Larrivee Question

[William2]

I was just on the Larrivee site and noted that they are showing the 03 Recording series only in mahogany. Did they stop making 03 instruments with rosewood?

[B0WIE]

03 generally indicates satin finish, and the base spec is mahogany. However, they frequently make them in all sorts of woods. I suspect the website is just listing base spec. A rosewood version is technically "03R".

[William2]

I'm just saying they used to have an 03R listing showing the price of the instrument with this tone wood.

[B0WIE]

I'm just saying they used to have an 03R listing showing the price of the instrument with this tone wood.

I believe they are just listing base specs to clean up the website a little as some complain about the many options being confusing. Rosewood is listed on the custom page and is always an option. You can expect that shops will still order 03-R guitars. Larrivee has never really tried to push direct sales and the website serves as a general information hub. You can certainly order a custom through them, but their model is primarily to sell through dealers and dealers can order 03-R Larrivees.

[William2]

I also noticed that there is no L model pictured in any of the traditional offerings. I wonder if there is a brace surcharge to have an L model made with the scalloped braing.

[B0WIE]

I also noticed that there is no L model pictured in any of the traditional offerings. I wonder if there is a brace surcharge to have an L model made with the scalloped braing.

If you mean Traditional Series; "*More body styles will be added to product page in the coming weeks."
They may be testing the waters with the more common body styles. Just a guess.

[mike in lytle]

I believe they are just listing base specs to clean up the website a little as some complain about the many options being confusing. Rosewood is listed on the custom page and is always an option. You can expect that shops will still order 03-R guitars. Larrivee has never really tried to push direct sales and the website serves as a general information hub. You can certainly order a custom through them, but their model is primarily to sell through dealers and dealers can order 03-R Larrivees.

This was not far off. I asked John about it... his reply..

The 03R is no longer a standard line. High-grade Rosewood is becoming harder to get and the prices are soaring. You can still order one, but it will fall under the new custom build pricing structure. You will also notice within the other lines that traditional body styles are no longer available in the contemporary lines and visa versa. However, will be made available through the custom build structure. Get back to me if you need further clarity. - jr.

[StringPicker6]

That's a fascinating development.  Not exactly great news regarding the availability of rosewood, but like John Prine said, "That's the way that the world goes round". 

[B0WIE]

That's a fascinating development.  Not exactly great news regarding the availability of rosewood, but like John Prine said, "That's the way that the world goes round". 

I wouldn't expect it to disappear. As I understand it, it's very well-farmed in India and grows quickly. However, that doesn't mean it's cheap, and the demand continues to rise. Many companies are taking steps to reduce their reliance on EIR. Even electric makers who use it as fret board material are moving to alternate woods. And, as far as I'm concerned, that's not a bad thing at all. There's dozens of other species that are every bit as good in instrument making.

[BlueBowman]

"And, as far as I'm concerned, that's not a bad thing at all. There's dozens of other species that are every bit as good in instrument making." (For some reason, it wouldn't let me quote you, Bowie.)

Totally agree. Walnut, for one. It's local, plentiful, and easier to work with tools than rosewood (as I've heard it said from luthiers). But there are other alternatives as well. I have a very open-mind about them, but I'm not sure the market is there yet. They may not have much choice in the end, though.

[Queequeg]

Very little danger of running out of EIR any time soon.
Guitar makers undoubtedly have warehouses full of the stuff in bookmatched sets to last a very long time.

[William2]

When I hear of different woods being plentiful, how come Larrivee doesn't just make one of their instruments with one of these more plentiful tone woods? I have no problem with the price increase, everything increases. I would appreciate not being charged for a neck width change. Iris or Furch don't.

[jasonchamb]

I'm wondering if this leads to the use of more domestic/N. American woods like maple and walnut.

[Queequeg]

I'm wondering if this leads to the use of more domestic/N. American woods like maple and walnut.

think: "tariffs".

[B0WIE]

When I hear of different woods being plentiful, how come Larrivee doesn't just make one of their instruments with one of these more plentiful tone woods?

Guitar buyers, and particularly acoustic buyers, are very set in their ways. They want what the famous musicians played. It took decades to convince people that there were great acoustics besides the dreadnaught. Now, people are opening up a little to different woods, but it's still a hard sell. They want that ink black fretboard, spruce top, and the back needs to be mahogany or rosewood. It's familiar and safe.

 About 20 years ago, Santa Cruz did a run of California wood guitars. Walnut, Sycamore, Redwood. The demand just wasn't there and the "alternative" woods scared people. I'm lucky to own one with a sycamore neck and it's the most incredible looking guitar neck I've ever seen.

[jasonchamb]

think: "tariffs".

Yes, I was thinking that, but trump will leave office and most of those tariffs will go away.




-Moderator Note; portions of this post were removed to avoid political discussion as per forum rules.

[StringPicker6]

Anyway, how about that astronaut return trip today? 

[jasonchamb]

Lol. Sorry bout that!