Why I think the D-03 is the best guitar in the world.

[William2]

My D03 was made back in the day when they were using white plastic binding.  My son's has black plastic binding. I don't care for the black at all.  Wood binding looks great to my eye though.  YMMV. 

I like wood binding also. It is one of the reasons I prefer Larrivee over Martin. Yesterday I spent most of my practice time on the Martin 15-000SM. I love the clarity and sustain of a mahogany top. I thought I'd order a Larrivee D-03mh. But I ended up pulling out a Larrivee spruce top and WOW, you can't beat a spruce top LOL. I also listened to a lot of different sized guitars and was considering the Martin 000-17 because it has a different sound than so many guitars. But reflecting on this I decided not to. I love that sound, but I think it only works for certain types of music none of which I play. So, I'll think this over the weekend and probably end up calling Dave about the D-03R he has. I just want his opinion on this.
Is it too much the same instrument as the D-40R? I just got a Hercules 5 holder guitar stand and only have 4 guitars. I was thinking of telling Dave, I have this 5 guitar stand and only 4 guitars. Can you help me out?

[Silence Dogood]

I love my white binding!
 

[William2]

That does look nice against the dark wood.

[teh]

That white binding does look nice.

One thing I noticed with my D35. Over the past 48 years, the lacquer on the binding has yellowed with age and chipped off from play wear giving the guitar a relic'd look. Also the plastic (a/k/a boltaron) used on the binding is really durable and protects the edges of the body and the neck. I'd be interested to see if that happens to your D03.

[Silence Dogood]

That white binding does look nice.

One thing I noticed with my D35. Over the past 48 years, the lacquer on the binding has yellowed with age and chipped off from play wear giving the guitar a relic'd look. Also the plastic (a/k/a boltaron) used on the binding is really durable and protects the edges of the body and the neck. I'd be interested to see if that happens to your D03.

I don't think my binding has any finish on it.  The guitar itself is matte-finished and maybe the binding was put on after, or masked off?  I don't know.  I don't know what the binding is made of exactly, but some of these high-quality plastics last a long time.  The pickguards on old mandolins and old Martins come to mind. 

[StringPicker6]

I have noticed that the wood binding on current larrivees is susceptible to getting dented if I'm not careful.

[William2]

Well, I finally made my decision to buy the Larrivee D-03. The decision was based on wanting something I didn't already have and that was the non-scalloped bracing on a Larrivee guitar. This instrument impressed me on a video Dave Dalton of Woodstock School of Music made. And while Dave usually prefers scalloped bracing, he said this instrument sounds particularly good. I'm very excited. It should arrive tomorrow and then I'll own the BEST guitar in the world.

[Silence Dogood]

Well, I finally made my decision to buy the Larrivee D-03. The decision was based on wanting something I didn't already have and that was the non-scalloped bracing on a Larrivee guitar. This instrument impressed me on a video Dave Dalton of Woodstock School of Music made. And while Dave usually prefers scalloped bracing, he said this instrument sounds particularly good. I'm very excited. It should arrive tomorrow and then I'll own the BEST guitar in the world.

Hands down, no contest THE BEST guitar in the world!  Congrats. 

[William2]

Hands down, no contest THE BEST guitar in the world!  Congrats. 

LOL!!!

[StringPicker6]

I have to admit, I really want to try out a D-03 now. All the reviews say they are amazing.

[B0WIE]

I have to admit, I really want to try out a D-03 now. All the reviews say they are amazing.

Worth trying. For me, it was the Larrivee I owned for the shortest amount of time. I liked it, but the volume it gave back for the amount of input I had to give was no where near what I got from the SDs. Guitars are all down to personal taste though. So, when someone says a guitar is the best they ever played, I believe them.

[Silence Dogood]

Worth trying. For me, it was the Larrivee I owned for the shortest amount of time. I liked it, but the volume it gave back for the amount of input I had to give was no where near what I got from the SDs. Guitars are all down to personal taste though. So, when someone says a guitar is the best they ever played, I believe them.

Your D03 was quiet?  Mine is plenty loud but not the loudest dread I've ever played for sure.

[B0WIE]

Your D03 was quiet?  Mine is plenty loud but not the loudest dread I've ever played for sure.

The D03R and both L03s I've owned were definitely not loud. About average. The D02-12 has good volume. The SDs and J were LOUD and the D-09 was equally as loud, but it was Brazilian so it's not an equal comparison to a D03. 

 The music I play doesn't usually sound good with a hard attack, so I prefer instruments that give a lot of volume even with a light stroke. If I was strumming classic rock or country, a D03 would be more than loud enough. They're great guitars. I just felt I had better options for soft strumming and fingerstyle.

[Silence Dogood]

The D03R and both L03s I've owned were definitely not loud. About average. The D02-12 has good volume. The SDs and J were LOUD and the D-09 was equally as loud, but it was Brazilian so it's not an equal comparison to a D03. 

 The music I play doesn't usually sound good with a hard attack, so I prefer instruments that give a lot of volume even with a light stroke. If I was strumming classic rock or country, a D03 would be more than loud enough. They're great guitars. I just felt I had better options for soft strumming and fingerstyle.

That makes sense.  My own guitar definitely quietens down when I play fingerstyle, but it will wake up to vocal-drowning volume when I use a pick - especially a stiffer one.  I have learned how to adapt to all its idiosyncrasies and mostly get it to do what I want it to do. But like I said somewhere else here, I don't believe any one guitar does everything perfectly, but in my experience, the D03 could get the average player through life.  I've only played a few L-bodies in shops over the years.  I could never warm up to the shape of them.  They look like classical guitars to me, and while I love classical guitars, I love them as classical guitars exclusively.   

[William2]

I think what I look for in a guitar is a quality of sound. I sold my Martin DSS-17 as soon as I saw a demo by my dealer of the Larrivee D-40. The DSS-17 had that quick response and loud sound due to its light weight and extra-large body dimensions. But it just never sounded that pretty. even with different string types. I would put my Larrivee D-40 on a par with that Martin any day and I think most would prefer the Larrivee just because of its sound. I am curious about the new D-03 as to whether it has that clearer balance in the low end of the instrument that I've seen people mention. I can tell by the demo it sounds as loud as my Larrivee D-40R when I compare that video. The instrument should arrive this afternoon. I think depending on your technique, the dreadnought can sound just as effective fingerstyle as with a plectrum. I recently added just a bit on nail to my plucking hand. And I can play as incisively as a plectrum player. Here is a short video of a D-03 played hybrid style. The player is using fingernails, and it blends perfectly with his plectrum. I really like this sound. In the end, my other 3 Larrivee's I just love and have never seriously thought of selling. I'm sure this new one will be the same. Maybe if I sell that Martin 000-15SM I could get one more Larrivee. And it would be a 12-fret D-40.  I should have bought that when it became available, but I had just purchased the 14-fret D-40, and my wife would have had me committed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pENSz29rFrA

[teh]

William,

Congratulations on finding a guitar to enhance your playing style. From previous posts, it's clear that you have put a lot of thought and research into your decision. Here's hoping that this D-03 brings you years of enjoyment.

The dreadnought is one of the most versatile body shapes for multiple playing styles. I learned to fingerpick on a straight braced, Martin rosewood dread and it was my only guitar from 1977 to 2004. When I want/need more volume, I use a Fishman Humbucking soundhole pickup and run it through a 60 watt  Loudbox Mini acoustic amp.

If you want to try something different once you get your new guitar, buy a set of S.I.T. Royal Bronze Acoustic Strings RL1254 for $8.99. S.I.T. means "Stay in Tune and the string company was founded in Akron, OH in 1980 by the people that run Lay's Guitar Shop founded in 1962. I use light gauge strings on most of my guitars and I've used 2-3 sets of SIT Strings.

www.sitstrings.com

I currently have five Larrivees, three Martins plus an Alvarez Artist and a few other miscellaneous instruments. In my case, it's not a fear of my wife having me committed. It's more a case of running out of space in my guitar room.

[William2]

"I currently have five Larrivee's, three Martins plus an Alvarez Artist and a few other miscellaneous instruments. In my case, it's not a fear of my wife having me committed. It's more a case of running out of space in my guitar room." I will check out those strings.

LOL!!!

[Silence Dogood]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfWiDFPDxRQ

^^^  This isn't a studio quality recording but just something recently captured with my iPhone.  It's also worth noting that I'm tuned down a whole step and in 432 Hz from 440 Hz. I'm capo'd and using medium strings (weird combo!).  I've experimented with lots of different tunings, string combos, etc.  Nothing is fixed but I'm always looking for something new that works.  Rather than buying guitars all the time, I'm always tweaking what I have. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wx9gKG60G9Y

^^^ Here is another quick one where I'm just tuned down a step but still in 440 Hz.  Big strings, big pick. 

[jweave69]

My 2004 D-03R was super loud. I had more that one person tell me it was the loudest acoustic they ever heard. And of course it had that beautiful, balanced Larrivee sound! I guess some are better than others...Mine WAS the best guitar in the World!

[William2]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfWiDFPDxRQ

^^^  This isn't a studio quality recording but just something recently captured with my iPhone.  It's also worth noting that I'm tuned down a whole step and in 432 Hz from 440 Hz. I'm capo'd and using medium strings (weird combo!).  I've experimented with lots of different tunings, string combos, etc.  Nothing is fixed but I'm always looking for something new that works.  Rather than buying guitars all the time, I'm always tweaking what I have. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wx9gKG60G9Y

Nice videos. I really liked the top one.

^^^ Here is another quick one where I'm just tuned down a step but still in 440 Hz.  Big strings, big pick.