D-09 owners / solo performance question as well.

[MJG]

Folks:

1 - How would desicribe the D-09 tone and playablility as compared with a Martin D-28, HD28, Taylor 810, Gibson Songwriter?  I can't seem to find one to try locally.  So I come to you.

2 - Is it the general consensus that for vocal accompanyment with just an acoustic and 1/2 singers that Rosewood is prefered to fill out and support the voices?  I think that is what I am hearing for the most part. 

3 - Would Mahogany be better plugged into a PA, generally speaking with only a PADI and K&K Pure? 

I was told that rosewood for unplugged, mahogany for pluggin in...due to the potential "muddiness of the bass" of rosewood.  Of course there are other variables to consider but what do you think is the best dreadnaught or jumbo tonewood for mostly going into a PA?

Thanks for your insights,
Mike

[mrrinse]

Hi Mike,
Fraid I can't really answer all of your questions, but I'll have a stab (my opinion only - feel free to disagree!) just to get the ball rolling.

1 - Can't comment on the gibson. Sound can be hard to describe, but I'll give it a go. The D Martins (am I right in thinking the only difference betweent the HD-28 and D-28 is the herringbone inlay?) tend to have quite a lower mid grunt emphasis to them, in my experience. Quite rough / raw / middly sounding. Classic bluegrass guitar. Though Michael Hedges managed to make his sound a little different to most. By comparison the Larrivee's are more balanced, with a more liquid / glassy treble. More "modern" sounding. To my ears, the Taylors I've played (which doesn't include an 810) tend to be a little biased towards the treble. L
- Playability. My hands prefer Larrivee's, with Taylors second and Martins last. For me, the neck is just right (though I prefer the 1 3/4 nut width of the L / OM series); prefer satin finish too. Somehow it seems like you can go lower on the action with Larrys and Taylors than with Martins, and indeed many other guitars. Taylors, I think, have a slightly slimmer, faster neck.

Checkout the soundclips (pinned threat at the top of the forum).

2) I think the logic for the rosewood preference is that it's a bit more scooped-mid sounding (higher trebles and lower bass), leaving more room for the voice in the middle. Also tends to have more overtones and more reverby sound - vs more mid, warmth, direct woodiness of mahogany. That said, plenty use mahogany too. Nick Drake, for example, used an all mahogany guitar. I'd go with what you prefer the sound of, and what complements your particular voice.

3) Can't really comment - my hog Larrivee wont be with me for a week or two. I've not heard of any preference, and have had no problems with a rosewood guitar (even tuned down to CGDGAC) with live PAs. Rosewood does tend to have lower bass extension though, so I can see perhaps why (I don't find it muddy - but YMMV, especially with a poor PA). FWIW, small guitars are often favoured for live work (at least by some) - Is an L or even OM worth considering?

Hope my musing are at least semi-helpful!
Best of luck,
Dan

[MJG]

Dan:

Thanks for your insights.  You gave me something to think about. 

Best,
Mike

[Randy_R]

I had a Martin D-28 braz in the early 70's. While a number of years have passed since I sold it in 1976, it had the sound that I've compared all other guitars to. When I purchased a Larrivee D-10, I liked the sound so well that it redefined what I thought a good sounding guitar should sound like. When I later bought a Larrivee D-09braz, I completely quit thinking about the old Martin I let get away.

I plan on having a Larrivee mahogany 6-string dread at some point. The mahogany D-03-12 I have now, is certainly a full and rich sounding 12-string dread.

[BillnhisD-03RE]

 Well first I dont own a D-09, I`ve played a few performing though, I have the stripped down  version a D-03RE. Good questions!, The D-09 in my experience is a whole other bird than the other guitars you mentioned. First the Martins.. the HD-28 has the pre war bracing pattern that made Martin famous and the D-28 has a modern one is my understanding. The HD-28 to me sounds much better than the D-28 but both have that Martin boominess that bluegrassers love so much, not too versatile in my opinion. The Taylor 810 I have to say is a great guitar, very bright treble sided focused sound, but  kinda processed sounding not much warmth..no offence intended Taylor owners :WNK>. Last the Gibson I have played 4 of these and found the sounds very different on them all. I really think they could and should do a much better job on these guitars for the fortunes that they ask for them.. im not impressed at all. To me Larrivees have the best parts of Taylor and Martin in one package..middle of the road if you will, very versatile.

I personally use a rosewood for my vocal work but I know several players that use mahogany and sound great with it, its probably a personal preference thing :UND>

I  can say that both rosewood and mahogany guitars sound awesome plugged or unplugged, lots of factors can screw up your sound. A bad PA system or a clueless sound man are the biggest problems but others also exist. My rosewood is not muddy at all but I think that is true of all Larrivee rosewoods that I have played or heard. I hope I have helped a little.

cheers,
Bill D.

[djsonovox]

My two cents worth is that I second the idea that Larrivee combines the best of Martins and Taylors. Well put! And that any of their D class is very good indeed. Rosewood does tend to emphasize the darkness of the tone, but mahogany is also nice. My personal preference is blackwood. It just sounds unique to me.

The wood does not make that much difference when amplified, unless you are miking the guitar. My opinion is that contact pickups on the wood are far superior to undersaddle, since they preserve the woody tone that gives the guitar its identity. Mics in the guitar, like the Blender or K & K Quantum are pretty hard to deal with onstage. They just promote feedback, and their tone is thin. For my money, K & K Pure Western is the way to go, although I love the controls on a Larrivee with factory-installed B-Band pickups.

Doug Jones

[mazareth]

Another D-09 owner chiming in. My D-09 is my main gigging guitar--except for the real dives (ie no stage) for which I have my L-03E. I had the Bband A2.2 factory installed.

I perform solo acoustic, in an acoustic duo, and am in the process of getting a four piece together w/my duo partner. My baby is will be 1 year old in a couple weeks and is really opening up now.  DJ is right that the rosewood has a richer, darker tone than mahogony. For me it may be all in my head, but I think I sing better with the D-09 than the L-03E. I like the fullness of the rosewood for solo gigs. The 09 also cuts through the mix a little (to my ears) when playing though a PA in the duo/band situation.

If you like a wider neck, the L-09 doesn't give up a lot to the D-09 in the volume department, though I find the bass a little tighter in the L-09. Through a PA I doubt there's a noticable difference. Depending on your budget, the 03Rs are an excellent alternative. Same bracing pattern as the 09s and I found that the 03Rs develop more quickely soundwise.

From what I see on the postings, DJ(vonovox) is still loving my former D-03R!  :<> I stilll miss it sometimes.