Claro Walnut L-03 in da howse! (grab a chair, I'm long winded)

[cbarclay]

Yesterday evening I was contacted by one of our great members here, appleknocker, in response to my 'wanted' ad.  He had a special edition claro walnut L-03 to offer me.  That was THE guitar was hoping to find and I couldn't believe it.  I didn't want to get my hopes up though because I wasn't sure what he wanted to sell it for and I had a limited budget.  When I told him my budget he said he could ship it to me for that or I could to go down to Memphis to pick it up.  I nearly overheated my feeble brain trying to figure out how to make this happen.  I'm 4 1/2 hours from there so it was a serious possibility.  I hate shipping and receiving guitars so I cleared my work schedule (i.e. prayed for no emergencies as I work in facility maintenance).  I also just sold my OM-03 and needed a guitar to play Sunday morning. So, I woke up before the sun and drove down there this morning to check it out.
Besides, I could use a mind-clearing spontaneous road trip.
Strangely, my iPhone (set to shuffle through my whole collection) kept playing Johnny Cash on the drive down there.  Hmmm.

I met Caleb at his office in old downtown Memphis (which is a very cool area, by the way) and was so excited to see the guitar but was about to experience a ruptured bladder so I excused myself.  
When I came to, I was still a little apprehensive to see and play the guitar because I had high hopes and didn't want to be disappointed.

When I opened the case (which has seen better days, but not the user's fault and not that it mattered to me) I was relieved (for the second time).  The first thing I noticed was the variation of the grain and coloring of the top.  I hoped for that.  I don't like Sitka that is just as plain as a blank sheet of paper.  I like character.  This guitar had character.  

The next thing I noticed is that the ebony fretboard wasn't dyed black but had natural striping visible.  My first Larrivee (a CS09K) was like that.  I love a little variation on the fretboard.  

I flipped it over to check out the back and sides and if I hadn't just gone, I would have wet my pants.  The walnut looked just like I hoped it would.  Straight grain with color variations.  I like figured walnut but I prefer the grain to be straight and clear on a guitar.  This was just that.

Next was the big test.  Strum it, pick it, make noises with it.  I've had mixed experience with walnut guitars of other brands and had a specific tone in mind that I needed (which is why I sold my OM-03).  I need punch.  Sustain.  Clarity.  Feeling.  I ran through several minutes of guitar sounds and all tests were passed with higher marks than I thought were possible.

I want to be clear, looks are not my first priority.  Tone is, though I have certain aesthetic preferences sitting in the background for when/if I were to be able to afford such a luxury.  I was ready to buy a beat up guitar that had ugly wood as long as it had the tone I was looking for.  However, if I were to be able to afford to buy a new custom spec'd guitar, it would be almost identical to the guitar I bought today.  
Sometimes things just line up for no apparent reason.  My wife was supportive of me doing this.  My tonal and aesthetic preferences crossed paths in this guitar.  I sold my OM for exactly what I paid for this guitar.   My wife was supportive of me doing this.  And I was able to get home in time to make dinner.  There's a pattern here.  Not to be mushy-gushy or anything but I sincerely thank God for this.  Somehow it was important.

Now, why am I writing all this and not playing?  I'm not sure, I guess I'm in awe and wanted to share it with y'all.  Besides, I'm going to keep this one so I'll have plenty of time to play it.  Yes I said it, this one isn't going anywhere - I can tell already.  No, those aren't famous last words.  

Thanks for reading!!!

Here are some more pictures:  L-03W album  I hope to have a sunny day soon so I can improve on these.

[Brad166]

Very nice guitar. Iv always been a fan of walnut. I once had a parlor with a Walnut back and sides and it was amazing. Why I sold it......thinking back Im not sure why. Wish I had it now. It had some sap wood on the back and look amazing. I to like wood with its own personality.

[broKen]

Ain't life wonderful,,,sometimes. Happy for you Chris. Looks great!

[hatofthecat]

A road trip and a new beautiful guitar, good times 

Pete

[HAMFIST]

I just traded a D-03R to another forumite for an L-03 WL a couple weeks ago and am settling into it.

I will be taking delivery on a bone saddle and bridge pins for the thing, and am experimenting with strings.

Look forward to your impressions of the tonal characteristics of the guitar. I am finding that even more than other guitars, this one sounds a lot different when I hear it from the front (have someone else play it for me) than when I am playing it myself. I have been hanging at coffee shop jams, and swapping another guy for his Martin for a few songs seemed the quickest way to really get an idea of how the guitar sits in the mix.

Again, look forward to reaind more of your thoughts.

[cbarclay]

Thanks guys, if you can't tell I'm pretty excited.

Hamfist, I noticed that you got one recently. Is yours Claro or black walnut?
You're right, it is a different sound than others. I haven't heard it from out front yet but will tomorrow.
I work today but am looking forward to  getting home tonight to get to know it a little better.

[HAMFIST]

Yup. It's claro. I guess the different species of walnut or types of trees that are called walnut have a different density and sound. But the walnut guitars I have played have all just tended to have a bit more fundamental and more focused overtones, which is something I kind of like. This guitar has kind of an open sound, with the highs kind of pulled in towards the mids a bit and the basses nice and prounced and round.

[ffinke]

Very... VERY 

[JOYCEfromNS]

  and nice account. Can almost feel your excitement here in NS

[dgshoote]

Congrats and Happy NGD to you. Sometime when I'm in St. Louis I'd like to hear it.

[cbarclay]

Yup. It's claro. I guess the different species of walnut or types of trees that are called walnut have a different density and sound. But the walnut guitars I have played have all just tended to have a bit more fundamental and more focused overtones, which is something I kind of like. This guitar has kind of an open sound, with the highs kind of pulled in towards the mids a bit and the basses nice and prounced and round.

Yup, I agree completely!

Very... VERY 

and nice account. Can almost feel your excitement here in NS

Thanks!!

Congrats and Happy NGD to you. Sometime when I'm in St. Louis I'd like to hear it.

Let me know whenever you're (or anyone else for that matter) in town. 

I assume NGD is New Guitar Day?  I've seen that around but wasn't sure what it meant.

[dgshoote]

You're correct, it is new guitar day. It's used a lot on the Gretsch forum I frequent. I get to St. Louis a couple times a month for work. I'll send you an email or something next time I'm headed your way.

[cbarclay]

That'd be great!

[Strings4Him]

Nice story!  Your story made me think of starting a new thread on GAS (Guitar Acquisition Stories).

[cbarclay]

That'd be a fun and interesting thread!

[WileE]

Great story Chris!  Thanks for sharing it.  You gotta love a good road trip.

WileE

[Danny]

    guitar & story

[dave42]

Congrats on the great guitar you own now! I've only played one walnut Larrivee, and think of it often. Great tone.

[cbarclay]

Thanks for the congrats guys!

Hamfist, what strings are you playing on yours? 

I played out with it this morning and it was amazing. It was a true test of how it performs in my typical situation.  It did everything I hoped it would do (cut through very well so that I and others could hear it).  We even had PA problems and I was heard clearly even over a piano, drums, bass and singers. 

Last night I took off the pickguard (it now has a subtle tan line), slotted the bridge and Lowdenized the finish (gave it a nice subtle semi-gloss sheen and now the grain pops out a little better).  I'm not sure if I'll leave off the guard.  I'm not crazy about the tan line but I really like L's to not have pickguards.  I'll think about it I guess.

[Danny]

Thanks for the congrats guys!

Hamfist, what strings are you playing on yours? 

I played out with it this morning and it was amazing. It was a true test of how it performs in my typical situation.  It did everything I hoped it would do (cut through very well so that I and others could hear it).  We even had PA problems and I was heard clearly even over a piano, drums, bass and singers. 

Last night I took off the pickguard (it now has a subtle tan line), slotted the bridge and Lowdenized the finish (gave it a nice subtle semi-gloss sheen and now the grain pops out a little better).  I'm not sure if I'll leave off the guard.  I'm not crazy about the tan line but I really like L's to not have pickguards.  I'll think about it I guess.

If it's not real distinct the tan line should blend in over time.