Tell me about the Larrivee L guitars (and a couple of other things) THANKS!

[lmg47]

Hi,

Would appreciate thoughts, experiences, views, opinions about Larrivee L guitars.  How do they compare with say an OM or 000 ?

Also, can someone please decode the Larrivee coding scheme to me (L03 vs L05 vs L09 vs ??)

Lastly, for the L and Larrive in general,  how would you compare Larrivee guitars from the 1990's to the 2000's to more recent.

THANKS!      

[B0WIE]

The L sounds slightly bigger than an equivalent OM. Bigger meaning a little fuller in the lows. Overall, very well balanced, versatile, and articulate. A little more of a classical sensibility than a country picker, but you can play just about anything and make it sound convincing.

The 03 05 09 thing has been covered to death and a little research with an answer that question.

There's no quality or performance difference between older and newer. Just cosmetic changes and the fact that guitars settle in as they age, so older ones have certain benefits in that regard.

[eded]

Hi,

Would appreciate thoughts, experiences, views, opinions about Larrivee L guitars.  How do they compare with say an OM or 000 ?

Also, can someone please decode the Larrivee coding scheme to me (L03 vs L05 vs L09 vs ??)

Lastly, for the L and Larrive in general,  how would you compare Larrivee guitars from the 1990's to the 2000's to more recent.

THANKS!    

In general, 03 is mahogany (of some variety, though there are 03R's that are rosewood) back and sides with a spruce top, all satin finish.  05 is mahogany/spruce and 09 rosewood/spruce with gloss finish, fancier rosette, binding, tuners, etc.  An E tacked on (like L-03E) would have onboard electronics.  A V tacked on (LV-03) would have a Venetian cutaway.  Like I say, they go from the plainest -01's to the fanciest -10's (and some funky ones like -33 or something).  For the most part, the higher the number, the fancier the "appointments".  Except...  the -40 and -50 bunch that have different bracing.

Hope that helps (and that folks chime in and correct what I got wrong)

Ed

[Manothemtns]

That's OK. I'm sure I won't get it perfect myself. But here goes:

I believe the L-3 is the same model with one option being sitka over mahogany, and the other, sitka over rosewood...the L-03R.  The L-05 is generally the same breakdown but is also where you start to see other tonewoods being used (now and then, special editions) and some slightly nicer appointments such as a gloss top and some level of inlay work and marquetry. And the fingerboard (I think) is bound. The L-09 I believe is the highest form with the L-10 more closely resembling a full-on custom shop guitar where the sky is virtually the limit. Lots of appointments like exotic tonewoods, open back Waverly-style tuners, LR Baggs electronics (I believe the contract a decade ago was with Fishman), and loads of beautiful inlay work. IMO, there is no finer production guitar than the L-10. 

The L-03 is a real value when compared to Larrivee's competition. I even have a D- 03 (dreadnought) Custom all-mahogany guitar with bound fingerboard. The mahogany has absolutely beautiful figuring so it's clear that Larrivee occasionally bends the rules on the lower models. These Special Editions represent a ton a bang for the buck.

In the end, there's more to it than I've characterized but in general that's the way Larrivee rolls. The company is known for its seemingly neverending inventory of different, top-tier tonewoods and its one of a kind, patented L-style body. The L- has the overall volume (size) of a dreadnought...maybe just a tad less real estate. It's a little bigger in the bottom bout, slimmer at the waist and just slightly at the upper bout. I believe it would be closer to a Martin M (0000) than a 000 or OM in size.

My Larrivee L-40 Limited Edition, alpine spruce over beautifully straight-grained rosewood, and all mahogany D-03 which has a wonderfully balanced tone...

[Mikeymac]

Here's a rundown of the numbers:

Series:

03  -  Sitka top, Mahogany (or Sapele on some years) b&s, all satin finish on all 03 Series guitars; some 03's also have a Mahogany top
03R - Sitka top, Rosewood b&s

03 other - there have been special runs of the 03 series with b&s of Walnut, Silver Oak, maple, Ziricote and other woods.

04 - Gloss Sitka top, Satin Rosewood b&s. for a brief time, 04 guitars had Rosewood headplate, fingerboard and bridge; all other 04's have Ebony. For a brief time in the late 1980's, 04
(e.g., "L-04") was used to designate Maple back and sides on an 09 Series guitar.

05 - Sitka top, Mahogany b&s, all gloss (an 05 can also have a Mahogany top - but ALL 05's are Mahogany b&s)

09 - Sitka top, Rosewood b&s, all gloss. There have been 09/10 Series guitars with other b&s woods; Maple, Walnut, Silver Oak, Ziricote, Madagascar, etc.

10 - Sitka top, Rosewood b&s, higher grade of wood and Rosewood trim around the body (versus Maple/Flamed Maple on lower series); also abalone around the top of the body on the 10 series, as well as around the soundhole (as on the 05 and 09 models).

[Manothemtns]

Here's a rundown of the numbers:

Series:

03  -  Sitka top, Mahogany (or Sapele on some years) b&s, all satin finish on all 03 Series guitars
03R - Sitka top, Rosewood b&s

03 other - there have been special runs of the 03 series with b&s of Walnut, Silver Oak, maple, Ziricote and other woods.

04 - Gloss Sitka top, Satin Rosewood b&s. for a brief time, 04 guitars had Rosewood headplate, fingerboard and bridge; all other 04's have Ebony. For a brief time in the late 1980's, 04
(e.g., "L-04") was used to designate Maple back and sides on an 09 Series guitar.

05 - Sitka top, Mahogany b&s, all gloss

09 - Sitka top, Rosewood b&s, all gloss. There have been 09/10 Series guitars with other b&s woods; Maple, Walnut, Silver Oak, Ziricote, Madagascar, etc.

10 - Sitka top, Rosewood b&s, higher grade of wood and Rosewood trim around the body (versus Maple/Flamed Maple on lower series)

That fills in some of the gaps. Thanks - Eric

[Mikeymac]

That fills in some of the gaps. Thanks - Eric

You're welcome, but my name's not Eric... 

(and I've made a few edits to Reply #4 above, for more clarification)

[Manothemtns]

You're welcome, but my name's not Eric... 

(and I've made a few edits to Reply #4 above, for more clarification)

Mikeymac-

My name is 'Eric'...screen name 'manothemtns'. Though I can see where the confusion arose, no one called you by my name.

Thanks again for the specs.

[Manothemtns]

Hi,

Would appreciate thoughts, experiences, views, opinions about Larrivee L guitars.  How do they compare with say an OM or 000 ?

Also, can someone please decode the Larrivee coding scheme to me (L03 vs L05 vs L09 vs ??)

Lastly, for the L and Larrive in general,  how would you compare Larrivee guitars from the 1990's to the 2000's to more recent.

THANKS!    

IMG-47-

Sorry about the lapse in time. The holidays are upon us! To summarize the answers to your questions, the L is for Larrivee. It is Jean Larrivee's patented design (I believe). It's larger than a triple 0 and has an overall size just short of a dreadnought. I think it's the ultimate shape and size and it plays wonderfully both seated and standing (definitely nicer on the couch than a full-sized dread). Though slightly smaller than a dread, it holds its own in power and projection against any of those that I own. Even with brands such as Martin and Gibson. There haven't been any major changes to the design through the decades you asked about. Generally speaking, the difference in L models (L-2 through L-10) is the use of higher-end materials and aesthetic treatments like nicer bindings, inlay details, marquetry, and finishes as you go up. There are many upper-end Larrivee's that are built with what are generally referred to as exotic tonewoods such as flamed maple and cocobolo. Larrivee is known for having a wide-ranging selection of tonewood. You can also have a guitar custom made to your specifications (within reason).

I highly recommend a Larrivee L. Had I known about it long ago I'd have a lot more L's and far fewer dreadnoughts!

There are a lot of knowledgeable people on this forum who know more about Larrivee Guitars than I do, so if you have more questions, fire away!

Here's a Larrivee L-40 Limited Edition with alpine spruce (moonwood) over rosewood. Note the gorgeous character of the natural colored open-pore finish showing precisely why alpine spruce is sometimes referred to as "moonwood". Beautiful...almost white color. A really nice contrast to the rosewood back and sides.