NGD Larrivee OM-03- UPDATED with Sound Clip
 

(I added a sound clip to the original post 6.18.19)

I got my new Larrivee Monday night, but due to a jam packed week of work and evening activities with the family, I was only able to play her a bit here and there…until Friday. I got off work early and was able to really put her through her paces…and I just kept smiling and smiling. I fell in love with the tone of Larrivee Guitars (and specifically their spruce/mahogany models) about 6 years ago while on vacation in the NC mountains (a visit to the Acoustic Corner did me in). I purchased an L03 that was great, but I passed it on to a younger guitarist at our church at the time. A short while later, I bought the OM-40. I would still have that one, but after leaving my job in NC and transitioning to OK, I sold it to a friend as I couldn’t justify two guitars. At the time, I had an amazing D18 and the OM-40, and I kept the Martin.

Since then, I have moved the Martin on for personal reasons. Last fall I picked up an Eastman E1OM as my only guitar, and while I loved the smaller body shape of the OM, the Eastman neck was giving my left arm fits (pain in the wrist and elbow), and I found it excelled at finger style, but was lacking something when strummed. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do. I was playing all the 000/OM bodies I could find locally, but nothing was striking me in my price range.

I began to kick around the idea of getting a Larrivee again, and was pretty sure I was going to get another OM-40. That is, I was sure until Shoreline Music announced his moving sale. When I saw the price John had on an OM-03, I called my wife to be sure she was cool with it, and I pulled the trigger. I was nervous that the standard Larrivee might not move me the way the OM-40 had, but boy, was I wrong. Joyfully wrong.

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Pure.

Larrivee.

Goodness!

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Balance, warmth, tone, clarity, punch, feel, craftsmanship, simplicity, beauty. All the things I remembered flooded back in.

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The neck on this one has the newer standard 16’ radius, which immediately felt more familiar to my hands than the former compound radius; does not feel "flat" on the fingerboard or the back. The neck shape and wider fingerboard fit me better too (no wrist/elbow pain at all!). I’ve found that even though the Eastman and the Larrivee have the same nut width of 1 3/4, the Larrivee is much roomier. I had trouble fretting a clean “A” in first position on the Eastman…no such problems with the Larrivee. The 2 1/4 spacing at the saddle is nice and roomy, too.

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The bass is powerful and full. If it differs at all from the OM-40, my memory can’t tell it! It excels at finger style…just so balanced and clear! And this little boss gives up nothing when strummed! Just tickles me to get to play anything on it!

It’s hard for me to quantify the Larrivee tone, but there is something in the way they build that just clicks every good thing in my brain, especially in mahogany. I know some folks don’t care for the tone, but dang, I love it. Out of all my fits of GAS induced selling, the Larrivee’s I’ve owned are the only ones that didn’t go away for “the quest for tone.” Whatever they have, I like it!

So I sold the Eastman E1OM to a gentlemen locally, and I’m moving the AC320 I had as well. I’ve come to realize I just prefer the feel/tone of the OM, and this OM-03 has it for me. I’ve owned a lot of instruments the past few years, but Larrivee mahogany OMs have come to feel like “home.”

And it’s good to be home!

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Beautiful! That’s a great guitar purchased from a class act, John & Shoreline. Congratulations.

IMHO, Larrivee Guitars are the smile-priced, boutique-maker of the mainstream guitar brands. Enjoy!

Good for you. Glad you found your way home.

Congrats on a very nice guitar. (Like that capo too) Larrivees are my kind of guitar. I just need to get a nice L-03, and I'll be a happy camper. ;)
Hmmm, maybe I need to look at an OM-03?

What a beauty.

Love the photos! What craftsmanship. Sounds like you found your match!

Congratulations. I have a 1998 Larrivée OM-03W in black walnut that I bought new, and as it happens I took it to play music at a gathering yesterday. I hadn't played it in a while but doing so yesterday reminded me of why I bought it in the first place: it just sounds great and plays like a dream.

So count me in as another serious Larrivée fan in general, and as a fan of their OM's in particular.


Wade Hampton Miller

Beautiful guitar!

Thanks all! I’m quite smitten with this one!

Great guitar. You can feel the quality and workmanship in your hands.

I have one of the last OM-03's made in Canada. I may sell and buy other guitars now and then but this one is staying put.

Gorgeous! I’m a fan as well. I’ve owned a few Larrivees with the OM-05E being my absolute favorite model. I agree with the others...while they may be budget friendly, they’re remarkably built guitars. Outstanding tone and excellent fit and finish. IMHO they’re HUGELY overlooked and underrated.

Excellent choice Sir! Enjoy.

Congrats on the Larrivee, enjoy it.

Larrivee makes a great guitar!
their Om models ring out better than most Oms
Im a dread guy , thats why I bought a D03
but you cannot lose with a Larrivee
congrats
Dave

I love my OM03. Mine is Canadian built, and I have always liked the neck.