larrivee question. new member

[bobbyg21]

I have recently become intrigued with larrivee guitars. i have done some research and all reviews are excellent. i'm about ready to pull the trigger on a dred but have no experience with the guitars other than what i've seen and heard online. no dealers in my area.

one thing i read is that the higher end dreds aren't all that different in tone,sound etc. than the lesser expensive models. i don't really care about all the bling anyway. what do you larrivee owners say about this, and what model would you recommend?

i'm mainly a solo singer songwriter. thanks.

[ducktrapper]

Hi and welcome. Answers will certainly be forthcoming, however, if you do a little more research, you will find and read the rules to the forum.    

[bobbyg21]

did i already break a rule?

[Rockysdad]

did i already break a rule?

You forgot the 

[B0WIE]

Larrivees tend to be on the more articulate and balanced side of the spectrum. The bass isn't as big and booming as some, which is a good thing if you value balance.

While, on the surface, it appears that the higher end models have you paying for bling only, there's some important things to understand about wood. Cosmetically superior boards aren't going to automatically sound better, but.... some of the traits of high quality wood (like medulary rays) are signs of stiffer, potentially better instrument wood. The 09 is a good point at which you're getting the best wood but no extra frills. That said, 03s a still great instruments for the money.

[Queequeg]

You forgot the  

The fabled concert contracts of Van Halen insisted that a bowl of m&m's be placed in the green room before each show.
And all the brown ones are to be removed!
This detail was frequently proffered as Exhibit One that these guys had gotten too big for their britches and were insanely eccentric.

As lead singer David Lee Roth explained in a 2012 interview, the bowl of M&Ms was an indicator of whether the concert promoter had actually read the band's complicated contract.
"Van Halen was the first to take 850 par lamp lights — huge lights — around the country,"Roth said. "At the time, it was the biggest production ever." In many cases, the venues were too outdated or inadequately prepared to set up the band's sophisticated stage.

"If I came backstage, having been one of the architects of this lighting and staging design, and I saw brown M&Ms on the catering table, then I guarantee the promoter had not read the contract rider, and we would have to do a serious line check" of the entire stage setup, Roth said.

The Larrivee donuts is similarly indicative as to whether a new member has read the forum rules.

And now, I would be remiss if I didn't say...
Welcome to the forum, bobbyg21!

[eded]

Yeah the donut thing...   

The rules are simple...  post pics of donuts. If you're not sure how, it's probably because the interface is so dated it's no longer intuitive.  See the row of icons above the text window, tap on the donut pics a couple times...  the old timers will think you're cool.  If someone has more than 1000 posts, don't argue or contradict them, they get preference (plus, many are probably several times your age).  Whatever...  find the rules and scan them.  Point out someone who has violated one and you'll advance to GO and collect experience points.  Ha ha ha ha....

As far as the guitars...  the lower end guitars are built with the same attention to detail and built by the same skilled builders as the higher priced ones. 

You may prefer a given wood over another, mahogany, rosewood, maple, walnut, etc. That will affect price.  Gloss vs. satin finish affects price.  Bindings and "bling" affect price.  As you move up the price points, wood selection may vary, though (IMO) Larrivee wood selection is great across their models and how the cosmetics of wood selection affects tone is debatable.

It's a shame you don't have a dealer nearby...  though they seem to be far and few between.  Playing them is the best way to figure out which is YOUR best one. 

Welcome, and post some donut pics before you're ostracized!

Ed

[ducktrapper]

It's sort of like the little box you have to check in order to say you understand, agree with and will abide by the rules. None of us actually read the darn things (at least not all of them) but we do check off the box.  

[bobbyg21]

whats the difference in the L shaped body and the om? anybody have a lacewood guitar? how does it compare to other tonewoods?

[eded]

whats the difference in the L shaped body and the om? anybody have a lacewood guitar? how does it compare to other tonewoods?

I don't have (and have never tried) a lacewood, so I can't help with that.  Here is probably the best body comparison page...

http://randyrick.us/guitars/LarriveeSpecs.htm

Ed

[ducktrapper]

Apparently, he declines.   

[Mikeymac]

whats the difference in the L shaped body and the om? anybody have a lacewood guitar? how does it compare to other tonewoods?

The L shaped body is larger and deeper than the OM - the L is approx. dreadnought depth. So the L's have more bass and more volume over all than the OM's. The waist of the L, slightly tighter than a dread, does make them "feel" smaller and easier on the shoulder in comparison to dreads (in my opinion, and I have 4 L's; I also have one Larrivee OM, my first new Larrivee).

Don't forget the 

[bobbyg21]

 

[ducktrapper]

Thanks for the donuts. The Larrivée L is the only truly unique Larrivée model. It is their proprietary design. While they make great versions of pretty much all guitar models and none are likely to disappoint, you need to try an L model if you are able to. Maybe not for everyone but it's versatility and dynamics are second to none. Of course, they vary according to the choice of woods.         

[JOYCEfromNS]

If someone has more than 1000 posts, don't argue or contradict them, they get preference (plus, many are probably several times your age). 
Ed

Except you of course Ed 

[mike in lytle]

i'm about ready to pull the trigger on a dred but have no experience with the guitars other than what i've seen and heard online. no dealers in my area.
one thing i read is that the higher end dreds aren't all that different in tone,sound etc. than the lesser expensive models.
i'm mainly a solo singer songwriter. thanks.

You signed with the forum several years ago but never posted till now. Sounds like me.
Why a D model? Any specific reason?
What direction are you coming from? Martin-sound or some other brand?
The D Larrivee has a 1-11/13 neck where the OM' s and L's are 1-3/4. Both necks very playable.
You say "singer songwriter", but nothing more. What kind of voice, playing at home, or on gigs, recording, playing with pickup in the guitar, strumming or finger/flat picking, or what?
Humble opinion... you can go mahogany or rosewood, anything else is "in between" and doesn't matter.
The Larrivee OM's are very articulate, they will grow on you, tho they may seem to lack "body" at first.
The Larrivee dreads are great, they remove the low end boom of a Martin D-28 (RW) or D-18 (M).
The Larrivee L-bodies are the best, articulate, balanced, easy to sit with, and the best looking.
Some say a rosewood goes best with singing cause of the scooped midrange, I am not sure about that.
I own various Larrivees in OM, and L body, in mahogany, laurel, and RW and am happy with all.
Unless you want to spend a LOT of money, you do not need  to get into the Larrivee 10-series guitars. Wait until you have become addicted (smile).
You will be happy with an -03 series in mahogany or RW.
Mike

[eded]

Except you of course Ed 

I wondered if anyone would notice. 

 

[ducktrapper]

There's an old saying about When in Rome.   

[Manothemtns]

My experience with Larrivee echoes what you've heard...that there's not much difference in tone when you go from lower-end to higher-end dreadnoughts. I think this is true if you're talking about the standard tonewood combo of sitka over rosewood. But there can be marked differences when moving upward to more exotic tonewoods, which Larrivee is known for. It's been said that Jean Larrivee has greater access to various wood types and when he finds the really special stuff, orders as much of that particular lot as possible. Interestingly, he doesn't necessarily spec all the finest wood for his higher-end stuff, rather, he has no fear of giving some of his lower-end guitars some special treatment. My all-mahogany custom D-03 is a great example. Most other builders reserve figured mahogany for the upper tier guitars. Gibson had a run of all-hog J-45's a few years back and they priced the run at roughly $700 more than a J-45 Standard. Long way around the barn, I got my all-hog Larrivee for less than a fourth the cost of the Gibson. Further, I'd put my D-03 Custom up against just about anything, both in tone and build quality. It's even got an almost black ebony fingerboard...which just happens to be bound.

If you spend much time on Reverb you'll invariably bump up against such builds. It may require a bit of patience but they're out there.

Larrivee is particularly known for its inlay work, which you'll see more and more of as you peruse Larrivee's top-end stuff. I think you said you don't throw in for bling so all the more said for finding yourself a nice D-03 or D-05!

[B0WIE]

My experience with Larrivee echoes what you've heard...that there's not much difference in tone when you go from lower-end to higher-end dreadnoughts. I think this is true if you're talking about the standard tonewood combo of sitka over rosewood. But there can be marked differences when moving upward to more exotic tonewoods, which Larrivee is known for. It's been said that Jean Larrivee has greater access to various wood types and when he finds the really special stuff, orders as much of that particular lot as possible. Interestingly, he doesn't necessarily spec all the finest wood for his higher-end stuff, rather, he has no fear of giving some of his lower-end guitars some special treatment. My all-mahogany custom D-03 is a great example. Most other builders reserve figured mahogany for the upper tier guitars. Gibson had a run of all-hog J-45's a few years back and they priced the run at roughly $700 more than a J-45 Standard. Long way around the barn, I got my all-hog Larrivee for less than a fourth the cost of the Gibson. Further, I'd put my D-03 Custom up against just about anything, both in tone and build quality. It's even got an almost black ebony fingerboard...which just happens to be bound.

If you spend much time on Reverb you'll invariably bump up against such builds. It may require a bit of patience but they're out there.

Larrivee is particularly known for its inlay work, which you'll see more and more of as you peruse Larrivee's top-end stuff. I think you said you don't throw in for bling so all the more said for finding yourself a nice D-03 or D-05!

Respectfully, I think some of that is incorrect. You can clearly see a difference between 03 Sitka tops and those reserved for the higher end builds. Whether or not you think it makes a difference is up to you. I've found differences in volume and overtones in the samples I've owned but it's up to the player as not everyone hears the same things and extra cost is not always warranted.

Lovely guitar, BTW.