Larrivee L-02 What a great guitar for the money!
Joe Marnell
but not wanting to spend a lot of hard earned cash, I would highly suggest
looking at the Larrivee L-02 model.
I have played many accousitc guitars over the last 20 years and for the
price of $495.00 (case is an extra $100) I found this guitar a tremendous
value. Solid wood construction, spruce top, ebonay fingerboard and bridge,
mahogany neck, truss rod and set neck! How do they do this!!!
Granted, this guitar does not have the depth of sound as my $4000 custom
made Kevin Ryan Guitar nor would it compare to the higher priced $2,000 +
Taylors, Martins and even Larrivee's other models but....I once again cannot
tell you how impressed I was with the tone, constuction, playability and
overall quality of this instrument. And it sounds a hell of a lot better
than many $1,000 guitars that are out on the market and kicks the tail off
the entry level Martins (not solid wood costruction I might add) which are
priced nearly double the Larrivee L-02!
My understanding is that this is a new model for Larrivee. Must be true
since I was unable to get information on it at their web site. but if you
are considering the purchase of your first new acoustic, you out to check
this one out. I bought one (my fourth accoustic) thinking it as a run
around, play out in the club have a great time and not-to-worry if it falls
over guitar, but the more I paly it, the more I like it and the more
impressed I am.
Guy Landry
store had the L-02 and OM-02 so I could try them as well, but I just fell in
love with the D-02 and had to buy it.
--
Guy
Great acoustic songs at: http://ti-no.tripod.com
Send email to: g_la...@videotron.ca
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Joe Marnell <jmar...@attglobal.net> wrote in message
news:38937...@news3.prserv.net...
Mark Schulz
> And it sounds a hell of a lot better
> than many $1,000 guitars that are out on the market and kicks the tail off
> the entry level Martins (not solid wood costruction I might add) which are
> priced nearly double the Larrivee L-02!
Larivees are great, but just a clarification:
The all solid wood Martin 15 series are priced about the same as the 02
discussed earlier in this post, and the 16 series (D-16GT, to be exact)
is well under $1000 ($730, w/case) and is also solid wood. I tried the
02's and the 03's and didn't think they were better than these Martins.
--
Mark Schulz
schu...@mc.net
Red Hooble
schu...@mc.net (Mark Schulz) wrote:
> Joe Marnell <jmar...@attglobal.net> wrote:
> Larivees are great, but just a clarification:
>
> The all solid wood Martin 15 series are priced about the same as the
02
> discussed earlier in this post, and the 16 series (D-16GT, to be
exact)
> is well under $1000 ($730, w/case) and is also solid wood. I tried the
> 02's and the 03's and didn't think they were better than these
Martins.
>
Plus you don't have to go to GC to buy the Martins.
But the D-02s I've played (three) were tremendous guitars for the
price, although one had a setup/intonation problem. Very hard to leave
the store without one. In fact if the GC sales staff hadn't been so
non-existent they would have had a sale.
Red "I didn't want to force my money on them" in Berea
Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.
Joe Marnell
My understanding of the Martin entry level guitars are that they have a
solid wood (spruce) top, mahogany neck, rosewood fretboard, but some kind of
composite (pressed board) or veneered back and sides.
Even still, the price you quoted for the Martin 16 series is $730 w/case.
Not bad for a Martin which is a great guitar manufacture with a steller
history and outstanding products. But....the Larrivee O-2 was $495.00 and
once again, with a solid spruce top, mahogany neck, ebony fretboard and
bridge, and a new type of wood for the back and side from Africa (begins
with an "s") that is lighter in color than mahogany or rosewood but seems to
have the low end and depth of tone as these woods (well almost as warm).
I myself have not been all that impressed with the low-mid priced offerings
from Martin. For my money, Larrivee, Taylor and Lowden are head and toes
above them when comparing in the <$1000 to $2500 range. Granted, with
history and resale on the side of Martin, it probably is a great guitar to
buy if you want to get "money back" later on a trade. But for playability,
tone and quality workmanship, companies like Larrivee, Taylor, Lowden and
Santa Cruez are making incredible instruments that meet and exceed todays
modern folk, accoustic and classical guitarists IMHO
Joe
"Mark Schulz" <schu...@mc.net> wrote in message
news:1e57m72.1kr...@chi-ras-3-209-112-93-172.mc.net...
> Joe Marnell <jmar...@attglobal.net> wrote:
>
> > And it sounds a hell of a lot better
> > than many $1,000 guitars that are out on the market and kicks the tail
off
> > the entry level Martins (not solid wood costruction I might add) which
are
> > priced nearly double the Larrivee L-02!
>
> Larivees are great, but just a clarification:
>
> The all solid wood Martin 15 series are priced about the same as the 02
> discussed earlier in this post, and the 16 series (D-16GT, to be exact)
> is well under $1000 ($730, w/case) and is also solid wood. I tried the
> 02's and the 03's and didn't think they were better than these Martins.
>
> --
> Mark Schulz
> schu...@mc.net
Red Hooble
"Joe Marnell" <jmar...@attglobal.net> wrote:
> Are you sure of this?
>
> My understanding of the Martin entry level guitars are that they have
a
> solid wood (spruce) top, mahogany neck, rosewood fretboard, but some
kind of
> composite (pressed board) or veneered back and sides.
>
$550 - 575 with case. Check out FQMS, for instance.
<Snipped>
> history and outstanding products. But....the Larrivee O-2 was $495.00
and
> once again, with a solid spruce top, mahogany neck, ebony fretboard
and
> bridge, and a new type of wood for the back and side from Africa
(begins
> with an "s") that is lighter in color than mahogany or rosewood but
seems to
> have the low end and depth of tone as these woods (well almost as
warm).
I believe that is sapele mahogany, which Taylor also uses on its 300
series guitars. Other manufacturers may use sapele as well.
Red "I still the O-2s are great for the buck, too" in Berea
Mark Schulz
> Are you sure of this?
>
> My understanding of the Martin entry level guitars are that they have a
> solid wood (spruce) top, mahogany neck, rosewood fretboard, but some kind of
> composite (pressed board) or veneered back and sides.
The D-16GT I have is solid top, back and sides. The 15 series are also
solid top, back, and sides, and great instruments.
BUT TO CLARIFY: I certainly wasn't cutting down the Larivee 02's! I have
played a number of them, and they are also great instruments. I don't
think you can go wrong either way. I just sought to clarify that Martin
does have some entry level guitars that are solid wood and in the
$500-800 price range.
--
Mark Schulz
schu...@mc.net
Joe Marnell
construction. Also, thanks for clarifying the use of sapele mahogany as the
wood for the Larrivee back and sides.
As for GC. I live in Pittsburgh and bought my Larrivee from a top notch
music store with very knowledgable employees (non-commission) who really
know there stuff. The guitar was perfect in everyway.
I've been to LA and visited the main GC store and thought the folks there
were pretty good but I understand that is the exception rather than the rule
for other GC's. Too bad.
Maybe we should start a thread comparing Martins, Larrivee's, Lowdens,
Taylors, Santa Cruez, and other "hand made" accoustics at the $1,000 and
under price point. It would be great to get other opinions.
Joe
"Red Hooble" <redh...@my-deja.com> wrote in message
news:874dg6$ofm$1...@nnrp1.deja.com...
> In article <1e57m72.1kr...@chi-ras-3-209-112-93-172.mc.net>,
> schu...@mc.net (Mark Schulz) wrote:
> > Joe Marnell <jmar...@attglobal.net> wrote:
>
> > Larivees are great, but just a clarification:
> >
> > The all solid wood Martin 15 series are priced about the same as the
> 02
> > discussed earlier in this post, and the 16 series (D-16GT, to be
> exact)
> > is well under $1000 ($730, w/case) and is also solid wood. I tried the
> > 02's and the 03's and didn't think they were better than these
> Martins.
> >
> Plus you don't have to go to GC to buy the Martins.
>
> But the D-02s I've played (three) were tremendous guitars for the
> price, although one had a setup/intonation problem. Very hard to leave
> the store without one. In fact if the GC sales staff hadn't been so
> non-existent they would have had a sale.
>
> Red "I didn't want to force my money on them" in Berea
Guy Landry
Larrivee. The back and sides used to be made with sapele, but recently
they've changed to mahogany. These are not the same woods, although they
are similar. In fact, the D-02 I bought last week actually has D-02 MH as
the model number. Larrivee has recently updated their web site with this
information. Apparently they didn't like the sound of sapele.
I tried out the entry level all solid wood guitars from Martin (D-15 at
$850), Taylor (310 at $1250), and Larrivee (D-02 MH at $800). These are
Canadian dollars, and the Martin and Taylor came with cases. The Larrivee
did not. The Martin was very nice, but was a bit muffled, or muddy.
Playability was great, but the esthetics of this guitar just don't work for
me. I've complained before about the very cheap looking decal rosette. I
felt that the Taylor was the best of the bunch by far. The tone and
playability, not to mention the excellent fit/finish of this guitar
impressed me a great deal. It was just too expensive. For me the
compromise was the Larrivee. The tone was very bright and similar to the
Taylor. It's not quite as crips as the Taylor, but it has great bass. It
also plays very well but I felt the Taylor neck was a bit more comfortable.
The Larrivee I chose has a beautiful soundboard, and looks great with the
clear pickguard, but it just didn't have the same fit/finish as the Taylor.
Nonetheless I'm very happy with my Larrivee!
--
Guy
Great acoustic songs at: http://ti-no.tripod.com
Send email to: g_la...@videotron.ca
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Joe Marnell <jmar...@attglobal.net> wrote in message
news:3895f...@news3.prserv.net...