Larrivee OM-03

Price Paid: 779.00 US 2005 model
not many features on this guitar simple solid wood guitar spruce top
mahogany back and sides, one piece mahogany neck dovetail joint.
ebony fretboard 20 frets. simple acoustic design very well built.
my pickguard is tortoise shell instead of clear plastic.
also came with a very nice hard shell case, and truss rod tool

this is my first all wood acoustic guitar, and let me tell you i am blown away by the sound, it's the first acoustic guitar that i have ever played sounded as good as the recordings i try to play along with. it is great for finger picking as well as light strumming. to my ear it is the best sounding acoustic i have ever owned. it also stays in tune very well.

i didn't like the action when i purchased it, but loved the sound so i took it home and played it for a couple of weeks and tried to get used to the high action, but couldn't. took it back to the shop i bought it from and they were happy to give me a free setup, after which i was very pleased. action was lowered without compromising tone. is much easier to play and still sounds great. i like the satin finish as compared to the high gloss, less fingerprints and it's not sticky when i sweat.

seems very solid have only had it for a couple of weeks

never had to deal with it

have been playing off and on for 20 years, seriously for the last 2.
for the money it was the best guitar i played, i played the Guild GAD 30
the Martin 00-15 and the Taylor 214 and in my opinion the larrivee blew them away. if it were stolen or lost i would play another one and decide from there, it seems to me sometimes you get a "good one" that sounds and plays like you like, other times you don't. so i guess i would buy this one again.

Standard features that have been described in the other reviews. I had a Martin Gold+Plus pickup added.

I was searching for a fingerstyle guitar. I had been to a number of music stores and tried some wonderful instruments. I played great Martins,Gibson, Collings, Huss and Daltons, etc. None of them had that certain magic that makes you "need" that guitar. I stopped at a local store, picked up the Larrivee OM 03 and started to play. A small girl came from across the room, curled up on a chair next to me to listen. A mom who was waiting for her son to be done with guitar lessons commented on what a nice sound that the guitar had. One of the staff at the store asked me to play at his wedding...even though he didn't even have a steady girlfriend...magic??? I had to have it.
I play predominately fingerstyle solo guitar, as well as perform in a guitar/ vocal duo with my wife. This guitar feels great and the sound is very well balanced. This guitar fits sonically between my Guild D 25 dreadnaught and Taylor 712 C Grand Concert. It has rapidly become my go-to guitar for songwriting, performing and recording.

The guitar is just crazy good for the money. Wide neck, great action, great string spacing, extremely well built, perfect set up. I touched nothing on this guitar until I had the pickup installed. It is still perfect. Absolutely no gripes on anything whatsoever.

I have used this guitar in a number of live applications and it does very well. Fingerstyle guitar isn't very guitar destuctive. I always take a back up anyway.

I have contacted Larrivee just to tell them what a great guitar they built. They got in touch with me immediately, just to say thanks. I have never had to deal with them on a serious issue.

I have been playing guitar for 30+ years and own over 25 guitars. My father is also a guitarist and collector with over 70 instruments. I would like to think that I have a reasonably good idea of what good guitars sound like. I think the Larrivee is a great guitar and I would recommend them to other people...As a matter of fact, that is what I am doing right now!

2003 model. basic satin finish OM spruce/mahogany box... same as in other reviews. black hardshell case included. I'll give points for simplicity!

The OM is a very versatile guitar! Fingerstyle or strumming, it sounds great! Controlled, tight bass and incredible rich, ringing sustain. I like this model better than the rosewood model (om-3r) because it doesn't have so much going on in the mids. Kinda modern sounding but not real bright like taylors.

For all its budget-cutting simplicity, one may expect some corners cut. Not so! It's not as sublimely finished as a 3K guitar but based on its own merits its excellent. Superb playability with a not too thin neck, 1.75in width at the nut, and great low action. best of all-- no buzzes!

it's got a little heft to it. Feels very solid. Some people don't like satin finishes, but personally I prefer them, here's why: it doesn't get sticky when you're playing live and sweatin', you don't see 500 fingerprints on it all the time, it makes a guitar feel 'live' and satin gets that broken-in look happening faster than gloss.

has a warranty- - haven't used it for anything.

Basic, solid wood acoustic guitar. Orchestra Model body with spruce top, everything else is mahogany except for the ebony fingerboard (and bridge?).

Wide-ish neck: 1 3/4". Satin finish.

Having just graduated from a Guild thinline electric acoustic the liveliness of the Larrivee is a wondferful change. The smooth, controlled bass and perfect top end lend themselves to all styles of acoustic music. It doesn't have the real bang that you'd want for live bluegrass but covers everything else nicely. I'm weaning myself from electric playing so the sound of a good acoustic is a great revelation. I'm not sure that the Larrivee is superior to other guitars in its price range as I'm more of a neophyte here.

As a slightly used instrument I can't attest to the factory setup. However the neck is beautifully finished and the action is a nice balance between playability and maintaining a true acoustic voice. I've done a little fine tuning on the saddle and nut and find it plays better than any acoustic I tried during my shopping expeditions.

Too soon to tell. However, I did have a beautiful Larrivee cedar top classical back in the Seventies that lasted well.

I've been playing 27 years going from classical to jazz (electric) to electric blues to a recent interest in fingerpicking stuff (hence the Larrivee). I've also got several Strats, Tele, Les Paul, Takamine 12 string, Godin Multiac, Godin A5 fretless, Heartfield 5 string bass, Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion, Ibanez super strat. I'm a guitar lover, obviously and feel the Larrivee is up there with the best.

We all know beauty is in the eye of the beholder , and I for one feel it's a very attractive ( If you can say that about a guitar), and refined instrument.

I've had two people with very different taste in music play this guitar, and it was a fantastic sound with both (country , spanish folk). Both very knowledgeable musicians were extremely pleased with the sound.

Here is where some opinions differ. I myself think the action is a little high. The two other musicians to play this instrument though it was just right (either they were being kind or their vast years experience above mine would make me wrong)none the less not a concern.

In my opinion light yet durable. I've watches as others played it quite vigorously and was pleasantly surprised after inspecting it at its ruggedness.

None used.

This is my first guitar. I have however tried many guitars and found this one among the best in its price range.

You can read all about the features from the Larrivee website.

I think I may have found a new friend. I believe there's a certain sweetness that you can only find in an orchestra model guitar. The way the top end is bright and ringing. For me, nothing else compares. Sure I love the dread's and jumbo's but for my style this type of guitar is the best.
When I decided that I wanted an acoustic I knew it was going to be a Larrivee. Although I have never owned one before, it had all of the features I was looking for. Simple cosmetics, great tone, and a fair price. I played many (about 20) Taylors a few Martin's and others but this Larrivee was the one guitar that I just couldn't put down. The tone and simplicity speaks to me. I love Taylor's and Martin's and all the other great guitar makers out there. But I must say that this Larrivee kills the 300-400 series Taylors IMHO. It is very hard to put this guitar down. Very fun to play. I have not had a relationship with a guitar quite like this. It's what everyone wants.
Chords just ring out forever. This guitar is best for fingerstyle but it sounds great with a pick also. The bass is ample but it's not a dreadnaught. Think James Taylor or Clapton acoustic stuff and you have the general idea. Like others have said, it's very well balanced. This must be commonplace for all Larrivee guitars because that's usually the first comment from people who have heard or owned them.
I would say it's a bit on the bright side but it is a mahogany body. It's very versatile. You can go from Clapton acoustic to James Taylor to fingerstyle Jazz and most everything else. It's not a dreadnaught so probably not suitable for bluegrass.
Like all great guitar makers, Larrivee has it's signature qualities and if you like that then you'll feel right at home with this guitar.
Tone is very subjective and hard to describe but when you hear it you know. When I heard this one I dismissed many guitars, some costing twice the price. I will never ever buy another acoustic guitar without playing some more Larrivee's first.

The action is a little high, just slightly and I can totally deal with it for now. But this guitar will be going to a local luthier soon to be setup for me and also to have a strap button put on.
It's a light guitar although I have no idea what it weighs
The mahogany is quite striking on this guitar and may look a bit different than other mahogany guitars. It may be the finish.
I love the way this guitar looks...so simple and yet sometimes I find myself just looking at it for minutes at a time. There's a sort of refined quality about it. Like it doesn't need any fancy inlays although Larrivee can do that quite well also. I wish that more high end guitars were made without so many bells.

The frets look good, the wood is quite nice. There just aren't any flaws to speak of... and that's rare for a guitar in this price range.

Of course, there are no onboard preamps and pickups. I think the Fishman style stuff is great but I don't prefer to have it on my guitar.

I won't comment on this too much to be fair but it does have a lifetime warranty that covers manufacturing defects. If you take care of an acoustic guitar it will take care of you.

By the way, I love the satin finish. It's the first guitar I've ever owned that had satin and I really like it. The tuners feel solid.

Lifetime warranty. That's all I need.

If you are a player wanting a great acoustic for around a grand you would be crazy not to at least conider Larrivee. I know because I 've played them all in this range. Nothing else compares IMHO. This guitar is priced well under a grand and you get a hell of alot of guitar for the money. If one thing were changed about my guitar I would not like it as much. I think it's one of the best looking guitars I've ever seen. I'm not much into mother of peal or shell inlays. It's certainly not the best out there...but it's a solid value and I think that they could probably charge more if they wanted.
I've been playing For 12 years and mostly electric guitar. This acoustic is totally liberating for me. It's all up to me and my hands. That's a great feeling. Every now and then it's good to go back to the basics and just play naturally. This Larrivee is a great guitar. I honestly don't think you will find a better guitar for the price.
I will base my review on the good old price to performance ratio. With this in mind, nothing deserves a 10 more than Larrivee.

My OM-03 has a beautifully striped Mahogany back and a highly figured bearclaw spruce top. In the satin finish these woods are accentuated very tastefully IMO. The neck is the most comfortable one I've played on an acoustic. At first I thought the flatter, wider string spacing would be a stretch for someone with smaller hands but this proved not to be the case. What I like best about this guitar is the Ebony fret board.

This is the catagory that sold me on this guitar. I've owned a bunch of different acoustics over the years. Guilds, Tac's, Ibanez, Ovation, etc., but the Larrivee is the only guitar I've played that rings and chimes all up and down the fret board, other than high end hand made guitars. It has plenty enough bass to satisfy the ardent dreadnaught fan, and is equally at home being picked or strummed. I found this true with all the Larrivee's I've played. Marvelously consistant.

I don't see how these Larrivee's could be made better. Mine was as perfect as one could expect in this catagory.

Larrivee's are first rate. No worries here.

Larrivee has a very good web site. Although I have not had a reason to contact them I have heard from others that they are excellent in customer relations.

I've been at it since 1980. I've owned a lot of expensive gear in that time. This is easily the finest instrument I've ever owned and the best or as good as sounding acoustic I've heard to date. Rosewood bodies have wonderfully dark tones with tighter bass but the Mahogany body has that reedy woody tone one remembers from Martins of yore. I like the gussied up Gibsons as much as the next guy but they sure don't make me play any better. With any luck this OM-03 is going to be a life long companion of mine. I can't say that about any other acoustic I've owned in the past.

All Solid wood construction - Spruce Top, Mahogany back and sides (as well as the neck). The Mahogany used isn't real pretty - but perfectly functional and a good tone wood. Since I was shopping for an inexpensive all solid wood steel string acoustic for under 500 bones, I'm not going to use the same rating scale as I would against an upper end (2k or more). My ratings are based on bang for the buck.

I bought this guitar as an alternate to my Webber steel string. The Webber is real pretty and is made of the same woods (except higher grade). In some regards, this little Larivee sounds more loose and natural than my $2,500 hand made guitar. It has punch, good volume, and a very "woody" tone. Right up my ally. Again, great bang for the buck.

Frets are nicely rounded with smooth edges (try finding that in a new Gibson at any price...). The neck needed a slight truss rod adjustment - no biggy. All seems were tight and nicely finished. I like satin finishes. And unlike some of you, find satin more durable than gloss. (I just had a mic stand fall onto my Webber and crack the high-gloss finish. Gloss finishes stick to the wood (of course) and it caused a big sliver of wood to lift up. Not good). Anyway, satin works for me.

I've had this guitar for over a year and I beat the crap out of it(that's why I bought THIS one)... It's fine and still one of my most favorite to pick up.

Don't know. Never needed it.

It's a great acoustic guitar. If you don't need abalone inlay's and body binding (cosmetic stuff) but want good tone and a nice feeling acoustic - this could be your ticket. OH, BTW - no electronics on this one. But I do not like onboard electronics (I've owned Takamine's and Taylors with em). If I need to go direct, I install a Highlander IP-1 and run it through an LR Baggs DI.

I've played guitar for about 28 years. I've play professionally on weekends in a blues/jazz trio for the last 4 years (in addition to working a day job). If I still taught - I'd definitely recommend this guitar to students looking for something in this market.

Larrivee OM03 2003 ? Bought brand new 5/2003
The other reviews have covered all the specs this one was without electronics and was left handed

The guitar is 1 week old when I got it the Low E was very dead compared to the other bass strings. Pushed down the saddle which helped 20% and played it hard for a few days it improved.
It is a decent sounding guitar. Nice balanced sound not brilliant in any way just good. Nice overtones, good sustain. Bass is ok pleasing. Tone is not bright or harsh good strong sound flat picked nice warm sound finger style a good overall guitar for either style. There is a good amount of tone variation available from different playing techniques this is a nice point. See me overall reaction because I believe Larrivee is somewhat over rated.

The set up is low, plays easily, probably set too low though and tone might suffer. Was surprised it was so low from the factory. The neck plays well this is the main thing it's nice to play even if it does not knock you out sound wise. Woods are meduim quality not very well matched. Top has alot of grain variation from tight to pretty wide. One thing they do have good to better than good workmanship. The look is pretty impressive overall on the workmanship but this is somewhat deceiving. read my overall notes. It looks like it should sound better.

Looks well made not way to tell how it will hold up. Finish looks good neck seems solid, binding looks very well done/ Button solid, tuners everything looks very nice

I emailed them got no reply. I am inclined to think they are mainly a factory that wants to advertise themselves as a higher end more hand made guitar shop but I think this is a marketing ploy.

Playing many years. I have a Lowden and a Girard Audirac handmade classical both these are top quality. The Larrivee is obvioulsy a factory machine made guitar not a hand made instrument. It's strong point is playability. IF your looking to get a playable guitar that sounds good this is a good choice HOWEVER I think the guitar is over priced. I have a Garrison G-20 that cost $300 less than half the Larrivee and it sounds much better relative to price but does not play as well. The Garrison is good sounding not as much character as the OM03 but the OM03 is more than twice the money. Again if your lookng for a dream guitar my advice is to get a cheaper guitar like a Garrison (maybe Crafter?) that plays well enough and sounds ok and then SAVE your money to buy a REAL guitar like a Petros or Lowden alot of others in the $3,000 and up range. Really I hope this helps anyone who might fall for the hype and think the OM03 is a high end dream. LOOKS like it might be much better than it is but this is the trap. Larrivee is careful in workmanship but the proof is in the sound just not there beyond good in this OM03.

The Larrivee OM-03e is made in Canada. Solid wood top and mohogony back and side. Built in Fishman prefix pickup and pre-amp system.
A satin finish. Kind of a plain looking guitar with white binding.

Has a big guitar sound. Strong bass and clear highs unamplified.
Sounds great amplified also. I think this guitar is great for strumming or fingerstyle playing.

Fit and finish are very good. Wood looks like good quality.
Don't know if the store set it up or if it came from the factory that way, but it was setup fine for finger style playing.

The only minor problem I had was with the Fishman pre-amp.
Where the pickup wires come into the pickup there is a little rf shield made from metal and held down with two screws. The bottom side of one piece of that shield was barely touching the circuit board causing all kinds of racket. I adjusted that piece and reinstalled and it works fine now.

This guitar does not seem fragile in any way.
Has a guitar strap hook where the electronics jack is, but no strap hook on the other end. I will use the planet wave quick disconnect that goes around the peg head, since I don't like the neck heep strap position anyway. Should hold up well for live playing.

Have not dealt with the Company or reseller as far as service goes, but I do most of my own work anyway.

Been playing many years and have several acoustic and electric guitars. This guitar is a great all around guitar for the money.

I would buy another one.
I like the size and the pure acoustic volume this guitar produces.