Review of the Larrivee L-03 and D-03 Models by Alamo Music

[guitarman001]

As far as I know, yes, it's Australian.  The guitar was made in 2002 and I'm almost positive they were billing it as Australian back then. 

Thanks!

How does it compare to mahogany?

I've a Halcyon on order and I'm thinking Lutz and Tassie Blackwood, basically .. !

[Silence Dogood]

Thanks!

How does it compare to mahogany?

I've a Halcyon on order and I'm thinking Lutz and Tassie Blackwood, basically .. !

This is a question that I can absolutely answer since my son has a regular D03 with mahogany back and sides.  His is a better guitar than my D03BW.  It's louder and has a more powerful tone over all (it's a banjo-killer on the level of a Martin D18).  It sparkles a little more than mine.  My guitar isn't quiet but it is more mellow over all than his. 

Having said all that, mine has thousands more play-hours on it than his does and I think my guitar has a more "mature" and possibly a slightly "rounder" or complex and focused tone, but his has just a bit *more* of everything since it's so powerful. 

Even though his is what it is, I still like my guitar better because I can get all the tones out of it that I want since I've spent so much time with it.  That's one of the benefits of having only one guitar: you can make it do what you want up to its absolute limitations. 

[William2]

This is a question that I can absolutely answer since my son has a regular D03 with mahogany back and sides.  His is a better guitar than my D03BW.  It's louder and has a more powerful tone over all (it's a banjo-killer on the level of a Martin D18).  It sparkles a little more than mine.  My guitar isn't quiet but it is more mellow over all than his. 

Having said all that, mine has thousands more play-hours on it than his does and I think my guitar has a more "mature" and possibly a slightly "rounder" or complex and focused tone, but his has just a bit *more* of everything since it's so powerful. 

Even though his is what it is, I still like my guitar better because I can get all the tones out of it that I want since I've spent so much time with it.  That's one of the benefits of having only one guitar: you can make it do what you want up to its absolute limitations. 

It sounds like your guitar has more complex sounds. I know when I was considering the D-03R and listening tom videos, there are many more Larrivee D-03R videos out there than D-03 videos. It is the reason while I like mahogany rose wood is my first choice. Rosewood has more tonal possibilities for me.

[guitarman001]

This is a question that I can absolutely answer since my son has a regular D03 with mahogany back and sides.  His is a better guitar than my D03BW.  It's louder and has a more powerful tone over all (it's a banjo-killer on the level of a Martin D18).  It sparkles a little more than mine.  My guitar isn't quiet but it is more mellow over all than his. 

Having said all that, mine has thousands more play-hours on it than his does and I think my guitar has a more "mature" and possibly a slightly "rounder" or complex and focused tone, but his has just a bit *more* of everything since it's so powerful. 

Even though his is what it is, I still like my guitar better because I can get all the tones out of it that I want since I've spent so much time with it.  That's one of the benefits of having only one guitar: you can make it do what you want up to its absolute limitations. 

Thanks for this.

Mahogany is a great wood, very powerful / punchy in the bass and characterful. Maybe I should get a Halcyon mahogany. Tough one.


I keep reading Tassie Blackwood is a great wood. Sparkles in the trebles and more bass authority than koa. Does sound good in demoes but I can hear it doesn't have the bass punch of mahogany. Do you have any samples? No problem if not.

I wish I just stuck with my OM02 and didn't buy other guitars. I know what you mean there.


I only have the p-03r jcl with moon top as an EIR guitar. I love it and often think about an om-10 but fear overlap, have so many already and limited £££. I think part of what I like is the 12 fret sound, plus the 24" scale really warms it up. I think other rosewoods are also interesting - Guatemalan etc.

[Silence Dogood]

I keep reading Tassie Blackwood is a great wood. Sparkles in the trebles and more bass authority than koa. Does sound good in demoes but I can hear it doesn't have the bass punch of mahogany. Do you have any samples? No problem if not.

I'm capo'd a bit here but you can absolutely hear the classic blackwood "sparkle" of my guitar in this sample. Thinking a little harder on this, I think my BW model might have a more nuanced sparkle than my son's regular D03, but his is just louder and makes it seem more pronounced.  I guess the best way to describe his guitar is that it has more PUNCH than mine.  Anyway, hopefully this will give you an idea about my guitar and its tonewoods.  With some good headphones you'll get a pretty true idea of what it sounds like in real life. 

[William2]

Excellent video. I like that sound and also the little dots on your fretboard.

[Silence Dogood]

Excellent video. I like that sound and also the little dots on your fretboard.

Thanks.  Yeah, I love the mirco dots Larrivee uses. 

[DaveyO]

I was also glad to see the review from Alamo music
Those guys are pretty cool if you ask me
I'm also glad to see somebody reviewing these wonderful guitars
I sure would like to see all these Martin, Taylor, and Gibson people using a larrivee
These guitars deserve to be more mainstream in my opinion
And yes, the D03 is the best Guitar in the world

[guitarman001]

The new o40 review is the best yet. I really love their parlour guitars.

[William2]

That is a good review of the parlor. They sure are giving Larrivee some great demos.

[guitarman001]

I'm capo'd a bit here but you can absolutely hear the classic blackwood "sparkle" of my guitar in this sample. Thinking a little harder on this, I think my BW model might have a more nuanced sparkle than my son's regular D03, but his is just louder and makes it seem more pronounced.  I guess the best way to describe his guitar is that it has more PUNCH than mine.  Anyway, hopefully this will give you an idea about my guitar and its tonewoods.  With some good headphones you'll get a pretty true idea of what it sounds like in real life. 

Oh thank you for this.. I think I get the sound now - a shine in the trebles but less punch in bass/mids than hog?

[Silence Dogood]

Oh thank you for this.. I think I get the sound now - a shine in the trebles but less punch in bass/mids than hog?

You have described it well.  Less punchy and a bit more thuddy in the bass.  Still there but not quite as pronounced as mahogany.

[Silence Dogood]

I forgot to mention, and I think it worth noting, that I'm tuned down a whole step (and I might actually be in 432Hz as well, I usually am).  That gives my guitar a deeper bass and a more jangly overall sound. 

[guitarman001]

There are too many great guitars.

I could easily have just kept playing my OM02 and probably would be happier - too much choice and all that.

Thanks again for posting that

[William2]

There are too many great guitars.

I have talked about getting another guitar recently but playing what I currently have I don't see the need or that it would be that different from what I have now. I play dreadnoughts and have rosewood, mahogany, 12-fret, 14-fret, case closed. It would have to be something different like a 5" deep body or something different.

[Silence Dogood]

There are too many great guitars.

I could easily have just kept playing my OM02 and probably would be happier - too much choice and all that.

Thanks again for posting that

I honestly believe if the average player just played the guitar he/she has, it would be enough for a lifetime.  Lots of times we spend so much time chasing tone that we don't realize how we can play in or discover tones in the guitar we already have.  I've unlocked tones in my guitar over time that I never knew were there originally.  YMMV. 

[StringPicker6]

I agree. Mastering one guitar is true dedication to an instrument. I may pare my collection down to my P-03 and the Forum VII

[Silence Dogood]

Having said all I have about having one guitar, etc, I will also say there are few pleasures in life that rival playing a new or different guitar.  The immediate differences in tone. volume, feel, etc. can be absolutely intoxicating, and can also inspire new songs. I get that, and if I had had more money (and not a large family), I'd have had a large collection.  By the time I'm retired and have a large bank account, I probably won't care anymore. 
 

[guitarman001]

Totally agree with the above