Larrivée owners

[Traikat]

I would like to hear from SD-40 owners. What strings do you play on your guitars. Mine was strung with EJ 17’s. Is that normal for those to be strung with mediums?

[PeterM]

I have an SD 03R. It pretty much requires 13's to drive the top....I also use the EJ 17's. But mine is short scale...

[AcousticDreams]

While I do not own an SD-40, I am a proud owner of several Larrivee's and only live an hour from the Factory. I have visited the Larrivee's on several occasions.

Yes, Larrivee's are designed for medium gauge strings. That doesn't mean that they will still will not sound good with Light gauge. They do. But for Optimum results Medium gauge strings are what is recommended.

With that being said, I know of several Larrivee owners who opt to use light gauge strings. I have played them and they still sound good. I think it depends on your playing style and the type of tone & volume-projection desired.

For myself, and my style of playing, I want all the tone, projection & volume I can get so I choose Medium gauge. Light gauge does not cut it for me.

[Zissou Intern]

I had an SD40M a few years ago, and I initially had it strung with Martin Monel Retro 13-56, but e and B strings were a bit harsh on the fingertips on that particular guitar. I ended up preferring D'Addario EJ19 12-56. The guy who bought it from me said he tried EJ16's but they lost the bass response and liked the EJ19's best too.

[Prahanien]

I had an SD-60. Yes it was strung with mediums. Which was part of the reason I sold it. I’m a delicate finger picker so it was the wrong tool for the job. Amazing flat picker however.

[Lillis]

My favorite string on my SD40 has been DR sunbeam 12-54. I just put EB alum/bronze 12-54 the other day and am liking them so far as well. I find lights drive the top just fine. It was my understanding that it came with EXP16’s. Next up I have some GHS thin core mediums. Per a recent post they have the same tension as most lights. Also you could always try Martin ma545’s which are 12.5-55 and go up or down from there.

Enjoy that beautiful guitar!

[mattwood]

I just got back from playing an SD-44RE at a guitar store in San Antonio where I’m visiting. Not sure what strings were on it but I was very impressed with the guitar. Looks and tone for days! If it didn’t have the barn door electronics I might have taken it home.

[Traikat]

I had some Elixer lights lying around and just put them on. I have to admit the tone is not as good as the EJ 15’s, but the fingers like the lights better. Now to try later some different brand strings. I will have to try out some of the recommendations.

[SpruceTop]

I had a new Larrivee SD-40M for a short time and enjoyed its tone with the strings that came factory-installed on it--D'Addario Phosphor Bronze Medium Gauge.

My December 2019 Review:

The Larrivee SD-40M Legacy is my first 12-fret dreadnought-size guitar. Although I recently bought a Larrivee D-40M Legacy dreadnought, the tone of the Larrivee SD-40M is noticeably different from the Larrivee D-40M in that it has an overall mellower tone. The Larrivee SD-40M body is narrower than the Larrivee D-40M but it's longer by an inch. The 12-fret attachment to the body moves the bridge back into the fuller area of the top and this accounts for the mellower tone of the Larrivee SD-40M. I understand why our own AGFer, Silly Moustache, and flatpicker extraordinaire, Norman Blake, favor 12-fret dreadnoughts! Both of these Larrivee Legacy Series guitars, with their Mahogany back and sides and Sitka Spruce tops, are exceptional sounding and rank with the best of the best of any Mahogany dreadnought I've ever had. If you're looking for an American-made dreadnought in the $1400-$1600 street-price range, I recommend you give the Larrivee Legacy Series models, in Mahogany and Rosewood, an audition.

[Gordon Currie]

I've played Larrivee since 1980 and I currently have 5 in the house.

I've played some of the SD models but prefer L series as I'm not a dreadnought fan.

I've been rocking lights for 40 years. A few times when I tried mediums, I couldn't get them off fast enough.
Huge negative effect on feel and response, and a smaller but noticeable negative effect on tone.

All my guitars are more expressive for the music I play when strung with lights vs. mediums.

I have NO clue what people are hearing when they prefer mediums on a Larrivee, other than a small bump in volume.

[Traikat]

Gordon, what strings do you prefer to use on all your many Larrivée?

[DukeX]

I had an SD-40 for a while and played standard 12-53. Played several different strings, from Elixir, EXP, JP, etc. and all sounded good to me.

I had to let the this one go because it was just too big and loud for me. Bummer because it was a seriously awesome guitar.

[Wade Hampton]

All Larrivees used to be strung with medium gauge strings at the factory, including my OM-03W. I still keep mediums on that guitar, although I use John Pearse phosphor bronze strings on it instead of the D’Addarios it came with.


Wade Hampton Miller

[SpruceTop]

Originally Posted by Gordon Currie

I have NO clue what people are hearing when they prefer mediums on a Larrivee, other than a small bump in volume.

With medium-gauge strings and a flat pick, I hear a more immediate burst of tone from a guitar, especially when playing a bit aggressively, and if it is designed to handle medium-gauge strings. As a compromise, I've found that a medium-light-gauge set of strings (12-56) gives most of the punch of mediums with the easier fretting-hand comfort of light gauge strings. Alas, with my now healing fretting hand from my recent carpal tunnel surgery, I may have to switch to light-gauge strings on all my guitars.

[Scotso]

Former SD-50 owner. I thought mediums sounded better. I am a flatpicker. Wish I had not sold it.