Larrivee D-03E

Satin finish, solid sapele back/sides, solid spruce top (sitka I think), well-fitting case included, LR Baggs element electronics w/ EQ, volume and feedback cut thingy, Dovetail neck, Tusq nut/saddle

If it had a nitro finish (yeah right), then I'd give it a 10 for features

This guitar is best described as balanced, clear and a bit bright. I've had it for about a month and it's really starting to warm up. I expect it will continue to do so over the next few years. It doesn't like to be hit hard like a Martin D-28, it's a bit more delicate than that. Much more balance and full sounding than the sub $2000 Taylors I tried. It's also much less muddy and thuddy than the Martins in its price range.

I did notice a lot of variance from one D-03 to another. I believe I got the best sounding one out of a dozen or so I tried. For around $1200, it's hard to believe you could find a all around better sounding acoustic guitar new.

I did have a custom intonated bone saddle put in, which made a big difference in its tonal characteristics. The top is driven more now and custom intonation warms up the sound.

I'm giving it a 10 for guitars under 2K. I have played Martins and Gibsons that sound better but had price tags well over $2000.

Had a set-up done by a good luthier, rather than the free in house set-up offered. It plays quite good now. Off the rack it needed several adjustments for optimal playing. I would imagine you would have this done on any guitar purchased in the mid to high end however.

Satin finish is a cost saver that I don't mind. Better than a cheap, tone sucking lacquer.

The action is quite good now because Larrivee did a good job w/ the frets, so my luthier had the ability to get it nice and low without buzz.

n/a

I've been playing for 15 years. I also have an 80's Larrivee electric. Make sure you play several and get the store guy/girl to help you pick the best sounding one. No two D-03's are alike! If it were lost or stolen I'd cry, then probably end up purchasing another D-03E. I love the balanced tone, warm sound, good intonation, beautiful looking (and smelling) wood. I compared this to Taylors and Martins under $2,000. This was the best sounding guitar imo in that store within my 2k budget. I didnt even care about the electronics, I bought this one because it simply sounded the best unplugged. Apparently the electronics on it are highly regarded. I haven't plugged it in yet.

They tend to sound a bit bright when new, but unlike Taylors, they still have a full bottom end. It's starting to warm up nicely. Definitely get the bone saddle put in and you'll have one really great acoustic guitar.

I owe Harmony-Central an enormous debt, and I thank the people who have contributed to this site, I have spent many an hour reading these reviews for pleasure and information. It is largely because of these reviews that I decided to junk Bambi, my junker Fender strat, and purchase a Reverend slingshot custom.

Woods: mahogony back/sides, satin finish

Tuning Heads, intonation, tension:

Preface: To talk about tuning heads I must address ear sensitivity. If you are the type that can stand on a city street corner when an ambulance/fire engine goes by screaming their siren, and not feel pain, then you have suffered ear damage, and along with that you have probably lost some low and high end frequency hearing ability. When I was a kid hearing this annoying sound from the ambulances ( In Vancouver the ambulance siren is even more devestating than the police or fire engine sounds) would put me into the hospital. I walk around all year with a heavy pair of ski gloves, and an ear-covering winter hat. If I hear the siren I have the hat on in a jiffy, and press my gloved hands to my ears to block out the sound. If not, I am in big trouble. At age 54, I have not lost much in ear sensitivity. I also have unusual ability to hear out of tune notes, when I was 18 was offered 60 bucks an hour from recording studios to tune guitars.

The Ping 18:1 gear ratio tuning heads provide what I require. They turn smoothly without any skipping, and the granulation of tuning change is small enough that I can easily glide the strings into tune, tuning up or down. The strings stay in tune. The strings retain their intonation right up the neck.

I have the original case that comes with the guitar. It is solid, the guitar fits snugly, with just enough room to insert one of those circular humidifiers. When I take the guitar somewhere the guitar does not move around in the case, and I do not have to retune it when I take it out.

Tension and Tone: I have a gripe about this aspect of the guitar, at least I used to. During the first few months I noticed that if I left the guitar on its own it would slip down about 1 fret, ie the low E would be at E flat when I compared it to a tuner. I would retune it, and live with the tight tension, and somewhat compressed sound. One day I decided to leave it alone. The guitar stays at E flat , ie all the strings are tuned a semi-tone/1 fret down. It stays there, and the tension problem has disappeared. I can bend notes more easily, the sound is definitely rounder, softer, more pleasing to me ear. You might not want to do that, you might not have to. I tried about 3 other new D-03 guitars around town before I bought this slightly used one 18 mnonths ago. I was not too crazy about the sound of the new ones, kinda abrasive to me. I dunno if mine sounded better because the guitar was a year or so older, or because the strings were older, not so alive. Larrivee puts on ELixir nanoweb strings on the D-03 model, and I do not think this is a good choice for this guitar .Nanoweb strings tend to sound brighter, and this compounds the 'cripsy critter' sound of this guitar. Polyweb strings are a better choice as they de-emphasize this liability and make the guitar sound warmer and fuller, giving a more pleasant experience. Maybe this crispy sound won't bother you, maybe your guitar won't slip down to E flat. You might not want to make this compromise, I am glad things worked out.

This guitar has what I call a "rubber" neck, which is a good thing in that I can tune down the strings, the low E down to a C for example, and the strings sound very good tuned down, not flabby, so I have to give it an "A" for tuning and versatility.

The B Band Pickup: This gadget has a pre-amp and battery, which so far is lasting months and months. I dunno what the rated hours are, maybe it will still be working long after I am dead. There are a bunch of controls to play with: 3 band +- 12 db equalizer, pre-volume, post-volume, phase sw

The bottom end is awesome, the harmonics leap off the fingerboard like jack the snap. Larrivee does not copy Martin or anyone else, the D-03 has a singular sound, unique, very strong, and I like it for fingerpicking most of all.

The guitar is amazing the way it sounds so different according to the room I play it in. A great way to test out a recording studio, I bring it and play it in the recording room, and right away I know if this is a room I want to record in.

This guitar is very responsive to right hand technique. I can get quite a variation of volume levels with right hand thumb and finger technique. The guitar can open up and bloom, or give short barks. If I am sloppy with my right hand then the sound will sound compressed, dull, and just plain annoying. I have had to adjust my picking style, using muting extensively as I still do not like the open strummed sound. The D-03 has a big,low penetrating sounding bottom end, and for dropped D tuning tunes, brings me enormous sound and projection

This powerful sound, not just loud, stands up strong, projecting tones with super sustain. By adjusting right hand pressure It offers a variety of sound levels and emotions, from kaBOOM to a female softness,

quality, quality, quality.No discernible flaws, Fretwork is quality, woods are quality, bridge saddles quality, nut is cut to fit light guage, smooth all the way.a quality instrument for a beater price...

I am kinda rough and clumsy with handling, but the guitar has shown no ill effects. No noticeable flaws, excellent all the way
bullt strong, canuck hockey player tough, great gigging guitar

very responsive, the best, support in the way of responses to questions comes within 24 hours. I received answers to my email questions, got reply for year of manufacture, and useful maintenance tips, guidelines for string guage

got give it a 10, yum, yum all the way home...

For the record, I have only heard 3 guitars in my life that I liked. One was a Gibson bought in Prince George by a colleague at a software company early 80's , don't know the model, one a 70's Martin that was beat up like crazy, had wood cracks, glue all over it, but I loved the sound and feel. (not my guitar, I wish it was). Roger Ellis recorded his acoustic parts on his original 1966 D-25, the recorded sound is great - check it out on my website - but I couldn't play it - way too tight - and I did not have the touch required for this guitar, though Roger sure gets great tone out of it. The 3rd is this Guild D-55 that I will buy from Long & McQuade iin Vancouver if the intonation problem can be resolved.

Maybe I am expecting too much. Maybe it is crazy to think you can get a great warm sound from a new acoustic guitar. The Larrivee D-03 is about to enter my hallowed club of gems. It keeps getting better and better. This D-03E is very much a singular guitar, a bit of a freak, maybe that is why I love it. Even buying it new at around $1400 CAD, you are probably getting a better guitar than if you spent an additional $1000 on a Taylor, Martin, or Gibson


I have owned several "name" brand guitars. I don't remember the models, just how much I paid for them. In Canadian dollars, I have owned a $2700 Taylor, $3300 Larrivee, $2400 Martin, $3000 Gibson, none of which I kept more than a month, expensive garbage, I must have been crazy. This cheapo Larrivee D-03 is a keeper. I love this friggin guitar.

As mentioned on other reviews. Mine has a b-band onboard preamp system.

I love the sound of it. Very loud and balanced. At first it sounded a little treby to me but it has improved after a couple of months. It will get even better as the woods keep opening with time.
As i said it's loud and it deffenetly has a "High Class" vibe that is usually found in more expenssive guitars like high end Martin, Taylor, Lowden...
I would say there is nothing out there that sounds as good at this price level.
Powerfull strumming or fingerpicking are both a pleassure to perform with this guitar.
Plugged in it's got a decent sound, but it really loses a lot of caracter. It's a shame the pickup system doesn't match the quallity of the instrument.

Great low action with out any buzz.
The finish looks very clean in every way. No flaws that i'm aware of.

Looks solid to me. Time will tell.

I've been playing for 18 years. I was looking for a confortable and good sounding guitar at a reasonable price. With the larrivee i get a very impressive sound, A great playabillity and a great looking guitar in a hard case that hopefully i'll keep for ever.
As I said I love this guitar and i can't belive what an instrument i have for less than 1.000$
Nothing compares to the larrivee D03E it's price range.

The Larrivee I bought is a 1997 model, all the standard stuff as the other reviewers, except mine was made prior to Larrivee's switchover to using B-Band pickups, so mine has a Fishman Prefix Plus preamp with a Fishman Natural II pickup. All solid wood beats laminate any day of the week and twice on sunday.

I paid $700.01 (gotta love the penny, right?) for it and got the case, a guitar stand, a DI box (which I didn't realize I didn't need), a cloth and small clay humidifier. I got the price mainly because of alot of haggling about a small gouge in the soundboard. The sound wasn't affected by it, it just looked kinda bad.

This guitar sounds great...like the other reviewers say, it's very balanced..the lows are low, the highs are high. The bass on this guitar rivals Martin guitars I've played--including a 1974 Martin D-28 that my friend has. In fact, after playing my Larrivee, I picked up his Martin and played it, and the sound was very comparable. I do get a slight buzz, however, when I had a luthier look at it, he noticed that the action was low, and he chalked it up to the low action. I play both flatpicking and fingerstyle, but I prefer flatpicking...both sound great with this guitar. I've played this alone, with my friend and his Martin D-28, Taylor 355, and his 1974 Guild (not sure what model), as well is during worship in both a small group setting and as worship leader plugged into a sound system in a church. Needless to say, unless you're using a Taylor ES or Highlander pickup system, it's gonna sound more electrified, but lemme tell ya...not nearly as electrified as another friends Ibanez guitar plugged into the same system! However, I'd be lying if I didn't mention the Taylor 810ce that I've played that did seem to sound superior to this.

As I said before, low action, everything seemed well contstructed for the most part. There was one problem I had. I purchased this guitar in 2002 from a local dealer here in Phoenix, AZ...shortly after I got it home, I noticed it was buzzing real bad anytime you played anything higher than the 3rd fret (and sometimes even without fretting the strings). I took it back to the dealer, and they noticed that the neck and soundhole were collapsing. Now, this is a 1997 model--it was sold as new with the full warranty, but it may have taken some abuse from a previous player in the store. Anywho, the dealer boxed it up and sent it back to Larrivee for me. I was unlucky, however, because apparently it was sent back just as the Larrivee people were getting ready for or were at NAMM (not sure when that was, but that's the explaination for the delay I was given). At any rate, it took about 2 weeks for them to get to it and diagnose the problem. All in all, I was without the guitar for about 3 1/2-4 weeks--but again, I'm in Arizona, and shipping it to Canada is not an overnight thing.

This guitar plays great live with no problems whatsoever. I've accidentally banged it a few places, and even watched it fall from being propped up on a couch to the ground. Other than slight expected marks, it's held up great. I play fairly hard-handed flatpicking, and I LOVE the clear pickguard--no scratch marks.

Lifetime warranty. As I said before, the delay in having it even looked at was the biggest problem. It seemed somewhat rediculous to me that every person who could inspect a warranty repair was gone or busy for 2 weeks or so, but hey, I do also understand NAMM is a pretty big deal. Still think they should have SOMEONE who could look at it and at least figure out the problem. Once they did look at it though, it was fixed within a week and shipped back at no charge. I didn't bother asking if they could tell if it was a defect or abuse from a previous player in the store--I just wanted my guitar back at that point, and didn't want to give them an excuse to charge me anything. I've emailed the company once to find out what the actual pickup (not preamp, pickup) was and what year it was made, and it took about 2 weeks to hear back...however, now that I'm actually typing this out...I emailed them about the same time of year that I sent the guitar back to them, so they may have been at NAMM again! haha. Anywho, if it weren't for the delays in email & having someone look at it, this'd probably be a 9, maybe a 10.

Overall, this is a great guitar for the money. Like the other reviewers say, it rivals other guitars that run a good $1,000-$2,000 at a much more attractive price. I plan on getting a Taylor 810ce in the future, but I would probably buy another D-03E from Larrivee if it was stolen...maybe a D-03RE (Rosewood). I love the look of the satin finish, but the most attractive thing is the sound quality--really great stuff.

This is hard to put a number to. This is a very basic acoustic and is not an inlayed piece of artwork like the high end models. It has everything it needs to produce good tone which is why I bought it.
Solid wood construction. Satin finish is nice since I think it lets the guitar breath a little more. Ebony board adds some nice brightness and aids in playability. Nice solid tuners. Mine has a B-Band PU which has a nice small control panel permanently mounted which means the battery is inside. This means they have to cut a smaller hole than most units which I think is a good idea. It has mid notch controls for freq and cut adjustments. Again, a nice touch.

Sound is why I bought this. Absolutely a great balanced guitar. Nice chimey highs like a Taylor, but it also has the meat in the mids and lows (unlike a Taylor). I've notice that pick thickness and use makes a pretty major difference with this guitar. Using the pointy pick end gives you nice air, using one of the fatter rounded corners rounds the sound out on this guitar very nicely. This adds to it's versatility. This thing also excels at fingerpicking.

The only gripe I have is there seems to be a very slight metallic ring on the G and B strings that seems to be coming from the bridge. A lot of people probably wouldn't even notice it, but I am one picky SOB and have listened to this intensely since I plan on recording with it soon. I'm suspecting the film PU under the saddle. Will have to take it to a Luthier to take a look. This really blows. I'd give it a 9 without this problem. For reference, the only guitar I would give a 10 to would be something in the league of a GOOD Martin D-28.

Action is just about perfect for the light gauge strings. Not too low and high enough to give you some room to play pretty hard without buzzing. Acoustic strings need to be able to ring!
Finish is great as far as I can tell (hard to tell on a satin finish). There are some grain abnormalities on my top, but I consider them character marks (a few darker lines across the grain about 1/4 inch wide and a few inches long) and this is a base model in Larrivee's line, so you're not going to get their absolute top quality wood.
Again, I gotta ding them on my bridge noise. I'm assuming something is not perfectly flat between the PU and saddle. Other than that, very well put together. Feels like a solid guitar.

Only time will tell. Seems like a very solid acoustic for the money.

I'll hold off for now until I find out about the bridge.

This is my first quality acoustic after playing for over 25 years (mostly electric).
I looked long and hard at Martin, Seagull, Taylor, Gibson, Tacoma and others. I am a picky SOB and this guitar blew everything away under $1500. Make sure to check out Larrivee guitars if you haven't before. Excellent playability, excellent tones, very good quality for the money. I'd actually rate this a 8.5 and up that to a 9 when the bridge is fixed and quite.

Larrivee D-03E 2000/2001? Solid Spruce top, Mahogany neck, sides and back, ebony fretboard. Simplicity personified (guitarified?). No inlay, no flash, flat finish. D stands for the most beautiful dreadnought body shape I've ever seen. The hard Martin lines are happily absent giving the guitar a very original look. (The Larrivee L body is beautiful, too, but that is another story). For my taste, less is more, so I actually prefer this to the Larrivee presentation models (though I do like the Rosewood body colour better).

The heads are Gotoh heads and are extremely stable under hard use.

The guitar features a Fishman Prefix Plus sub-saddle pickupwith internal preamp. Eqing (low-shelving/mid-peaking, high-pass shelving, plus brilliance and mid-cut contour), phase switch and frequency notch make getting good stage sound both possible and easy.
My guitar did not come with a case (satin finished guitars, as far as I know, don't normally include the case--judging from the other reviews of this guitar, however, I may have been shortchanged by the dealer. I didn't get the truss rod allen key either).

I am originally and at heart a bass player. My mind register lows much more clearly, somehow, and does this guitar have lows! Bright, shining bottom end like nothing I heard when buying this guitar. I must have played a hundred guitars looking for this one, from $400CAD Norman guitars (which, it must be said, sound pretty good sometimes, too) to $5000 Taylors and high-end Larrivees, and this one just called out to me. It even sounded better than the other D-03s (without preamp) that were there. I use it with a Tubeworks 50 watt combo amp and it sounds great. The pickup and preamp provide very accurate representation which I need on stage. I have used it in small rooms with the Tubeworks and four other guys, and have DI'ed into the PA in a large concert hall solo and it sounds like it does in my living room except larger. I cannot say enough about the sound of this guitar. I would not say it sounds good for the money, because that somehow implies that there are other more expensive guitars out there that sound better. My experience so far says that there isn't. Different, yes, but better? not by my standards. The glossy finished Larrivees have a much more subdued, rounded sound, but they're a little too precious for me to be comfortable with. I bought this guitar for its sound first and foremost.

Some people have questioned the action setting. My brother in law had his Larrivee set up, too. I though the guitar played quite effortlessly when I first picked it up. I am not a fast player, however (in fact, my love for simplicity crosses over into my technique preferences, as well), so maybe for me it isn't an issue. The fretboard is nice and wide (not that my fingers are big?just that I like some space between the strings) which makes rhythm work easier for me. I am afraid about how it will deal with Japanese weather, though. It is intensely humid in the summer, and insanely dry in the winter. I'll definitely humidify it in the winter. When I get back to Vancouver someday, it'll be back home.

There is a slight flaw in about a centimetre of the grain. It looks like a crack and surprised me when I noticed it. On further inspection, though, I discovered it was just a slight quiver in the otherwise straight grain. There is a slight bead of glue I noticed tinight just inder the rim of the soundhole. I really had to look for it, but it's there. There is also what looks like a sap deposit on one of the braces. They certainly haven't tried to cover it up, though, because it was dead centre on the brace and visible through the soundhole. These defects are merely cosmetic and barely visible. The hand finishing on all the wood is evident, and the sharpness and cleanness is notable. The nut and saddle are smooth and well set. I'm not a big fan of the rather tight endpin?that is, it's tight on the strap, without much clearance. My strap (it's new and the leather is stiff) while I've been playing has actually loosened the pin by unscrewing it.

The truss rod is apparently tricky to get at, but I think I would take it in somewhere, anyway.

I have used this in small clubs and wailed on it relatively hard. I play quite, er, energetic rhythm guitar and it seems that's what it's built for. I haven't heard anybody else really play it, yet, so I always have a ringside seat. Close miking for recording (blended with the pickup) is the ticket. It got knocked off the stand without incident. The heads are tight and tuning is less of an issue for me than it has been in the past. The end pin has been a problem as I said above. I use a strap tied to the headstock (which is a new thing for me, but the control I saw it give Dylan over his guitar convinced me that it was worth a shot for nothing. I would depend on this guitar anywhere. The solidness makes the guitar seem light and alive, and the flat finish makes scratching less of an issue.

The warranty is lifetime, but I don't expect to use it. I haven't had to deal with them, yet, but the website is informative if poorly-written, and not very well-maintained. It sounds like they have good after service, and judging by the kind of company they have been over the years, I don't expect problems.

I have been playing guitar for 23 years and bass for longer. I have a '72 precision bass (slimneck) stripped of its original sunburst, and a schaller rockoon bass; a Tune hollowbody acoustic/electric, which is also an excellent guitar (the subjest of another review); I record with a BOSS BR-8 and have a missle of the road Yamaha keyboard with excellent piano sound. I have been playing an acoustic guitar made buy a Japanese company called Headway?the luthier was originally a longbow maker and the quality and sound were high, if different than the D-03EI have wanted a Larrivee guitar my entire life and was glad to find this miracle guitar that I could afford. When I was younger you had to lay down a lot more it seemed for Larrivee quality. I remember a story about Bruce Cockburn taking his Larrivee on a canoeing trip, and longed for a guitar of a quality where I wouldn't have to worry about it every second. The low-end Martins don't touch the quality and sound of this guitar.

I wish I'd asked about the case when I bought it (I probably did, but got a negative response?I don't remember). If it were stolen or lost I'd probably just cry, but if I were to buy another acoustic guitar I'd buy it the same way I bought this one, by playing everything I could get my hands on and judging the sound. This was the best guitar I played at any price (though I was partial to one Guild Jumbo I played, and a high end Larrivee jumbo) and the closest I've played was the Dave Matthews model Martin Dreadnought, and a $4000 Taylor a guy I know has.

The pickup system is a bonus that helped me lay down the cash. I always have mic'd acoustic guitars in the past, but sitting glued to a mic is less than ideal, not to mention the cash you have to lay down for a good mic. A friend of mine bought a guitar twenty years ago made by a company called Sakura because it was the best sounding guitar in the shop (it sounds even better now) for $250. I was looking for and got the same experience (though for quite a bit more money) with the D-03E.

In the store the D-03E sounded good on acoustic dedicated amps and the cheapest combo amps, and DI'ed into the PA it sounds remarkable. Feedback is not an issue with the notch control (and in a pinch the phase reversal switch). I wish it had a rosewood body (which is also available, but I thought this mahogany body sounded better) and the silver pinstripe inlay in the headstock. I love the ebony fretboard and rounder neck. The playability, for my style, whether fingerpicking or flatpicking is wonderful.

If there is one thing I don't like, it's the colour of the mahogany back and sides. I know it'll darken over time, but the contrast between a dark Rosewood body and a light spruce top to my eye is spectacular. Acoustic guitars are alive and each individual instrument, within differering degrees, is its own animal. This was quite simply the best sound I could find on the days I was seriously looking (a total of about thirty hours in shops over the past couple of years (I have two kids and money is sometimes better spent on food). I was prepared, though, (and even encouraged by my wife) to spend much more if I had to?what a nice surprise that I didn't. When you're checking out guitars, don't forget Larrivee?coming from Vancouver that's not possible for me, but if you've never heard of them, check them out.

This guitar features solid spruce top and solid mahogany sides and back with a satin finish. It comes with a Fishman Prefix Plus preamp and pickup. Also included a Larrivee hardshell case.

I play mostly contemporary worship in small groups. This guitar is plenty loud enough without any kind of amp. It's not too bassy like some of the Martins I tried. You can hear every string. Very well balanced.

The action came setup a little high, I might get it adjusted in the future if it becomes a problem. The neck fits very nice in my hand, and the guitar is very lightweight. Although the lower model Larrivee come with a satin finish and not gloss, I almost like the satin finish better. The guitar has a simple look, but little details like the ebony fretboard and the ivord binding really set it apart.

Although the guitar is pretty lightweight it seems very sturdy and solid. I don't see any problems with it in the future. The factory case also is very nice. I haven't had this guitar long enough to say exactly how durable it will be.

I haven't dealt with Larrivee, but they have a nice and informative website. The guitar has a lifetime warranty.

I have been playing for about 8 years, and this is nicest guitar I have owned. I have friends who have Ovations,Taylors,and Martins ,and I would pick my Larrivee over theirs. For the price there really is no comparison. I will be keeping this guitar for a very long time and probably replace it with another Larrivee.

Solid top with solid mahogany back & sides. Came with the Fishman Deluxe SC pickup with 4-control EQ in the side. Came with Deluxe Larrivee hardshell "arched or raised top" case. Very nice quality case with locks on both sides. Cool! Came equipped with Elixir strings. Can't tell if they're Mediums or Lights though. Factory says they put lights on 02 & 03 models and mediums on the other more expensive ones.

I play mostly folk, bluegrass, gospel, and also some contemporary praise music. It has a nice and rich tone with a deep bass resonance that rivals or exceeds any Martin D-18 or D-28 I've ever played. The tone is loud yet also very balanced and "sings" all the way up the neck. I play old fiddle tunes right along with older Martins and it keeps right up with them in rhythym and projection! I finally have a guitar that gains their respect and notice! The only minor complaint I have is that the pickup sounds more "electric" than I wanted. I'd like more of an amplified natural acoustic sound. I can't seem to adjust it to get the "electrified" sound out of it. I still does carry alot of the acoustic sound though, still. If I should need to change anything I'll perhaps install the Fishman Pro prefix Blender that has a built-in microphone which may pick up more of the acoustic tone when amplified.

The action was alittle high much like alot of the other Larrivee owners seemed to have mentioned. I adjusted it down alittle and it is some better but I'd still like it to be alittle lower without any or hardly any buzzing. I don't think I have the neck quite right so I may take it in to my local luthier to have it looked at and adjusted correctly to my needs. I wish it had the nice action that the Taylors and Tacomas seem to have with the bolt-on necks. The Spruce top is not as nice grained as some other Larrivees are that I've played. There are a couple of fairly long pretty minor (have to look in a bright light to see)unseparated finish cracks on the top with some raised up areas. I've talked to the store about these and they said I could have it sent back to Larrivee if I wanted to. The side of the guitar has what looks like a repaired crack or minor bump area near where the EQ is mounted. Looks like it was sealed over at the factory? I was alittle disappointed with these "defects" as I've never seen any other Larrivees with these. The Dealer assured me that this wasn't a "second" and I do have a warranty. Otherwise, the overall quality is tops with no complaints that I can see. The saddle and nut seem to be setup good and installed right. The mahagony wood is beautiful looking on the sides, back, and neck. The ebony fretboard and bright look great.

The satin finish seems very durable. I've already hit it or had something hit it and it didn't even leave a mark! It seems more durable than the gloss finish on my other guitars that I owned. I had the dealer install a strap button since reading about other Larrivee owners who had to have it done after they bought it. The guitar is amazingly light yet the finish and framework seem very durable and not fragile. I don't think I'll have any problems with this guitar holding up to my somewhat hard strumming and playing for different events. The hardshell case is solid and durable and very well built.

I haven't had to deal with Larrivee yet, so I don't know how they'll be. I complained to the dealer about the finish scratches/defects and they said I could send it back to the regional Larrivee service center in Atlanta if I need to. At this point I'll hold off and wait and see if the cracks get any worse. I know the warranty says it doesn't cover scratches or cracks considered "normal" wear and tear but these were there when I bought it before it had any "wear and tear!" Hopefully they won't give me a hard time if I should need service. I've heard that they back up their products and are good to deal with. I'll see. The warranty is lifetime to the original owner which I've already registered it on-line at the Larrivee website.

I've been playing guitar since the 7th grade for the past 32 years. I've always owned fairly low-end guitars with the exception of my Takamine 12-string that I bought 11 years ago (and dearly love by the way!) With every 6-string I've purchased I've gotten alittle better sounding/quality guitar over the years. I finally decided that I wanted to get a guitar that didn't have any laminate wood and was LOUD and one that I didn't have to feel like an underdog when compared to and playing alongside of other Martins, Taylors, etc. This D-03 model keeps right up with them easily in tonal qualities, volume, sustain, richness and depth of bass, etc. It is just a simple yet beautiful looking instrument with no fancy inlays, etc. It just lacks some of the name recognition still, but I think that is slowly changing! I just don't see any Bluegrassers playing Larrivees yet, so I may be the first! I sounds every bit as good as my friend's older Martin D-18, with I think even deeper bass and not so "muddy" in tone. I looked at alot of guitars over the years before I decided to buy a Larrivee. I looked at the Martin D-15, D-1, D-16GT; Taylor 310; Tacoma DM-10, DR-20. The Martin D-1 was the closest in tone to the Larrivee D-03 that I played, but the Larrivee seemed alittle deeper in tone and had alittle more volume and projection. Plus for the price I couldn't come very close for what I'd have to pay for the Martins with the factory installed pickup with the EQ on the side. I don't have any regrets about my Larrivee and I love the great sound it produces every day when I play it. I don't think I'll ever get tired of hearing it's tonal nuances and warm sound. It's the best sounding satin top 6-string I've ever played! I'm happy I stayed with getting a Larrivee. It was a hard decision as I don't have alot of $$ and I knew I had to keep what I would finally decide to get. I can definitely live with this guitar!

Acoustic Electric DO3E model. Fishman Prefix-Plus. Solid mahogany back and sides. Spruce top. Satin finish.

Fantastic sound. Bright and rich. Amazing when compared to the high end (price wise) to the Martins and Taylors. Bought at Guitar Center Atlanta, Ga. Sat in the sound booth with a Martin D28 and this little DO3E and picked the Larrivee hands down!

Set up was very close. Action is a little high so I'm having a local luthier make the adjustment. Finish is terrific. This particluar guitar has a dark streak in the spruce top right down the center that really sets it off.

I play it for live gigs as well as home. I baby it more than my kids! I play a riverboat in the summer and have not decided yet if I'll take that chance (cramped quarters). I usually take a backup but never use it. Strap button installed by the Guitar Center.

Have an e-mail in to them today asking for the special tool to adjust the truss rod. Warranty is lifetime.

I've been playing for over 35 years. Mostly Alvarez, Cortly, lower end instruments. Compared to the others I sampled when I made the purchase, it is an astounding instrument for the money. I'd buy another Larrivee, probably DO3E if anything happened to this one. The sound quality is my favorite feature. I play it through a Fender Acoustasonic Jr. amp and the Fishman pickup only magnifies the incredible richness of the guitar. Until I walked in to the Guitar Center that night, I'd never heard of a Larrivee. I'm very pleased to make it's aquaintance!