Currently produced in a workshop built in California, Larrivée is a prestigious Canadian brand originally known as the pioneer of adopting classic-style bodies for steel-string guitars. With a long history dating back to 1967, it has produced renowned luthiers such as Linda Manzer, William Ruskin, and Serge de Young. This particular instrument is a satin-finished dreadnought model, the rare "D-03E" with a pickup. It's a used 2014 model. It features a spruce top, mahogany sides and back, ebony fingerboard and bridge, mahogany neck, Larrivée's traditional symmetrical X-bracing top construction, tortoiseshell pickguard, original Rotomatic chrome-plated tuners, maple binding, and an optional Shadow SH M-Sonic A NFX VT pickup system. The 03 series follows a traditional style with all-solid wood construction and a dovetail joint. It's characterized by maple binding, herringbone rosette, and a satin finish. Crafted from high-quality wood sourced by Gene Larrivée, who also works as a wood supplier, this guitar showcases the natural beauty of finely grained timber. It retains Larrivée's signature thick core tone, excellent separation, and clear articulation, along with a remarkably balanced sound, perhaps due to Larrivée's unique symmetrical X-bracing structure. While sharing a classical feel with other models, it achieves a drier tone and a more subdued resonance. And, as expected for this size, it delivers a powerful sound. Strong touches are met with force, while delicate touches are handled with suppleness. Its bright and crisp output makes it an easy-to-handle dreadnought model suitable for any playing style. The pickup system is the Shadow SH M-Sonic A NFX VT pickup system. Unlike the latest models, it uses a different element, a standard Nano Flex. This pickup features an ultra-thin, unique sensor mounted under the saddle, capturing vibrations from both the saddle and the body top. The controls are a simple Vol, Tone configuration. While it occasionally exhibits the low-frequency noise sometimes seen in Shadow Nano Flex pickups, making it unsuitable for direct line-out use, there is room for improvement by replacing the pickup or using a preamp with a notch filter to reduce the noise. There are minor dents on the bottom of the body top near the treble string, slight pick scratches on the edge of the soundhole near the treble string, and some minor scratches on the back that are barely noticeable due to the satin finish. Despite some signs of use, it remains in relatively clean condition. The neck and string height are well-adjusted, resulting in excellent playability. Due to the aforementioned pickup noise, it is offered at a bargain price. It is perfectly fine for enjoying the acoustic sound, making it a recommended choice for those looking for a pickup-less guitar. As mentioned earlier, the dry tone is a result of high-quality materials selected by Gene Larrivée himself, who travels the world as a wood supplier, and refined woodworking techniques. Please experience it for yourself.
Original hard case included.
Condition:EX++
Top:Solid Spruce
Side:Solid Mahogany
Back:Solid Mahogany
Neck: Mahogany 1Pc.
Fingerboard:Ebony
Bridge:Ebony
Machine Head:Rotomatic/Chrome
Fingerboard Inlay: Dots (Pearl)
Rosette:W&B
Binding:White
Pick Guard: Tortoise Color
Pick up:Shadow SH M-Sonic A NFX VT
Nut width:43m
Scale:653mm
Case:Original Hard Case