Larrivee in Europe

Started by unknown1, November 30, 2009, 03:16:41 AM

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Is there eny dealers in Europe selling Larrivee guitars? Thomann.de has larrivees but prices are 2 times higher than USA dealers.
I'm interested in L-03.
If I can't find larrivee L-03 under 500£ price, would Gibson DMS or Guild GAD30 be match for larrivee?
Guitar I'm looking for should be all solid,  ebony fingerboard, standard dreadnought without cut-away, available in Europe.

Couple of guitars I'm considering other than Larrivee:

Alvarez MD60
-Rosewood fretboard
+Nearest dealer is 100km away, that means I can test it
+Cheaper
http://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Alvarez-MD60-Dreadnought-Acoustic-Guitar/AT6

Guild GAD30
-Rosewood fretboard
+Probably can find this product near me and test it before buying it
http://www.andertons.co.uk/Guild/pid10398/cid558/GuildGAD30AcousticGuitar.asp

Gibson DMS
-Can't test it before buying
+Gibson...
+Comes with gibson hardcase
http://www.andertons.co.uk/Gibson/pid11679/cid558/GibsonDSMAcousticinNatural.asp




There are plenty of Larrivee dealers in the UK now - I can vouch for the excellent service from Project Music in Exeter, England, and for used Larrivee's you can't fail with Frailers Guitar and Banjo Store in Runcorn.  There is also World Guitars that do some good prices on Larrivees.

Prices will be higher than in the US, because of the exchange rate, VAT (in the UK) etc.

Where are you based? 

Don't rule out shipping from the States, particularly on a used instrument from a reputable dealer.  I got my F-III shipped from Jim Holler at Trinity Guitars for a very reasonable price.  Were it not for the poor exchange rate, there is probably a point around the £600-700 where it becomes more than viable to import from America.  This may be more the case if you are in mainland Europe.  I would advise buying from a well known dealer if importing though, unless you can deal directly with someone on this forum.

My experience is that you will not regret making the effort to get a Larrivee.
Ben
2009 FIII LS-03RHB #5

http://www.youtube.com/user/1978BenF

I live in Estonia.
How much would shipping cost from USA to Estonia?

The Guild GAD30 is a smaller-bodied guitar, not a dreadnought.  They do have dreadnought-sized instruments in the GAD range though.  If you can get hold of a Larrivée, I believe you will get a superior guitar.
Larrivée Limited Edition Rosewood Parlor (2003)
plus various other acoustic guitars and one ukulele

Quote from: unknown1 on November 30, 2009, 03:36:10 AM
I live in Estonia.
How much would shipping cost from USA to Estonia?
At risk of getting into trouble for posting a price on here, when the forum III orders were taken in January 2009, one of the specifics was

"Shipping to Europe $135  via USPO Priority mail.   Please discuss other shipping options you might need with Trinity."

I quoted from the other thread to avoid getting reprimanded for it.  This may have changed slightly, but I found this to be very reasonable, considering buying from the UK would probably cost you around £40 to Estonia.  I don't know what your customs/tax arrangements are in Estonia.  I paid around £300 to import mine for VAT, customs and handling, and it still came to a similar overall cost to what a similar spec guitar would have cost in the UK, and that was at the very depths of the exchange rate crash.

Delivery of my F-III was very fast too.

I would again stress that I would hesitate to buy from someone I didn't know/trust in these circumstances.  There are a few dealers who are well respected on the forum (Notable Guitars, 12th Fret etc. etc.), I just singled out Jim at Trinity because I have dealt with him before.  One of the F-IIIs went to Ukraine too.
Ben
2009 FIII LS-03RHB #5

http://www.youtube.com/user/1978BenF

VAT is 15%
with VAT and shipping the cost would be more than 1000$.
Is larrivee worth all that time and cost? Maybe I should settle for that Alvarez (2x cheaper) or Gibson DSM?
I also found used taylor 310 on frailers guitars for 700£. It's 200£ more than my budget...
It would be much easier to make this decision if I could test those guitars  :crying:

You are on the wrong forum if you want other advice, but I would try hard to get a Larrivee if you could.  I believe that the 03 series Larrivees are considerably better than the alternatives at the same price level, and certainly better than alternatives in a lower price bracket. 

I would seriously consider buying used as well.  They don't hold their value as well as Martin, Taylor or Gibson, particularly outwith N America.  No reason why, other than their lack of visibility as a brand.  I was disappointed at the stock that Frailers have just now, they usually have many more used Larrivees than that.

I got My OM-03 for marginally over your £500 budget, delivered in the UK, as a shop displayed, but new guitar.  There are deals out there if you shop around.  You won't regret it, and the L-03 is a very versatile guitar that will do you a lifetime.  In terms of sound, playability and construction, it is little different to the L-05, which would be three times your budget.  It just has less fancy appointments and a satin finish (which I prefer).

If you 'settle' for an inferior guitar, you will always wonder if you should have gone the extra mile for the superior one.
Ben
2009 FIII LS-03RHB #5

http://www.youtube.com/user/1978BenF

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Larrivee-L-03_W0QQitemZ250523974613QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item3a54647bd5

£50 shipping to Estonia - well known UK based retailer selling on ebay.

Mods, forgive me if this is against the rules, just trying to help out a Newbie.

That is £235 over your budget - delivered.  Over 20 years of immense enjoyment of a quality item, that is less than £1 a month.

Ha ha, we can sure enable on this forum!!

This is from the same place, used but with electrics for an extra £14- even better bargain http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Larrivee-L-03-E_W0QQitemZ250520223440QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV?hash=item3a542b3ed0  That is an extra 5p a month!!
Ben
2009 FIII LS-03RHB #5

http://www.youtube.com/user/1978BenF

I met Jean Larrivee in Minden, Germany, last week. I also visited the guitar shop which had arranged the workshop. It is called Oevermann (http://www.musik-minden.de) and they have a huge collection of different Larrivee models in stock (low end, high end, electric). Also some custom shop models.
They won't give you the lowest market prices possible I expect, but in return you get a great opportunity to test and compare many many models yourself. That's worth something as well I would say.

I don't know where you live, but I can recommend a visit to Oevermann...
~boomklever

Besides if you settle you do just that  -  settle.  Good luck in your decision. We North Americans sometimes forget how lucky we are with all these choices at our fingertips ( pardon the pun). Please let us know what you decide
Larrivee Electrics - My Dream then and Now!!!!!<br /><br />Forum IV     00-03MT       #4      (Treasured)

Quote from: JOYCEfromNS on November 30, 2009, 06:34:45 AM
Besides if you settle you do just that  -  settle.  Good luck in your decision. We North Americans sometimes forget how lucky we are with all these choices at our fingertips ( pardon the pun). Please let us know what you decide

We Europeans NEVER forget how lucky you North Americans are with your choice and affordability of guitars! :humour:
Ben
2009 FIII LS-03RHB #5

http://www.youtube.com/user/1978BenF

Have you ever checked out Lakewood Guitars? Made in Germany...so maybe they will cost less over there. Very nice quality guitars too...
Larrivee 00-70 
Gibson Advanced Jumbo  - J-185 - J200 Jr.
 National Resophonics  M1 Tricone
 Eastman MD-904 - DGM-1

Quote from: Dotneck on November 30, 2009, 06:59:25 AM
Have you ever checked out Lakewood Guitars? Made in Germany...so maybe they will cost less over there. Very nice quality guitars too...
All lakewood guitars I've found have been 1000£+

I'm between alvarez and larrivee l-03 right now. If I can increase my budget I'll get larrivee, if not, then alvarez.
I read some reviews about Gibson DSM and ppl doesn't like it very much. I couldn't test it before buying, so no gibby for me...
I've read lots of good reviews about alvarez MD60. I don't like satin finish and rosewood fretboard, but I'll try it first and see how it feels. I also like how she looks, inlaid headstock and fretboard with only 1 inlay...  :drool:


If I can increase my budget somehow I will definately buy that Larrivee L-03 from ebay.

Thanks everybody for help  :bowdown:

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