Larrivee OM-09

2008 OM-09 Beautiful solid spruce top, solid EIR sides and back, flame maple binding, ebony fretboard, bridge and headstock overlay. Typical OM body style with all gloss finish. Came with nice hardshell case, and polish cloth, pics etc

I play all types of music and this OM fits my styles. When I first got the OM-09 it sounded a little tight, but after playing it for several months, it started to open up and sound better. Overall, the sound is somewhere in between a Taylor and a Martin. It doesn't have the high end shimmer of the Taylor nor does it have the deep bass of a Martin, but it sounds nice.

Its a fairly loud guitar for its size.

The OM-09 was made with detail. The action was set a little low when I got it, but after a few tweeks on the neck it sounded better. Mine came with a bone nut and saddle which was nice. The top was beautiful with a nice tight wood grain. The EIR was dark and beautiful too.

My only dislike was the way the neck was shaped. This was my second Larrivee and I had a hard time getting used to the flat neck shape, but I loved the jumbo frets. It was a little heavy...kind of like a Guild. Overall, it was greatly constructed

I would have no trouble using this as my live guitar. It sounded great and was very well constructed. The tuners were Schallers and kept the guitar in perfect tune.

Any time I contacted Larrivee, they were great to talk to on the phone and their service was top-notch. The OM-09 had a limited lifetime warranty

I have been playing since the 60's and have or had every type of major guitar brand at one time or another. I recently sold the OM-09 since it was similiar in to my Taylor, but the Taylor sounded better. Its not to say that the OM-09 sounded bad, it was a great sounding guitar.
At this time in my life I just narrowed my collection down to a few acoustics, so the Larrivee was sold

Overall for the money, you can't beat a Larrivee. I think that they are great constructed and sounding guitars.

Solid spruce top and Indian rosewood back and sides. A beautiful OM sized guitar. Perfect neck dimensions. Understated but very classy look.

Chimes like a bell. Loads of sustain. Great for everything from dirty blues to classical and baroque piece.

Perfect set up right out of the box. Flawless in every way.

A working musician's guitar.

No idea.

Over 20 years. This was my first guitar until I got my mitts on a Larrivee BT-60, which is a baritone (same wood spec's). Now my OM-09 is my second guitar but is still one of the best guitars I've ever seen or played.

2004 California made OM-09 with solid Sitka top, Rosewood back and sides and exceptional value. Nothing real fancy with most Larrivees although some folks like understated elegance.Standard Larrivee hardcase included with this used guitar.For the money the features are highly regarded by most acoustic players.

I am actually only a flatpicker. Unusual to see fltpickers with OM models however this guitar is most versatile. I use this with LR Baggs M-1, Ultrasound Pro 200 amp and EV powered speakers and subs for larger venues. The sound is extremely balanced and fairly focussed compared to L and D models by Larrivee. Larrivees rarely sound bad. Ive only heard two bad ones in my life. Im pretty sure that was poor care rather then poor build. I flatpick and include alot of pick noise and percussion when I play. This OM is pretty decent which is surprising. It is also fairly loud, especially for an OM.

Larrivee seems to be top notch for action, fit and finish.

Excellent. Larrivees are very reliable. Alot less temperamental then my Taylors were. That is one of the reasons I switched brands for good.

Dont know. I own 6 Larrivees and four were bought brand new. Never had any issues come up.

Ive played for 25 years. I currently own 6 Larrivees. Over the past years Ive tried numerous brands. Most were more expensive however I can confidently say that Larrivees are the best bang for the buck.Larrivees are better priced then Taylor, Martin, Gibson, Santa Cruz, Breedlove, Froggy Bottom and Collings. Ive owned all of these brands and Larrivees sound as good or very close to. The Taylors are too shimmery. The Gibsons and Martins are way too inconsistant and pricey. The Froggy and Collings are just so expensive. The Santa Cruz seemed to dry and colorless. I love Larrivees tone. I also firmly believe that Larrivees are way underpriced. Lucky for us Larrivee fans!

This has been addressed already, but i'd like to add one thing. this is my only critisism....the truss rod is accessable thru the sound hole using a tool they supply. It's a real pain trying to find the hole and the requirment of a special tool is also not preferable. But that said, it rarely needs adjusting and it's kind of nice not having a truss rod cover on the head. Makes it look clean and classy. so it's a bit of a pain, but in the overall scheme of things no biggie. Just though it's worth mentioning tho.

This may also be a good place however to mention i got a great deal, as the retail on it at the time i bought it was at 2k. so we're talking 1/2 off.

I've owned this going on 6 years now, so this is not one of those notorious honeymoon reviews. When i first got it the tone was very very nice. Couldn't find an equal in the store other than a few very high end pieces. They came at that time (don't know if they still do) with nut and saddle made from TUSQ, a man made ivory sound-alike according the the manufacturer. i attribute a lot of the guitar's snap and richness to the TUSQ. i tried bone but found the guitar rather dull sounding.

But once it began to open up in a few years i tried bone again and yow!!! Now it sounds fantastic with bone ! i tried it because i was beginning to feel the guitar was sounding somewhat brittle and artificial. with the bone it now sounds beutifully full rich and real.

I mention this because i think that larrivee may have (is?) been using TUSQ because it brightens up a new guitar which when new hasn't yet dried out enough and tends to sound rather dull.This way thier guitars will sound more lively when in the showroom. But once the guitar opens up, stick some bone in it and it just sounds awesome.

Anyway, at this point in time the OM has just blossomed so nicely that i would be hard pressed to find fault with it. It's w/o the slightest doubt the only acoustic i've had that sounds so flawless. It may have a small body, but the low end is very deep and i couldn't imagine anyone wanting more low end. But it's balanced and the lows don't cover up the mids or highs. String defination is perfection. And after 5-6 years it's held together 100%. Not the slightes finish crack and the neck is still straight as an arrow.

there just is nothing to complain about ! For me it's perfection. So for you it's just a matter of whther or not you like it's perticular voice. if you do you've found the perfect acoustic ! However, i'd strongly suggest finding a used one for a few reasons. one, because you won't have to wait for it to open up, and when it does it's twice as nice. Two, because as we all know no matter how well made and how good the materials, wood can change as it ages especially in the first few years. So buying used you'll see the guitar in it's final sonic and structual state. in other words, if the wood is going to change and cause problems such as crack it'll likely have done so already. And you'll be able to hear it as it will always be. Three, i don't know if larrivee is still as meticulous in thier construction, materials, and QC as they were when i bought mine. Not that i'm saying they aren't. But as you know when a company hasn't yet earned a rep they tend to go all out in thier quest for perection to earn a rep. When i bought mine they weren't quite there yet. Now they are and hopefully they aren't resting on thier laurels, but you never know. And finally, you can install a bone nut and sadddle to greatly enhance it's tone and make it sound more natural. (as i said doing that when new yields a dull tone because of the yet un-aged wood)

of course my findings on the age and bone are mine, and you may find different depending on your ear and the perticular OM you got. they do of course vary being wood. And i tried other models by the way. But i felt as do a few others i've talked to that the OM is one of if not thier best model. I tried a few others that were less than spectacular.

As with all guitars i've ever had, the action requires work if you want the best action possible for your personal preference. I lowered the nut slots, tho they didn't need much. Pretty close from the factory. I also adjusted the saddle and neck to my idea of perfection. As stock they're set up about as good as can be expected considering the different preferences we all have. Of course they can't set them up to meet everyone's requirments. maybe the nut could have been better for most any preference, but it was close, and better than the vast majority.

the finish was flawless, tho i have seen at least one that wasn't. but that seems rare.

Close to 6 years and it's still perfect. Not much else to say

Great ! I asked where i could get another saddle (before i went to bone) after filing mine a bit too low and they simply sent me one free along with a larrivee T-shirt. later i lost my truss rod tool and they sent me one free. great people !

I've been at it about 3 decades and have owned a number of martins, gibsons, and other nice acoustics. Easily my favorite...EASILY. If you like the voice this guitar has, you likly won't find a better version of it without paying 2-4 times the price. I haven't heard better, i'm just assuming there is considering how high some of the boutique stuff is.

As it stands right now with a few years of aging and the bone nut and sadlle, it wipes the floor with everything i've owned with ease. There may be better, but when something sounds this good you stop looking for better. And isn't that what we're all after? This is the longest i've ever owned an acoustic, and i have literally NEVER had one i didn't consider selling within the first year or so. This one goes to the grave with me w/o a shadow of a doubt.

Larrivee OM-09. Typical OM features...ie. 000 with 25.4" scale, and 1.75" width neck at nut. Rosewood back & sides, spruce top. Very cool transparent pickguard. Made in Canada. Ping tuners. Fitted with a Baggs i-beam active pickup which the previous owner added. A pretty guitar.

I bought this as a backup/playing out guitar. My main guitar being a Martin 1934 000-18 longscale, which is an incredible instrument but I'm not gigging it (for obvious reasons!)..The Larrivee has clear bright trebles, a nice tight,solid, defined bass. Incredible balance when played fingerstyle or flat picked. Records like a dream. It's not quite as good as a vintage Martin, but it's not that far off!! (and a tenth of the price!!). The i-beam sounds pretty good but very bassy, low middy, which you need to roll off drastically...it then sounds nice (better than a quacky undersaddle pickup)..although I may change to KK pure western pickup at some point as I need something that's simple to plugin and play (I don't like having to worry about a using an external pre-amp or giving the sound engineer instructions on a gig) ..I've just ordered a walrus fossil ivory saddle to replace the tusq one.

Very nicely made. No flaws I can spot. Low action which buzzes a bit on the low E, so I'm going to take it up a tad, when installing the new saddle.

Seems very durable, I'd be very suprised if I have any problems with it.

I did email Larrivee for advice on getting a new saddle but they didn't reply...so, not so great really.

I bought this guitar off ebay for $1000. By the time i'd paid postage & import duty I'd paid #750 (UK sterling)...which is just INCREDIBLE value for money. This is a great guitar. It doesn't have the broad tonal pallette of a vintage Martin...i.e the timbre doesn't vary as much between different dynamic levels..netherthe less, the sound it creates is extremely lovely, much nicer than the Taylor 312ce, my friend has. Seems to work very well with D'addario bronze 12's...as other reviewers have noted.
If you're looking for a recording guitar for around $1000 this could very well be the best choice. One thing to note is that mine is a Canadian one, a few years old. I tried a US one recently and it was no way near as good...perhaps it just needed playing in? Even so, I recommend comparing a Canadian with a US one when looking to buy.

This is just another (2nd) update another 2-1/2 years later. My initial review was almost 5 years ago. I thought it would be goog to update my feelings about the guitar every couple years or so because this is the real test........how long you keep it !

Still love it, in fact even moreso. I can't stress how important it is to use the right strings on this guitar because it varies probably more than most acoustics i've owned accoring to the string brand and type you use. So whatever you do, experiment with many strings till you find what works for you. Also, while the tusq saddle sounds good, a good piece of bone shaped right will sound better. I prefered tusq, but once i got the bottom of the bone saddle i had tried before dead flat, the tone of this saddle changed for the better in a big way. Thats the key, and the reason i believe some prefer tusq as i did. Make sure you get a good quality blank thats as hard and dense as bone gets, then make absolutly sure the bottom is sanded as flat as possible. A thousanth of an inch off can leave it sounding bad compared to tusq. Once you get it right it will sound more naturally tonefull than tusq. And if you A/B them a few times you will begin to hear a sort of sythetic quality to the tone of the tusq saddle compared to bone.
I find phosphor bronze strings also sound best with bone. I was using 80/20, but this combo works great. Funny, but after 5 years i'm just realizing what works best in this guitar and now like considerably more than i did when i 1st reviewed it, and thats saying something !

Anyway, i have no intention of selling it even after almost 5 years.

Nothing to say here other than perfect.Not a single flaw

5 years, not a single problem. But one thing that has happened is that the top has turned a beautiful amber !!! Now thats the kind of change i like !

Phenominal. In fact, they've sent me a free saddle and a t-shirt before. Then recently while asking a question about bridge pins, Matthew Larrivee offered to send me some free. These guys care, period. I really believe they think of the guitars they've sold like children who've left the nest......they still care about them.

Playing about 32-33 years. Owned mostly martins and gibsons.I know it's hard to take the HC reviews seriously sometimes because most people give everything a 10 across the board or at least close. So you can look at my review as just another one of these if you want. But consider the fact that i've owned it 5 years, have posted here 3 times now, and like it more today than i did when i got it. A lot of these reviews are written by those who just aquired the gear in question and are still reeling from the honeymoon effect. My honeymoon is long over and i'm still in love...more than ever !

I think there should be a box where you type in the time you've owned the gear when reviewing here. This way you'd be able to get the real reviews by bypassing anything that shows the gear has only been owned for a few weeks or months.

Take it from a 5 year owner of the OM-9....while TYPE of tone may vary from one person's preference to the next, the QUALITY of the tone cannot be disputed by those with an ear and common sense enough to know when something is just good whether or not it's within thier preference or not. And to those with both you won't find anyone who disputes this guitar's worth. It's as flawless a tone as tone can be, whether or not it's YOUR type of tone. Point being, all the qualities of great tone that are generally considered to be good such as string seperation, sustain, harmonic complexity, dynamics and the ability to hit it hard w/o distortion.........it's all there in spades. The only question that remains is like the proverbial gibson verses fender question. Which type of tone do YOU like?

2002 model made in California at Larrivee's new plant. Rosewood, spruce, ebony combo is awesome. Pearl headstock Larrivee inlay, with sterling silver edge. Abalone rosette. Fancy enough to be real pretty, but not gaudy. Beautiful - with an eye-catching maple body binding. And I got it discounted during slow part of year in Maine for just $1,095. Perhaps best deal I ever got in anything.

In my amateur status, I judge sound by how the minor and seventh chords sound. They really have that edge you'll love on this small-bodied miracle.

Action easy, wood beautiful and finished to perfection. Top bookmatched beautifully.

I've only owned it a short time. But early indicators make it look like a keeper.

I haven't had to deal with them but they have a great website and I liked the package that came with the guitar.

I've been playing off and on for 30 years, very seriously the last couple of years. I've searched for that perfect match for me. Decided it had to be small-bodied, rosewood, spruce, ebony. This fit the bill in a fine way.

This is a follow up to a review i did a couple years ago, tho not in this section. Seems there are 2 sections for this model because some have listed it as 0M-09, and some as OM-9. I guess i figured i'd try this section for a change. *S*

To the webmaster.........you should combine the 2 sections into one. the actual model is "OM-09", not "OM-9". (tho i made the mistake of posting in the section with the wrong model # last time ! *S*)

anyway, i've had tha guitar now for about 2 and 1/2 years, or close to it.

I decided to do a followup on my original review because this is the 1st guitar in 30 years of playing that i actually love a lot more now than when i 1st got it. And most reviews including my original one are done by people who recently aquired the guitar. So i thought a followup from someone who has had time to thuroughly get to know the guitar is the best review to read. I am as familiar as can possibly be with it by now...........i know it like a book.

I still feel the axe is fabulous, and even more i now believe it to be about as close to perfect as i'll ever find, and therefore cannot see any reason not to take it to the grave with me. The sound is phenominal for fingerpicking, which is my priority. But for strumming it's also great. Fingerpicking-wise, i've never come across any other guitar that lets me play w/o fingerpicks and be able to get plenty of volume and tone. It's the only one i've owned that does that.
And when you find those that can or are close, they don't strum worth a damn because they are too delicate.

For recording, you may as well forget everything else!! it's 100% perfect!!! I could not possibly ask for more, and that coming from someone who has NEVER owned a piece of gear of any kind that kept me happy for more than a few months. Most are sold within a year or 2.

I tried many high end pieces since while visiting guitar shops just for the hell of it, and i rarely pick up anything that sounds as good to me. And when i do, the price is always 2 times as much or more.

Get one, period.

Being a guitar tech, i've tweaked it by doing a fret dress to lower the height, sanded the saddle to the perfect height and radius, filed the nut slots, generally tweaked it for as low an action as possible. So i can't say how they play stock, as it's been a long time since i got it. But when set up perfectly, you can't possibly ask for a better playing acoustic, at least to my tastes. The neck thin from front to back with a wide fingerboard which is great for fingerpicking. The only thing i didn't like was the small position markers, so i removed them and put in standard sized dots, tho of course thats only cosmetic and a matter of taste. Interestinly, the markers i took out were metal, sort of like nails. Not easy to remove !!! Don't try that unless you know what you're doing. But i like it a lot better with the large markers.

Mine was flawless in construction, tho i've seen a couple that has some finish flaws. this was a long time ago, and they may have been seconds. I gave it a 10 because thats how mine was, but check it out carefully before you buy.

2 1/2 years and not a finish crack or anything, but then thats only a fraction of a guitars life. But this thing is well made to say the least.

They have responded to my emails and even sent me a few free things. I asked about replacing the saddle with a higher one because i couldn't find a tusq saddle in town, and they sent me one free along with a T-shirt. I think that desevres a 10 !

On last thing i'd like to share.....i always loved pierce strings, and it's all i used after trying everything imaginable. That is untill i got the larivee. After a lot of experimentation and having owned the guitar for a good while, long enough to be sure, i found that the string that sounds best on this axe is probably the most common string.......D'addarios bronze. NOT the phosphor, but the 80/20 bronze. Funny thing is, thats a string i always hated till now. I stayed away from them like the plague till now. But one day i bought a pack when i needed strings badly and they were out of pierce and had a basket of D'adarrios on the counter for 3 bucks and change. So i just figured a new set of any string has got to be better than the totally dead pierce on my guitar that day. Normally even then i wouldn't touch them, but for some reason i did. I haven't used anything since !!! I always thought people who swore by those strings must be tone deaf. But it just goes to show you that different guitars react VERY differently with different strings. I always knew that, but never imagined any guitar would sound best with the string that till now was my least liked string.

I have a theory on why this is..........untill recently, larrivee strung thier guitars with D'addarios. So i think the reason the D'addarios sound so good with the larrivee is that this is the string that they had on thier guitars as they did thier R&D. As they made changes over the years to the way they build, they did so with that string. So you could say the guitars were built around that string. Thats just gotta be it because i have never owned a single acoustic that sounded anywhere near thier potential with D'addarios, and most sounded crappy with them. So if you get an OM-09, i strongly recomend trying them. Even if you don't like them at first, go back to them at a later date because often your ear has to learn a guitar's sound and it can take a long time to really know when the sound you're getting is at it's max potential.

As the only music gear i've ever purchased that i'll keep till i pass, i couldn't recommend it more. Tastes vary, so keep that in mind. But if your ear is anything like mine, this is the purchase of a lifetime and worth 3 times the cost as far as i'm concerned.(in fact i've played a few that DID cost as much as 3 times the cost that were no better or not as good)

Made in Canada in 1999,this is a all solid wood guitar [solid spruce top and solid rosewood back and sides].
The ebony fingerboard is a bit wider than on the d series dreadnoughts that a friend of mine has .Although the D series Larrivee's are great guitars too, I personally prefer the wider fingerboard of the OM series, I can play cleaner, without my left hand fingers bumping in to each other.
I talked to Larrivee tech support and they said the d series is designed for strumming and flat picking .
But the OM is a little more versatile and is great for strumming ,flat picking and finger picking

Great sound ,very nice tone ,well balanced ,also records very well with a decent large diafram condenser mic.

Acion is great finish is great .

If always taken care of it so don't know how it would stand up to abuse , hardware and wood is very good grade with tight grain

Although I have been playing for 30 years , I have just recently had a chance to play and try out or own some solid wood acoustics,and have learned that they are not all equal .
The best sounding acoustics that I have heard at any price and Ive compare vintage and new gibsons,guilds, martins ,seagulls, Tacoma's.
And my Larrivee 0M-09 blows them all away.
I just bought a new Tacoma jumbo with cutawy and electronics for $1600 a few months before I bough the Larrivee.
And to be honest even though the Tacoma is a Beautiful guitar, it sounds dead and boxy compared to the lively sound of the Larrivee.

ORHESTRA MODEL GUITAR, SOLID SITKA SPRUCE TOP, SOLID ROSEWOOD BACK AND SIDES, 1997 MODEL MADE IN CANADA, EBONY BRIDGE AND FINGERBOARD, 1 3/4 NECK AT NUT, BEAUTIFUL GLOSS FINISH, MINE BEING A 97 MODEL HAS ROSEWOOD VENEER HEADSTOCK INSTEAD OF EBONY AND ROSEWOOD BINDING INSTEAD OF MAPLE, SUPER SUBTLE BEAUTY, HAS LARRIVEE(GOTOH) TUNERS,NON CUTAWAY, WITH DELUXE ARCHTOP LARRIVEE CASE. RATE THIS 9 BECAUSE IT DOESNT HAVE A LOT OF GAUDY LOOKING INLAYS THAT SOME WOULD LIKE, BUT I WOULDNT BUY ONE WITH THAT KINDA DRESSING, THIS GUITAR DOESNT NEED THAT TO BE A BEAUTY.

THIS SUITS ME GREAT, I PLAY CHRISTIAN AND PRAISE AND WORSHIP MUSIC, IVE BEEN TOLD THIS IS A FINGERSTYLE GUITAR,WHICH SOUNDS GREAT BUT I HAVE STRUMMED AND PICKED THIS GUITAR HARD AND IN MY HUMBLE OPINION THIS GUITAR CAN SUIT ANY PLAYING STYLE, SO MUCH MORE BALANCED AND CLEAR THAN DREADNAUGHTS, I'M IN PROCESS OF INSTALLING THE NEW BAGGS ACTIVE I BEAM PICKUP, ITS SUPPOSE TO HAVE A NATURAL SOUND AND MAN IF YOU COULD GET THE NATURAL SOUND OF THIS GUITAR PLUGGED IN I'D BE A HAPPY BOY, MY LARRIVEE LV04 HAS THE DUAL SOURCE BAGGS SYSTEM IN IT AND IF THE IBEAM DOENT WORK OUT THATS WHAT WILL BE INSTALLED IN THE OM

I BOUGHT THIS USED, FROM A VERY REPUTABLE DEALER IN WICHITA AND THE TOLD ME THE ACTION WAS LOW, BUT I PUT NEW ELIXERS ON IT AND FOUND THE BRIDGE HAD BEEN SHIMMED UP, DONT KNOW IF THEY DID THIS AFTER THEY TOLD ME IT WAS LOW OR WHAT, BUT I TOOK THE SHIMS OUT AND STRING SET UP WAS PERFECT FOR ME, IT IS LOW BUT THERE IS NO BUZZ OR FADING OUT WHEN STRUMMED OR PICKED HARD, AS FAR AS THE WOOD, FINISH AND FIT, I DONT SEE HOW IT COULD BE ANY BETTER, THE FRETS ARE A LITTLE SHARPER FEELING ON THE EDGE THAN MY LV04 LIKE SOME OTHER REVIEWS HAVE STATED BUT I HARDLY NOTICE IT ALL. SO EASY TO PLAY

THIS IS A 97 AND IT COULDNT LOOK ANY BETTER, WE'LL SEE HOW WELL IT STANDS UP IN PRAISE AND WORSHIP SERVICES AFTER I GET THE PICKUP INSTALLED, BUT MY LV04 IS TOUGH AS A BOOT, I HAVE NO FEAR THAT THIS WONT ALSO BE, EVEN THOUGH IM SURE I'LL PROTECT THIS ONE A LITTLE BETTER CAUSE ITS JUST SO MUCH MORE OF AN INTIMATE GUITAR TO ME.

I'VE TALKED TO THESE GUYS A FEW TIME BUT MAINLY TO PRAISE AND THANK THEM FOR THEIR GUITARS, I HAVENT HAD TO GET ANYTHING REPAIRED, THEY ALWAYS EMAIL ME BACK WITH A RESPONSE.

IVE BEEN PLAYING FOR 30 PLUS YEARS, (NOT WELL BUT PLAYING) I LOVE ACOUSTIC GUITARS, I CURRENTLY OWN ANOTHER LARRIVEE LV04 W/ BAGGS ELECTRONIC (BY THE WAY ITS A GREAT GUITAR ALSO) IVE OWNED MARTINS, AND TAYLORS, IN FACT I REPLACED A NEW TAYLOR WITH THIS USED OM LARRIVEE, I ALWAYS COMPARE GUITARS AND SO FAR THIS WAS IS GREAT, I HATE NOTHING ABOUT THIS, I GUESS I LOVE THE SOUND MOST, AND MY FAVORITE FEATURE IS PROBABLY THE ROSEWOOD BACKS AND SIDES AND THE PLAYABILITY. I COMPARED THIS ONE TO TAYLOR, AND MARTIN, I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO PLAYED THE OM OR JOM BOURGEOIS BUT YOU CANT FIND THEM HERE IN OKLA. BUT I CANT SEE HOW ANY COULD OVERSHADOW THIS ONE TOO MUCH.

Before buying my Larrivee Om-9 I had searched for months trying out
every guitar imaginable in the Albany, New York area. There were only
two guitars that really made a great impression with me. One was a Taylor Anniversary Edition for $2,400. and the Larrivee Om-9 that I purchased for $1,300. Both were fantastic sounding and playing guitars. I play various styles of music and I was looking for an all around guitar. The Larrivee fit the bill. It was in my price range and for fingerstyle playing or flatpick style playing, it is impressive. I cannot tell you how many great comments I've have received while playing the Om-9. Even my wife, who swears she cannot
tell the sound difference from one guitar to another, has raved about
this one. I installed a L.R. Baggs dual source pickup system in the guitar which sounds so natural. This Larrivee Om-9 is the six string
acoustic that I depend on.

The sound of the Om-9 is superb for fingerstyle playing. You naturally gravitate toward a James Taylor sort of sound.

The only small complaint on the entire guitar, is that the frets could have been smoothed off better on the sides of the guitar neck.
Everything else is seamless.

I have had no problems with the guitar. It is a beauty even without the fancy Larrivee inlays. Did I mention how light this guitar is?

I have no idea. I have not had to use this.

I would recommend this guitar to anyone who is serious about wanting a great guitar.

Made in Canada this is like the OM style Martins.. Solid wood construction.. Spruce Top, Rosewood back and sides. Ebeny fret board and bridge.. Nice glossy finish! Other than that, this is a players guitar not fancy inlays or etc... If you want more inlays upgrade to the om-10.. I personally like the looks of this guitar the way it is!!

This guitar is brighter, rounder, more balanced than my Taylor 514 CE and my Martin 000-28.. The Larrivee is the perfect recording guitar, very very balanced tone!! My music style is blues, jazz, and rock.. This Larrivee suites my style of playing some what hard. I tend to really thump my thumb while plucking with my index, and middle fingers. This Larrivee responds to anything I give it, even with lower action!! My Taylor tends to peter out when played hard??

Factory setup was perfect!! No flaws, no glue! Just a ready to play guitar!! The wood is beautiful!!

This guitar is really really light, does that mean it will break easy?? I've had this guitar for about 3 mos, I guess we'll see!!

Before I bought, I did send an e-mail containing 3 question to Larrivee.. They respoded with in 48 hours.. I did ask 3 questions and only recieved one answer, did they read the other 2?? They were very simple questions too??

This is a great playng and sounding guitar!! To get anything compairable you would have to pay $$ thousands $$ more for a Martin.. Taylor dosn't even compair!! I guess I really like the tone, balance, responce and feel of the Larrivee.. I personally think that Taylors and Ovation are simply about playability only.. Martins are to much $$$$$$$$$$$

I have owned this guitar for 4 months now and it is just an amazing peice of art. I highly recommend it to any musician seriously considering a new purchase. The quality, craftsmanship and price point are un beatable. And brian in customer service is commited to customer satisfaction and customer retention. I just bought my second Larrivee today. A J09E model. Amazing!

Once again, Brian in customer service is truly commited to customer satisfaction and retention.

I've been strumming for 15 years. That's half my life. I also own a Martin HD28, A Taylor 910, and a Gibson Hummingbird. My Larrivee OM-09 and J09E smokes the competion in overall value and bang for the buck!

This is Larrivee's version of the famous Martin OM design-basically a 25.4" version of the 000 size. I think it is the most perfect design ever developed for a steel string flattop. It is loud, punchy, extremely well balanced and versatile for a variety of playing styles including fingerpicking and flatpicking. The Larrivee OM-9 is a solid wood guitar throughout - spruce on top and beautiful Indian rosewood on back and sides. The neck is mahogany (mine has an interesting dark natural stain in the headstock) and ebony for the fretboard and bridge. The binding on the body is rosewood and ivroid is used for the neck. The company logo is inlaid in pearl on the headstock and silver wire boarders the heardstock very tastefully. The soundhole rosette is very colorful abalone. Tuners are Gotah and there are no strapbuttons installed on the guitar. Larrivee says it's easier to install buttons than to take them off. Frets are high, hard, and thin, giving it a vintage feel. The nut and saddle are Tusq, a synthetic ivory substitute which works real well.

I bought the guitar sound unheard because I got such a great deal on it and I was going to use it for a backup. After putting new Elixirs on it and setting up the action, I've decided that I like this guitar better than my Taylor and it compares favorably to the best guitars I have ever played, and I have owned or played them all. It's got an absolutely killer tone for both flatpicking and fingerpicking - it's so loud, clear, lively, beautiful and balanced. I have owned one Larrivee L model, one C model, two D's, and a 12 fret 00 and this one beats them all - the perfect Larrivee guitar. I think everything Larrivee does comes together on this guitar. So many players think that dreadnoughts are the only guitars out there, but they are boomy and muddy so often. An OM beats dreadnoughts hands down for balance and clarity.

This guitar needed a little work to optimize it. I shimmed up the saddle slightly and lowered the slots for the 1st and 2nd strings. I think the guitar had sat in the store for some time, so adjustments were probably in order. A Martin D-41 I purchased last year needed similar work. However, a Taylor 410R I obtained recently was set up perfectly from the git-go. I think it's unrealistic to think that an instrument made from wood will remain stable indefinitely when explosed to humidity and temperature variations.

I think that this guitar will be very durable. Larrivee has made over 30,000 guitars and he seems to have worked out the kinks. I think his symetrical bracing pattern is perfect for the OM size and the guitars seldom require neck sets like Martins. I hate neck sets more than any other repair, and it seems like most Martins require them sooner or later.

Larrivee has a wonderfully informative web site with a complete virtual facory tour. You can even see a video of a Larrivee which didn't pass inspection being smashed against a brick wall if you can stomach that sort of violence. Larrivee guitars can be registered for warrantee online.

I've been playing almost 40 years. I've owned more guitars than some small guitar shops (I have also owned 2 guitar shops). I have authored over 50 articles on stringed instrument related topics in a defunct national magazine. I currently play a Taylor 410R and a handmade maple dreadnought in addition to the Larrivee. I also play a Mike Ramsey openback banjo and an Ome 6 string guitar banjo. The Larrivee is my current favorite and I may hang onto it for awhile. I got it at an incredible discount at a "guitar reduction sale" after Christmas. I didn't think twice about it. I would buy the guitar again at double my purchase price. It's one sweet guitar. I'd rather have it than a Martin Eric Clapton any day of the week

The Larrivee OM-9 is basically the same size and shape as a Martin 000-28. The smaller body size is far more comfortable than a dreadnaught, and this is what i was looking for. It's all solid wood, with rosewood back and sides, spruce top, and ebony bridge and fingerboard.Saddle and nut material is TUSQ, a sythetic that is supposed to be a man made equivelent to ivory, which i used to consider the best till now. That stuff is great ! Frets are fairly high, but thin like a vintage Martin. The body is bound with rosewood, and the fingerboard with white celluloid. The position markers are small silver dots, and the headstock is outlined with a silver inlay. Construction, on mine at least, is flawless. I gave it a 9 because there is one thing i wasn't crazy about. The frets were too high for me. Now thats not to say theres anything wrong with that. Some may like that. But i'm the one rating it, so to be fair i gave it a 9. However, as soon as i got it i immediatly leveled the frets and brought them down to where i like them. The list price is $1995, but being a lesser known company, i think you can get better discounts than the big guys. I paid almost 1/2.

I've been playing since 1972, and the reason i gave this guitar a 10 is because it really is the absolute best acoustic i've ever had, and probably the best i've ever played. I know that a lot of people buy a piece of gear and rave about it, so it can be hard to tell whats really good and what isn't. But i swear to you this is the first piece of gear of any kind i've ever bought that i just cannot find fault with. I'm also very familiar after 2.7 decades of playing with how you can change your opinion of something after owning it a while, and i wouldn't be posting now if i wasn't absolutly sure of my evaluation. It's also the first acoustic i ever owned that i can get plenty of volume and tone out of with bare fingers vs fingerpicks. The sound is superbly balanced so that every string is heard. Like another person who posted here about the OM-9 said, "it almost sounds like another person is playing along with you". He was right, as i felt the same thing about mine. I have a gibson J-45 reissue thats 5 years old. Over the 5 years, it's matured some, but the thing that absolutly floored me about the OM-9 is that the 1st 3 weeks i had it, it improved greatly ! I though i was hearing things till i compared it to the J-45 for the 2nd time. (1st time was a couple days after i got it)the 1st time i compared the 2, the larrivee sounded better overall, but not by a giant margin, and the 45 seemed a little better at certain things.When i compared them the 2nd time, there was nothing about the 45 that sounded better. In fact, the larrivee sounded so much better there was almost no comparison. Now my 45 is for sale. It feels and sounds like a tank to me now. One of the things that bothers me about buying new vs used, is that i'm 46 and i don't have a lifetime to wait for a new guitar to mature. Thankfully, i won't have to wait now. I should also mention the tuners are some of the best you'll find. The tuning ratio is high so they're not so touchy that you barely turn them and they go too far. As far as the neck and playability, it shines there too. The width of the board is just right in that it's wider than average, but not so much as to be obtrusive. This makes it easy to play without concentrating on NOT hitting other strings and deadening them. It's also thin enough to be very comfortable. Overall, i can't find the words to express how i feel about this thing. I guess the best way to put it is that after close to 30 years and many acoustics, this is the only one that does what i want it to. Dare i say, perfect!? I actually hate to say it because i know no one will believe this, but i'm just awe struck at what it's like to play an acoustic and not be constantly thinking about it's faults and limitations as i'm playing. And it's not like i haven't had a lot of quality stuff, including a few Martins. I don't think i have to say it, but i would reccomend this guitar over any other i've played. I might add that many people on the forums i frequent told me how good larrivees were before i bought it, and that helped me make the decision.

the action when i got it was about as good as any i've played, but not perfect. (bet you can't believe i said that) However, thats to be expected, as any new guitar will change as it acclimates to the world. I simply filed the nut slots to perfection and lowered the E and B strings slightly by filing the saddle. This is not something most people will need to do, it's just that i'm a guitar tech, and i'm very fussy about getting the action perfect. the finish is flawless.

i can''t say how reliable it will be since i just got it a month and a 1/2 ago, but i believe it''ll hold up well because they use an exclusive bracing system that renders the top completely flat. Seems like it''ll hold up well without the typical problems like the bridge coming loose due to the top bulging.

haven't had much contact, but i asked a couple questions via email and got my answers the next day.

well, i don't think i can say anything here that i haven't said already, except that if it was stolen, i would buy it again without any doubt.

The OM-9 is Larrivee's (Canadian) mid-range rosewood Orchestra Model which has the same body style as the traditional Martin 000, exemplified by that company's Eric Clapton signature model. The OM-9 features a spruce top, rosewood sides and back, bookmatched, and one piece mahogany neck. As with all Larrivee guitars all woods are solid. The ebony-faced headstock is functional and understated, yet very handsome. It is decorated with a mother of pearl logo and bordered by the snappy sterling silver strip found on mid to upper-range Larrivees. The Larrivee tuners are fine and smooth. The truss rod is accessed through the sound hole with the special supplied wrench. The bound ebony fingerboard features silver microdots which provide a subtle, refreshing departure from boring, common dot markers. The body employs an ebony bridge and is decorated with a beautiful abalone rosette and fine multiple purfling front, sides, and back.

You're in for a treat when you play an OM-9. The sound is superbly balanced, crisp, and lively. Lows are clean and deep. Mids are rich, clear, and sweet, without any boxiness. Highs are zingy, thick, and coherent. Chording the OM-9 imparts a sense that there's someone else playing along with you. Single notes are well voiced in all registers and seem to jump from the soundboard. Even with light strings this guitar is loud and satisfying. The body is tuned to a desirable G resonance which doesn't bias any particular note but gives all notes full breadth and depth. The body is so light and lively that you can feel it resonating and begging to sing even when it's not being played.

The action is about as good as you'll find. First, the low string height enables you to surprise yourself and enjoy playing no-buzz chords by eliminating the need to work very hard at it. Second, the width of the neck at the nut is 1.75 inches, or 1/16 inch wider than you'll find on most Dreadnoughts. This extra spacing allows pull-offs, hammer-ons, and quick chord changes without getting your fingers tangled up in the strings. Even with this extra width the neck is plenty thin enough for comfort and accessibility while still maintaining stability. In a word, it's perfect.
I do have a coupe of comments on the finish. There are four or five minor natural wood grain blemishes on the front and back of my guitar which some might consider beauty marks that lend character. These imperfections certainly don't affect tone or durability and they don't bother me that much, but I would expect to find somewhat clearer wood in a Taylor for example. My only true complaint is a dripping of glue in the middle of the back which inexcusably was not sanded before the finish was applied.

My guitar is one year old. I see no problems with durability. The top is flat as a mirror. Larrivee uses its own 90 degree x-bracing which diverges from the traditional Martin style. After 30 years and more than 20,000 guitars I trust Jean Larrivee knows what he's doing. Perhaps this innovative bracing system has something to do with the great Larrivee tone, which should be heard before purchasing a Martin or Taylor.

My guitar is used. Therefore I haven't dealt with the company as a customer. However, I suggest visiting Larrivee's web site at larrivee.com. I emailed a question one Sunday night, and Monday morning I had a personal response from Matthew Larrivee.

I've played blues-oriented electric guitar for 35 years and have searched at length for an affordable, quality acoustic with tone, loudness, action, and comfort. Most qualifying guitars I've found retail in the $1800 and above range. By contrast the OM-9 retails for under $1500 ($1995 MSRP), and is without question in the same class with Martins and Taylors.
On body style, compared with the more popular Dreadnought shape the OM surprisingly is not disappointing in the bottom end. In fact I prefer the OM's big bass without the boominess that tends to cloud mids and highs. And two great advantages of this shape from my perspective are that it is much more comfortable to play, and it can be used with lighter gauge strings, even though the OM can also be strung with medium gauge strings as it comes from the factory.
I believe this delightful instrument is one of the best values on the market. If mine is ever lost or stolen I will not hesitate to replace it with exactly the same thing.