Larrivee D-02

Solid mahogany back and sides. Mahogany neck. Simple design. Made in 1995. Less is more in my opinion

Extremely rich mahogany sound. Truely an inspiration. Will leave overpriced Taylors and Martins in the dust. Rich harmonically. Records beautifully.

Excellent action and all round playibility.

Owned a few larrivee guitars and have never had a problem with the craftmanship. These guitars rival the best in terms of construction.

Never dealt with. Have not had too.

Best bang for buck guitar on the market no question.

Spruce top, Mahogany back and sides.

Guitar has a rich full sound.

Top began to cave in about two years ago. Probably a bracing problem.

This guitar has not held up.

Guitar top began to cave in and I sent it in through the dealer. 9 months later larrivee sent it back saying that I dehydrated it. I have been playing guitar for 40+ years and have multiple instruments. Never a problem. Customer service representative(Brian) was very rude to me. Field representative (Ricky) never returned requests for phone call. Sent registered letters to Jean Larrivee w/ return receipts to Oxnard,CA and Vancouver (I got the receipts) were never answered. Arrogant an unresponsive company. There are plenty of other guitar mfgrs. Stay away. If you have a problem, you're on your own. What good is the warranty.

My D-02 was started in production in December of 1999. It's got a 20-fret neck. The back and sides are sapele, the top is sitka spruce, the neck is Honduran mahogany, the bridge and fingerboard are African ebony (I got all this info from a Larrivee rep after e-mailing the company the serial number off my guitar). It's a dreadnought body with a satin finish and a transparent pickguard (no electronics). Great Ping 18:1 tuners. Very simple design (which, being a big Thoreau fan, I am very fond of). I give it a 10 in this category because for someone looking for a simple but great-sounding guitar, this is it!

I play mostly country blues and some fingerstyle guitar. I have owned Epiphones, Washburns, a Blueridge and a Guild in my 25 years of acoustic playing (and I have tried Taylors, Martins, Gibsons, Fenders, Ibanezes, Seagulls and a few others). For country blues, this is a great instrument, especially the low strings which are crisp and LOUD! No fret buzz. Sounds great run through my Sienna Kustom 30 acoustic amp and with a Dean Markley Woody soundhole pickup. I actually had gone into a guitar shop last month to try some of the Masterbuilt Epiphones and this is the guitar that spoke to me; it has a voice. I compared it to several Epiphone Masterbuilts, J-45 Gibsons (both the historic and rosewood models) and several Martin dreads, but my hands kept coming back to the Larrivee because of the awesome sound and that thumping low end.

I found this guitar being sold at a Guitar Centre as used but it had absolutely no scratches or dings on it at all (which amazed me for a satin finish acoustic). There were just a few light pick marks on the transparent pickguard. Neck was almost perfect; I wish it could have been just a bit thinner front to back. The action was awesome (quick and easy), the setup great. Whoever had owned it really took care of it (just as I'm doing, making sure it's properly humidified and kept in its case when it's not being played). I really love the simplicity of this guitar, from its satin finish to the no frills fret markers (yes, they are micro dots, but to me they simply say that size doesn't matter . . . but sound definitely does!).

I haven't played this baby live yet, but I will and I'm sure it will hold up just fine. This is a solidly made instrument; I expect it to last a lifetime. I know satin finish guitars show wear more easily, but when you love what you play, you have to let the love show through.

I've only contacted Larrivee to ask them about the serial number since the sticker in the guitar does not list the model number (which I found a bit odd). The rep who wrote me back did so promptly and provided me with all the necessary info about the guitar. Thus, I've already been won over by their customer service as far as their quick turnaround time in providing information. Since this was used instrument, there was no warranty through Larrivee.

As I noted above, I've been playing over 25 years. I currently own a Yamaha FG-140, a Blueridge BR-70, and an Epiphone-Gibson dobro. I had been looking for a solid wood guitar but did not want to spend a lot of money on one, especially with growing and curious kids in the house and a limited budget. Also as I had said above, I played this D-02 against Epiphones, Gibsons and Martins, and it easily won me over all of them. If it were ever lost or stolen, I would definitely try to replace it. To me, it all comes back to the sound of this instrument, especially the deep bass. I have no dislikes about it at all (although, in a perfect world, I would ask for a slightly thinner neck). I am also going to seek out only Larrivees the next time I buy a guitar (I'm already considering getting an L model or an OM model once I can afford it). For anyone lucky enough to find a D-02 (I understand they were a limited edition and are no longer in production), I would recommend you lay your hands on it and don't take 'em off!

2000 model guitar with the same features as everyone else has listed. I am writing what seems to be the first long-term review, as I bought it new in 2000 and have now had it for over 5 years. This thing is straight stock - I have never modified it.

As for features, what other guitar in this price range (then and now) has all solid wood, ebony fretboard (really outclasses others on this alone), ebony bridge and headstock laminate, solid chrome Ping tuners (none of that plastic crap)? The controversial thing has always been the cheesy pickgaurd. Clear looks good, but the adhesive has given people complaints. I also would have liked a more prominent inlay on the headstock or something. No strap button at the neck joint, but I'm happy with the quick-release strap button I got to go above the nut. I'm pretty happy with the microdots and overall finishing too. The clean look gives it a different appeal from ornate guitars, yet it's all quality materials where it matters, kind of like what the Studio model is to the Les Paul.

After 5 years, it still sounds great. I play it pretty much every day for months, then not so much, then every day like that in cycles. I can't remember what it sounded like when I bought it - but I've cared for it well enough that if I had to guess, I'd say it sounds better today.

This guitar (especially with new strings) is a lot louder than other dreadnoughts. Mostly in the mids though, around the D/G strings. The bottom E isn't as tight as other Martins (kinda muddy) but overall it's still an unparalleled sound in that class. I'd recommend 12's on this thing - it's very very loud with 13's and I've never tried 11's but I'm worried about losing projection. Very crisp and bluesy with D'Addario phosphor bronze strings, very metallic and worship-music (you know, singing church songs and stuff) with Martin strings, but really the Elixirs are the best. Rich, warm sound - bright up top, not so loud on the high stuff but still good enough to play blues or jazz.

It still amazes me whenever I put new strings on this baby - she just sings and I don't think any acoustic guitar for less than $1,000 sounds better. The saddest part about being the person to play this guitar is that you're getting the worst sound (it's going away from you!) - whenever I hand it to a friend to play, I just love to sit and listen to the sound of it!!!

The thing is holding together fairly well over all. On the back and sides, the finish is still perfect. The "satin" finish is not-sp-satin anymore around the soundhole, just above the pickgaurd. It's from my pickstrokes basically polishing the finish over the years, so it looks kinda funny with a part glossy part of the top but you have to look close. The neck is probably smoother than it was when I bought it from friction with my hand, but it still feels great. Speaking of, the neck is shaped so nicely on this guitar for people who don't have bigger hands - I hate the fat D, almost V-like shapes of other necks! I clean my fretboard regularly and it's doing very well - the frets have worn a bit to form flat spots on top, but they don't buzz and haven't pulled off or anything, so until they are just unplayable I don't think I need to re-fret the thing. The action was perfect when I got it and still is. I tried 13's once but when I realized what they were doing to the action (pulled way high) I didn't wanna mess with the truss so I went back to 12's. Never messed with the truss and the action is still perfect. The tuners are still rock solid - they need to be checked for proper screw/ring tension every year, but they have never failed or depreciated in any way. The synthetic nut and saddle have discolored over the years but have not broken. I plan to replace these with bone sometime soon.

Really, the worst thing that has happened with the fit and finish of the guitar is that a small corner of the pickgaurd started peeling up so I chipped it off, and around that area it picked up some lint and has a faint black outline.

After 5 years I can say the guitar should last another 20 with no problems. It's been very durable through my college years and beyond. I mean I put a few dings in it here and there (very small) because you know college has lots of drinking involved, but she's been solid through it all.

The only funny thing is that compared with my friends guitars, it seems to be more sensitive about temperature and humidity in regards to staying in tune. Granted, I have the nicest acoustic guitar of all my friends so maybe that's why it does this, but I have to warm it up, playing for a minute and maye doing some scales to bend the strings, and then re-tune if it's been sitting a while, or even from playing in the morning to playing at night. Mainly because the humidity and temperature in the San Francisco area change a lot.

Never had a reason to deal with them, probably never will.

So after 5 years, was this a solid investment? You bet. Was and is there a better guitar for the money? No way. Not even for twice the money. Maybe for $1100 you can find a better long-term investment. If it were lost or stolen would I buy something else? After the grieving of losing my first quality instrument and possible attempted suicide, I'd probably buy another Larrivee, but I've got good enough of a job now that I probably don't need to buy the cheapest one they ever made. Others have said, if I got this for $500, what the hell will Larrivee do for $2500?!?!?

This is a 2000, made in Vancouver B.C., solid wood guitar that I purchased with a gig-bag over ebay. It's got a nice ebony neck and a transparent pick guard that gives it kind of a unique look. I'm not that interested in the look of a guitar but the wood is really pretty throughout. The sides and back (Honduran Mahogany I believe)have a deep orange glow under natural lighting and the Spruce top is sharp too. The ornamentation is simple and that never bothers me.

I'm pretty much a strummer and I own a Martin DM, and a Big Baby Taylor, and the Larrivee has it's own unique sound that competes with these easily. It doesn't have the boomier bass end as my Martin, but the strings seem to ring out in a tighter fashion on the Larrivee compared to the Martin when I am strumming. Sometimes it seems the boomy nature of the Martin drowns out the mids and highs just a little when I'm playing. Compared to the Taylor and Martin, this guitar does seem to 'shimmer' a little more. It's still plenty warm however. I have a feeling that the more I play it over time the more I will like the sound. I like it already and I've only had it for 3 days. I like the harmonics that rings from this unit when I'm playing it. I know I could play guitars that cost twice as much and probably find a better sound, but for the price I paid it's a 9.

I think the action may be just a hair high compared to what I'm used to, but no string buzz when strumming and it's still easy to play considering I'm kind of a hack player. The movement up the neck is really smooth. The finish is a non-gloss which I like quite a bit. The tuning pegs work fine and the guitar stays in tune quite well which is always a good sign. I think the guitar may have never had it's strings changed after the original purpose, and it may not have always been housed that well by the original owner, but that's not the guitar's fault. I changed strings as soon as I could and all seems fine.

This guitar will show itself over time. I may wish to have the local gutiar shop freshen it up a little here and there, but I don't see anything major needing to be done to this guitar. The sound may very well only improve with time and care.

I've been playing off and on since college in late 80's, but only over the last few years have I messed around with alternate tunings. I've wanted a Larrivee ever since I first played one at a local folk music store. I liked it as much if not more than similarly priced Taylors. The guitars there were around $1000 and I didn't think my playing skills could justify paying that amount for one guitar. I finally discovered ebay recently however and was struck by a guitar buying fever. Now I have a Larrivee, my first solid-wood ax for under $500 with a nice bright shimmering sound that offers an alternative to my Martin DM, as well as a fuller sound relative to the smaller Big Baby Taylor. I look forward to getting to know this instrument's soul over the years. If it were stolen I would look to purchase the D-03 just because the D-02 is probably harder to find and the D-03 may have some upgraded features/materials. I really need more time with this guitar in order to feel good about giving it an overall rating. But I'm going to say that it's a 9 for the money spent. It's not the last guitar I'm going to buy, but I don't see buying another one for some years down the line.

The D 02 is Larrivee's entry model, and is quite free of ornamentation. I like that. The neck has 14 frets to the body (fairly standard), and feels just great. The tuners are the standard Ping (18 to 1 ratio), and are dead solid. The body is solid wood, and feels like the old J 45 Gibson, but faster. As the guitar has no feathures other than being a solid guitar I gave it a 7....not because it's not good, but because it has no features.

This guitar was delivered to me UPS, and was still in tune. I retuned it (I tune 1/2 step down). I played it, and it was right!! Great balance of highs and lows, easy in every repsect and when I went to a drop D, YOW!! I do a lot of flatpicking and finger picking, and it has excellent vloume and tone. Good, good sound. I don't work with this guitar, and bought it to be my road guitar.

Bought it used from Guitar Factory in Buffalo New York(yay internet shopping), and they had set it up just fine. New strings, and good set up. The guitar itself is without physical flaw, although I understand Larrivee used the lessser woods in this one....to my eye, and I've been playing for the better part of 35 years (YIKES!!)it is without flaw. All was good, and has remained good as well.

I own a Larrivee LV 05 E (working guitar), and it is most reliable. As the DC 02 is my6 road guitar, I have limited expectations of it, but it seems solid, and Larrivee has a really good reputation for qulaity. I expect no problems at all. One idiosyncracy Larrivee has is no strap buttons. A luthier can help (and has). Finally, I never work without a net, but this would not be the net....this is a road guitar.

Never tried customer support, but I have dealt with Jason Brantley at Notable Guitar, and as a Larrivee dealer he has been EXCELLENT!! I don't think the warranty (lifetime on new bought) goes with the next buyer. I would, however, have no hesitation in using the factory for repairs.

I've been playing for almost 35 years, and own a lot of guitars, and have owned many. This Larrivee does all I have asked, and a little more. Lost or stolen would upset me a great deal, and I'd try to find another, but would probably have to go to the newer model. What controls for me is sound, and this has great sound. Second is playing ease, and again, great playability. Fit and finish are flawless. Exactly what I wanted, and got exactly what I needed.

I understand that these were all made in 2000 as a special edition for 2M. Made in Canada. Solid Cedar top. Solid Mahogany dreadnought body. Satin finish. Nice easy neck I picked mine up as secondhand, but the previous owner had only taken it home for a couple of days and then taken it back to the shop to swap for an electric! I had Andy Manson (Manson Guitars, Exeter, UK) fit it with a passive Fishman under bridge pickup.

Warm woody tone which seems to work well for chords etc. to back other folk mucians. I love this sort of sound. Good bass end. I don't think it projects as well for picking out the tune at the top end. I am disappointed in the lack of variety of sound, dependent on where you are in relation to the bridge or soundhole. I have a bouzouki that I can get an amazing variety from mellow to harsh by just varying the stumming position. This guitar seems to have very little of that.

This was well set up for me by Andy Manson who is a respected luthier. Action is low and with the neck also being on the smaller side I find it fast and comfortable, even after a long night of ceilidh gigging.
One problem was the plastic bridge which was causing strings to break. I have since had a bone bridge fitted which has corrected this problem and improved the sound.

I play this guitar at live gigs and in pub sessions. It has so far withstood this abuse although I suspect a high glosss lacquer finish would have more durability. Still, I love the woody sound and to hear real wood, you can't cover it with great thick layers of lacquer. I does hold it's tuning well though.

Never had to contact these guys. You don't expect to do that for a secondhand instrument when you are in sunny Devon and they are in Canada!

Given the pub sessions and live gig stuff, as well as my style of play, I would be foolish to go for anything much more expensive unless I was prepared to insure it to the hilt. For me this is a value for money guitar. Solid woods, woody sound and good bass. I always like to listen to other guitars, but I still like this one.

Per other comments...
Canadian made. Standard features of a D-02 with solid spruce top and solid mahogany back and sides. Satin finish. Just the basics.
With ebony fretboard and bridge, along with one-piece mahogany neck, it's a really good deal for an all solid wood guitar. Probably why Larrivee now only offers the D-03 for a few more bucks!
It's as advertised but basic, which is why I give it a 5.

Great sound. Has brighter sound than a rosewood D as you would expect. Some prefer one over the other...(Doc Watson prefers mahogany)...But, I like both. The music dicatates which one you want.
I like the separation of the notes when you hit a chord. Each note is very clear and distinct. I'm having a friend install a Fishman Matrix.

Action is excellent...low without any buzzing. Bookmatched top. The mahogany looks beautiful.
However, there is one small flaw where the neck attaches to the body. On the "drivers" side, you can see a SMALL gap between the neck and the body. Suspect it is from the routing of the neck as apposed to an actual fitting problem with the dove tail joint. Think Larrivee just got a little careless here. I would not have purchased like this if I had seen it beforehand. But, I purchased it via ebay.
And, it does not seem to affect the action in any way so I decided to keep it. I just wish Larrivee had been a little more careful. Martin would not have let this one out the door...

Seems rugged enough to take anywhere. Larrivee, as most know, do not know what strap buttons are. However, the seller apparently installed one on the tail. I am having one installed on the "passenger" side neck, as most companies do...IE: Taylor, Collings, etc.

Dealt with before on a Parlor that I purchased and they were very helpful. I've readed mixed and even, in a few cases, bad reviews but I can't confirm anything negative from my experience.

I've been playing for about 30 years although I'm not that good for having played so long! Anyway, I own a Martin D-35, 0-18K, 2 Baby Taylors, one mahogany and one spruce, a Taylor 614-CE, a Larrivee Parlor...koa model, and am pending delivery of a Larrivee Parlor rosewood model. This new D-02 is NOT mine. I acutally purchased it for my, soon-to-be, father-in-law. All he has is an old Yamahaha 12 string...which is fine but he also needs a good, all solid wood, 6 string. To me, this is like getting a Martin D-18...well, maybe a D-16 without the gloss top...for a lot less $! The neck/body gap issue not withstanding, it is an excellent guitar. I would like to own one myself but settled for another Parlor since I was unable to get another D-02 for the same price. Will give review on that one soon.......

all solid wood[mahogany],made in canada,ebony fret board[they put ebony on all their models...i think ebony makes better crisper sound]satin finish,clear pick gaurd,...very plain jane clean guitar

nice bright open sound...i compared this to many othr guitars-martins included-in this price range and this lil girl spanked em all!it TALKED to me!i bought this guitar becouse i purchased a taylor 810[luv it!]and i wanted something i could play with out changin g clothes and checkin for buttons and belt buckles[taylor was 2000 dollars],this baby is sweet!good prescence on fingerpickin stuff and it strums nice too!i find myself pickin this one up alot...i use elixer lights ..very easy on my fingers...my taylor has med strings that sometimes ouch me just a bit after playin awhile[ i work in oil and machine coolant so here lately ive gotten some skin mojo going-all my skin fell off my hands...not pretty!...but i still played and the larrivee was easier on my fingers...the only callouses on my hands is my fingertips!..i think blood on the strings gives the guitar a warmer sound....dont you?...lol]

the action on this was nice...i got this guitar on a 'DEAL'the humidifier at guitar center broke this winter and before thay got it fixed some of the nicer axes dried out!mine was one of them,i wasnt really even lookin in the 'GOOD GUITAR ROOM'i was lookin in the other ,cheaper room,after all ,i just wanted a 'BEATER' to play so i didnt have to 'clean' up and play my taylor[you know,just run in real fast and puond out a couple of quick tunes...lol]this box had a small crack in the back and the frets stuck out a bit[from dryin out]...so i got it for 299 and paid a local fellow 50 bucks to fix er up![he did give me a heck of a deal!names KEVIN LILEY in bethalto,il.,]he also replaced the clear pickgaurd for me and put a martin one on too replace it]now this guitar aint nuttin but SSSWWWEEETTTT!!

it seems like it willl last[ive dropped it and bumped into a corner of a picture window....first scratch!!]like i said ,i changed out the clear pickguard with a tort martin style....it just looked NAKED with the see thru one,i can honestly recommend it as a DAMN GOOD VALUE for the price!if a person was going to spend this kinda money[4 to 5 hundred]i think their money would be well spent on this...as opposed to a fender or alvarez etc.,[they are not ALL solid wood,nor do they have EBONY fretboards ..you usually only see ebony on real high end stuff]now,this being all solid wood,you will have to be aware of humidity and dryness control!!!but if you are carefull you will be rewarded with an axe that will bring you pleasure for years to come!!and ,it only sounds better with age!

exelllent! i contacted them and they replied darn near immedietly!i needed a truss rod adjustment tool[gott it a week later]they registered me and were very helpfull and real nice!!]they have one of the BEST web sites,and if ya wanna see a guitar being made this is the place to go[takes awhile...but well worth it!]i took care of the repairs myself[kevin liley]becouse i didnt want to wait while my girl traveled to CANADA!

very nice box and super value for the cost...hate to see it stolen,and i would replace it...and beat the crap out of the thief that stole it[but you usually never find out who took it!]i wish it had some 'TRICITY' in it...maybe ill have KEVIN put me in some fishman stuff

year 2000/2001 purchased early 2001, Manufactured in British Columbia, 20 frets, solid wood top, mahogany sides, satin finish, ebony fret boards, clear pick guard, fishman pickup/with Bass, trebel, volume, brilliance, mid. came with elixir strings/medium guage, hard case with Larrivee logo great fit. I even got two Larrivee hard picks, no polishing cloth, no owners manual. slight bevel on end, but not noticeable by eye only by feel.

I found that it is more on the bass side, but I like that. I'm playing it through a Yamaha EMX 660 pa, with Yamaha 15" speakers, the tone is great.

The action I thought was great, just the right distance, My fingers do get sore but I haven't figured out if it's the Elixir strings, or playing it for 1 to 1 1/2 hours a day. The finish looks great, slight flaw on end around 1/4 inch jack area, not visible but you can feel it with your hand.

I've been hammering away daily since February, and all looks well. I would count on this at any gig. Body is very light, so I dont expect to abuse it and have it very long.

Had to deal via email on three seperate occasions, general type questions, like how should I protect the satin finish, I couldn't find my model on their web site, could they send me an owners manual, which they said the shop where I bought it should have supplied it, see them. But they did answer by the next day or two.

I've been playing on and off for 25 years, still own an epiphone 12 string acoustic. When my wife finally broke down and let me purchase an acoustic electric, I tried most of them, Fender, Seagull, Alverez, Takamine, Yamaha, Ibanez and some I cant remember, but the Larrivee was the one that said, buy me. Action was good, good looks, great sound, I realized this was a low end model, but over all it pleased me the most, when compared to other low end models.