Next Larrivée

[guitarman001]

I'd also buy more if I could and appreciate the links.

It's dire, economically. Really dire. I'm seeing entire offices shut up shop, redundancies and work moving to the East. Add to that, a glut of guitars on the market and that must make it tough for manufacturers. Strength to Larrivee..!

[teh]

Guitarman001

First, I haven't measured the string spacing on my three 12 fret Larrivee 6 string guitars however: The string spacing on my 000 12 fret Martin is 2 & 1/4" which converts to 2 & 8/32" if I remembered my fractions correctly from 3rd grade. This info was taken from the custom shop spec sheet that was produced when I submitted my order.

Regarding your question about my preference on scalloped bracing, here's a long winded answer (theory). Only one of my three Larrivee six strings (Spruce and maple parlor) has non-scalloped bracing. While my 12 fret Forum VI has a 25.5" scale, adding the Venetian cutaway opened up a lot of unexplored real estate for me beyond the 12th fret. The combination of the scalloped bracing and adding a mahogany top to my 00-24 last year really makes that guitar project. OTOH, all three of my Martins have 1/4" top bracing including one with non-scalloped and two with scalloped bracing. When Martin designed the D-35 prototype back in 1965, they experimented with several different top bracing configurations. They ended up using 000 style 1/4" top bracing which accentuated the bass on the D-35 over the D-18 and D-28 models with 5/16" non scalloped top bracing. This is probably a key reason why bluegrass players like Lester Flatt and groups like Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young or Paul McCartney that I've listened to over the years use D-18 and D-28s instead of D-35s.

Since I bought my first Larrivee in 2004 (12 fret parlor), I have chosen 12 fret necks for my next three six string acoustics. It's much easier for me to reach and form chords with a 12 fret neck. Having said that, I would never part with any of my four acoustics with a 14 fret neck and I have found these necks are better suited toward open tunings (I.E. Double Drop D, Open D and Open G). YMMV.

One closing thought. My Forum VI has a factory installed Anthem no-cut dual source pickup and my smaller 00 has an Anthem SL pickup. Both pickups were a great recommendation by John Jr.

[guitarman001]

If I were gigging I'd definitely get a pickup in all guitars.

I agree about 14 fretters and drop tunings. There is a punch and (good) sharpness to the notes of a 14 fret guitar which really cut through.

However... I also now like 12 frets. I have had incredible GAS feelings of late but luckily, have resisted. Exotic bodied 14 fret Larrivee's, higher end models, etc... I have 7 acoustics and a Halcyon on the way. It's too much and I frequently think about offloading a few to get one great one. Problem is... They're all great and I've reasons to keep them all.

I'd been obsessing about a Larrivee OO but I think if I were to go down that road, I'd get it with 24.9" scale like my (incredible) Northwood deep bodied adi/hog OO. I know the parlours aren't everybody's cup of tea but one of the things I LOVE about them is the warmth in the tone owing to the 24" scale. Smaller body -> smaller scale. It's just something I like.

I was unaware that your Martin was a custom shop order. Man - they are expensive. But I would sort of like to try one to accompany my Larrivee's... For that bassier tone. Martin don't put the bridge lower down the guitar on their 12 fretters, right? So.... I'm interested to hear how this affects the tone and feel compared to a Larrivee 12 fret which does? I've tried both and I prefer the Larrivee way. Obviously your guitar will still be amazing.

I've discovered that I really, REALLY like mahogany back & sides. I do like Bhilwara and the Borneo rosewood that I've got because they've got a bit of punch (I like this physical feedback...) but mahogany, for me, is KING. The mids are so rich and I can still dig into to get that punchy bass. It doesn't clang if you dig in, it fights back and gets louder and I love that. I could well see myself just having a collection of mahogany guitars (different bodies, tops, bracing, builder) and I'm sorta there with my P-03, OM02, OM05, Northwood. I considered an OM50 but in demos, it sounds quite dry compared to the 05 so I reckon if I go down the scalloped mahogany route, it'll be a Martin/Atkin or I specify this for the Halcyon and cross my fingers. I did have an om40 but I felt it wasn't as rich as the non-scalloped, to my ears

I do find the bridge spacing on Martin's so damn narrow. So it would have to be a custom. They are VERY expensive in the UK, owing to the distributor's large cut. Also, tbh
.. I think my OM05 is probably the best all round guitar I'm going to get and I've preferred it when trying out most Martin's, too. Variety is good, though.

Or is it... I played only my om02 for ten years until GAS struck. I was way happier back then. Getting to know one guitar intimately.

The only 40 series I've liked was a recent Austrian flame walnut. My ear very keenly picks out the tonal differences and I just haven't heard much richer than the OM05 which also, is probably the easiest guitar I've ever played... AFTER my om02 which has the compound radius fretboard, which I prefer.

If I were being brutal I would sell all my non-mahoganies, plus the OM02 (difficult decision!!!) to cut numbers and get one alternative mahogany. Or even just pocket the £££.

Sorry to bang on about mahogany. It's just a personal preference but man, it barks and it growls and I love it (I am on the fence re Tassie blackwood for the Halcyon vs good old Honduran hog). And of course.... Larrivee mahogany is SPECIAL. As is their Sitka. A good old Sitka + hog acoustic does me fine.

[StringPicker6]

I do love the size of my 00-40r, but I have played Myopic Squirrel's 000-40 several times and I absolutely LOVE both its size and tone. Probably my new favorite body shape, and fantastic warm bass that rivals a dread. I can't wait to get my 000 forum VII.

[guitarman001]

I tried a OOO-40 once - it was massive and had immense bass! I am certain you will love it.