New Guitar Day

[JoeT]

This is a follow up message to my "OM Body Dimension" post. I recently ordered, received an unboxed an OM-01R shipped directly from Larrivée. OMG what an amazing instrument, the clarity, sound, tone and quality is off the chain, what an amazing instrument. Sounds as good if not better than my 2025 Martin D-18, probably due to the Rosewood back and sides. I've upgraded the bridge pins to bone added an ebony strap button and also installed a stock Larrivée pick guard, I've also lowered the action by 1/64th, bringing it to 5/64th on the base side and 4/64th on the treble side. The neck relief was already where it needs to be at .006 thousands. The so-called standard tuners that should be 16:1 ration turned out to be 18:1, I contacted Larrivée and they say that sometimes that happens from their vendor, what a win win........could not be happier with this purchase!

[mike in lytle]

You are the first in the forum to get one of the new -01 guitars. They are a darn good deal, and it sounds like you know how to treat it right.
Nothing plain looking about your guitar. Way to go!
Mike

[Rockysdad]

Congrats, Enjoy it forever.

[Queequeg]

Very, very nice.
I'm partial to OMs.
Just look at that rosewood!
Hey, look at that spruce top! 
I hope this guitar brigs you many years of playing pleasure, Joe.

[StringPicker6]

What a stunning guitar!!! I'm very happy for you! No one can find straight grain rosewood like that except Larrivee. I hope you play it for many years.

[Silence Dogood]

Dang, such a nice guitar!

[jpmist]

   Congrats!

That's the whitest spruce top I've seen in a while, could be room lighting, but do you know what kind of spruce it is?

Enjoy!

[StringPicker6]

That top will have a gorgeous honey color in a few years

[JoeT]

According to the specs it just reads Spruce. However the "Willie Watson' model which I assume it was derived from has Sitka Spruce top, but the Willie Watson model has Mahogany back and sides.

[StringPicker6]

Rest assured that is quality spruce.  Larrivee only uses the best tone woods. 

[mike in lytle]

According to the specs it just reads Spruce. However the "Willie Watson' model which I assume it was derived from has Sitka Spruce top, but the Willie Watson model has Mahogany back and sides.

The description of the -01 Series states "BC Sitka Spruce" (British Columbia), and the Willie Watson OM derives from the original -01 product line. The old -01's can be found on Reverb from time to time, and date from around the year 2000.
Mike

[Silence Dogood]

The contrast of that neck wood with the back and sides is one of the coolest things I've seen in a while.  Really nice.  I can't quit looking at it!
 

[teh]

Congratulations on your new guitar but be prepared. You will find yourself wanting another Larrivee in the future and if you're lucky you'll be able to stop at one.

Just out of curiosity, does your 2025 D-18 have a gloss or satin finish? My four Larrivees, see I couldn't stop, have a satin finish which I found really highlights both the quality and grain of the wood. You'll also discover that the satin finish is very durable and in my case, my two 20 plus year old Larrivees made in Vancouver, B.C., show very little play wear.

When my son and I toured the Larrivee factory in Oxnard last June, Matthew showed us a pallet of cut rosewood that was curing in the parking lot beside the building. You could actually feel the Santa Ana winds blowing across and through the wood. These guys think of everything when selecting, choosing and prepping the wood. 

Give us an update in a couple of months once you have settled in with your guitar. That looks like a keeper for sure.

[JoeT]

Thank you, and actually this is my forth one, and I'm still kicking myself in the -CENSORED- for getting rid of the other three I had. One was the OM-V40RE and a OM-40R and the L-03. All sold on Reverb within days, I try to learn from my mistakes and this one is not going anywhere, and do see the possibility of adding another, perhaps a Rosewood Dreadnaught. To answer your question the Martin has a gloss body with a satin neck, to add to my initial post to the comparison of the two. The Larrivée sounds as good if not better and more importantly half the cost. Along with Larrivée's quality and pricing I am most impressed with their customer support. While nosing around looking at this OM-01R I sent Larrivée an email with a question. Larrivée (Jr) himself actually called me personally to answer my question and answered multiple texts with follow-up questions, I was floored. You do not see that from any of the other higher end builders. Could not be more pleased with the whole experience. And thanks to everyone for your comments and kind words!
Would even consider dumping the Martin for a Larrivée Dread.