Hey, lefty looking for a larrivee

[Draddy]

Well good morning to all.

I've been reading this forum for about a week now, reading all the threads I can find, hoping I wouldn't have to bother you guys with another newbie to larrivee thread... but it wasn't quite answered.

so heres  my problem,

I'm looking for an amazing new acoustic guitar, for ~1000.

my problem is, is that that I am left handed, so I have to buy this guitar in blind faith that it will be worth what I paid for it.

My style:

I am a finger/pick picker. I play finger style more often than strumming.

A great musician named Todd Fields told me about larrivee guitars, ( I heard it on his CD "Free", he played it on "I won't forget" if you know what CD I'm talking about.) and I also know a guy named Steve Fee who also plays one I think.

anyways, I heard the larrivee on Todd's CD and I loved the sound of it. I'm sure he had one of the higher end models, but if I'm not mistaken, larrivee guitars are all built with really good build quality right?

Anyways, I've called guitar adoptions, and got what I thought was a good quote on a http://www.guitaradoptions.com/store/product.php?productid=17896&cat=0&page=1"]LV-03RE[/URL]

It is the rosewood sides, spruce sound board, and mahogany neck.

What do you guys think of this guitar? is this a good fingerpicking, and lite picking guitar? as well as decent at medium strumming?

I have a couple of concerns.

1) the satin finish  :UND> it seems like it is going to be way to stupidly easy to scratch or leave a mark, is this true?

2) the b-band pickup... you guys on this board don't seem to fond of it... but I don't think I have the option of getting a rosewood 03, with a cutaway without it...

3) no pick guard, so it seems like with the satin finish, the pick is going to leave nasty marks...

(BTW: purpose is for live and recorded, however most likely miced for live.)

what do you guys think? I'm sure I will have more questions later,

until then, thank you very much for your responce, it is greatly appreciated.

[unclrob]

Simple answer to all the ?'s is you'll be happy.I've set up several lefties and the store I work in tries to keep them in stock and there as good as they get.The BBand is a nice pickup,the LV03R is available without the pickup,its all in the original order  with Larrivee.Here they don't stock guitars with factory pickups due to all the great after market pickups.As for the finish,it doesn't pickup dings or scatches unless your ruff with the guitar.Enjoy your new toy.

[mazareth]

To add to unclerob's excellent answer. The older 03s will have a clear pickguard no so worries on pick marks. Also the great thing about Larrivee is that the neck joints, bracing, etc. is the same right up and down the line. I have both a satin and gloss finished Larrivee. In my experience the 03s open up faster than the gloss finished guitars. I have the Bband A6 in my L03E. Nothing beats the sound of a miced guitar (IMO), but undersaddle P/Us go, Bband is one of the better one to my ears...

A final note, I bought 2 guitars through Dave--both good experiences. From everything I read, the other dealers who frequent the Forum are great too!

[Draddy]

awesome!

I'm going to a guitar store locally who is supposed to be a dealer, to see if I can get someone to play the guitar for me (i'm sure they won't have a left handed model.)... so that should be cool

you said the older 03s, does that mean the newer ones don't have a pickguard?

[jmhyer]

The guitar in the picture does have a pickguard...  It's just clear and therefore, nearly invisible.  If you look closely at the blow-up picture, you can see it.  I think the newer ones come with an opaque (more traditional-looking) pickguard.

[unclrob]

The new 03's come with a tort guard not a clear one.

[hatman]

Draddy,
I can't speak for the 03 models as I have an OMV-09. But, it is a lefty and my number 1. It has the spruce top and rosewood back & sides. It is a fabulous guitar.  Larrivees are awesome guitars.
I purchased mine from Oklahoma Vintage Guitars in OKC. They usually carry more than just a few lefties and are very active on E-bay. I drove down to OKC from Wichita KS one Saturday afternoon and tried-out several Larrivees and a few others and ended-up with my OMV. They were very accomidating and listened to me play much the same licks over and over on different guitars to find the one I liked.
I have never played an LV so I have nothing to compare with but the OM fingerpicks very well and holds it's own at an acoustic jam that I attend every Monday night.
Have fun on your search!
Barry.  :mellow:

[leftybill]

Draddy, I am a lefty and have ordered 2 Larry's without playing them.  I am very satisfied with the choice.  My LV-09 is a great guitar, but is higher than your $1000 range.  Go to a local Larrivee dealer and try to play as many as you can (at least upside down), before you make your decision.

[Draddy]

thats exactly what I did this morning.. I went and played an OM-03 and was very very happy with the sound and playability.

I am definantly set on a rosewood LV-03 now..

any suggestions as to otherwise? should I get it without the bband?

[guitaradoptions]

The new 03's come with a tort guard not a clear one.

Actually, Larrivee is still shipping out some Lefties with the clear pickguards. I think they are ones just getting completed, and then the Tortoise pickguards will follow shortly.

[leftybill]

Draddy, if the LV-03 is what you like and can afford it with the b-band then you have made the decision for yourself

[Mikeymac]

Another VERY HAPPY lefty owner of two Larrivee's a 1992 OM-05 and a 2003 LV-09.  They are both excellent guitars in terms of build, wood quality, playability and tone.  The '92 OM is a monster guitar for an OM, and the LV keeps sounding better and better, too.

You found Larrivee the way a person should find a new guitar, through "hearing" it! You were sold on the tone...that's what sold me when I got my first one almost 14 years ago.  It's no accident that the great tone comes from great quality woods and craftsmanship, either.

Enjoy your new, lifelong friend.

:WNK>