I love my Larrivee guitar.

[Silence Dogood]

This year I got pretty heavily back into the electric guitar.  I've spent most of this year playing 50s rock and roll riffs and messing around with the blues.  I've also got an old acoustic that I bought in my teens (almost 30 years ago) and for some reason found myself getting nostalgic over it this year.  It ended up spending quite a bit of time in my hands.  In the process of all this, I realized the other day that I'd not played my Larrivee since probably Christmas. 

A couple days ago I dug it out of the closet with the intent of changing the strings.  That never happened because once I got it in my hands and tuned it up, all I wanted to do was play.   All I kept thinking while I played was how nice this guitar is, how great it feels and sounds, and I wondered why I'd not played it in nine months.  I played for a long time, and have a few times since, and I've still not changed the strings. 

It is said that absence makes the heart grow fonder.  Another idea is how contrast brings clarity.  Either way, in the end I was just amazed by my guitar and grateful that I get to own such an instrument.  I even propped it up for a bit after playing and just looked at it for a while.  I think only a guitar player would understand such things.   

Anyway, just some Sunday morning musings. 

[ducktrapper]

Well, you're in the right place. You didn't tell us what it is, however.   

[Silence Dogood]

Well, you're in the right place. You didn't tell us what it is, however.   

Sorry.  It's a plain-Jane D-03 Blackwood edition.   Simple looks and appointments, but very complex tone. 

[ducktrapper]

  Sorry.  It's a plain-Jane D-03 Blackwood edition.   Simple looks and appointments, but very complex tone. 

D-03's are awesome. Never played one with Blackwood. Sounds awesomer.

[Silence Dogood]

D-03's are awesome. Never played one with Blackwood. Sounds awesomer.

My son has a reg D-03 and it sounds better than my Blackwood model.  It's also a lot lighter. 

[morlll]

I play my L09 everyday. I never put it in it's case.

[eded]

Finally, a topic all of us can agree on!   

Ed

[247hoopsfan]

Finally, a topic all of us can agree on!   

Ed

For sure.  My JCL 40th and my Flying Eagles are exceptional guitars.  The woods are spectacular too.

[

[ducktrapper]

I used to have more than I now have but they all were fine guitars. My '75 is still at least as nice as any guitar I've ever played and I've played some very expensive guitars. 

[247hoopsfan]

Duck, I'm sure your '75 is amazing. It's Brazilian too right?  My JCL looks identical, love the classic rosette.  When I picked up my JCL from Jean in Oxnard in 2008 he told me about the German craftsman who made the rosettes by hand. 

[broKen]

I used to have more than I now have but they all were fine guitars. My '75 is still at least as nice as any guitar I've ever played and I've played some very expensive guitars. 

Hi Tom,  I didn't know you have a parlor. Or is that a 00

[ducktrapper]

Hi Tom,  I didn't know you have a parlor. Or is that a 00

Special edition rosewood parlor. I no longer own that one. Lost it in a separation. The OOO and the D are gone as well. Sold. I added an OM-01 and have a different, nicer, L-01.   

[ducktrapper]

Duck, I'm sure your '75 is amazing. It's Brazilian too right?  My JCL looks identical, love the classic rosette.  When I picked up my JCL from Jean in Oxnard in 2008 he told me about the German craftsman who made the rosettes by hand. 

Yes. Brazilian rosewood, German spruce. It is special. 

[Capefear]

I play my L09 everyday. I never put it in it's case.

Funny, ive been playing my L09 exclisively since Sept (Martin's in the shop.... don't get me started)... and i gotta say,  This is maybe the best fingerstyle guitar I've ever played, and will be with me forever. Its balance, intonation, tones across the spectrum and volume are all very very nice. As a quasi-introvert who spends too many hours in the dark, I truly appreciate how nice this guitar is. I am seriously considering a D05 or maybe D40 .......

[ducktrapper]

Funny, ive been playing my L09 exclisively since Sept (Martin's in the shop.... don't get me started)... and i gotta say,  This is maybe the best fingerstyle guitar I've ever played, and will be with me forever. Its balance, intonation, tones across the spectrum and volume are all very very nice. As a quasi-introvert who spends too many hours in the dark, I truly appreciate how nice this guitar is. I am seriously considering a D05 or maybe D40 .......

You will love a D-05. I want another one. This time without the barndoor.   

[Capefear]

You will love a D-05. I want another one. This time without the barndoor.  

Well, I wonder. How would you compare it to a D18? Or, for that matter, to a Larry D40M?

[Mikeymac]

Well, I wonder. How would you compare it to a D18? Or, for that matter, to a Larry D40M?

The D-05 will sound like a Larrivee - even though it is a dreadnought, it still has Larrivee's traditional bracing, and the Martin will sound like a Martin. Neither of these is a good or a bad thing, but it's just reality. The Larrivee will sound more open, lively and "balanced"; the Martin will sound more bassy/boomy and "contained" or controlled, for lack of a better description.

[ducktrapper]

Well, I wonder. How would you compare it to a D18? Or, for that matter, to a Larry D40M?

I wouldn't even try. Explaining sound is not something I've ever been able to do. However, if I went into a store intending on buying a mahogany dread and liked a D-18 more than the D-05, I guess I'd buy it although I have my doubts that would be the case. As for the 05 vs the 40? For the most part, I prefer the Larrivée original styles to the "traditional" models and after all, I'd make sure I had an L or two before even considering another guitar. 

[Silence Dogood]

There's nothing like a good Martin if you want a Martin sound.  I played a D18 a while back that I'd be happy to own.  But there are just too many of them around and I prefer the road-less-traveled aspect of Larrivee.