Larrivee D-05 12

Bought a couple of years ago it is a 1997 made in Vancouver, the 12 String version of the D05. Solid Mahogany body, solid spruce top, 14 frets to the body. Nice abalone inlay round the sound hole, Larrivee branded tuners, bound neck, black headstock with abalone Larrivee logo, gloss finish with maple body binding. The top is beautiful and almost white (Still) and the back like the top is beautifully book-matched. Bone all the way. Gets no better. Discreet (Until you hit it)and classy. Came with a non-Larrivee hard case which is fine.

It's what you buy a guitar for. This thing rings like a bell. A French professional guitar-playing friend described it as being a cathedral in terms of the volume of sound. Currently strung with Martin SP Phosphor Bronze 10 gauge it gives brilliant results across the whole range with clear separation and perfect balance. You expect mahogany to be a bit bright, however because of the bass response you get a really homogenous sound that is perfect. I will be trying a slightly heavier gauge next to see what it does. 12 strings need to be strummed to get the best out of them and this guitar just keeps delivering, whether you are playing whisper quiet, harmonics or killing banjos. Everybody who plays it (Including a number of professional and semi-professional guitarists) is just blown away.

As I said it was bought secondhand and the setup was, and still is perfect. There is not a buzz anywhere on the neck no matter what you do and it is virtually as easy to play as a six string. Fancy chords on the ninth are no problem (Can't say the same about some six strings I've had)and spot on intonation.
Fit and finish is flawless inevery respect. I love it.

This guitar has been well cared for for over 10 years and looks like new. I wouldn't hesitate to gig with it and provided you don't throw it around it will last several lifetimes. One odd thing is that there are no strap buttons, you obviously play this guitar sitting down.

I've heard that Larrivees customer support is not great though I have had no reason to contact them and don't expect to. Their guitars are first rate.

I've been playing nearly 40 years. I currently have a Bourgeois Petite Jumbo (Staggering), a Bougeois DRA Deluxe (Awesome), Larrivee D05 six string (Just as good as the 12 string), a Lakewood D12 (see my review), a Di Armond semi (Brilliant)an ESP Mirage Deluxe superstrat. I have had Taylor 810 and 415, Takamine 12 string (which is brilliant plugged but quieter unplugged being laminate back and sides) and have played just about everything out there. This is the best 12 string I have ever played and I have played loads. If this guitar were stolen I would put a contract out on the thief and buy another immediately. The prices are going up on Larrivees since I got this one but if you see ANY Larrivee at a good price get it, you will not be disappointed.

12 string version of the D-05. Spruce top, mahogonay sides, Dreadnought. Gloss finish.

Superb. I prefer mahongny on 12 strings because it is crisper (to my ears) than rosewood. Full sound, deep bass, nice treble, no midrange honk

The action was good, but I filed the bridge down about 1/16th" and now it is fabulous.

had it 2 years, it s a '97 model and holds up well.

I have a bunch of other guitars but I waited and waited until the right 12 string came along. This is it. Defiantely beatsthe modern Martins and Guilds.