player opinions

Larrivee D-03

Larrivée D-03

  1. Name: Dave Napier

  2. Model Year: 1999

  3. Price Paid: $550

  4. Performance

  5. The action and playability is excellent. It feels like a quality instrument every time I pick it up. This guitar far exceeds the price tag. Basically, this is a no frills acoustic guitar that can hold its own to ANY guitar, in ANY price range. Oh, and it only gets better the more it is played. This guitar sounds great finger style, and it sounds great flatpicking. You can play any style of music you want on it. Bluegrass, blues, new age, classic rock, you name it, because I play a little of everything.

  6. Performance Rating: 9

  7. Sound Quality

  8. I can't over emphasize how great his guitar sounds. So rich and smooth, never harsh. A lot of Mahogany bodied guitars put of a shrill sound from time to time. This guitar has a nice warm presence. I did not like the light gauge Gore Elixirs that originally came with this guitar. And to be perfectly honest, light gauge phosphor-bronze, of any maker on this guitar does not appeal to me. But when you put medium on this baby, hold on! If you are not used to mediums, I urge you to get used to it. This guitar was OK for the first 2 years I owned it. But I always had light gauge strings on it. One day I decided to put mediums on it and. WOW! The sound of this guitar began to mature and open up like nothing I have ever heard. I went into a Sam Ash music store last week and played all of their high end Dreadnoughts. Taylor 810, Martin D-28, Martin HD28, Taylor 510. None sounded nears as good as mine. And that is the honest truth. Why would I ever need another guitar?

  9. Sound Quality Rating: 10

  10. Construction

  11. There are no flaws on this guitar. Never were. Tuners, finish, fret work, bridge, nut, saddle. all. perfect. The only problem I ever had is in the beginning when I did not properly humidify it. Once I mastered that technique, everything was fine, but the tone was affected by not having the perfect humidity. In fact, I wrote Larrivee a nasty gram saying that I was so displeased with their product. They seemed genuinely concerned and addressed the issue giving me great advice on proper care. Once I did that, everything was perfect. I don’t think you can find a better built, better sounding, better playing guitar than Larrivee. They are the best in the world. No question about it. If you are looking for the perfect combination of sound and playability, Larrivee beats all of them (in the realistic price range). Martin, Taylor, Gibson. I would say that you have to go to the higher end models such as Collings, Bourgeois, and Santa Cruz to exceed Larrivee.

  12. Construction Rating: 9

  1. Name: Reggie Peratrovich

  2. Model Year: 2007

  3. Price Paid: $400 with trade

  4. Performance

  5. The action is a bit stiff, but it is light and easy to hold both sitting and standing up.

  6. Performance Rating: 8

  7. Sound Quality

  8. The sound of this instrument is, by far, is it’s greatest strength. It is well balanced from E to E, with a clean sound from either light or vigorous play.

  9. Sound Quality Rating: 10

  10. Construction

  11. The construction and materials used are very comparable to instruments costing much more than this particular instrument, very solid. It leaves the impression that it will last for quite some time, with proper care of course.

  12. Construction Rating: 9

  1. Name: Brian K

  2. Model Year: 2001

  3. Price Paid: $699 w/ hard case

  4. Performance

  5. This guitar is one I’ll keep for life. I prefer slightly lower action and this hits it right on, with no buzzing. No ornamentation on this piece either. I really like the fact that every dollar I paid goes towards the sound coming out of it and not to the look. Its is beauty and simplicity in the highest and a great way to stretch that dollar if you really want a great sounding instrument with out the custom eagle shaped pearl inlays and other cosmetics. This is for people who want sound, and it delivers.

  6. Performance Rating: 9

  7. Sound Quality

  8. Being mostly an electric player in the past, I never really understood the difference between my $150 Oscar Schmitt that I used for song writing and a $2,000 Martin. So I decided to go to the store and play some really pricey top of the line guitars and see what made a good acoustic. In the process I picked up a D03. When I hit the low E, it sounded better than any other guitar in the room, and it was not in modest company. The low notes are really pronounced, but not boomed like a lot of dreads. I have to say that’s what gives me a charge every time I play it. The great low end is not at the expense of the top and mid either. I wasn’t planning on buying anything, but my jaw hit the ground when I saw the price tag. It was less than half the price of the others, and in my opinion was superior to nearly each one. Needless to say, I walked out of the store within 30 minutes with my new D03 in hand!

  9. Sound Quality Rating: 10

  10. Construction

  11. It’s only a few days old, but it seems to be solid top to bottom. No sloppy work, rough cuts, glue, or anything like that. The funniest part is the manual that comes with it. It’s scary... It’s just a 10 page list of all of the things that are going to ruin your guitar if you don’t take care of it. Although I found it helpful, it was written like a book about drunk driving for teens. Like trying to scare the heck out of you... Well anyway I LOVE THIS THING.

  12. Construction Rating: 10

  1. Name: Ben Stah

  2. Price Paid: $599

  3. Performance

  4. This guitar just felt perfect from the moment I picked it up. I was looking for a good guitar but had about a $1,000 limit. I tried all the various Martins, Taylors, Guilds, etc. in this price range and even quite a bit above it and nothing else jumped out at me like the feel and sound of the D-03. The fingerboard is flat and wide, the frets are just right, and the action is low-ish (perfect for me). It’s almost as easy to play as my Les Paul — unlike other acoustics, I don’t groan when I pick it up and say to myself “ugh, here goes my fingers.” The neck feels wonderful and it’s very smooth moving your hand along it. I came from a Les Paul electric so I think it might be similar to that form factor. It’s a dreadnought but didn’t feel bulky or uncomfortable to hold like some do (I think it might be towards the small end within D-form guitars). I was skeptical about the clear mylar pickguard at first (thought it was a sticker someone didn’t remove all the way), but now I love the idea. Lets you see the beautiful spruce wood unobstructed. Larrivee claims the wood will still age evenly underneath as well.

  5. Performance Rating: 10

  6. Sound Quality

  7. The bass projection in particular, especially of the low E string, was amazing compared to every other guitar I tried. And it is not a boomy bass, it is tight. I do feel the A string bass dropoff is significant but overall the tone is very well balanced E to E. Bright but not tinny highs and strong, warm mids. Equally appealing picking or fingering. I think the guitar’s great projection helps fingerstyle players — if you don’t use nails or pick very crisply, some guitars can sound muddy and weak, especially if you switch back-and-forth from picking. If you are doing really subtle stuff at lower dynamics perhaps a very good (and much more expensive) Martin would serve you better but for general playing this is the one. What else can I say? It sounds amazing in this price range or any.

  8. Sound Quality Rating: 10

  9. Construction

  10. I can’t find a single flaw on this guitar. Everything seems perfect: the setup, action, all seams and joints, nut, frets, strings. No drips, no glue gobs, no crooked or hacked off frets, no unparallel strings. Larrivee should be commended for such production detail in a “low-end” guitar. I feel like I just bought an instrument costing twice as much (but I can still pay the rent!) The guitar is relatively unadorned (no purfling; tiny, understated fret inlays; simple, modest rosette), but I feel this only adds to its “Zen” appeal. It’s a beautiful guitar in its own way. As far as reliability, I dunno yet. It feels very sturdy but I wouldn’t want to drop it. Lifetime warrantee is nice though. I gave everything 5s, hmm. Maybe it’s not the perfect guitar but it’s darned close and I think it thoroughly exceeds its objectives and my expectations.

  11. Construction Rating: 10

  1. Name: Trevor F

  2. Price Paid: $000

  3. Performance

  4. Right out of the box the D-03 was perfect. The neck is some where between a chunky Les Paul and a Strat, just the right mix. The fretboard is relatively flat making bends extremely easy. The strings are well spaced making finger picking an easy task. Action was spot on for me, I’ve heard others complain that it was a little on the low side. It is extremely well balanced, no top heaviness and it is also very light. Overall playability is excellent. This is a very easy guitar to live with on a daily basis. If I was stranded on an island and I could only take one guitar with me, the D-03 would be it.

  5. Performance Rating: 10

  6. Sound Quality

  7. In a nutshell the D-03 sounds amazing. Compared to a Martin D-18 it has much more tonal complexity. The lows boom, the highs shimmer and the mids have clarity unheard of. It definitely cuts through the mix when playing with others. It responds well to changes in dynamics. You can play softly or bang away on the D-03 and you'll always be rewarded with great sound. In comparison to other D size guitars it is much louder. This guitar is well suited for all styles of steel string playing, from strumming to finger picking to single note runs you can’t miss. My only complaint is that the satin finished top does brush against shirt sleeves, so you have to be careful when recording.

  8. Sound Quality Rating: 10

  9. Construction

  10. Upon inspection, you can tell that the folks at Larrivee know their business when it comes to building guitars. The quality of materials and fit and finish are superb. The D-03 is a solid wood guitar, absolutely no laminates. It has a solid spruce top, Mahogany back and sides, a one piece Mahogany neck, Ebony fretboard and bridge, wood fiber binding, high quality sealed back tuners and composite nut and bridge. The fret work is excellent, the binding is flawless and I could not find any glue spots or imperfections in the finish inside or out. This guitar also features a hand-fit dove-tail neck joint which many of Larrivee’s competitors have abandoned for cheaper and easier bolt neck designs. This guitar is as solid as a rock and Larrivee backs it up with a lifetime warranty and excellent customer service.

  11. Construction Rating: 10

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  1. Average Ratings
  2. Performance: 9.2
  3. Sound Quality: 10
  4. Construction: 9.4
  5. Ratings Key
  6. 10: Excellent
  7. 0: Useless
  8. Company
  9. Larrivée

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