Current idea for a custom Larrivee guitar

[Nate the Skate]

I am looking to eventually order a custom LS model with American black walnut top, back and sides, with -09 appointments and custom rosewood body and neck binding. It would be nice to have the griffon or torch inlay in the headstock, but it's not necessary. It would also be nice if the mahogany neck could be lightly stained to better compliment the walnut color. Not sure yet if I'll opt for a custom walnut head plate as I like the standard ebony just fine.

All ideas/opinions welcome. Basically, I always wanted an all-mahogany mid-sized guitar, but I'm willing to take a chance on the walnut sounding better. I thought the OM-03 WW in the following video demo sounded very nice.

Larrivee OM-03 All American Walnut Special Edition

[Nate the Skate]

Would a spruce top really sound better? I very much like the unique voice of the OM-03WW demo'd above. I would hope the LS-09WW would match its sound quality. A spruce top may be a safer bet, tho. What do you think?

[George]

Nate you are asking us to be objective about a subjective question?   

I have an all walnut SD60, and if I had to do it over again I would likely order it with an alpine spruce top instead.  The walnut is very warm and I like it, but I also like cedar and mahogany tops as well.  A lot has to do with the build and about a million other variables we have no control over at order time.  Sometimes you just have to wait for one to open up properly, they do not all sound fantabulous right out of the box, but often will get there with patience, love and understanding... JMHO...

[Nate the Skate]

Thanks for your opinion, George. I appreciate both subjective and objective information when it comes to brainstorming the LS model I want. I am considering Euro alpine spruce, too. Love, love, love the IAS on my L-04. The thing is, I have a hankering for something that looks like an all-hog, and the all-black-walnut model sounds too sweet to ignore. Also, I was wondering if anyone thinks the OM models have intrinsically better sound than the LS models, as I haven't ruled out the OMs either. Anyone prefer one over the other? I just like the look of the LS models very much.

[George]

I also have an LS-03 Zebrawood Wildwood custom, 14 fret, with a cedar top.  The LS is a great size for playing while sitting, but I prefer the larger bodies for stand up playing with a strap.  As long as it is a Larrivee, and it is yours, you cannot make any bad or regretful decisions.  A lot of the fun in designing one is talking about it on the forum with the members.  Good Luck!

[tuffythepug]

The LS  is a great choice.   I don't have any experience with a walnut variety but I can tell you that mahogany works real well with this shape.  especially in a 12 fret version.   If you prefer the gloss of the -05 series and higher an LS-05 woulld be nice too.   My 12 fret LS-03MT (Forum III) all mahogany is one of the sweetest sounding guitars I've ever played.

[Nate the Skate]

The LS  is a great choice.   I don't have any experience with a walnut variety but I can tell you that mahogany works real well with this shape.  especially in a 12 fret version.   If you prefer the gloss of the -05 series and higher an LS-05 woulld be nice too.   My 12 fret LS-03MT (Forum III) all mahogany is one of the sweetest sounding guitars I've ever played.

Gorgeous! 

[Nate the Skate]

I admit at the core of this is I really like the way the dark wood on all-hog and all-walnut guitars look. I've wanted an all-hog for years. And the single note definition seems to be impressive — that combined with the balance inherent in all Larrivee builds, I just think it'd be a lovely guitar. So, I likely will be looking for one or the other. I REALLY like the way the all-walnut guitars look.

[L07 Shooting Star]

As part of your decision process, maybe you could solicit some input from Jean, Matt, or John on what to expect from the various wood combinations in terms of tone.  They might be able to steer you towards a combination that is likely to work best, and away from combinations that might not.

[nctom]

Nate, I have a mahogany/alpine spruce LS (Forum III) and an all-mahogany OM, both 12-fret. I really prefer the LS in sound and looks to the OM. The OM, while slightly quieter, is generally "muffled" and indistinct except when played vigorously. It also seems like a much larger guitar which may be an illusion due to the total sunburst finish.
I don't have any experience with walnut, but a walnut/spruce LS is intriguing (especially with the inlayed walnut headstock).
Good luck making your decision!

[George]

As part of your decision process, maybe you could solicit some input from Jean, Matt, or John on what to expect from the various wood combinations in terms of tone.  They might be able to steer you towards a combination that is likely to work best, and away from combinations that might not.

[riverrummed]

I've owned my LS-03WL now for about six months. It's Italian spruce over Peruvian walnut. My feelings are that walnut back and sides more than makes up for any worries one might have that the LS size might not have enough bass response. Walnut rocks in my opinion. So much so that I don't know if I'll ever buy another mahogany guitar...and I've been a mahogany guy for a long time. The problem I see with a walnut top is a lack of versatility/range and re-selling down the road (what if it turns out you don't like it?) will probably be problematic. If a walnut top had a lot of clarity, headroom, dynamic range, etc we'd see a lot of walnut topped guitars in the market. But we don't. Probably for good reasons. I can heartily endorse Italian. It lives up to it's reputation in my opinion. I own three Adirondack topped guitars and Italian matches them for headroom but beats them when it comes to the clarity of the notes. It's wondrous wood. I'd recommend a spruce top and get a sunburst if you like a darker look. But getting an LS body style is a great call. It's more guitar than a number of people give it credit for. I just think you won't get all you possibly could out of it with a walnut top.

[Walkerman]

I was over to Yarnell place today.  Saw a beautiful all walnut box on the rack.  Jean has some spectacular Austrian walnut if anyone wants a unique all walnut guitar ... just sayin' .

[George]

I was over to Yarnell place today.  Saw a beautiful all walnut box on the rack.  Jean has some spectacular Austrian walnut if anyone wants a unique all walnut guitar ... just sayin' .

[rbpicker]

I had a Wildwood Italian over Walnut LS03.  Very, very sorry that I sold it. It was a true gem of a guitar with all the bass I needed.

[Mikeymac]

Dude! Nominate yourself for the Guitar of the Month, or I will!!!

[tuffythepug]

Dude! Nominate yourself for the Guitar of the Month, or I will!!!

Thanks for the nod Rev.           But this FIII was GOTM already.  Back when I first got it. 

[Nate the Skate]

I was over to Yarnell place today.  Saw a beautiful all walnut box on the rack.  Jean has some spectacular Austrian walnut if anyone wants a unique all walnut guitar ... just sayin' .

I appreciate the suggestion, but I keep reading that American black walnut sounds the best of all the walnuts. More opinions are certainly welcome.

I've read all your comments ... and thanks very much! I've had a hard time responding as there's so much to think about, and I have time. I will get around to writing Jean, John and Matt a note asking for their advice when it gets close to the time when I can order the LS. I admit my GAS for an all-walnut LS is partly cosmetics — I love the way walnut looks. Black walnut also has sentimental value, as we had a large specimen square in front of the old family house where I grew up in Somerset County, NJ. Probably all wrong reasons for choosing a guitar, but dang! that one demoed on YouTube in my OP sounds very, very nice to me.   

[broKen]

Hi Nate

I appreciate the suggestion, but I keep reading that American black walnut sounds the best of all the walnuts. More opinions are certainly welcome.

I've read all your comments ... and thanks very much! ... but dang! that one demoed on YouTube in my OP sounds very, very nice to me.   

It may have sounded much better played by someone else. The forearm resting on the top must have caused some dampening , I would imagine.

[Nate the Skate]

Hi Nate

It may have sounded much better played by someone else. The forearm resting on the top must have caused some dampening , I would imagine.

Very possible. I tend not to rest my arm so much on the top as that player did. I play by resting my playing arm on the angle of the side where it meets the top and not-so-much the top (my arms are long!). It would be smart for me to try out an all-black-walnut model. I am going to NYC next week and will call all the good acoustic guitar stores to see if there's one for me to try.

So far, I am considering two options:

1) LS-05 or LS-09 with black walnut top, back and sides with rosewood binding throughout, as I initially desired. 14 fret.

2) LS-03W with Italian, Swiss or Austrian top (haven't ruled out Sitka), and black walnut back and sides. Rosewood binding throughout, herringbone rosette and purfling, gloss top, back and sides. Maybe a walnut headplate. 14 fret.

It's going to be a while, but I hope to order the custom LS sometime this fall to early winter.