Which Larrivee would you say closest matches a Martin D-18?

[dwils]

The D-05?
The D-50?
Or perhaps the D-03?

Second question --- would it be "redundant" to have both a HOG larrivee and a HOG Martin?

A D-18 in the For Sale section triggered this question ...

/devin

[limnephilidae]

Second question --- would it be "redundant" to have both a HOG larrivee and a HOG Martin?

/devin

I would say that it would be more redundant to have more than 03 than it would be to have a Martin and Larrivee. Tonewood is not necessarily the major factor in tone or GAS. :)

[Zohn]

No Larrivee model was ever designed to sound or appear like Martin, Gibson or any other traditional design. The X-brace is where any similarity begins and ends. They're 1 of a very few that is qualified to make that claim.(the latest is PRS)

[Johnny M]

I would say that it would be more redundant to have more than 03 than it would be to have a Martin and Larrivee. Tonewood is not necessarily the major factor in tone or GAS. :)

Hey Limnephilidae,

How is your D-18 holding up?  When you got it, did it sound tight?  Has it opened up any since getting it?  I heard that the straight braced Martins need some breaking in.  Any comments?  A lot of people around here say Larrivee does mahogany good, but Martin has been doing it good for 175 years.  There are so many great guitars out there these days ...

John

[dwils]

 
Believe it or not, but it didn't even occur to me that I was asking about redundancies and I have two D-03s listed there!
Funny -- I feel like the 12 string puts it in another category --- got a great deal on it and was very curious about how Larrivee handled 12 strings so I added it to my mix. [Larrivee handles 12 nicely I might add  ]

dw

[prof_stack]

The D-05?
The D-50 - but I think the D-50 is a better guitar.  ?
Or perhaps the D-03?

Second question --- would it be "redundant" to have both a HOG larrivee and a HOG Martin?  No, if you the type to own more than three guitars.  Otherwise, yes.
/devin

The D-50 - but I think the D-50 is a better guitar.  However, if value is what you want, the Martin D-18 will likely hold its value and be worth more $ in the future.
With the different types of tonewood available these days not to mention guitar sizes, why not have more diversity?

[ducktrapper]

I look at it this way. The plain old D18 isn't the Martin it used to be or they wouldn't have models like the D18 vintage era or the authentic etc. So ... if you want a guitar of similar quality but not the same, try a D03. If you want something better but something that looks like the 18, try the D50. If you just want a superior dread that is definitely Larrivée get the D05. If you want a Martin, buy a Martin. They come in all sizes.       

[magictwanger]

I'm gonna take a shot at the second part,for the "most part".

  I've been doing some serious guitar shopping this winter,and played alot of fine instruments with an eye on buying what my ear liked.It's amazing how critical the ear gets when you are about to spend your own cash.

  The Martin D-18 is still a superb guitar,for what it is.Larrivee sounds different,imo.Not redundant "if" you can feel,and hear a difference.Still a viable combination to have in your collection if you happen to like hog dreads.I do,but my hog is a nice OM.I'm pretty  well covered in the dread category,with two rosewood models,which are completely different in all respects.....I like the idea of having a small stable of gits,without being a collector.

  I believe Martin,like many competing mfgrs,make superb instruments.I don't own one,but surely appreciate the unique Martin-ness of the product line....Larrivee(I own one)is totally a different vibe,and you've got to love the difference.Why would one want to have it any other way?

  If you "go for" a certain combination of attributes,and can appreciate the differences in presentation,then be happy and you won't need anyone's approval,other than yourself.

  Best of luck

[Stringdancer]

Devin,
In my opinion there isn't a hog Larry that sounds like a Martin and it was meant to be that way....which is a good thing. I am a huge Mahogany fan,and there is much more than a subtle difference between Martin hog and Larry Hog and I luv em both.

[limnephilidae]

Hey Limnephilidae,

How is your D-18 holding up?  When you got it, did it sound tight?  Has it opened up any since getting it?  I heard that the straight braced Martins need some breaking in.  Any comments?  A lot of people around here say Larrivee does mahogany good, but Martin has been doing it good for 175 years.  There are so many great guitars out there these days ...

John

It was tight but I'd say that 2.5 weeks of daily playing opened it up quite a bit. I got tired of waiting so I really tried to hit the ceiling on it, now it's starting to sound sweeter than harsh and I'm surprised at the volume this thing has. That could be just due to the fact that I'm used to rosewood and mahogany apparently gives more to the player. I haven't recorded it yet or played it front of anyone so I can't really tell how it much it projects. I can say that I am already starting to enjoy the direct midrange with a little oomph in the bass.

I was just away for a week on business and I wasn't able to bring a guitar. The two guitars I was thinking about the most were my D60 MR (by far my favorite) and my D-18. I have high expectations that the Forum III guitar will turn out to be another sweet song that I pine for in absentia.