Martin 000-17 and Larrivee 00-24

[teh]

Reviewing the specs for the Martin standard series being rolled out, it's interesting to note that the D-35 still has non scalloped bracing. Most of the others including the iconic D-28 now have scalloped bracing and the D-28 and D-18 offer the option of a satin finish.

Next, I compared the similarities and differences between the 14 fret, all mahogany Martin 000-17 and my 12 fret, all mahogany Larrivee 00-24. Both have a satin finish, dovetail joint, short scale, solid head stock and scalloped bracing. The 000 has Golden Era (Adirondack Spruce) bracing with open gear butterbean tuners while the 00 has Moonwood Spruce bracing, closed vintage Tulip tuners, pyramid bridge, rosewood Radial Wood purfling and rosette.

The Martin has a Golden Era Modified Low Profile neck with an old style decal while the 00 neck has a comfortable 16" fretboard radius and a vine headstock* logo.

*Upgrades to the 00-24 included a mahogany top, black ebony bridge pins with abalone dots, an archtop case and Anthem SL pickup.

Three months in, I can say that the 00-24 exceeded my initial expectations and will be my primary road trip guitar in 2025. Like I did with my Forum VI, I did not have a pickguard installed on the 00. This is my second acoustic Larrivee built at the Oxnard factory that was ordered without me playing it first. My only real regret was waiting 19 years to add a mahogany six string guitars to compliment the 12 string built in 2005.

The Martins on my wishlist include the 0-16NY, 00-21NY or the M-36.

The Larrivees on my wishlist include the SD-24, 0-40 or a used classical if I could try one.

[William2]

I found the D-17 an interesting add to their standard series. The Martin site lists the scale as 24.9" but the mailer I got from Martin says it is 25.4". I guess I would have to hear a D-15 vs a D-17 to see if I can hear a difference between the two or for that matter, a D-1 vs a Larrivee D-03. The salespeople are really talking up this golden era (GE) bracing. Some months ago, I brought up the topic of whether a stiff top like mahogany works better with a scalloped or non-scalloped bracing but got no answer. Maybe I'll be able to hear the difference in the future. I will say having owned and now miss the D-15, it had a very comfortable neck, and I didn't feel cramped with a 1 & 11/16" nut. It felt just like my Larivee neck. My Martin DSS-17 had a less comfortable neck with a 1 & 3/4" nut. Both were called low oval profile. The Martin D-15 was very open and responsive, and I loved the power it had for a mahogany instrument. It weighed less than 4 lbs. and had a very long sustain just like my current 000-15SM. But the 15SM doesn't have the power I like. One thing about these Martin hogs, is they seem to very in wood quality. However, with the 000-15SM, the wood quality always seemed better looking. As a lefty, I went with the 15SM instead of taking chances on an order I might not like.

[StringPicker6]

I was looking at the new 2025 upgraded to Martin's line up today. I was surprised that they are making the necks even more slender. Industry seems to be shifting towards a beveled edge on the fretboard also, which seems like a comfortable update.

[William2]

I've watched a few videos of these new releases particularly the mahogany 000-17 and the D-17. The people I've watched think maybe Martin is seeing which will be more popular, the 15 series or the 17 series. And if it is the 17 series, the 15 series might end or be moved to Mexico with their other cheaper mahogany line. I'm still waiting for a side-by-side video of the 15 vs the 17. I'm glad that the new 000-17 fits the Martin definition of a 000 with a short scale unlike the 000-15. I kind of get tired of this every year new release thing that Martin and Taylor do. If you have something that works, why change it. And if the things you did in the past were your best offering, why did you change it?

[Queequeg]

I'm taking an old 0-17 in for repair next week. Bellied top below the bridge/lower bout. Top hasn't split or cracked. This will be a great guitar when I get it back.

[teh]

Thanks for sharing that video. I am always amazed with both the ingenuity and problem solving abilities that guitar repairers possess. I'll bet that will be a beauty when it's finished. Maybe someone will say the same thing about my guitars in 50-80 years.

The "no frills" 0-17 helped Martin get through some dark days in the 30s and 40s. They produced a total of 10,430 0-17 guitars between 1906 and 1948 with over 90% of them produced between 1930 and 1948. The high point was 1,100 guitars produced in 1934. Martin also produced 10,705 0-15s between 1940 and 1961. The high point was 925 guitars produced in 1955. (Source - Martin Guitars: A Technical Reference by Richard Johnson & Dick Boak). I'll comment on some of the history about Martin Necks and Top Bracing after I do a little more research but most of my detailed reference material is only current through about 2010.

I wish I had this same kind of information to access about the evolution of Larrivee Guitars. I do recall that Jean Larrivee visited the Martin Factory early on in his career. I also think his mechanical background and work ethic has carried over to John Jr. and Matthew.

From what I've read, most of these builders have a good working relationship and mutual respect for each other's work.