How many here are COMPLETE converts ?

[ElJefe]

Even though I really enjoy my 000-50, if it came to keeping only 1, it would be my Bourgeois Vint-D.

[ducktrapper]

In my case, although having my mind set on a Martin, I stumbled onto this odd Canadian made guitar and ended up buying it. That was in 1976 and I've just never looked back.

[Dream_0n]

I'm glad this post has created such interest . Seems MANY of us always come to the same conclusion , you just CAN'T find a better  ( or as good for that matter ) guitar for the money . With a Larrivee you get ALL solid wood construction , top back AND sides . You get a ONE Piece neck and real black ebony fingerboard and bridge . And all this on even Larrivee's entry level guitars . You need to climb the ladder some to get these apointments with the other high end builders and that comes with quite a price tag . The price of used guitars is especially atractive with Larrivee and I guess thats what keeps me a Larrivee guy . I just don't think I can get anything that will feel and sound like my D-02 even , without paying at least 3 times the price I paid for it .

so .................... LUCKY US !!!  everybody siiiiiiiiiiiiing

[bigmo]

Everyone finds a degree of happiness in the price/value/tone categories in which they are comfortable.  Most wouldn't mind trying extremely expensive guitars given the chance, but they certainly aren't necessary to play well and have a good sound.  I have had so many acoustics and found my niche with Tacoma. Like many others I was "curious" about other solid wood guitars and tried a Taylor and Larrivee along side my Tacomas. Both were great guitars with great sound and playability, but I found myself sticking to the Tacomas due to whatever reasons got me there in the first place which was value/feel/sound and the availability of extremely different sound/feeling & playing models.

It's O.K. to have brand loyalty as we do it with everything in our lives from pants, shoes, cars & guitars!

[JohnM2001]

I just don't want to spend more than $1000-1200 on a guitar, and for that kind of money, Larrivee rules.  I really don't find many Martins or Taylors that float my boat in that price range, but the Larrivees are consistently good sounding, and for $1000-1200, you could get pretty much any 05 or 09 series used, and probably even 2 03's   

[Mikeymac]

Since I 'discovered' Larrivee in 1992 (quite by happy accident), I've owned two very nice ones (profile; the Parlor is my daughter's). 

I did own a Lowden for a brief time before my OM-05, but it was a righty that I converted for awhile.  Nice guitars; that one had more of a midrange tone to it.  But a new lefty would have been so expensive that I'd never be able to justify it (without incurring the wrath of you-know-who!).

I've gone back and forth between love and ambivalence about my LV-09.  (I even put it up for sale once here on the forum, but no takers.)  It's a beautiful guitar, but it doesn't 'grab' me the way my 05 does. 

Also own an Ovation Legend 1777, which is up for sale right now, but actually, sometimes I like it's very different tone; more 'in your face' and louder than the Larry's...plus I don't worry near as much when I use it publicly about abuse/accidents.  So it may come back home after a couple months on consignment locally (which can be hard on your guitar!). 

There are so many wonderful guitars out there, it's just silly to say Larrivee is 'the best' (whatever that is), but I agree it seems to be the most consistent mid-price range guitar...every once in a while I play a Martin or a Gibson that really moves me, but it's rare, and they're usually the $3,500 on up models, and I've played lots of them that - at least while new - didn't sound worth the $$.

Maybe another thread that might be a good follow up to this one (and I know it's been done before) would be:

"What will your next guitar purchase be (Larrivee or non-Larrivee)?"

[edgeguy]

The other brands are good but there is something about the balance, tone, quality and affordability that led me to being strictly a Larrivee owner at this point in time. Things can change but it's obvious there's something special about Larrivee that keeps grabbing my fancy

I have an OM-03MQ and I love the sound and construction of the guitar they are both first class.  I love to flatpick and I seem to gravitate to a SD-60 and a D-60 as my next choice.  I have thought about a Martin but I always come back to the Larrivee's.  I also am able to only afford one or two guitars and I feel that combination would be it for me.  So I guess you can put me down as a complete convert. 

Proud to be a Larrivee owner. 

[RKV]

I have a D-60. I've owned a Martin D-28 in the past. The Larrivee is just as good and is my personal choice. Of course, the price of these two dreads are pretty much the same.

Randy

[ducktrapper]

In the end, I've stuck with what works. Fender, Larrivée, Yamaha, Boss, D'Addario. That's pretty much it. Price is an intersting thing. If I wanted a Ryan or a Lowden or vintage Martin I could wrangle it price wise. I don't play the only guitar I can afford. Price difference and qualtiy difference is a funny thing. For instance, in the old days some thought that you bought a D18 'cos you couldn't afford a D28. What? You prefer mahogany? Since getting my L09 in 1976 I've had a soft spot for Larrivées. I've bought several. I've tried every well known brand you can name almost. And still the Larrivées. The thing is, I feel no compunction about having done so. No regrets, no remorse. <cue> Ode to Joy.

[spenser]

Relatively new guy here, and have to echo what Ducktrapper said.  I started with an OM-03, then had to "have a martin."  Found the classic used D-28, and loved the sound but coudnt make the size or small neck work.  Karma struck when I walked into my local dealer and an OMV-60 just sucked me in, looks, sound, butterbean tuners....life was good and the D-28 went on the consignment wall.  Couple of months later an SD-50 followed me home and the group is complete.  I truly stopped looking at other "temptresses"

[mrrinse]

I'm nearly a complete Larry convert. My Larri's are the only steel string guitars I regularly play.

I do have a 1999 Taylor 510 but don't really play it. I must say it's well made, great tone and very light ... but the neck isn't as comfortable (bit too slim) and it's too narrow (1 11/16ths) - we're it not for that, I'd be less tempted to sell it, but I think it's got to go.

That said, if I were to buy another acoustic (who am I kidding? WHEN I buy another acoustic) I doubt it'll be a Larry - just for varieties' sake! I'll probably go custom, or possibly Breedlove / Taylor / Martin / something else... Keen to have something with a different voicing really (though the same neck'd and playability would be sweet!).

D

[woodruff]

the only problem with being a larry convert because of my L-03 WL is that GAS is gone for what feels like forever. i miss wanting another gutar, but then i pull out the larry walnutter and realize i just dont need anything else. 

[ducktrapper]

We can only hope that this will pass with time and you'll return to normal. ;)

[woodruff]

We can only hope that this will pass with time and you'll return to normal. ;)

hehehehe. let's hope so! but i was playing my larry walnutter last night before bed, and the d'addario pb 12s are almost a week old and really borken in now, and i just couldnt believe that GAS was dead.

[Tony Burns]

Half of the fun of playing is owning different guitars of different makes - i have many fine instruments that i would never get rid of - no matter how much i loved my Larrivee - If i ever even though about this , id expect someone to put me in the nut house - I think thats where anyone belongs who gets rid of high end instruments and puts all their eggs in one basket . Im not counting beaters you take camping either - Their sound is different from one another !

[woodruff]

I thank God for Larrivee.

[lorenzo]

I got my first Larrivee - a lefty OMV-03 - about a month ago, and was sure I'd found the brand I'd stick with after being a bit disappointed with my old Martin D-15. But then I stumbled upon a Martin 000-28 in a shop at the weekend and couldn't turn it down...lefty 000-28s are pretty hard to come by in my neck of the woods.

So I'm not a complete convert...I couldn't resist the 000-28's gloss finish on that lovely rosewood back and sides, and that deep, dark sound! But I still think Larrivees are amazing guitars and will definitely be buying one again. I feel a D-05 calling out to me...

[bhika]

I got my first Larrivee - a lefty OMV-03 - about a month ago, and was sure I'd found the brand I'd stick with after being a bit disappointed with my old Martin D-15. But then I stumbled upon a Martin 000-28 in a shop at the weekend and couldn't turn it down...lefty 000-28s are pretty hard to come by in my neck of the woods.

So I'm not a complete convert...I couldn't resist the 000-28's gloss finish on that lovely rosewood back and sides, and that deep, dark sound! But I still think Larrivees are amazing guitars and will definitely be buying one again. I feel a D-05 calling out to me...

Greetings Lorenzo and Welcome, let me know if you ever get sick of that Lefty 000-28.