The Big Larrivee Try On Left Me With Questions!!

[Mattseed]

Hi gang. So I have fallen in love with Larrivee guitars and they are not easy to find in the UK.

Today I got to try 2 guitars

L03 Mahogany Recording Series Electro Acoustic
OM40 Koa Special Legacy Ltd Electro Acoustic Guitar

I am looking for my perfect recording guitar, here are the attributes IÂ’m looking for.

1. Overall mid/bright tone
2. Thick low mids
3. Low bass
4. Plenty of high/mid snap in the bass strings
5. Loud output, very touch sensitive

I know I know, I want it all.

So hereÂ’s what I found out today.

L03 = very loud, great. Very mid focused great. The highs weren’t too pronounced but I guess that’s the mahogany. The lows I am guessing due to the slightly larger body shape than the OM40 were more pronounced than I wanted, I hoped the mahogany would keep the low bass at bay, but it didn’t. This muddyness in the bass is the thing I didn’t like about this instrument. The only other thing was the action was quite high compared to the OM40. The guy in the shop said it was as low as it could go, but I beg to differ.

OM40 = The lows were great, more low mids than low lows and with plenty of high snap to the low strings. The mids were nice and balanced, the highs seemed brighter, not as woody than the LO3 and not as loud. Overall the whole guitar was not as touch sensitive or as loud as the LO3. I prefer the louder projection of the LO3.

So, my question is where do I go from here. From what I have said do you guys who know Larrivee think maybe an OM body but with a mahogany back and sides might be the answer. How much of that larger LO3 body shape do you think was adding to that pronounced bass.

I have also tracked down two others although they are quite a drive away.

000-40 Legacy Series Sitka Spruce / Mahogany 12-Fret traditional Auditorium

OM-03 WALNUT Back and sides with Moonspruce top

Is the OM-3 the same as the OM40 but with a walnut back and sides, the Larrivee numbering system does confuse me somewhat.

Any advice would be really appreciated as these are so hard to track down.
Thank you
Matthew

[redwards]

Is the OM-3 the same as the OM40 but with a walnut back and sides, the Larrivee numbering system does confuse me somewhat.

Any advice would be really appreciated as these are so hard to track down.
Thank you
Matthew[/QUOTE]

I THINK the bracing will be different between the OM 3 and OM40.
I think the 3 will have the traditional Larrivee bracing whilst the 40 will have their newer bracing which brings out a little more low end. But somebody with more experience will chime in I'm sure.

[SpruceTop]

Originally Posted by Mattseed

Hi gang. So I have fallen in love with Larrivee guitars and they are not easy to find in the UK.

Today I got to try 2 guitars

L03 Mahogany Recording Series Electro Acoustic
OM40 Koa Special Legacy Ltd Electro Acoustic Guitar

I am looking for my perfect recording guitar, here are the attributes IÂ’m looking for.

1. Overall mid/bright tone
2. Thick low mids
3. Low bass
4. Plenty of high/mid snap in the bass strings
5. Loud output, very touch sensitive

I know I know, I want it all.

So hereÂ’s what I found out today.

L03 = very loud, great. Very mid focused great. The highs weren’t too pronounced but I guess that’s the mahogany. The lows I am guessing due to the slightly larger body shape than the OM40 were more pronounced than I wanted, I hoped the mahogany would keep the low bass at bay, but it didn’t. This muddyness in the bass is the thing I didn’t like about this instrument. The only other thing was the action was quite high compared to the OM40. The guy in the shop said it was as low as it could go, but I beg to differ.

OM40 = The lows were great, more low mids than low lows and with plenty of high snap to the low strings. The mids were nice and balanced, the highs seemed brighter, not as woody than the LO3 and not as loud. Overall the whole guitar was not as touch sensitive or as loud as the LO3. I prefer the louder projection of the LO3.

So, my question is where do I go from here. From what I have said do you guys who know Larrivee think maybe an OM body but with a mahogany back and sides might be the answer. How much of that larger LO3 body shape do you think was adding to that pronounced bass.

I have also tracked down two others although they are quite a drive away.

000-40 Legacy Series Sitka Spruce / Mahogany 12-Fret traditional Auditorium

OM-03 WALNUT Back and sides with Moonspruce top

Is the OM-3 the same as the OM40 but with a walnut back and sides, the Larrivee numbering system does confuse me somewhat.

Any advice would be really appreciated as these are so hard to track down.
Thank you
Matthew

If you don't mind a twelve-fret neck I'd recommend you try a Larrivee C-03 TE Tommy Emmanuel Custom. Plenty of bass, mids, and trebles with wonderful playability. Here's my review.

[redwards]

By the way, I don't know where you are in the UK but Knighton Music Centre in Shropshire appears to have about twenty Larrivees in stock. It's where I bought mine.

[fngrpck]

I've owned a Larrivee 000-50 which is one of Larrivee best models, very similar to a 000-40 (different bracing and more bling). I eventually sold it because the 12 fret was limiting. It was a really nice sounding guitar. I would suggest you try the 000-40 as it may be what you're looking for soundwise.

[JustMunkee]

Hi Matthew

Whereabouts are you in the UK? I know Knighton Guitars have a lot of Larrivee in stock usually... They were very helpful when I went in a couple of years ago, although I've no idea how they've weathered the pandemic?

[FingahPickah]

Originally Posted by Mattseed

I am looking for my perfect recording guitar, here are the attributes IÂ’m looking for.

1. Overall mid/bright tone
2. Thick low mids
3. Low bass
4. Plenty of high/mid snap in the bass strings
5. Loud output, very touch sensitive

000-40 Legacy Series Sitka Spruce / Mahogany 12-Fret traditional Auditorium

My 000-40 checks all the boxes - sonically where OM meets Dread

[Mattseed]

Thanks. I’m about 2.5 hours from there just Munkee but they do have a few in stock that might might make it a worthwhile trip. Than you.

[Wade Hampton]

I have a Larrivee OM-03W in Engelmann spruce and black walnut that’s part of my permanent collection. It’s very plain, but sounds magnificent.


Wade Hampton Miller

[nickv6]

Do try a Tommy E model. Astonishing sound.
There's Guitar Village in Farnham Surrey if you're in the South
Nick

[zplay]

2nd-3rding the Tommy E C-03 12 fret cutaway as a truly great Larrivee model, but from reading your descriptions of the L-03, please realize that the Tommy will have more of everything including huge bass that in my opinion can be a bit muddy. I try to subdue mine a bit by avoiding phosphor bronze strings. Best so far have been Mangen monels and GHS Vintage Bronzes.

[eyesore]

I was in Bath 2 years ago and guitarbitz had a few Larrivees.

[AZLiberty]

OM-03 and OM-40 have a very slightly different bracing pattern. Both have a parabolic X-brace, but the -40 has a pair of tone bars like a Martin and the -03 has a symetric lower cross brace.

In theory, the -40 should be more responsive and provide a hair more bass, but I can't here the difference between an -03 and an -40 if they have the same wood.

Recommend you try that Walnut/European OM-03. I personally really dislike the Euro/German/Swiss/Moon/whatever tops. They give a lot more clarity than sitka.

I.e. I don't like them because they are not muddy enough. Which means for YOU it's probably exactly what you want.

[scotchnspeed]

After owning dozens of Larrivees, Id buy that OM03 walnut sight unseen. Saw it on reverb and almost did!

[Neil K Walk]

My vote is for "none of the above" and consider trying the plain Jane gloss finish L-05 mahogany.

My reasons are backed up with owning a satin finished rosewood/sitka OM-03R for 15 years. I love it for many reasons but as for recording it just isn't good. The satin finish is infamous for creating too many "swishes" through the mic. The rosewood creates too many overtones, making it sound undefined. Finally, the small body does indeed lack in bass response to my ear and it will not take a heavy attack with sounding brash.

That being said, I always said that if I were to get another Larrivee it would be a mahogany L-05 or LV-05E. They have the same balanced midrange but with more resonance and bass response without sacrificing treble clarity. I've liked every mahogany L I've tried and I expect that you might as well.