Larrivée guitars are renowned for their unwavering commitment to quality, utilizing only solid wood in every instrument they create. Unlike many manufacturers, Larrivée eschews plywood, laminates, or layered woods, ensuring that each guitar resonates with a pure and rich tone. This dedication to all-solid wood construction is just the beginning of what makes a Larrivée guitar truly special.
The journey of a Larrivée guitar begins long before it reaches your hands. Larrivée takes immense pride in sourcing their own materials, meticulously hand-selecting wood from diverse locations ranging from the exotic forests of West India to the pristine rainforests of British Columbia. This rigorous selection process guarantees that only the finest tonewoods are used. Once the wood arrives at the Larrivée factory, it undergoes a careful curing process that combines air drying and kiln drying. Some of this exceptional wood is even aged in their warehouse for up to a decade, allowing it to reach its optimum tonal properties, ensuring that your Larrivée guitar will sound incredible for years to come.
Whether it’s the specific type of wood or the chosen model, when you pick up a Larrivée guitar, you are holding a piece of a remarkable story—a story that spans from the forest floor to the stage.
Exploring the Contemporary Series
The Larrivée Contemporary Series represents a modern approach to guitar design, while still upholding the brand’s core values of quality and craftsmanship. These guitars are known for their balanced tone, comfortable playability, and refined aesthetics.
| ### 03 Mahogany Recording Series |
The 03 Mahogany Recording Series offers exceptional value and tone, featuring solid mahogany back and sides paired with a Sitka spruce top. This combination delivers a warm, rich tone with excellent projection, making it a versatile choice for various playing styles.
| ### 03 Rosewood Recording Series |
Stepping up, the 03 Rosewood Recording Series utilizes solid Indian rosewood back and sides, further enhancing the tonal complexity and richness. Rosewood provides a broader frequency range, with deep bass and sparkling highs, making it ideal for players seeking a more nuanced and articulate sound.
| ### 05 Select Mahogany Series |
The 05 Select Mahogany Series elevates the 03 series with upgraded appointments and select tonewoods. Expect even greater attention to detail and enhanced aesthetic touches, while retaining the warm and balanced mahogany character.
| ### 09 Rosewood Artist Series |
For players seeking a truly exceptional instrument, the 09 Rosewood Artist Series showcases Larrivée’s artistry at its finest. Premium rosewood and meticulous craftsmanship combine to create a guitar with stunning tone, responsiveness, and visual appeal.
| ### 10 Rosewood Deluxe Series |
The 10 Rosewood Deluxe Series lives up to its name by offering a luxurious playing experience. Featuring high-grade rosewood and deluxe appointments, this series delivers both sonic excellence and visual opulence.
| ### 72 Presentation Series |
At the pinnacle of the Contemporary Series, the 72 Presentation Series represents the ultimate expression of Larrivée’s modern design philosophy. Utilizing the most select tonewoods and adorned with exquisite detailing, these guitars are true masterpieces.
Exploring the Traditional Series
The Larrivée Traditional Series pays homage to classic guitar designs, drawing inspiration from vintage instruments while incorporating Larrivée’s signature build quality and innovation. These guitars often feature appointments and bracing patterns reminiscent ofGolden Era instruments, appealing to players who appreciate a more vintage-inspired tone and aesthetic.
| ### Simple 6 Premier Series |
The Simple 6 Premier Series embodies the essence of traditional guitar making with a focus on fundamental quality and tone. These instruments offer a pure and straightforward approach, highlighting the natural beauty of the tonewoods.
| ### 24 Mahogany Vintage Series |
The 24 Mahogany Vintage Series captures the sought-after tone and feel of vintage guitars. With mahogany back and sides and vintage-inspired bracing, these guitars deliver a warm, woody tone with exceptional responsiveness.
| ### 40 Mahogany Legacy Series |
The 40 Mahogany Legacy Series stands as a cornerstone of the Traditional Series, blending classic design elements with Larrivée’s renowned craftsmanship. The mahogany and scalloped bracing contribute to a rich, resonant voice.
| ### 40 Rosewood Legacy Series |
The 40 Rosewood Legacy Series offers the same classic design as the mahogany version but with the added tonal richness of rosewood. This combination creates a powerful and articulate instrument with a broad dynamic range.
| ### 44 Mahogany Legacy Series |
Expanding the Legacy line, the 44 Mahogany Legacy Series provides a slightly larger body size, enhancing the bass response and overall volume while retaining the warmth of mahogany.
| ### 44 Rosewood Legacy Series |
The 44 Rosewood Legacy Series, in its rosewood iteration, offers the larger body size paired with the complex and resonant character of rosewood, resulting in a truly impressive instrument.
| ### 50 Mahogany Traditional Series |
The 50 Mahogany Traditional Series is a quintessential traditional mahogany guitar, embodying the warmth, clarity, and balanced tone that mahogany is prized for.
| ### 60 Rosewood Traditional Series |
Finally, the 60 Rosewood Traditional Series completes the Traditional series with the rich and complex tones of rosewood, offering a classic rosewood guitar experience with Larrivée’s signature quality.
Specialty Models & Editions
Beyond the Contemporary and Traditional series, Larrivée also offers a range of Specialty Models & Editions, catering to diverse musical needs and preferences.
| ### Reissue Models |
Reissue Models capture the essence of historical guitar designs, bringing vintage aesthetics and tones to modern players.
| ### Collaborative Models |
Collaborative Models showcase Larrivée’s partnerships with renowned artists, resulting in unique instruments tailored to specific playing styles and sonic visions.
| ### Baritones |
Baritone guitars offer an extended lower range, opening up new sonic possibilities for songwriters and players seeking unique textures.
| ### Limited Runs & Special Editions |
Limited Runs & Special Editions feature rare tonewoods, unique appointments, and distinctive designs, making them highly collectible and sonically exceptional.
| ### Custom Archive |
For those with truly unique visions, the Custom Archive highlights Larrivée’s capabilities in creating bespoke instruments, allowing players to design their dream guitar.
Feature Comparison Chart
Choosing the right Larrivée guitar depends on your individual needs and preferences. The chart below provides a feature comparison across different series to help you make an informed decision.
| Contemporary. Series | Traditional/Legacy. Series |
|---|---|
| Feature | 03 |
| All-Solid Wood Construction | • |
| One Piece Neck | • |
| Dual-Action Truss Rod | • |
| Dovetail Neck Joint | • |
| Volute Headstock | • |
| Slothead headstock | |
| Headstock Logo | • |
| Headstock Silver Border | |
| Headstock Custom Inlay | |
| Larrivée Tuners | • |
| JCL 18:1 Deluxe Tuners | |
| Open Back Tuners – Chrome | |
| Open Back Tuners – Cast Bronze | |
| Slot Head Tuners – Cast Bronze | |
| Bone Nut | • |
| Compensated Bone Saddle | • |
| Composite Bridge Pins | • |
| Bone Bridge Pins | |
| Back Strip | • |
| X-Bracing | • |
| Scalloped Hybrid Bracing | |
| Abalone Rosette | • |
| Bold Rope Rosette | |
| Herringbone Rosette | |
| Multi-Strip Purfling Top | • |
| Abalone Purfling Top | |
| Bold Rope Purfling Top | |
| Herring Bone Purfling Top | |
| Abalone Full Body Purfling | |
| Ebony Fingerboard | • |
| Maple Bound Fingerboard | |
| Fretboard Dots | • |
| Fretboard Custom Inlays | |
| Fretboard Diamonds | |
| Standard Bridge | • |
| Pyramid Bridge | |
| Bridge Wing Inlays | |
| Maple Body Binding | • |
| Flamed Maple Body Binding | |
| Rosewood Binding | |
| Satin Finish | • |
| Gloss Finish | |
| Satin Neck | • |
| Tortoise Pickguard | • |
| Available With Pickup | • |
| Pickup Reinforcement Patch | • |
| Hard Shell Case | • |
| Tier 1 Wood Grade | • |
| Tier 2 Wood Grade | |
| Tier 3 Wood Grade | |
| Jean’s Private Reserve Wood Grade |
Larrivée guitars offer a diverse range of options to suit every player’s needs, from the meticulously crafted Contemporary Series to the vintage-inspired Traditional Series and the unique Specialty Models. Explore the Larrivée collection to find the perfect guitar to inspire your musical journey.
