What about Larrivee makes it so special... to you!

Started by Alexrkstr, April 02, 2023, 02:53:09 PM

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What a gorgeous burst!
Larrivee P-03
Epiphone USA Texan
Larrivee 00-40R Moonwood top

Quote from: William2 on November 21, 2023, 07:04:48 AMFor me, just aesthetically, a guitar looks so much more beautiful without a pick guard or with a clear see through pick guard. These are beautiful instruments.
Quote from: jrporter on November 21, 2023, 09:53:08 AMI agree with no pick guard looks better on guitars. I removed the pick guard from my 000-44 and applied a clear one...
I concur and I removed all of the P/Gs from my Larrivees except for the parlor with the clear one and those which I ordered w/o a P/G.
But there's a lot of aggressive strummers out there who would otherwise demolish, through the finish and well into the wood on the top were it not for that protective armor.
I know there's a lot of love for Willie's "Trigger" but frankly I wouldn't want my guitars looking like that.

OK. Larrivee and leather it is!

Nice quilted seating on that couch.  Nice resting spot for the guitars.
 :nice guitar:
https://soundcloud.com/247hoopsfan

1971 Yamaha FG200 (My original guitar)
1996 Yamaha DW5S
2002 Yamaha LL500
1990 Goodall Rosewood Standard
2007 Larrrivee JCL 40th Anniversary
1998 Larrivee OM5MT
1998 Larrivee D10 Brazilian "Flying Eagle"
1998 Larrivee D09 Brazilian "Flying Eagle"

I just mailed Larrivee to say thanks for their help in putting me right re my misconception re sapele Vs Mahogany... And to show them the new OM03 burst I got when I went to check out some new ones. Pics here (btw it's body depth is 4.4" same as my OM03BH and that extra bit of volume really helps with the bass). That's FIVE Sitka/Khaya guitars and one OM03BH.







https://ibb.co/GRR7SW1

https://ibb.co/wcmH04D

https://ibb.co/KhHB1zR


I really love the soft hardwoods like Bhilwara and would have loved to have tried Zebrano, Laurel etc. I keep thinking about a rosewood but those soft hardwoods really tame, to me, some of the treble zing, and also add mids. The Bhilwara sound is simply fantastic, especially coupled with the moon top. Hope to try more of these soft hardwoods in future. The problem now is finding time to play them all.
Larrivee OM-02
Larrivee P-03
Larrivee OM-03BH
Larrivee OM-05
Larrivee L-05

Quote from: 247hoopsfan on November 21, 2023, 01:47:45 PMNice quilted seating on that couch.  Nice resting spot for the guitars.
 :nice guitar:

Only for photos. Otherwise, it's dogs, cats and maybe if there's room ... me.  :laughin:

Oddly enough, it must be a favorite prop but I see that couch (or sofa as my wife would say), only a longer model, in several TV shows lately. I wish I had the longer one. Then I could lie out straight. I would never have gotten it down here though, on second thought.     

Quote from: guitarman001 on November 21, 2023, 02:11:35 PMI just mailed Larrivee to say thanks for their help in putting me right re my misconception re sapele Vs Mahogany... And to show them the new OM03 burst I got when I went to check out some new ones. Pics here (btw it's body depth is 4.4" same as my OM03BH and that extra bit of volume really helps with the bass). That's FIVE Sitka/Khaya guitars and one OM03BH.







https://ibb.co/GRR7SW1

https://ibb.co/wcmH04D

https://ibb.co/KhHB1zR


I really love the soft hardwoods like Bhilwara and would have loved to have tried Zebrano, Laurel etc. I keep thinking about a rosewood but those soft hardwoods really tame, to me, some of the treble zing, and also add mids. The Bhilwara sound is simply fantastic, especially coupled with the moon top. Hope to try more of these soft hardwoods in future. The problem now is finding time to play them all.

That OM is simply beautiful! Congrats!
Larrivee P-03
Epiphone USA Texan
Larrivee 00-40R Moonwood top

It goes without saying all the Larrivee's in this thread are gorgeous. Love the ones in posts above.

Thanks re new OM. I know it might seem crazy but the are worse habits, this thing looks amazing and the body depth gives it a sound edging toward an L but in an OM body.

I am trying hard not to buy a used OM10 lol
Larrivee OM-02
Larrivee P-03
Larrivee OM-03BH
Larrivee OM-05
Larrivee L-05

Pickguards...  I don't care for the look of any PG on the plainer Larrivees (like the one I play). I even disliked the clear on and some years ago peeled it off. I'll eventually go through the top of mine, but that's ok. 

Here is the damage on mine after twenty years or so.  Strange thing is, my technique changed along the way and I began "planting" which is what caused this damage.  The nails on my right hand are very thick (not as thick on the left, strange) and my pinky really digs in.  I suppose it adds a bit of character, but things like this are curious to me: some players want their guitars to look new the whole time they have them, and some want them beat up.  I'm somewhere in the middle, I suppose.  I like mine to look lik it's been well-used and played a lot. 

I was in the luthier's shop a few years ago getting some work done on my guitar.  As the luthier takes it out of the case, he commented to me about how he loves working on my guitar, and how he likes to see guitars that have been played a lot.  He went on to say that he sees a lot of fine instruments that never get played.  What a shame for someone to take the time to build them right and no one ever make music with them.  I'm sure this is the majority of guitars that have ever been made. 


Quote from: Silence Dogood on November 21, 2023, 10:15:05 PMPickguards...  I don't care for the look of any PG on the plainer Larrivees (like the one I play). I even disliked the clear on and some years ago peeled it off. I'll eventually go through the top of mine, but that's ok. 

Just make sure you don't try that with an old Martin.  :whistling:

Quote from: ducktrapper on November 23, 2023, 08:53:01 AMJust make sure you don't try that with an old Martin.  :whistling:
I just re-checked my wallet to make sure.  No danger in me acquiring an old Martin anytime soon. 
 :roll

So far mostly love for acoustics. I certainly get that but my Larrivee electrics are both terrific guitars. I played with a drummer and bass player last night using my lowly 1980's LT-1, pointy headstock and all. I really enjoy the ebony fret board. That little beast can be sweet as can be and then snarl with the best of them. Matthew Larrivee called it hideous so I named it Hideki the Hideous or Tojo for short. So ugly I put stickers all over it. LOL. One pickup, one knob to rule them all! The amber RS-4 is simply one of the best electric guitars I've ever played. It is one of the early models with the Lollar Imperial humbuckers and while I hear that the Larrivee pickups in later models are awesome, the Lollars are too. I love playing these guitars. LOUD!  :nana_guitar 

I really like the pointy headstock Larrivess and would love to own one someday. 

Quote from: Silence Dogood on November 23, 2023, 08:40:00 AMHere is the damage on mine after twenty years or so.  Strange thing is, my technique changed along the way and I began "planting" which is what caused this damage.  The nails on my right hand are very thick (not as thick on the left, strange) and my pinky really digs in.  I suppose it adds a bit of character, but things like this are curious to me: some players want their guitars to look new the whole time they have them, and some want them beat up.  I'm somewhere in the middle, I suppose.  I like mine to look lik it's been well-used and played a lot. 

I was in the luthier's shop a few years ago getting some work done on my guitar.  As the luthier takes it out of the case, he commented to me about how he loves working on my guitar, and how he likes to see guitars that have been played a lot.  He went on to say that he sees a lot of fine instruments that never get played.  What a shame for someone to take the time to build them right and no one ever make music with them.  I'm sure this is the majority of guitars that have ever been made. 



Totally agree, guitars should be played.  I still have my 1972 Yamaha FG200 I bought new for $100 hard earned dollars when I was 17. The fretboard has been worn away by my fingers for all the playing through the years.  The top was scratched up 30 years ago by one of my 2 year old sons who somehow got it out of the case and began hammering on it with a pic.  How could I be upset?   He now also plays a Larrivee. :smile:

My JCL is getting slightly worn on the fingerboard as well.  I play all of them regularly, the JCL, the D09, and my Goodall all have been used on stage in a worship band for many years.  They actually don't have too many battle scars for all that time. When I'm gone my 5 kids will all have one to have a part of me.

https://soundcloud.com/247hoopsfan

1971 Yamaha FG200 (My original guitar)
1996 Yamaha DW5S
2002 Yamaha LL500
1990 Goodall Rosewood Standard
2007 Larrrivee JCL 40th Anniversary
1998 Larrivee OM5MT
1998 Larrivee D10 Brazilian "Flying Eagle"
1998 Larrivee D09 Brazilian "Flying Eagle"

Quote from: Silence Dogood on November 23, 2023, 09:08:37 AMI really like the pointy headstock Larrivess and would love to own one someday. 

You can still find them if you look but there are obviously a limited number. I'd like to find one of the original RS's but, then again, I'm not really in the market for another guitar. 

Something you all might enjoy...  I was playing some Christmas music at a party last night and afterwards a fellow comes up to me to ask about my guitar.  He is a Taylor guy that had never heard of a Larrivee.  I could tell he was genuinely curious about the guitar, the brand, etc.  I might've made another convert!  It has happened in the past. 
 :donut  :donut2  :wave  :donut  :donut2

Love those stories, thanks for sharing!
Larrivee OM-02
Larrivee P-03
Larrivee OM-03BH
Larrivee OM-05
Larrivee L-05

So I recently ordered a tonne of stuff from Larrivee, largely in the form of bridge pins!

All bone. I did consider ebony for the Bhilwara rosewood (as I think ebony is supposed to soften the trebles) but stuck with bone.

Unfortunately one pin snapped which was my fault... as it kept popping out and I was trying to force it. Luckily I got more than one set. But now not enough for all my guitars grrr.

It's definitely made a difference to the sound. More than anything, I'd say it sounds crisper and the trebles are brought out more. Was it worth it? I don't know. Can't decide if the Bhilwara sounded better with the stock composite pins or not. I'm not keen on shrill trebles (whence staying away from most rosewood guitars) and that's not what it's got.. but the trebles are accentuated.

Whatever Larrivee uses for its composite pins, I think they are also pretty good TBH. Does anybody know what the material is? I think it is better than standard plastic!

I have been playing my L05 more. I actually do love the lush sound and the full bass.
I have had ear issues for a while - mild tinnitus in one ear.
Lacewood guitars affect it. And whether it's the full bass of the L05 or simply the amount of air it moves, the next morning my ear is ringing after having played it. I intend to try this experiment a few more times (play only the L05 then check my ears the next morning) but if it persists, I will have to stick to OMs and smaller. This is NOT a problem with the L05 (which is LUSH) - it is a problem with my ears.

Well I have spent a FORTUNE on new Larrivee's this year.
Here's to next year ;)
Larrivee OM-02
Larrivee P-03
Larrivee OM-03BH
Larrivee OM-05
Larrivee L-05

That's a bummer that you broke a pin.

I have a set of the tortoise bridge pins with abalone dot inlays that I received from the Pro Shop on Larrivee's website installed on my Forum VI which look really nice. I don't know what the material is but they are made in Germany. Without question and according to my 68 year old ear, this is my best sounding Larrivee both plugged in and unplugged.

This is how you have to think about your expenditures: I actually have spent a total of $4,400 on three Larrivee guitars over the last 19 years. When you divide the total out of pocket cost over that time period, the price of ownership keeps dropping every year. All three of these guitars get significant playing time throughout the year.

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