in any of your recordings.

[jwieties]

Did someone say all mahogany parlor.



-josh