Did Larrivee ever make these??

[jazzereh]

"The Washburn model RSD135 was a limited edition, USA built (by Larrivee) steel-string guitar made in celebration of Washburn's 135th anniversary."

That's a quote from a for sale post elsewhere.  I've never heard of Larrivee making other 'brands' so thought I'd ask the experts here.  Seems a bit far and I did do a search on the Larrivee site with no results.

Thanks

[mikey007]

"The Washburn model RSD135 was a limited edition, USA built (by Larrivee) steel-string guitar made in celebration of Washburn's 135th anniversary."

That's a quote from a for sale post elsewhere.  I've never heard of Larrivee making other 'brands' so thought I'd ask the experts here.  Seems a bit far and I did do a search on the Larrivee site with no results.

Thanks

I haven't been able to confirm with anything written other than forum posts but sure looks like a Larrivee L-ish body!

[B0WIE]

In a quick search, I saw two different press release articles stating they were made in the Washburn custom shop. I wouldn't be surprised if there was sourcing from, or collaboration with, Larrivee though.

[willynelson13]

There was a former Larrivee employee who posted on Instagram and he had the Washburn labels and the Washburn guitar on his work bench. Proof enough for me that they were made in the Larrivee Factory.

[StringPicker6]

They sure look like an L-03 to me! Right down to the natural unstained mahogany.

[jazzereh]

I'm guessing you guys have seen the old listing on Reverb for these guitars.  While that is not the listing that prompted my question, it does seem to be the same guitar. 

Not sure about any Larrivee connection yet since the video on Reverb does seem to suggest that they are built at the Washburn factory in Chicago.  Could be wrong.

Other than conjecture that these look like a Larrivee, I don't yet see any real evidence that they were built by Larrivee, not at the Washburn factory.  It strikes me that Larrivee had enough to do to build their own brand and would not get into a ghost build for another brand.  Could be wrong. 

[jazzereh]

Found this on the AGF on an old post.  Not really addressing this particular model [this info from about 2012] but thought it interesting that Bourgeois is listed as building for Washburn...

"5} Most Washburn acoustic guitars imported between 1974 and 1996 were of very good to excellent quality.....they were as well made or... better made than their American counterparts.

6} From 1994 to 2001, there are only 10 known Washburn acoustic models built in the USA....they are:

D-43...2nd. version 1994-97....made by Tacoma USA... for Washburn *

D-46 S Cheyenne...................made by Tacoma USA...for Washburn

D-47 S Navajo.......................made by Tacoma USA...for Washburn

D-48 SW Comanche..............made by Tacoma USA...for Washburn

R-310 K................................made by Tacoma USA...for Washburn

D-51 SW Apache..................made by Bourgeois USA...for Washburn

D-55 SW Cherokee...............made by Bourgeois USA...for Washburn

D-56 SW Savannah...............made by Bourgeois USA...for Washburn

D-96 SW Paramount.............made by Bourgeois USA...for Washburn

R-312 K Presentation............made by Bourgeois USA...for Washburn

All other Washburn acoustic guitar models made from 1994 to 2001 were imported......period!

7} In late 2001, a new line of made in the USA acoustics was introduced by Washburn....this line has since been discontinued. {D-78 SW....D-80 SW...D-82 SW and the D-84 SW}....although the new line of Washburn acoustics were well made....lack of consumer interest and little or no profit margin in the product line led to its demise.

8} The quality of the Washburn imported acoustic models has dropped dramatically since 2000.....they're just not as well made as their 1974-1996 predecessors....

Information for this guide was provided by American Multimedia Studios....owner of the most comprehensive contemporary collection of Washburn Acoustic Guitars in the world and a foremost authority on the Washburn acoustic product line. For more information on Washburn Acoustic Guitars and American Multimedia Studios go to:

And also during a time there were some awesome Yamaki built Washburns from Japan and lets not forget that Washburn created some of the very first acoustic/electric guitars.

And then they moved production to Indonesia and then to China and very recently Rudy S sold the Washburn name to a Canadian company Jam Industries out of Montreal Canada."

[mike in lytle]

Well, there is a young man from Paris, Texas who bought one of these guitars off ebay a few days ago (Larrivee guitar owners FB page) and then having heard they were made by Larrivee, called Larrivee and confirmed they were all made in Oxnard. He posted some good pics, and a short video. You can see the updated truss rod access, the black internal patch where the barn door electrics go, and the typical burned-in serial number on the neck block. They do look a lot like an L-body, but something about the lower bout seems different.
Mike