If I may, a few Larry-related comments/questions

[d03nut]

* I've often read here -and elsewhere- that "Larrivee does mahogany good".  Having had both rosewood and mahogany models, I must concur.  Indeed, Larrivee does justice to mahogany.  But I believe Jean's skills are equally applied to other tonewoods as well.  Namely, rosewood.

* My take on the recent "ping tuners" thread: 

I really think that the "ratio" factor has a lot to do with how people percieve the pings.  Yes, you have to turn them a lot to get a small change in pitch, but that also provides for more accurate tuning, IMHO.

In fact, it's only with my Larry that I can use a cheap tuner with great results, never having to resort to "secondary and additional" tuning checks, e.g. harmonics, etc. It's not exactly the Buzz Feinten (sorry, don't know the spelling), but the intonation is always spot-on.

* This switching to bone saddle talk has got me very curious.  You mean I can actually improve the sound of my guitar?  Where can I get one?

* Given the quality of their instruments, the lack of "high profile" talent using Larrivees is somewhat puzzling.

Thanks.

[Denis]

* This switching to bone saddle talk has got me very curious.  You mean I can actually improve the sound of my guitar?  Where can I get one?

* Given the quality of their instruments, the lack of "high profile" talent using Larrivees is somewhat puzzling.

www.guitarsaddles.com is where I've gotten my bone saddles but you can get them from Larrivee now too.

While I agree with the "high profile" talent statement, I believe Larrivee is a company that is getting more and more recognition all the time.  More people are trying them and buying them.  This forum is a testament to that.  I think, in time, we'll see more of that high profile players with Larrivees.

[jwsamuel]

* I've often read here -and elsewhere- that "Larrivee does mahogany good".  Having had both rosewood and mahogany models, I must concur.  Indeed, Larrivee does justice to mahogany.  But I believe Jean's skills are equally applied to other tonewoods as well.  Namely, rosewood.

I agree that Larrivee does excellent work with rosewood too. But there are other companies that work equally well with rosewood but few that rival the comapny with mahogany.

So I guess the correct way to say it is that Larrivee is as good as anyone with rosewood but better than most with mahogany.

Jim

[Randy_R]

Re: high profile talent

Would you be willing to pay $100 more for the same guitar because some headliner is endorsing it?

[sdelsolray]

I agree that Larrivee does excellent work with rosewood too. But there are other companies that work equally well with rosewood but few that rival the comapny with mahogany.

So I guess the correct way to say it is that Larrivee is as good as anyone with rosewood but better than most with mahogany.

Jim

I agree Larrivee does a wonderful job with mahogany - the mahogany instruments sing just right.  I disagree that few other builders rival Larrivee when it comes to mahogany.  Virtually all builders are well aware of the wonderful traits of mahogany, and they all know how to use it well within their designs.

[jwsamuel]

Virtually all builders are well aware of the wonderful traits of mahogany, and they all know how to use it well within their designs.

I don't agree. It may be because of the bracing patterns they use, etc., but to me, Larrivee mahogany guitars have a brightness that I have not heard with others.

At the same time, Larrivee's decision to leave mahogany in its natural color takes greater advanatge of the wood's beauty than do other companies who stain the wood a dark color.

Jim   

[kwakatak]

In response to some talent not discovering Larrivee:

I've been a big Sarah McLachlan fan since 1993. Last week I saw her on A&E's "Breakfast with the Arts" and I swear she was playing what had to be an older LV-10E. I don't know why they don't show decent shots of the headstocks so I can't be sure, but the rounded headstock shape was right for a Larrivee, the body too curvy to be anything but an LV and it also appeared to have some elaborate abalone design on the headstock. It also had abalone trim, fretboard & bridge inlays, no pickguard, and the old-style barn-door preamp.

As for doing woods right, I have to agree. The honey-brown mahogany is just beautiful, even though I prefer the tone of rosewood. What I really like though are the silked/bear-clawed spruce tops and the natural streaked-ebony fingerboards and bridges.

[whiskeyjack]

A quote from the Larrivee website. . . .

On September 1st 2001 Larrivee expanded again, and opened the door on it's new factory in southern California. Ten days later the events of 9/11 occurred.

Given the quality of their instruments, the lack of "high profile" talent using Larrivees is somewhat puzzling

This is my opinion and may be nonsense.  But it seems to me most of the 'high profile' talent are playing American made guitars: companies that have their roots in a real live, real time American success story.  Think Martin, Taylor, Gibson and Guild.  There are exceptions (Takamine, Yamaha, Alvarez. . .and some Gibson and Guild models of Asian origin).  So, the Larrivee family business is still in its infancy in the United States.  With well built guitars, a reputable customer service and good values, that's bound to change.  It'll just take some time.

Just in the last two weeks there have been at least five new members added to this forum including myself.  That's probly' not indicative of anything except there's a few more people discovering Larrivee guitars.  But I'd like to think there's a small ground-swell of interest out there among people who are wanting a Taylor or Martin, can't afford oen and doing comparisons online by lurking around forums like we all started out.  If they're shopping seriously, they're bound to at least play a Larrivee guitar simply because of good things being said about them. . . .owner's testimony is what made me take the chance on my OM-03R six string (the 12 string sold itself to me).  And then, if they're objective, they'll compare the build quality and price points of various models and Larrivee will win hands down.  They'll see that, of the entire Martin line, the 000-15S is probably the best value.  They'll see that a Taylor 312 or 314 is probably the best value in that line of guitars.  And then they'll look at the maple binding, bear claw tops and hear the tone of a Larrivee. . . .    If they're thinking with their pocket books at all, a Larrivee guitar will make more sense.

Lotta' generalization & windage here I know. . . .but, after having owned and sold so many fine instruments, I think I've found the line of guitars I'll stay with for quite a while.

I'm more surprised that Canadian artists didn't support the Larrivee family. Except for Sarah, they're all playing Martins (more recently, she used to be a Taylor girl - - after she played Morgans).  Jean Larrivee's been building guitars up there since 1971 (first in Toronto and eventually in Victoria and then mainland Vancouver).  Seagull & Godin are another mystery.  Why aren't prominent Canadian musicians playing those guitars?  They're good instruments.   Largely because American guitars (Martin D-28 especially) have set the bar and have been established for many years in the U.S.A.

[ronmac]

I'm more surprised that Canadian artists didn't support the Larrivee family. Except for Sarah, they're all playing Martins

Sorry, I can't agree with you here. It was Canadian artists that convinced JCL to produce a steel string guitar, and supported him by buying those instruments, at a time when he was building in the classical style.

Larrivee produced thousands of guitars before breaking into the US market. Even though it is cold up here we haven't chopped them up and used them as firewood, we're still playing them.   :WNK>

The smaller factory and boutique makers are never going to have the market presence of the monster factory brands. I can live with that.

I also prefer not to be seen eating Wonder Bread.

[whiskeyjack]

Sorry, I can't agree with you here. It was Canadian artists that convinced JCL to produce a steel string guitar, and supported him by buying those instruments, at a time when he was building in the classical style.

Larrivee produced thousands of guitars before breaking into the US market. Even though it is cold up here we haven't chopped them up and used them as firewood, we're still playing them.   

The smaller factory and boutique makers are never going to have the market presence of the monster factory brands. I can live with that.

I also prefer not to be seen eating Wonder Bread.

I came close once to chopping up my Martin 000 for fire wood after discovering Tony Rice.. .. ^_^    And Wonder Bread ain't that bad I don't care what the Food and Drug Administration says.

I stand corrected regarding Canadian artists' support of the Larrivee family.  You would certainly know more than I.  I was thinking along the lines of Niel Young, Joni Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot, Ian Tyson, Sylvia Fricker. . . .while they became successful before Jean Larrivee began building guitars, I haven't seen those artists in pictures or performance with his guitars.  Truly, I know little-to-nothing about the current Canadian generation of players who aren't main stream music industry.

((Aside from making unfounded generalizations about a Larrivee Canadian success story, my best friends are in Northern Ontario and I would dearly love to someday live in Aberta somewhere between Edmonton and Jasper National Park.  'Doubt if it'll happen.  I'm too old and I don't possess critical skills in an under-represented professional occupation in Canada.)))

I'll do a search on the forum later, but maybe you could educate me with the names of some Canadian musicians who play Larrivee guitars? (I'm pretty sure they'd own other guitars too). 
Sarah is certainly one although she's been photographed with Taylors and Morgans as well.  Perhaps Terri Clark?  Oh HEY!!  Garnnett Rogers plays Larrivees!!  Stan and others in the band probably did too.  Didn't Peter Yarrow play a Larrivee for many years?

[Randy_R]

Whiskeyjack

There's a post almost every week in the Artists section about a Larrivee sighting on stage or TV somewhere.

[whiskeyjack]

Thanks for that.   -_-

[dcarey]

Re: high profile talent

Would you be willing to pay $100 more for the same guitar because some headliner is endorsing it?

Nope, not a nickel more.
Dan

[oneeyedjack]

Re: high profile talent

Would you be willing to pay $100 more for the same guitar because some headliner is endorsing it?

Certainly not because they *endorsed* it since we all know what whores these guys can be *but* I'd pay more for one that was a personal guitar that had a significant history with certain artists.

[Denis]

Didn't Peter Yarrow play a Larrivee for many years?

Actually, yes and he still does play it thanks to some forum members if memory serves.  It had been stolen and the stupid thief actually thought he could put it up on Ebay and that no one would notice.  His Larrivee is very old, early 70's I think.  Somebody else here must know more.

[ronmac]

Here is a link to posts about the return of Peter Yarrow's guitar: http://www.larriveeforum.com/smf/index.php?topic=4682.0

And here is a link to a post regarding known Larrivee players: http://www.larriveeforum.com/smf/index.php?topic=8570.0

[djsonovox]

I spent the morning making a new bone for my D-03R! A friend owns a belt sander, so that was a lot less work. The bone blank I got was really thick and dense. First I roughed it out with a hacksaw, then sanded it into shape then used a mini file for the final compensation beveling. It is fantastic.

There is a major difference in sound for the cost of $4.75 and about an hour or so in effort. The high E and B really sparkel, and there is a fuller sense of the bass and overall more sustatin.
It is the cheapest upgrade you can do with usually a major improvement in sound.
If you want to spend more money, you can get one nearly shaped to final specs from Bob Colosi or from Larrivee.

I modeled mine on the saddle I removed and had the advantage of a micromieter and a multiple feeler guage (that copies the profile of the shape) for checking fidelity to the original saddle. But you can do it without these things. See www.frets.com for a great visual article on making a new bone saddle.

Doug Jones

[ducktrapper]

It's not a question of quality, it's a question of "cachet"and instant "credibility". Regardless of what they play, most artists want to be seen with the "right" guitar. It will change slowly.

[whiskeyjack]

most artists want to be seen with the "right" guitar

Sorry for the hi-jack:

Would the recording contract have a clause or two governing their choice of instrument?  After all, the record company creates, sells and profits from the image of the artist.  'Seems like the artist has to have "the look" before a record company will take them on regardless of their talent.  'Anybody seen a really ugly mainstream female recording artist lately? 

Interesting thread.  I don't get out much.  Interesting to see what I've been missing in the way of professional musicians who own Larrivee guitars.   ^_^

[Randy_R]

Interesting thread.  I don't get out much.  Interesting to see what I've been missing in the way of professional musicians who own Larrivee guitars.   ^_^

I'm the same way. I don't have a TV hookup at home, and seldom listen to commercial radio (or digital satellite).

I do however buy a substantial qty of CD's from musicians performing in local venues. I would have to say, that Larrivee guitars make up only about 5-10% of instruments played in those venues. I do try to educate them, whenever possible.