Schatten Artist install brief review

[SpruceTop]

Originally Posted by Petty1818

If it came with a 1-3/4" nut width, I would be all over it! It's crazy though, Larrivee is a Canadian brand, even though they are now made in California. It's crazy how difficult it is to actually find them here though. Long & Mcquade carries Larrivee but I can wait months to see a 40 Legacy model. I have been waiting forever for the L-40 but it's not even listed on Canadian dealer websites. My buddy's dad has the D-40 with Mahogany back and sides. It's from about ten years ago when Larrivee released the 40 models as a short run. It sounds awesome.

By the way, did you hear that you can now get the 40 models with gloss finishes? I think that would be just about the best deal out there. I don't mind the satin at all but even a gloss top would be nice. Larrivee guitars are so balanced that on paper, they seem like the best guitars to amplify.

Yes, I saw that Larrivee offers a 40 Series Rosewood guitar, e.g., Larrivee D-44R with a gloss finish and it adds $700 USD to the cost of a D-40R satin-finish guitar. I kind of like having the thin satin finish as maybe it helps in generating better tone? The downside is that likely sweat from the forearm will leave a darkened stain on the guitar's top. The satin finish could be lightly waxed, though, and would help stave off staining.

As for installing a pickup, I'm trying to decide if I want to do so and whether I should keep my new Larrivee D-40M all-Canadian with a Schatten HFN Artist Plus 2 or install my unused Trance Amulet M-VT Phantom system in the guitar. Either way, I'm sure the guitar will sound good when amplified.

[Petty1818]

Originally Posted by SpruceTop

Yes, I saw that Larrivee offers a 40 Series Rosewood guitar, e.g., Larrivee D-44R with a gloss finish and it adds $700 USD to the cost of a D-40R satin-finish guitar. I kind of like having the thin satin finish as maybe it helps in generating better tone? The downside is that likely sweat from the forearm will leave a darkened stain on the guitar's top. The satin finish could be lightly waxed, though, and would help stave off staining.

As for installing a pickup, I'm trying to decide if I want to do so and whether I should keep my new Larrivee D-40M all-Canadian with a Schatten HFN Artist Plus 2 or install my unused Trance Amulet M-VT Phantom system in the guitar. Either way, I'm sure the guitar will sound good when amplified.

That is a good point. I too feel that the satin gives the 40 and 03 models a much more open tone. I have an OM-03 that I bought a good 15 years ago. It's satin and there are no signs of sweat marks or shiny spots so they seem to be more durable than I would have thought. I would say go for the Amulet just because you already own one but the selfish side of me wants to hear the HFN in a Larrivee haha.

[GuitarLuva]

Originally Posted by The Kid!

It all depends on the room. I've had situations where it's sounded phenomenal one night, and the next night in a different room needed some pretty drastic EQ. It's the nature of a soundboard transducer. Even with a good pre and a sound hole cover, you can still have issues.

Yes this is very true.