A lighter built Larrivee?

[prof_stack]

I'd just like to see them try even lighter on some models.

They have.  My SD-50 is pretty light considering the larger body style.  And, wow, does this thing vibrate! 

But overall, weight is just one factor in the sound of a guitar.  Don't make too much of it.   :WNK>

[norton]

Going to have to agree that Larrivees are on the heavy side, but that's not necessarily bad.  My Collings was built like a tank - possibly the only guitar I've owned heavier than my Larrivees - and there was certainly nothing wrong with it's sound.  Easy to equate ultra-light build with resonance, but I'm not sure that's always the case?

[UK Mike]

  They have.  My SD-50 is pretty light considering the larger body style.  And, wow, does this thing vibrate! 

But overall, weight is just one factor in the sound of a guitar.  Don't make too much of it.   :WNK>

Prof

Thanks - I didn't realise that the SD series used a lighter construction than standard Larrivees (I haven't had chanceto play an SD yet).

Is it the bracing that is lighter or have they thinned the woods more, or both?

Cheers

Mike

[rpg51]

I have a luthier friend who offered to "tune" the braces on my OM-50.  He claims with a little shaving here and there he can make a world of difference (improvement) in the tonal qualities of a guitar like the Larrivee that is pretty heavilly built.  Worth considering. 

[prof_stack]

Is it the bracing that is lighter or have they thinned the woods more, or both?

Maybe both.  No one around here has taken the logical step of actually weighing the whole guitar.  Does one of us has an accurate scale?

I have a luthier friend who offered to "tune" the braces on my OM-50.  He claims with a little shaving here and there he can make a world of difference (improvement) in the tonal qualities of a guitar...

I heard that Leo Kottke would take a pocket knife to some braces on new guitars (Taylors?) to improve the sound.  Urban legend?  Makes sense that it would change the sound, perhaps for the better.  But it would weaken the box a little.

Next thing you know someone will start drilling holes in the sides for better player feedback!   ^_^

[Randy_R]

I have a luthier friend who offered to "tune" the braces on my OM-50.  He claims with a little shaving here and there he can make a world of difference (improvement) in the tonal qualities of a guitar like the Larrivee that is pretty heavilly built.  Worth considering. 

You should also mention that this will void any manufacturer warranty.

[rpg51]

You should also mention that this will void any manufacturer warranty.

Good point.  Although personally I don't put much stock in warranties.  I think they are higly over rated.  If I could make a substantial improvement in my guitar I'd gladly give up the warranty.

[tubeornot2b]

My SCGC OM/PW is probably the lightest I have come accross. The Pete seems fairly light also. I recently met a fingerstyle player after his local concert. He had been playing a California series Larrivee OM. When I commented on the excellent tone of the guitar, he told me that it had been modified by a luthier in Georigia. The bracing had been shaved in specific locations. He felt that it had radically improved the responsiveness of his guitar. Your mileage may vary.

[mazareth]

A note of caution on Brian and Matthew's behalf that shaving the braces viods the warrantee...  :POL>

[jimmyd]

Brace shaving and "hot rodding" guitars has grown into a cottage industry for some technicians. Most of the interest has come from Martin dread flatpickers. If you are interested you might check Brian Kimseys website, http://www.bryankimsey.com/  I have no idea if he would be interested in modifying a Larrivee. I think that many factory guitars are overbuilt to avoid top distortion over time. I also think that having someone tinker with the bracing is risky business, especially on a Larrivee where there is no reference to a lighter bracing scheme as found on older Martins. I would not be inclined to try it unless I was prepared for the possibility of an instrument being ruined in the experiment. I'd be more inclined to find a guitar already built to sound, feel and play the way I want. It just costs more up front to get there.  Also I'd like to see someone stick their neck out and have a good luthier have a go at tweaking a Larrivee. I'm too cheap to try it on mine.