The Fretted Frog: we're now a Larrivee Dealer

[TheFrettedFrog]

Part of the life of a guitar store owner is to flirt with some brands. For many flirts, it's going nowhere, and you know it from the start. But in some cases, you're just waiting for the right moment. And the moment was just right with Larrivee: parting way with Taylor last year (no hard feeling, very nice people to work with, and they're right on one thing: too many dealers), we wanted to have a leading (and affordable) US made guitar in the store.

We start with two guitars from now on (but have far more on order, including the limited edition Austrian Red Spruce coming in September...) and are very pleased with tone and build quality.

OM-40R

http://www.thefrettedfrog.com/larrivee-om-40r/

L-03-M

http://www.thefrettedfrog.com/larrivee-l-03-m/

[Taylorcrazy]

Hi Roland. Can you tell us more about the Red Spruce LTD coming in Sept?

Thanks!

[TheFrettedFrog]

It seems to have been a nice found from Jean Larrivee from a trip to Austria to source out some European Spruce. Only 60 guitars will be built in the limited series: 30 D-40s and 30 OM-40s. Soundboard and bracing will be made of Austrian Red Spruce. Back and Side will be mahogany (I'm trying to get the OM in Rosewood though...)

Larrivee sent us the following info:
"The spruce used on these instruments is extremely rare and special. The spruce comes from a very specific alpine region in Austria which has been producing the world’s finest spruce for over 200 years.

This specific variety is harvested using a centuries old technique which makes it ideal for musical instrument. Generations have referred to this spruce as “Swiss Moonwood”. What it means is that the wood is only harvested during a very small window of time each year (Originally under a specific Zodiac Sign), and during this time the tree has the least amount of movement and tension.

Once the tree is felled it remains on the forest floor for months naturally drying and curing in the alpine climate. Because these trees come from a region at such high elevation, the trees are very small in diameter ranging from 50-100cm in diameter meaning that only a limited number of soundboards are available each year.

The wood is white, with striking clarity and thin beautiful grain lines. Soundboards average 20+ grain lines per inch and have a stunning shimmer. These soundboards are extremely stiff and light, having the highest stiffness-to-weight ratio out of all the guitar building spruces."

Interesting enough, I should also get one of this "moonwood" soundboard for a Maestro guitar (from Singapore - they call it Swiss Moon). I should receive it shortly, I'll be able to tell you more then...