Why does it cost so much more ?

[Tony Burns]

If you dont know the difference - it doesnt matter- save your money.
sometimes its the higer costs involved- more hand work - higher end materials - more inlay- better tuners etc.

[ducktrapper]

Not to sound like Rick Turner but there's nothing wrong with the builder making a profit. I don't think Larrivée can be accused of gouging anyone. If anything he is one of the most generous builders around. You gets what you pay for and you pay for what you gets. Can you imagine how bad Soviet guitars must have been? Built like T-72 tank and sound like one too, comrade! They made great tubes though!   

[flatlander]

They made great tubes though!   

yea, especially during the time that they were the only ones making them!

[Hudman]

More labor = higher price.

[Calvin]

Who says Yamaha's are always student guitars!!!!????   I have an LL16, these cost the same as a L03R and sound equally good.  The LL26/36 actually are superior to some highend Martins, and cost 2-3K.  If you go for the LL86, that's about 8K.

Back to the original topic.  Labour + premium.  Takes a bit more effort to buff the thing, and extra bindings and inlays also take up time.  I suppose making the bone nut/saddle also takes a bit more time than getting the premade tusq ones.  In the end, the big part of the cost increase is still because of the premium associated with a highend product.  Why does a VW golf cost so much less than an Audi A3 when the underpinnings are the same.

[russski1]

Hope you don't mind a thought or two on the topic - It's just my opinion......

I recently acquired an 03E..... I am fully aware that there are better sounding guitars out there.  Particularly the upper end of the Larrivees.  However, I am absolutely thrilled with my Larrivee.  It's an 06 so it's a few years old - but the sound is lively, pure, full and balanced - and that's before it's plugged in to a quality sound system.  Once plugged in (I know this is not pure acoustics) the rich tones ring out with perfection...  Great low end and great balance overall. 

I know I sound like a rep...  But I've played many axes through the 43 years of playing  - the 03 does lack the perfect looking higher end tonewoods....  But for the $$$  - it's the best thing out there.   

Can't wait to play another Larrivee that sounds better!  Then it will off to the races convincing my wife I don't want anything for Father's Day!

Russ   

[Calvin]

Larrivee models only differ in wood physical selection.  They are made by the same people.  Well... anything above 03 is now made in oxnard, but for all intensive purposes, they are the same except for the appearance.  (and the use of tusq instead of bone saddle/nut).

The best Larrivee I've ever played... and still own is a LSV-05.  The 2nd best Larrivee I've ever played... and do not own is a OM-03MQ (quilted mahogany).  So, as you can see, model numbers are just for appearance for most part.