NGD: L-09 FM

[Mikeymac]

I watched this on Reverb for a week or so; it's something I've thought about from time to time; a maple L-body. I've heard a beautiful one (an LV or C) on You Tube, so I have high hopes for the tone of this one.

The serial number (048493, or 48493 w/o the "0") makes no sense based on the features of the guitar (mosaic rosette and Schaller tuners as were typical in the early 90's); both the seller and I tried to pin that down with Larrivee and no luck so far. Probably a custom for someone.

So I took a leap of faith and went for it; hope to sort out when it was built with Larrivee Customer Service after I get it. Paid a bit less than the asking price. I'll have more to say after it arrives.

And yes - it will get converted to a lefty! 

Here's the Reverb link.

[unclrob]

LOVE maple!!!!!!!

Does this mean I'm going to get It??????

If so we'll need to order a lefty bridge as I don't have any.

[Mikeymac]

LOVE maple!!!!!!!

Does this mean I'm going to get It??????

If so we'll need to order a lefty bridge as I don't have any.

Rob,

I'm going to keep it a little closer to home this time. It's just shipping from Wisconsin to me in southern Minnesota; so I'm going to take it up to St. Paul some time (around a 2 1/2 hour drive away, but I'm there for work occasionally). Thanks for the offer, though!

-------------------------

The seller sent me a photo of the neck block with the serial number on it, and I could see that it has a space in it - so it's "04  8493". When I looked that up on Larrivee's website, it comes out as built (started?) Dec. 27, 1988. This means it was probably finished sometime in '89, which fits with the features/cosmetics of the guitar. The only quirky thing is that it is an "04" series, and I hadn't heard of that...maybe Larrivee used "04" for Flamed and Quilted Maple guitars for a few years?

John Jr. - if you're reading this and can shed any light, it would be appreciated by this Larrivee geek (and maybe a few others around here)!

Looking forward to receiving this  

[247hoopsfan]

Wow, that is a gorgeous guitar.  So what do you have to do to convert it to lefty? 

[unclrob]

Wow, that is a gorgeous guitar.  So what do you have to do to convert it to lefty? 

It will need a new nut and bridge set up lefty.

Who's getting it?

[Queequeg]

 
Congratulations on your new guitar.
Here's hoping it brings many years of enjoyment into your home.

[Rockysdad]

Congrats, 
I've got an L-03 FM Custom shop that I'll not ever part with.

[Mikeymac]

It will need a new nut and bridge set up lefty.

Who's getting it?

To do the conversion? Hoffmann Guitars in St. Paul. They did some other work for me a while back and did a great job; they have a great reputation.

I haven't decided whether to have them just fill the saddle slot and reroute it (less expensive, if doable), or do a new bridge; I'll take a look at the old bridge when it arrives.

[Mikeymac]

I've got an L-03 FM Custom shop that I'll not ever part with.

Got any PICS of that one?

[Rockysdad]

I purchased this from Guitar Vista, in Albuquerque about two years ago.

It's got the Maple leaf inlays, and the label was signed by Jean and calls it an L-03 Custom shop Flamed Maple Deluxe.
I'll try to post some better pics of it when I can


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[Queequeg]

To do the conversion? Hoffmann Guitars in St. Paul. They did some other work for me a while back and did a great job; they have a great reputation.

I haven't decided whether to have them just fill the saddle slot and reroute it (less expensive, if doable), or do a new bridge; I'll take a look at the old bridge when it arrives.

Your saddle shouldn't be slotted at all.
However, the saddle is compensated for intonation and needs to be replaced.
Nut is slotted, of course, but not saddle.

[JamesN]

Your saddle shouldn't be slotted at all.

He means the channel in which the saddle sits.

[Mikeymac]

He means the channel in which the saddle sits.

Yeah, I meant the saddle slot IN THE BRIDGE...

[Mikeymac]

I purchased this from Guitar Vista, in Albuquerque about two years ago.

It's got the Maple leaf inlays, and the label was signed by Jean and calls it an L-03 Custom shop Flamed Maple Deluxe.
I'll try to post some better pics of it when I can

VERY NICE INDEED! 

[Queequeg]

Yeah, I meant the saddle slot IN THE BRIDGE...

Yes, of course!
IN THE BRIDGE.
 


I knew that.
Ya think I didn't know that?

[Clayton Bigsby]

Congrats...Now them right there both is purty geetars...!🤠

[Mikeymac]

Mine will arrive here on Monday... it's literally sitting in a UPS depot about an hour from me - ALL WEEKEND! Ugh. Seems like that happens a lot. 

[Mikeymac]

The guitar arrived yesterday. It's all there, and has "good bones" - but it came with a few surprises (see pics below for evidence).

* First, I was able to restring it lefty because whoever had it before the store got it played it left-handed: the nut has slots widened for lefty stringing, and the store didn't bother to replace that nut. This worked in my favor, as I was able to restring it immediately (although I still had to lower all the nut slots significantly) and they adjusted the price for the shoddy nut. So that will help pay for the new one down the road.

* The wood is beautiful in person; the front (Sitka) and back (Flamed Maple) in particular. I got the pickguard off with some elbow grease and a blow dryer. But there is some overspray (or something?) that is not only on the headstock (which they mentioned), but also on the back around the upper bout curves and on the binding...it almost looks like someone brushed something on there...don't know what it would take to remove it?

* This thing has the THINNEST NECK of ANY Larrivee I've owned. It's even thinner than my '92 OM-05, and the nut width is @ 1/32" thinner than the OM, too. The nut on this measures right at 1 11/16". I'm thinking this was during the time when Larrivee was making lots of electrics (late 80's) and that may have influenced the shape of the necks on their acoustics at that time as well. It's playable, but wow is it thin!

* The truss rod works - the adjustment tool from my '92 fits this guitar perfectly, and I made a slight tweak to that thin neck, which took out some relief and it plays like butter now.

* You can see the serial number clearly: 04 8493... definitely a space after the "04" which, again, makes me think that 04 might have been used as a series number (like 05 and 09) for Maple b&s models for a time? Again, maybe John Jr. or Matthew can chime in on that sometime...

* This is the LIGHTEST L-body I've ever touched! And the body is thinner than either my '79 or my '15 - they ALL have different dimensions. Larrivees have truly changed and morphed over time...I'll give some measurements in a different thread later.

All in all, I'm a happy camper. I've got Martin PB light strings (12-54) on it at the moment, and it sounds very good; a very clear voice with plenty of fundamental and notes pop out - the Maple is very responsive and clear. The more I play it, the more it seems to open up and come alive!

[Mikeymac]

A few more pics showing the milky finish, but also the beautiful top (before and after removing the p-g).

Oh, and their ad said the non-original case had a "tear" in the tolex...check it out! I'm sure that happened en route in shipping! 

[Mikeymac]

And the "tear" in the tolex (they posted a photo of the OTHER side of the case, which looks fine)...