Best Place to Buy a Larrivee Guitar?

[i like guitars]

Hello all,

Pardon my ignorance, but I am new to purchasing Larrivee Guitars. I know w/ Taylor Guitars, Guitar Rodeo and My Favorite Guitars are the most competitive price wise. And MFG's is a wonderful place to buy a Martin...However, which dealers would you recommend that have both competitive pricing and good customer service to purchasing a Larrivee Guitar?

Many thanks!

[i like guitars]

Hey Lawn Jockey: You are VERY helpful! Thanks for the link and the luck. Where did you purchase your D50, if you don't mind me asking?

[L05HD28]

Hi,
I've found that most stores will match pricing as they all need the business.Th Larrivee website list all their authorized dealers , so hopefully there are a few in your area you can check out. Pick the guitar that picks you.

[RoundLakeDT]

My local favorite is Cathedral Music which is having a 'super black friday' sale later this month

Their Inventory page usually has a lot of good stuff, and I've bought a few from him

[johnlg]

I just bought a P-03 from Dave at Guitar Adoptions in IL and the customer service was outstanding.

http://www.guitaradoptions.com/larrivee-acoustic-guitars/



Jean Larrivee seems to appreciate Dave as well......



John

[DJ in FL]

The link and list Lawn jockey gave you is  and all those dealers are well known and respected on this and other forums.

Just an addition, you mentioned MFG for Taylor and Martin.  Jon I think still sells Larrivee at VERY competitive prices. I bought an 0M-03RE from him at a great price and as you mentioned his reputation for service is excellent.

You should have a good idea that the service standard is HIGH among these quality dealers and a good idea about the appropriate range of discounts to expect and get the best deal.

Good luck with your search...Enjoy!

[mckong]

My favorite local dealer is Music Emporium in Lexington, MA. www.themusicemporium.com

[i like guitars]

Thanks all! I appreciate all your suggestions!

[Strings4Him]

Guitar Adoptions.  Dave is focused on making sure you are a more than satisfied customer.  I have bought two from him and another is on the way.

[sayheyjeff]

There are a lot of threads on this subject that will give you plenty of history.  My personal favorite experience is with jason at Notable guitars.  He also facilitated ForumI and ForumII as well as a Forum Guitar for the Tacoma Forum members.  Lots of support can be found for Jim Hollar of Trinity Guitars too.

jeff   

[GA-ME]

My favorite local dealer is Music Emporium in Lexington, MA. www.themusicemporium.com

Man, that place is EVIL! When I go in there I just stay away from the back end of the right hand wall. You know you are in trouble in a guitar shop when the Larrivee's and Martin's are the "low end" guitars! I played the best Larrivee I ever heard in there about three years ago. They had a 00-50 in there that could have easily become someones lifetime guitar!

[Michael T]

[qwell as a Forum Guitar for the Tacoma Forum members. uote author=sayheyjeff link=topic=29338.msg268647#msg268647 date=1258211663]
Lots of support can be found for Jim Hollar of Trinity Guitars too.

jeff   
[/quote]

+1 I have never had even in person service and set up work like this man provided me with on several purchases now. Absolutely top notch if you know what you want, or want done. Jim's "da man"   

[eded]

While all of those shops listed so far have excellent reputations...  my first vote would (unquestionably) go to whoever your local dealer is.  IMO, there are real advantages to having a good relationship with a local shop when at all possible.  This is especially true if they have a decent in-house repairperson.  Also, in my experience, local shops are usually priced nearly the same as (and often better than) mail order.

Ed

[ncognito]

Eded--

I would prefer to support my local music stores more, but it seems there's always some issue.  The closest Larrivee dealer, The Music Guild in Danbury, CT, is just so disorganized that it's mind boggling.  You wouldn't have a clue that it's a Larrivee shop unless you asked.  All the really good stuff is hidden in the back room in cases behind the magic curtain.  The owner is nice, knowledgeable, a fine player, but it takes forever to find something, and he's often not successful looking.  I go anyway once in a while to buy strings and to experience this really unique place.  The closest store is a mom and pop place without the mom and pop isn't even a musician; they rarely have any guitars that interest me.  Then there's another place where it's hard to get help when you need it until you make it clear that you want to buy something with a big price take and then it's like a swarm of flies comes from out of nowhere 'cause there's fresh meat in the showroom.  I'm happy to pay a little more than mail order for strings and such, but the thing that really bothers me is the lack of a real good repair person which really frustrates me.

          DAVE

[eded]

Dave, fully understood.  (caution, rant mode coming on)  It was the WalMart-ization of the music biz (i.e. Mars and GC) that killed things.  Cheaper prices outweighed service and now we are paying the price.  (sorry 'bout that, I'll turn it off now, and it's not directed at anyone in particular, it's just the way things are)  Here in Baltimore, we are lucky to have at least one really great acoustic shop left (Appalachian Bluegrass, that carries Martin, Taylor, Collings, etc.) and our small but very competent Larrivee dealer.  He's only been open for a year or two.  Jeeze...  what a tough business and what a tough time to have a small business. 

(Look up Guitars of Pikesville on youtube, Josh is one heck of a great guy with top notch products and excellent service)

There are other shops within an hours drive but I feel pretty lucky to have these 2 shops as close as they are and Josh is he only Larrivee dealer in the state.  I do what I can to help support both of the locals and encourage others local (to me) to do the same.

Ed

[ncognito]

Ed--

Yeah, it's a tough time in this economy for any small business.   

I've watched some of Josh's Larrivee videos from Guitars of Pikesville.  You can well hear and see the differences between the different Larrivee models.  IMHO, a nicely done marketing tool.  You are blessed to have those two places nearby.

         DAVE

[JOYCEfromNS]

Gotta quote Ed "Look up Guitars of Pikesville on youtube, Josh is one heck of a great guy with top notch products and excellent service)"

I dealt with Josh; a class act, knowledgeable, cares more about getting the right fit than just selling you a guitar which in doing that he will sell you a guitar I sure am glad it worked for me!! Thanks Josh the people in Maryland are sure lucky to have you, wish there were more like you.

[Wannabee]

    Since there is not a Larrivee Dealer anywhere near me,when I decided I wanted a Larrivee a couple of years ago, I bought my L-03SP from Jim Holler at Trinity guitars.I highly recommend Him.

[Glennd]

Where do you live? Tim's Guitars in Baton Rouge, LA. is hard to beat. Just bought an LV-10. Tim is an artist when it comes to repairs and setup. Competitive pricing and real good people to do buisness with.

[Mikeymac]

While all of those shops listed so far have excellent reputations...  my first vote would (unquestionably) go to whoever your local dealer is.  IMO, there are real advantages to having a good relationship with a local shop when at all possible.  This is especially true if they have a decent in-house repairperson.  Also, in my experience, local shops are usually priced nearly the same as (and often better than) mail order.

Ed

I second this post. So far, I've purchased three Larrivee's locally (from Jim Nipper at Acoustic Music Plus in Omaha, Nebraska, then when he moved to Lincoln; unfortunately, Jim closed his shop around two years ago).  There is another local Larrivee dealer now, Dietze Music (stores in both Omaha and Lincoln) and I am planning to purchase my next Larrivee from them (an RS-4 before Christmas!). I've done a LOT of business with Dietze over the years and they match prices and have great service.

I bought my D-03R from Dave at Guitar Adoptions, and the service was friendly and professional and the price was great.  But then I took that D-03R to Dietze when I wanted the frets touched up and a bone saddle and nut.  So I'm going to give them my business on the next one.  Doesn't mean I won't buy long distance again someday (if that's where I can find a lefty that I want) but we need local dealers for convenient service/warranty work.