Forum III impressions and discussion

[Mr_LV19E]

I haven't read through this whole thread so if this has been discussed sorry I missed it. 
When I got my F-III in April I took it up north with me and played it all summer, brought it home at the end of October and put it in the closet and have been playing my other guitars that I didn't get to play for 6 months.
I  just noticed this morning that the sound hole on the F-III is smaller (by an 1/8 inch) than my other Larrivees. Had anybody else noticed this? And why would they do this?
for your thoughts.

[BenF]

because it is loud enough!!!!!!!!

I also noticed, not sure why.

[Stephen Basil]

I figured that it was to keep the proportions in scale with L-body.  But it does indeed give off a big sound.

[Denis]

Yeah, I would think the soundhole is smaller because the guitar is smaller too?

[Mr_LV19E]

Yeah, I would think the soundhole is smaller because the guitar is smaller too?

So what is the size of the soundhole on a parlor or 00? I don't remember my parlor having a smaller hole.

[vates]

I have once had a very old no-name guitar of roughly the same size as my FIII. The soundhole on that was smaller the same way.

[Mr_LV19E]

My Guild D-40 I once owned had a smaller sound hole.

[prof_stack]

Recently I put the original TUSQ saddle back on the LS-03R, but didn't change the strings.  The guitar sounded brighter to my ears compared to sound from the Jim H installed bone saddle.  I thought I was playing a Taylor.   

Then I changed the strings from EJ-16 to EXP-12 (mediums) and put the bone saddle back in.  The coated strings have a different sound than the uncoated EJ-16 (light) and I don't like it nuch.  After 2 weeks I put the TUSQ saddle back in and after a week of playing I can say clearly that the sound is more tinny and bright.  So today I put the bone saddle back in and it will stay.  The sound is more rounded and pleasing. 

For the next string change the F-III will get EJ-16 or EJ-17 strings.

[playstrings]

  Tone is such a personal interpretation that can be effected by so many factors, time of day, stresses, beverages (LOL).
I bought mine from the Dragon Man and he had, Martin FX Flexible Core Light (12-54) 80/20 bronze, with the TUSQ. He had the bone but preferred the Tusq. I am really enjoying the mellow tone of the martins and the feel. They are coated but do not feel as slippery as the Elixirs or EXP. Some day I will flip in the bone just to compare. Right now I am just enjoying it the way it is........Thanks D-Man

[BenF]

My son on holiday. The only sunny place in the UK this weekend.  Very grateful for the forum III hat!! Cheers Jim

[LaminateBoy]

It seems this is the first post here in a little over 10 years. I thought I would relate my experience with Forum III mahogany top. When I first received the guitar, I liked it for finger picking, but I  didn't like the tone when I used and flatpick and flatpicking is what I do most of the time. I played it exclusively for one year - at home and at lots of open mics - and I always wished I was playing my L instead. I never bonded with the Forum III, so I put it away in its case. From time to time I would take the guitar out, play it a bit, then put it away. I still didn't like it. But last year I played it for the first time in quite a while and I really, really liked it. Either the guitar had changed or my ears had changed. Now it is one of my favourites. I'm glad I didn't sell it.

[vates]

I still play my F-III from time to time and really enjoy it. It's my "home time" guitar. I try to save it from any external exposure and don't take it to gigs and studios. I've built a certain level of intimacy with this beautiful piece of wood :)