NGD 2 days ago

[fantex]

I'm finally in the club. My 00-40 (44 technically) arrived Wednesday after almost 8 months. It's a gorgeous guitar. Mahogany b&s, spruce top with vintage tobacco burst, abalone rosette and full gloss. The tone for these smaller bodies is still growing on me, I had a Martin HD-28 and still have a Taylor 214ce Plus.

[B0WIE]

Looks like a beaut!! Congrats!

[jpmist]

Be still my heart! Such a lovely sunburst!

Smart choice with the abalone rosette for just the right amount of bling. Which spruce did you order?

This hits hard as "the one that got away" for me. I customed ordered a similar OO but with a mahogany top I never bonded to. Gone now . . .

I landed on the OO size during the Forum-IV era because I liked the size and it lacked the boomy tone a OOO I tried had. I play a lot with a capo and the OO body works well for those notes I play up the neck.

You didn't ask but I'll offer John Pearce phos/bronze 11's work well for me. A small guitar can sound bright so a warm alloy helps.

     

[StringPicker6]

That is a stunning guitar, congrats!!! I'm in love with the 00 body size, it's so comfy.

[fantex]

Thanks everyone. The spruce is Sitka. And of course my pictures do not do it justice.

I'll try some different strings. It was sent with D'Addario XS. I usually use EJ16 Phosphor Bronze Lights and XT. It does sound a little bright and some warmer bass and mids would be nice since I'm coming from a larger Taylor and Martin. I'd like to play a 000 and compare the two.

Would Mediums be too much for this guitar?

[teh]

Nice looking guitar. The gloss finish really makes the wood finish pop on this guitar.

FWIW, my all mahogany topped 00-24 arrived with medium gauge strings so I'm pretty sure yours will handle them too. Email Larrivee customer service if you're not sure.

Now if I could just figure out how to take and post nice pictures, I'd have it made.

[johnr]

Just stunning!! I too [as you know] had a OO built with cutaway and 14 fret to the body. It has taken a few months of adjustments [neck bridge and nut] but it is real close to be being played out at gigs. I think yours is prettier than mine but I do like the looks of this new guitar ! Wish I could post pics but I 've tried and tried and tried ; and just get angry ! ! So I give up.

[Silence Dogood]

Just stunning!! I too [as you know] had a OO built with cutaway and 14 fret to the body. It has taken a few months of adjustments [neck bridge and nut] but it is real close to be being played out at gigs. I think yours is prettier than mine but I do like the looks of this new guitar ! Wish I could post pics but I 've tried and tried and tried ; and just get angry ! ! So I give up.

You could probably email your pics to another member and they would load them up for you.   I used to have a lot of trouble posting pics before the upgrade.  I find that feature much more user-friendly now. 

[Myopic Squirrel]

fantex - very nice! Curious if you find a major difference in volume from the HD28 (unfamiliar with the Taylor size)?

[fantex]

I'd say the Martin was louder and had more bass, I loved the tone but felt it was uncomfortable for my right arm. I flat picked it and I'm fingerpicking the 00 so the comparison may not be fair. The Taylor is somewhere in between the two.

[guitarman001]

Looks great!!

I do wish they would do more OO-03s for those who prefer that bracing

[teh]

Yesterday I played my unamplified, straight braced, 14 fret, Sitka/East Indian Rosewood Martin D35 in the morning. Last night, I played my scalloped braced, 12 fret, all Mahogany Larrivee 0024 plugged in with its Anthem SL pickup.

The Martin has light gauge D'Addarios (that need changed) while the Larrivee has the medium gauge strings it arrived with last month. I generally use a Fishman Humbucking sound hole pickup for my Martin but I had the Anthem SL pickup installed in the 0024.

For its size, the short scale 00 is plenty loud and will hold its own against any of my other guitars. It's also been getting more than its fair share of playing time for the past month. Over the past 15 years, I played enough mahogany topped guitars to know that I wanted one but I realize that not everyone feels the same way. I passed on the opportunity to participate in the Forum III offering in 2009 but I liked what I saw when the 24 series was introduced and finagled a way to get one built with a mahogany top.

Regarding larger body sizes: One of the hidden advantages I discovered when playing my D35 and my LV03 (12 string) was that their larger body sizes actually became part of my rehab from the Rotator Cuff surgery I had on my right shoulder in May 2023.

[jweave69]

Dang that's pretty 😍! Congrats!

[fantex]

Dang that's pretty 😍! Congrats!

Thank you, I'm enjoying playing it!

[tiogajoe]

Awesome looking guitar!

[harrym]

Nice looking guitar, love the burst.

[fantex]

I put on the pick guard a while back. I took some better photos with my Fuji camera. Love playing this thing. I've been going through a few finger style courses on True Fire.

[fantex]

One more.

[teh]

That's a sharp looking guitar and I'll bet it plays and sounds even better. The soundhole inlay is subtle without being overpowering and the herringbone draws your eye to the edges of the top.

I used to say that the parlor and L body shapes were Larrivee's best designs but now that I have a 00, it's a three way tie.

[guitarman001]

Looks a million bucks.

The best Larrivee is the one in your hands!