om-09 walnut with black fretboard binding

[webberink]

I just purchase a 1999-2000 Larrivee OM-09 with claro walnut back and sides and black fretboard binding.  Any one seen any thing like this?  I am wondering if it came out of the custom shop as my 1999-2000 Larrivee catalogue does not list walnut as a standard build wood for the 09s and I have never seen anything above an 02 with black fretboard binding.  I have a question into some dude named Morris at Larrivee for a week now but he seems unresponsive.  So can anyone offer me an informed opinion?
Dave

[dermot]

I have a question into some dude named Morris at Larrivee for a week now but he seems unresponsive.

Just about everyone in the biz is at summer NAMM this week....

d.

[webberink]

right, thats why i decided to fire up the forum and ask fellow musicians instead of the biz.
d.

[tadol]

The only Larrivees I've ever seen with black fretboard binding are the -02s, but that doesn't mean much. What does the label say, and the neck block? Are you sure its an -09, or are you assuming since it is walnut? Are you sure it is from '09/00?

Could be a custom -  could also be a limited run -  there was a nice one on eBay recently that was specifically labeled as a special edition Claro Walnut, and it was an -03, so anything is possible -

What rosette does it use? Headstock? Tuners? A pic or two would help us help you guess -

Tad

[webberink]

Yes I am sure its an OM-09, says 09 on the block with the Serial #.  It's made in Vancouver so that dates it some, as does the over all build, which is exactly the same as my D-09 which is a 98.  The only apparent difference from my D-09 is the black fretboard binding and of course the walnut, as my D-09 is the standard rosewood.  Lovely little guitar with a huge sound is this little girl, a finger pickers delight.  I'll see if I can figure out how to post some pics, which ought to be interesting as I am an incorrigible Luddite, preferring to fiddle with my acoustics rather than cameras and computers.  I'll see if I can do it tomorrow.
d.

[webberink]

Well the pics didn't work out, can't get them to attach to my post.  Anyway the other thing different about this guitar is it has 1 11/16 nut rather than a 1 /3/4, which all the other Larrivee om-09s that I have seen had.
d.

[tadol]

You'll need 10 posts to put up pics - just keep posting, and keep those pics handy -

Tad

[webberink]

Gotcha Tad
d.

[webberink]

So here are some pics of my mystery om-09 (I hope).
d.

[attachment deleted by admin]

[tadol]

Well, its very pretty - but we should wait and see what the factory has to say. The pictures don't show enough detail to make any educated guesses -

I've heard that the walnut are exceptional sounding instruments - what are your thoughts?

Tad

[webberink]

It certainly sounds different than my D-09 rosewood.  With exactly the same strings, (Elixir Nanoweb Bronze Lights) It is much more resonant and earthy sounding, especially when played finger style, and oddly enough, with a little more volume too.  It really does sound different than any other Larrivee I have played including some 05 mahogany ones I have really liked tonally too.  I am really quite impressed.  Its a nice addition.
d.

[webberink]

So just to finish this thread in case anyone out there is interested, here is Greg's answer at Larrivee re my question about this guitar. "We don't have a true "custom" shop as our staff work on every guitar together. Though the guitar would be a custom order for someone, or something we just felt like building .. sometimes we build things off the sheet just for the heck of it. We used to work with walnut a lot, but its popularity has dropped off in the last couple of years. "   I still do not have the build date but its serial # is 22662 which is somewhat lower than my D-09 with  serial #25340 which is dated 10/01/98, so I am guessing sometime in 1997, which would place its build location as most likely the Victoria Diversion shop in Vancouver BC (1993-98).  Apparently Larrivee moved to the current Cordova St. factory in Vancouver some time in 1998.  All in all a real nice find, especially for fingerstyle and I am enjoying it immensely.  Walnut seems to be a great sounding build wood.
Dave

[strawintogold]

I love me some walnut. My classical is walnut and I'd love a walnut OM or L.  It's a beautiful wood and it does have an interesting sound.

holly

[webberink]

Yes the walnut certainly is different from any other wood I have played, and not just subtly so.  I am struggling to describe the difference to my friends and can't really adequately describe it.  It involves resonance, colour, volume, earthiness and string sensitivity ... but to put a description on it is very hard ... like a good wine.  I am kind of wondering why it seems to be so rarely used by Larrivee.  Anyway I got mine and though it will never replace my rosewood and mahogany guitars, I don't think I will ever sell it.  It is my current choice for finger style.  It must sound wonderfull in a classical.
Dave

[strawintogold]

The word that comes to my ear is 'organic' and not in the ever abused current usage. I almost feel like the wood is speaking first. It sounds I don't know, very much in it's first, rather then finished, state.

[webberink]

Yes that's pretty good.  It does sound like the wood is speaking first.  It is quite different.  The strings and the finish and even the fingers on the strings really seem after the fact.  I have been experimenting playing with both brass finger picks as well as bare fingers with as much flesh as nail making string contact and the difference in the wood is remarkably similar with both methods.  With my other guitars there's  a big difference between picks and bare fingers, especially the rosewood.  Interesting!  Now you have me wondering about a walnut classical.
Dave

[webberink]

More info just in on this guitar from Larrivee that I decided to post to finish this thread to death.  Yumi states the start to build date as 11/2/1997.  Matthew states that based on my description: "Yes, that does sound like a custom order. The tuners are probably Ping, but may be Schaller's. If I recall we did many OMs with 1 & 11/16th, but it seems so long ago that my memory has gotten fuzzy."  So there I am, a seemingly custom ordered walnut OM-09 built in the last year of the Victoria Diversion plant in Vancouver on the year of Larrivee's 30th anniversary.  Seems special to me.  Its a keeper.
Dave

[petesmithguitarist]

Most definitely a keeper, if it was a pig it would be a "rare breed" and so extra tasty...(sorry to all the vegetarians) Cheers, Pete.