When will Larrivee use this way of construction?

[wswl]

Hi everyone,

Recently I saw my local music store selling a LV-05E and an OM-50E.

When I looked into their soundholes, I found that there is a thin piece of wood lying in the middle of the back, which does not appear on my Larrivees.

Just like the one showing in the third last picture: http://www.laguitarsales.com/pages/3884/Larrivee_P03R.htm

I know nothing about guitar construction so I am curious about when will Larrivee use this way of construction?

Thank you.

[KenHolden]

The only other new Larrivee that I've seen with the center stripe down the back like that was in a D-09 at a shop in St. John's.   

It could be a new thing for Larrivee to beef up the seam of the back woods.

[ducktrapper]

I know nothing about guitar construction so I am curious about when will Larrivee use this way of construction?

Thank you.

I'm not sure I get your point. It looks like they already have on that model. Do you think they forgot to add this strip on all their other models?   

[cke]

I believe it is there when there is an inlay joining the 2 halves of the back wood.

[ducktrapper]

Sorry to be so flippant. cke is right, of course. My 1975 Larrivée has such a strip and inlay down the back seam. None of my others do. The seemingly seemless backs on other models don't require it. So to answer your question? 40 years ago.

[Walkerman]

Sorry to be so flippant. cke is right, of course. My 1975 Larrivée has such a strip and inlay down the back seam. None of my others do. The seemingly seemless backs on other models don't require it. So to answer your question? 40 years ago.

Seems to me the guitar in the above link from LAguitars has the strip, but no inlay down the back seam.

[jimmyb]

I just looked at a photo of my P-09 (sold) and it didn't have the center strip. My P-09 was built July 2009.

Jimmy

[ducktrapper]

Seems to me the guitar in the above link from LAguitars has the strip, but no inlay down the back seam.

Exception that proves the rule? Inlay patch like black electronics patch? Knuckleheads?

[cke]

Seems to me the guitar in the above link from LAguitars has the strip, but no inlay down the back seam.

True, you speak truth.  No back strip apparent.

So I don't know why. Maybe Madi is so stiff it needs the reinforcement at the seam?

Or it's luthier's choice?

[bluesman67]

Usually that is done when there's an inlay in the center, a herringbone or w/b/w or something like that.  I have seen it without an inlay before though, my Martin 000-15s had one with no inlay.  I guess sometimes the maker feels it's necessary to stabilize the back on specific pieces of wood.

[Denis]

My FIV has it and my FIII doesn't...curious...

[Strings4Him]

I just checked and none of my Larrivees have this strip.  They range in "birth" date from 2008 to 2010.

[L07 Shooting Star]

My 1983 L07 has the strip inside.  My 1985 L model 12 string doesn't have it.  Yet they are almost identical in every way (rosewood, no centre inlay on the back, and same body dimensions).

Kurt

[wswl]

I doubt if the stripe is used when there is an inlay down the back.

First of all the 05 series does not have inlay down the back.  Second, my friend has a 2007 40th anniversary L-09.  It has an inlay down the back but it doesn't have that stripe.

I guess sometimes the maker feels it's necessary to stabilize the back on specific pieces of wood.

Bluesman67's guess is my guess as well.

Anyway, I bought the LV-05E and a P-05 with Italian Spruce top!!!  They're sooooooo nice!!!

[JohnM2001]

None of my Larrivees have had that back strip.  I've also noticed that none of mine have had similar strips on the interior of the sides either.  I believe that most all Martins have these backstrips, and most the side strips too.   Maybe the Larrivee bracing design does not require these?  Haven't had a problem with any of mine, but itseems to make sense that it might hold off a seam sep better than without it.

[Danny]

   I read in one of my guitar books that Gibson started this way back. And then other builders saw the benefits and began to do it.

   My F-IV has it while the III does not. I have always marveled at the way Larrivee joins those halves together. My F-III looks like a one piece back because it is matched so well.

[bluesman67]

  I read in one of my guitar books that Gibson started this way back. And then other builders saw the benefits and began to do it.

  My F-IV has it while the III does not. I have always marveled at the way Larrivee joins those halves together. My F-III looks like a one piece back because it is matched so well.

I know exactly what you mean.  My F-I hogtop's soundboard looks like a 1 piece and you need to study it for 5 minutes just to see that it really isn't...even then...you can't be certain...except to know for fact that it is bookmatched.

[ducktrapper]

I know exactly what you mean.  My F-I hogtop's soundboard looks like a 1 piece and you need to study it for 5 minutes just to see that it really isn't...even then...you can't be certain...except to know for fact that it is bookmatched.

Exactly. Even though I knew better or, at least, knew intellectually that my D-05 had a two piece back (no strip), I was almost convinced it was a one piece.

[olchip]

  I read in one of my guitar books that Gibson started this way back. And then other builders saw the benefits and began to do it.

oh My!
Well actually, it is a joint reinforcement called a back graft and and I'm 99.99999999% sure it was in use way before Orville was born! (and no, I won't even bet a doughnut on this, I only bet when I'm 100% sure, which is why I don't play poker, but that is yet another story! [ramblingmode=off])
You will find that the majority of classical guitars have one, it is one of the "traditional" (ahem! I won"t attempt defining that word ) way of building classical guitars. I guess it's presence is linked to the amount of stress put on the back (such as the amount of curvature), the nature of the wood used and how thick (or thin) the back plates are... Not using it (an even more daring guess) would mean lighter weight, production time cut down a good bit, and maybe a "limber" back. Maybe an accomplished luthier like Jim could tell us more about it???
Good ol' edith says qt 10:16 :
Betcha a donut! here's an example of a 1770's guitar with a back graft. Maybe stems from a tradition / necessity in the violin/cello making community?

[Danny]

ok