The Forum VI Waiting Room

[Riverbend]

I found this on the Larrivee website: https://www.larrivee.com/news/upgrade-to-austrian-red-spruce-250-msrp

Thanks for that refresher! I'd read that a few years ago but reading it now holds a special new significance. Hmmmm
Sure am glad I was able to get onboard with this special guitar, and thanks to all the many contributors.

[mike in lytle]

UPDATE
Talked to John briefly.
The F-VI will be numbered 1 thru 14. The 4 extra will not be numbered for now, as they are reserved in case there are any problems in production.
The guitars will be numbered pretty much as they go into production, so who gets what number depends on that.
Mike

[jazzereh]

If it works out to be a Christmas gift to myself, that would be great.  Might suggest to my wife that she can wrap it up and put it under the tree from her and that would work for her as well.  Given that I'll be waiting until sometime late next year for another guitar build I have on order, not really an issue but the thought is nice. 

I'm really looking forward to seeing some photos during the build.  That will be really exciting.

[Strings4Him]

"As for using alternative woods, I know what makes a good sound so I know the woods we can use. . . And then there's the moonwood . . . which is European wood from Austria. It's all about altitude. To get relatively big logs at high altitudes is a little bit complex and the big problem there is availability as the laws there are very difficult. I'm fortunate to have the supplier as a friend."

Jean Larrivee

[Strings4Him]

Speaking of trends, what is Larrivée's take on torrefecation – the heat ageing process that began with bespoke manufacturers then spread down through the acoustic market to the point that even some mass-produced acoustics were being offered with heat-treated woods, claimed to give a brand new guitar a played-in tone. Torrefaction isn't something they have really explored, John says. Instead they have an even more esoteric secret weapon – moonwood, as Jean Larrivée mentioned earlier.

"Moonwood is European, high Alpine spruce, harvested under certain conditions where the earth's rotation means there's no stress on the wood. Is that a real thing? I think so. There have been enough people over hundreds of years who have been convinced that it makes a difference. It's something my father picked up on and people love it. Personally, I can hear the difference if you compare a Sitka spruce top and a European Alpine spruce top you can see the difference visually.

"The European is a lot lighter, more even on colour. Sitka spruce is a little bit darker in colour. Tonewise, the moonwood is a little bit stiffer and you can get a little more tonal articulation  from it. It's a little more percussive, it's crisper and it's a nice wood to pair with things like Madagascar rosewood or Malaysian ebony. I find them very complimentary and they make very interesting sound boxes."

It would be easy to be cynical about the mysteries of moonwood, but the fact is that it was the spruce of choice for violin-makers for centuries and, for all that the rules concerning its planting and harvesting (mostly to do with phases of the moon – hence the name) sound a little like Biodynamics (the Rudolph Steiner invented growing system sometimes regarded as a bit out-there, even for organic farmers) there is scientific evidence to suggest that moonwood's qualities are very real and that the violin-makers were onto something. Once again, Jean Larrivée's connections give him access to supplies of this rare and scarce tonewood.

[jazzereh]

Thanks for these comments, Strings4Him. 

I had heard these kinds of things in the past about moonwood and, from my perspective, certainly 'out there'.  Not sure I've ever played a guitar with moonwood so don't really know and certainly have not done any A/B comparisons.  So, even though I might be a bit skeptical about the wood, these comments from Jean Larrivee carry a lot of weight for me.  Since this Forum VI is using moonwood I'm really looking forward to playing it. 

I do think that this will be a special guitar.

[Riverbend]

Speaking of trends, what is Larrivée's take on torrefecation – the heat ageing process that began with bespoke manufacturers then spread down through the acoustic market to the point that even some mass-produced acoustics were being offered with heat-treated woods, claimed to give a brand new guitar a played-in tone. Torrefaction isn't something they have really explored, John says. Instead they have an even more esoteric secret weapon – moonwood, as Jean Larrivée mentioned earlier.

"Moonwood is European, high Alpine spruce, harvested under certain conditions where the earth's rotation means there's no stress on the wood. Is that a real thing? I think so. There have been enough people over hundreds of years who have been convinced that it makes a difference. It's something my father picked up on and people love it. Personally, I can hear the difference if you compare a Sitka spruce top and a European Alpine spruce top you can see the difference visually.

"The European is a lot lighter, more even on colour. Sitka spruce is a little bit darker in colour. Tonewise, the moonwood is a little bit stiffer and you can get a little more tonal articulation  from it. It's a little more percussive, it's crisper and it's a nice wood to pair with things like Madagascar rosewood or Malaysian ebony. I find them very complimentary and they make very interesting sound boxes."

You guys are making the waiting a bit more excruciating...and I'm enjoying every minute of it! So, technically speaking, is moonwood significantly different from the Italian Alpine Spruce top wood?

It would be easy to be cynical about the mysteries of moonwood, but the fact is that it was the spruce of choice for violin-makers for centuries and, for all that the rules concerning its planting and harvesting (mostly to do with phases of the moon – hence the name) sound a little like Biodynamics (the Rudolph Steiner invented growing system sometimes regarded as a bit out-there, even for organic farmers) there is scientific evidence to suggest that moonwood's qualities are very real and that the violin-makers were onto something. Once again, Jean Larrivée's connections give him access to supplies of this rare and scarce tonewood.

[Strings4Him]

Is the Forum VI an LS-03 or an LS-40?

Will an MSRP be provided to each owner?


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[Strings4Him]

This was interesting—even the comments.

https://youtu.be/dQRl11U2Ndk


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[mike in lytle]

Is the Forum VI an LS-03 or an LS-40?
Will an MSRP be provided to each owner?

The Forum VI is an LS-03, with specs changed to walnut/moonwood, 12 fret neck and hybrid bracing, plus a changed fretboard (VI inlay at 12th fret, and no other markings). Plus loose pickguard.
The MSRP is based on the base MSRP of an OM-03R or L-03R, with changes off the custom pricing sheet (except for the inlay, I don't know how John priced that).
John asked to refrain from disclosing the exact MSRP publicly in the forum, however, if anyone who ordered a F-VI would PM me, I would be happy to tell you what it is, as well as my own calculated MSRP.
Mike

[Bard]

I know our guitar is spec'd out, and nothing will be changing, so please take this post for what it is: just sharing an opinion, information and creating conversation (NOT controversy) as we move along in our wait for the Forum VI.

The July pic in the Larrivee calendar makes me think the Forum VI rosette would've been a beauty if done in wood. Sigh. It will still be a beautiful, unique and I'm sure a great sounding guitar.

Pics attached. The guitar is the one Larrivee built for the Group of Seven Guitar Project from a few years ago.

That sure is pretty. That was definitely my preference. Oh well, we are going to be getting some fabulous guitars with some extra care during build. I'm pretty sure we'll all be thrilled.

[B0WIE]

I think you guys are better without the wood rosette. It's easy for all that inlay work in the background to fool the mind into thinking the wood rosette is beautiful. But, take the inlay away, and the rosette looks very plain, maybe cheap. I've seen plain wood rosettes look petty "meh" if they aren't highly figured pieces. I personally think the new Forum is going to be better without the plain wood rosette.

[Rockysdad]

Regarding the rosette design, I  too would have liked the solid wood. Sometimes, less is more.

I'm going to be a happy camper regardless, I'll own a *Forum VI*.

[mike in lytle]

I think you guys are better without the wood rosette.

A main thing I appreciate is that we ended up with no cosmetic changes to the basic LS-03 style except for the VI inlay.
We put our money down on stuff that our ears will appreciate instead, well, maybe unless one is a retired Army artillery gunner 
Mike

[Bard]

A main thing I appreciate is that we ended up with no cosmetic changes to the basic LS-03 style except for the VI inlay.
We put our money down on stuff that our ears will appreciate instead, well, maybe unless one is a retired Army artillery gunner 
Mike

Agreed. Sound over looks.

[markj]

Agreed. Sound over looks.

Yeah, but I for one don't think we are sacrificing anything in the "looks" department. This guitar is going to be gorgeous. I know I am repeating myself.   

[Bard]

Yeah, but I for one don't think we are sacrificing anything in the "looks" department. This guitar is going to be gorgeous. I know I am repeating myself.   

I think so too. I'm very excited to see the moon wood and walnut. I don't think looks are being compromised. Yet, if given the choice between sound and looks on a guitar, I'm going with sound. Perhaps sound over bling is more accurate.

[Strings4Him]

Oh, I'm not worried about it - these will still be beautiful guitars - I was just keeping the conversation goin'. 

Meanwhile here's a Walnut/Spruce guitar to enjoy. Not a Larrivee, but a pretty decent demo. The playing around 1:30 starts getting interesting (so hang in there).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPjx0YzgK-E

Furch make excellent guitars.  I like his guitar bib 🙃😀


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[Mikeymac]

Furch make excellent guitars.  I like his guitar bib 🙃😀

Yeah - I noticed "the bib" too. Good idea.

[Strings4Him]

Yeah - I noticed "the bib" too. Good idea.

It's like the belt buckle cover I use.


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