most memorable custom 03's

Started by shellback, October 01, 2025, 01:32:12 PM

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I played my Wildwood custom L03-Red Spruce/Sitka to be clear,over quilted mahogany and I was struck again at its exponential sympathetic resonance,in other words,the longer I play it at anytime,the more it rumbles & rings! My question is,what is the most memorable & unique wood combos of the understated 03 guitar's have you on the forum opened up guitar cases to smell wood scent- grateful to have such a well made instrument to play!

I've never had the opportunity to play any exotic Larrivee woods, but I will say my good old P-03 is getting a lot of playing time right now, and I'm finally getting to appreciate the little guy. Sitka over mahogany, and at 3 years old, it's breaking in beautifully.
Larrivee P-03
Larrivee 00-40R

My D-03 is made with Blackwood back and sides.  After over 20 years it still smells great. 

I had opportunity to play some P & D -03's and there wasn't one that didn't sound very good or didn't have some distinctive quality whether nicely figured mahogany back & sides,always distinct looking spruce tops-some bearclaw figure or medullary rays,just nice sounboard's also,I bleed a Blackwood back and sides D-03 at island guitars in Honolulu alas! it ain't there anymore,great guitar shop to,I wanted to leave with that D-03 Blackwood it sounded great!

I played my Wildwood custom L03-Red Spruce/Sitka to be clear,over quilted mahogany and I was struck again at its exponential sympathetic resonance,in other words,the longer I play it at anytime,the more it rumbles & rings! My question is,what is the most memorable & unique wood combos of the understated 03 guitar's have you on the forum opened up guitar cases to smell wood scent- grateful to have such a well made instrument to play!

Several years ago (3 maybe 4) Taylor used Blackwood on their 300 series 312 and 314. It had a mahogany top and Blackwood back and sides. I was amazed at how powerful it was. I was tempted to order one left-handed but by the time I had decided Taylor switched it to a solid mahogany instrument. I wonder if the Blackwood gave it that power and if the newer model all mahogany instrument is as powerful. The Taylor was demoed for me at my luthier's shop.
Larrivee D-40R
Larrivee SD-40R
Larrivee D-40
Larrivee D-03R
Martin   DSS-17 New

I've got a 2016 L-03 Sitka/Flamed Maple Custom shop with Maple Leaf headstock inlay and Maple Leaf fret markers that I picked up used, (I think it was about a year old when I got it) It's one of my favorites, that and my Forum VI are both great sounding and fun to play.

Really can't wait for the Forum VII (000 Flamed Sinker Redwood/Black Walnut) to arrive.
Herman.

L-10, L-03FM, OM-05
 Forum VI, & "others"

I've worn a hole through my floorboards pacing back and forth, waiting for my Forum VII
Larrivee P-03
Larrivee 00-40R

I have watched every FedEx truck circle around the cul-de-sac waiting for that new guitar in fact I've met the driver at the driveway not giving them the chance to deliver to the front porch :bgrin: brought the package in and waited more for the guitar to acclimate...it's one of those too rare pleasures unboxing your new guitar,the timbers fragrance,the ringing of a good one by simply unclasping the case,I'm envious :cheers enjoy that new forum guitar when it arrives!

The Wildwood custom L-03WL in all Peruvian Walnut is a fun guitar.
OM-05, L-03WL, 000-40R

Quote from: Pilgrim on October 02, 2025, 06:58:03 AMThe Wildwood custom L-03WL in all Peruvian Walnut is a fun guitar.
That looks amazing.

Quote from: William2 on October 01, 2025, 05:01:37 PMSeveral years ago (3 maybe 4) Taylor used Blackwood on their 300 series 312 and 314. It had a mahogany top and Blackwood back and sides. I was amazed at how powerful it was. I was tempted to order one left-handed but by the time I had decided Taylor switched it to a solid mahogany instrument. I wonder if the Blackwood gave it that power and it the newer model all mahogany instrument is as powerful. The Taylor was demoed for me at my luthier's shop.

I have that 322 and it's been an interesting guitar for me as it's often at the bottom of my harum for the years I've had it. It's the darkest sounding of any Taylor I've ever picked up thanks to it mahogany top and in contrast to the 3 or 4 hogtops that have passed thru my hands this one was has been a tenuous keeper. This is due probably to my history of owning spruce tops which have set my ear to what a guitar is supposed to sound like.

I suppose the Blackwood added some much needed resonance and richness to it's tone. Paired with some really bright aluminum/bronze strings it has a nice smooth and compressed mid-range tone that I've found plays and records nicely.
Larrivee OO-05 • Larrivee OOV-03 SS • Larrivee OO-44  • Taylor 322ce • Strat • Soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/jpmist

Best still has to be good old sitka & mahogany.
I'm not a rosewood guy but that little moon spruce & EIR p-03 I got has a very unique sound.
The Bhilwara run they did really was excellent. Preferred to the flamed Austrian walnut but only just.
So basically - they're all great.

I persistently see a bias against the parlour models (it's not the guitar - it's the player....) but I love them. They are a dream to play and have a very unique voicing - and to me, they are almost like little collectibles and I want one of each! Would love a little all-mahogany and I'm gutted I passed on a moon spruce & Bhilwara parlour. I probably play the parlours more than anything else. I have an OO (Northwood - which is amazing) but still think I prefer parlours.
Larrivee OM02, OM03BH, OM05
Larrivee P03, P03R-JCL
Northwood Studio OO adi/hog
Northwood OM engelmann/borneo-rosewood

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