Which Larrivee(s) should I look for if I want...

[KentNZ]

Hi all. Second post ever but I thought you guys would be the ones to ask...

On the hunt for acoustics in the last few years, I ended up with a lovely 00 Larivee... in the process I was looking for a dreadnought. The only two guitars I really loved after playing Martins, Taylors, a couple of Gibsons and some lower to mid level Larrivees (my 00 left them in the dust) were what I think was the HD28V ? vintage spec Martin (though it didnt really light my fire, just the best of the Martins which I don't typically get on with), and most of all, a Gibson J45 True Vintage. Lovely old school sound.

If I wanted to match that in a Larrivee dreadnought, what would I go for?

(I have to say, too, the latest 800 series Taylors with the ES2 system sounded pretty great plugged in, not as nice as the J45 unplugged). Given the success I had with my surprise L 00 purchase, I'm hoping to be surprised even more by a J45 beater, and keep it in the L family...)

[unclrob]

A D09 except the guitar wouldn't have the V neck of the HD28.As for the Gibson I'd go with an L05.

[Walkerman]

D40

[George]

D40

with a Moonwood top...

[carruth]

You need to play a few D and L series, and see which Larrivee  speaks to you. 

[B0WIE]

Larrivee dreads are not as big sounding as a Martin so keep that in mind. They are more balanced and articulate, nicer for solo work, but not fat and warm sounding. Larrivee's SD series is closer to something like an HD-28.  Look at the Larrivee SD50, or even the SD60 (for a warmer/darker tone).

[KentNZ]

Thanks for the replies. I'm after a big, detailed and hopefully warm but not too bright tone. I'll continue my search, keep the comments coming! Cheers.

[mike in lytle]

Thanks for the replies. I'm after a big, detailed and hopefully warm but not too bright tone. I'll continue my search, keep the comments coming! Cheers.

:
Larrivee doesn't make a guitar as not "bass intense" an HD-28.
You don't say how you want to play it. Bluegrass strumming, flat-picking, etcetera.
I have a 1976 HD-28. My 2010 L-05 blows it away.
My two 1998 C-05's blow both away.
You also need to evaluate the necks on the guitars. The Martins are different than Larrivees.
Have fun! I suspect an older model D-03 or D-05 might be in your future.
Danny has an older D-03 (?) model that is "big, detailed and warm but not too bright" and frightfully easy to play.
Not for sale, it is just that I have played it. And like IT a a lot.
Mike"

[KentNZ]

I play strummed songwriter style a majority of the time, songs intros and musical bits fingerstyle and pretty much 95% of the time DI into a system and using IEMs.

[homme de fer]

I'll throw something in from left field; try and find a D-03 swamp ash model.

I'll be the first to admit that swamp ash doesn't have a great look but, when you strum it, you'll find the D28 beater you're looking for. It has a full rounded bass sound of a D28, stronger mids that Larrivee's are known for, and detailed trebles. I bought one for my brother and it's phenomenal.

[ducktrapper]

I have a D-05 that doesn't do too badly.  Highly recommended.

[Walkerman]

Larrivee dreads are not as big sounding as a Martin so keep that in mind. They are more balanced and articulate, nicer for solo work, but not fat and warm sounding. Larrivee's SD series is closer to something like an HD-28.  Look at the Larrivee SD50, or even the SD60 (for a warmer/darker tone).

That is why I specified. D40 ..... packs a wallop

[JOYCEfromNS]

That is why I specified. D40 ..... packs a wallop

[Danny]

:
Larrivee doesn't make a guitar as not "bass intense" an HD-28.
You don't say how you want to play it. Bluegrass strumming, flat-picking, etcetera.
I have a 1976 HD-28. My 2010 L-05 blows it away.
My two 1998 C-05's blow both away.
You also need to evaluate the necks on the guitars. The Martins are different than Larrivees.
Have fun! I suspect an older model D-03 or D-05 might be in your future.
Danny has an older D-03 (?) model that is "big, detailed and warm but not too bright" and frightfully easy to play.
Not for sale, it is just that I have played it. And like IT a a lot.
Mike"

Mine is a 16 year old D-02. I'd highly recommend it as Mike has said. I've played it in large groups where all the other dreads were Martin's, Collings, etc and it holds it's  own with them.
    Kinda hard to find a model that old though.  Like someone said earlier, try and play them first. A D- 40 or a D-40R is a good choice.

[mike in lytle]

I play strummed songwriter style a majority of the time, songs intros and musical bits fingerstyle and pretty much 95% of the time DI into a system and using IEMs.

That was a better reply than I expected.
So it seems you will have a pickup or mic installed in the guitar, and the ear monitors supply the mix.
That is a lot different than playing around the house where you hear the guitar itself, even if plugged in.
I think you will do fine with any of the suggestions made. The HD28 is a rosewood body, the J-45  is mahogany, and you have had good suggestions for both types. The Larrivee D models have really easy playing necks.
Mike
L-05
HD-28

[carruth]

Kent,I have a DO3 here in Auckland that I may sell. Contact me if this is of interest.

[Danny]

Kent,I have a DO3 here in Auckland that I may sell. Contact me if this is of interest.

That's a good turn. He could play it first.

[B0WIE]

So it seems you will have a pickup or mic installed in the guitar, and the ear monitors supply the mix.
That is a lot different than playing around the house where you hear the guitar itself, even if plugged in.
I think you will do fine with any of the suggestions made.

^This. If you're playing plugged in, it dramatically reduces the differences between models because you are hearing more of the strings and less of the body itself.  Focus more on the pickup.

[rockstar_not]

I see you are a fellow Taylor ES2 pickup system fan.

I haven't found as nice of a add-on, plug-n-chug system for my Larry, as luck I have had with my Taylor 414ce with the ES2 pup system.

My larry had a Larrivee factory-installed Fishman piezo-UST based system in it from birth.  The pre-amp crapped out just under a couple of years of owning the axe.  I self-installed a K+K Mini Pure Western system based on recommendations here.  Without an impedance matching pre-amp, highly undesirable thump/bump sensitivity.

I have had some success dialing in a nice sound with it using a borrowed LR Baggs Para DI - but it's not mine; belongs to our church and several different acoustic players use it - next time I get it right, I need to take some photos of the settings!

The Taylor ES2 however - no EQ needed.  I go right into a DI box, tone controls straight up and the sound guy has a natural acoustic sound in under a minute - very minor tweaking.

I wish there was a similar system that one could buy as an add-on.  I would be installing that in my Larry.

[KentNZ]

Kent,I have a DO3 here in Auckland that I may sell. Contact me if this is of interest.

Thanks! Would at the very least like to say hello and have a play, compare it with my 00 (Mahogany).