Larrivee D-03 12

standard but beautiful dreadnought 12-string. it really is beautiful to look at.

amazingly balanced response, top to bottom: not boomy and not tinny on top. excellent for recording. simply superb in front of a large diaphram condenser mic.

like all larrivees i've played: feels right.

very well made.

haven't had any reason to call.

i own two larrivees (D-09 and this D-03 12-string) and these are very high quality instruments that sound better than i originally expected. i've been playing professionally for approx. 20 years now (bass - original early 70s fender jazz, keyboards, guitar) and these instruments are without question the sweetest sounding guitars i've heard. i checked out a Martin jumbo-12 as well as a Taylor jumbo-12 but the ballanced sound of the Larrivee won me over. the price was also better. if i needed another guitar, i'm so happy with these i'd probably forget about the comparison phase and just go for the larrivee. i'm that impressed.

This 12 string dreadnaught was made in Vancouver, BC. I believe it's a 2001 model. It has a sitka spruce top, Honduran mahogany back and sides, solid mahogany neck with ebony fretboard. It also has a satin finish. This is the low-end model, so there isn't any of the special inlays that Larrivee is known for, but there was no scimping on the construction.

This is a great, full sounding guitar. I lean towards the low to mid sounding 12 strings. A lot of the ones I tried were too bright for me, some crossing the line into tinny. This guitar has the depth of the dreadnaught so the lows and mids are amazing, clear highs without being overbearing, and has wonderful sustain. It's a joy to listen too.

A setup was included in the purchase, but I didn't need it. It was set up great! The action in low enough that it can e played quite easily, but high enough that I can pound the crap out of the strings without buzzing. This is also ne of the cleanest quitars I hae ever seen! Because it is the lower-end model, there are no pearl inlays or anything, but it is such a beauiful, simple guitar, that I can't see how that can take away from it. The grain is impecable, the finish is near flawless, a lot of care went in tothe construction of this guitar.

I've had this guitar for 4 days now, and my fingers hurt so much from playing on the first day that I got it, that I've hardly strummed it since. So far so good. Larrivee has a solid warranty but, based on what I see of the construction and what I've heard by reputation, I don't think I'll need it.

I contacted Larrivee by email before buying the guitar with some questions and I received a response in about 5 minutes. I guess I just timed it right. They were quick and helpful. I plan on touring the facilities in the near future too. They seem to be really friendly people.

I love this guitar. It's a joy to look at and, more importantly, a joy to play.