N(U)GD - My 1st Larrivée, JCL Reissue 2007

[Sabu Chan]

A new member and Larrivée owner from Japan.

I found a JCL Reissue 2007 in a shop in Tokyo 2 weeks ago. I shuttered my right elbow in a traffic accident and has been relearning to play a guitar as a part of my physical therapy. Due to the limited range of my elbow joint, my main acoustic guitar has been a parlor size Yamaha (CFS3M). I wanted to play a larger body and longer scale instrument, but I was afraid that I felt uncomfortable.

I tried the Larrivée L-body size guitar for the 1st time and had no problem folding and playing it. Although it was in the player-grade condition, the sound and playability were superb. It followed me home. It came with the original HSC, but didn't come with a certificate. I contacted the Larrivée customer support, and they confirmed the serial # and its authenticity.

This Larrivée is the best sounding finger-style guitar which I ever played. Because of my old age and the aftereffects of the injury, my both hands are also weak and strung it with an Elixir 11-52 string set currently. What brand and gauge do you recommnd for the L-Style Larrivées?

[B0WIE]

Congrats! Those are very nice guitars.
Regarding weak hands and strings, I recommend considering tuning down half a step (or more). This reduces tension, and often times it just sounds better as it emphasizes overtone over fundamental.

There are also strings that help. Newtone makes a string with lower tension. I forget which model they are.

Perhaps the most important thing would be to have a guitar tech check the nut and saddle to see if they are ideal for your playing style. A factory nut will usually err on the side of being slightly high. And, factory saddles can usually be lowered which makes playing much easier on the hands.

[teh]

Sabu Chan,

First, welcome to the Larrivee Forum and congratulations on finding a great guitar. Larrivee makes a lot of nice guitars and the L body shape is one of their best designs. Bowie gave you some great advice to maximize the comfort and playability of your new guitar. I have an LSV, which is slightly smaller than your L body, set up for light gauge D'Addario phosphor bronze strings. There are lots of string choices available to try and this forum is a great place to discuss ideas and share experiences about your guitar.

Three years ago, I had major rotator cuff surgery on my right shoulder and I found that playing the guitar was the best therapy I could have asked for to speed up my recovery. Best wishes for a return to full mobility with your elbow.