It’s About Time

Larrivee L-10

Yesterday, got a call from a young chap, asking about my L-10. Malcolm had told him about my intention to sell it. So we arrange to meet this morning.

He came with his father, albeit later than agreed.  Anyway, it turns out that his dad knew my brother (from the same church previously).  And he has seen me before when we visited their church sometime back. I didn’t ask anything further as the conversation kept getting disrupted here and there.

Anyway, the chap likes the guitar though he was thinking it came with a electronics pickup but was satisfied to know that Malcolm could install it for him easily.  He likes the setup, action and all. So the deal was completed pretty quickly (partly due to his dad being in a hurry to get to somewhere).

SO….. I’ve sold my Larrivee L-10 and hopefully, with D03-R soon to follow. This is the shortest time I’ve own a guitar.  Less than 3 months. Had it been L-09, I would not be thinking of selling at all.  Maybe I’ll get a L03-R.   I am thinking perhaps I could now get the Goodall Grand Concert…… since I strained my right shoulder muscle over a week ago, it was a pain to play dreadnought.  Just a thought.

I removed the pickguard of my Larrivee D03-R several months ago as I didn’t quite like the tortis styled pickguard it had on originally.  Malcolm tried to dissuade me cos he thinks it looks nice with that.  I told him that maybe it’s because I’m a slow-adapter to such design that I find it hard to accept.

It became a distraction and almost an obsession to remove it.  Anyway, after reading forum such as AGF, about others who had done it, I decided to give it a try and it was a success albeit time consuming because you don’t want to ruin the sound board.  Needless to say (but I am saying it) there was a pickguard shade on the sound board.  Not that I mind. I was actually thinking giving it several months maybe the color tone will all even out. It is showing signs of color changing though.

Few weeks ago, I was sitting down playing another guitar when I glance at the D03R and thought it does look good with the pickguard.  Tried to order a new pickguard from Larrivee website but they don’t ship international.  Too troublesome to bother my good friend John Ball in MN.  So I thought, since I still have the original pickguard which I had meticulously removed and thoroughly cleansed of tacky glue and all.  I decided to paste it back.  Malcolm chided me (the nerve of that guy!) for having itchy hands, amongst other things, for removing it in the first place.  Anyway, found this 3M adhesive spray that is really easy to use and overall cost is still cheaper than ordering a brand new pickguard plus shipping and all.

This afternoon, I sprayed the 3M adhesive on one side of the pickguard and after having cleaned the sound board, and paste it, voila! The job was done!  It’s one of the rare times that I didn’t destroyed something that I removed and able to reuse it again. Man, I deserve a pat on the back.   So it’s back to business again.

Since my last post on L-10, I’ve brought it to my good and trustworthy luthier, Malcolm, for corrective action.  Previoulsy, the guitar was sent to Jarvis for saddle replacement to FMI. Somehow, it didn’t feel right — no scientific data to show just a guitarist gut-feeling — that’s why I decided to go to Malcolm.

As it turns out, the filing work down on the FMI saddle was uneven, to say the least.  Anyway, had the original bone saddle placed back and added shim to bring it to the level that I was comfortable with.  And as predictably, the guitar was much playable since.  Nice feel to it. It could be further improved later on.

Well, I use Martin SP+ PB strings light gauge on it. The 5th and 6th strings are more “intense” so to speak. I’m likely going to change it to EXP 11 (80/20) and think it’ll be to my liking.  I’m starting to enjoy this piece more and more. Who knows, I might decide to keep it and upgrade it to improve its tone and all.  Will update.

Today I get to meet a fella (Tomo) who has been in contact with me for a few months (on and off). What started this communication was his Larrivee D-09E which he got from the local dealership. It was almost $4k but didn’t perform up to par for him. 

Later he tried Jarvis and was happy for a while but some buzzing sound troubled hima great deal. Suggested that he tried Malcolm.  I think things improved though the buzz at certain spots still bothers him.  Malcolm explained that this buzzing is inherent in that guitar, and it happens to all make – boutique or mass market. 

Anyway, we finally made time and we sat and chatted besides playing guitar.  I let him try my Goodall Standard, Yamaha LL-16 and Larrivee D-03R.  I tried his D-09E and indeed it sounded like it has long while more to go before it opens up.  Suggested that he tried tonerite but he didn’t say anything. 

Enjoyed the session with him and hope to interact more with him in the future. BTW, he plays well too. I reckon I have much to learn from him too. Nice guy.

In the last couple of days, I managed to sell away two nice guitars: Takamine EN-15 (cedar-top/rosewood.MIJ) and Yamaha LJ-16 (solid spruce/rosewood).  I’ve enjoyed both guitars but sensibilities demand that I trim my collection since I’ve essentially acquired my “ideal” tone guitar (Goodall Standard).  My good friend, Malcolm, also suggested that I do so. In fact, he was more radical – sell all except the Goodall! 

No way I would agree to that!  Firstly, I need a guitar for Sunday school and church related activities!  Second, I hate to lug guitars around every week!  Thirdly, I enjoy different tonewood sound every now and then.  So I’ve decided to trim it to minimally 2 pieces, but preferably 3. 

Back to the guitars, I’ve sold.  The Taka was sold to an NTU prof of social science, a Serbian, according to him. We had a nice chat and all.  The LJ-16 was sold to a younger man, Paul, who was modest to say he doesn’t play well.  He was delibearting between the LL-16 and LJ-16 that I had before him.  So it was an A/B tryout but either way, it was a win-win situation for him because models were similar but differ only on body design.  Both were less than a year old, and well toned. 

In the end, Paul chose the LJ-16 because of the look, and personally I like that too.  I think for his usage, it’d be nice as well.  He was pleasantly surprised, I think, to realize that he had just purchased a solid spruce top and solid rosewood back and side, guitar.  Someone might have told him it was laminated.  Hope he would treasure his new acquisition and played to his heart’s content. 

Of all guitars that I have left, I would most like to sell off the Larrivee L-10 – only because of the trimmings that it had. I guess it’s my preference for simple design that is in the way of my accepting this guitar. Why did I buy it in the first place? Well, I had placed the order cos I thought all along it was an L-9 (similar stuff minus the blings).  Since the ordered took place, I didn’t want to back out but to honor the sale.  Anyway, hope to find a buyer for it soon.  In fact, Malcolm had helped to upgrade and improved the action and setup etc that it sounded much “sweeter” than when I first got it. Maybe, one day the blings will grow on me.  Probably not, but who knows?

Larrivee L-10

Picked up my Larrivee L-10 from Jarvis this evening.  He told me one of the inlays was etched away when he cleaned the fretboard.  Not sure how long he “tonerite” the guitar, but he did mentioned that he felt it hadn’t opened up yet.

Another angle shot of L-10

It’s not as booming as my D-03R for sure, but then again it’s a different type of guitar. Sounded nice though.  Can’t remember what Jarvis said about Martin SP strings but it sounded alright with me. Maybe next time I’ll try D’Addario EXP PB to see how it is.

When I first opened up the box, I was rather apprehensive about it.  After changing from bone saddle to FMI, it sounds pretty good (not that it sounded bad earlier on).

Yes, it does sound like its bass is not as powerful as D-03R but I think overall it’s rather balanced tonewise.

Maybe, I will tonerite it several more hours and hopefully it will open up even more.

The DHL guy came this morning and delivered my Larrivee L-10 this morning.  Didn’t know what to expect when opening the box. Reason? I bought it from EBay so didn’t have to raise my expectations too high lest I get disappointed and unable to appreciate the guitar for its worth.  Thankfully, it was as the seller described. Nice finishing; nice arch top OHSC which I personally prefer flat ones.  Anyway it was nice conditioned.

Bought this in spur of moment; maybe due to missed opportunity to get the L-09 instead. I’m glad the bling isn’t as bad as I had imagined. Looks like a good keep. Now perhaps to offload L guitars.

Been contemplating since I got my Larrivee D-03R about removing the pickguard which I don’t quite like.  The main reason for wanting to remove the pickguard is that i find satin finished guitars looks better without it.

Closer look... no pickguard but tan lines

Anyway, after deliberating for a while I decided to go ahead and do it.  It wasn’t that difficult but need to be cautious so as not to affect other part of the guitar. I began with lighter fluid to soften the pickguard’s adhesiveness. Then slowly begin to lift one side of the pickguard without prying to hard.

When the whole piece is lifted out, the patch was rather unsightly due to left over glue. I use “Goo Gone” and rub the glue patches off. It wasn’t difficult. At the end of it, it was all done.

Seeing it from a distance

Patted myself on my back, “well done!” 

Yamaha LJ-16 (left); Larrivee D-03R (right)

Managed a couple of minutes to take a picture of the Yamaha LJ-16 and Larrivee D-03R next to each other. Not much of a photographer myself, I like the shape of the LJ-16. It’s really Japanese artwork if I might add.

Both are solid rosewood back and sides though tops are different. The LJ-16’s top is Engleman spruce whereas D-03R uses Canadian Sitka Spruce, I believe.  Finishing wise, the LJ-16 is gloss whereas D-03R is satin finished.

Got this information about the Larrivee D-03R from their website:  “All Solid wood Construction, Single Piece Mahogany Neck, Canadian Sitka Spruce Sound Board & Bracing, African Ebony Fretboard & Bridge, Canadian Maple Body Binding, Rosewood Back & Sides, Symmetrical Parabolic X-Bracing, Hand fit Dovetail Neck Joint, Rounded Larrivee Headstock, White Inlaid Larrivee Logo, Multi-Strip Inlaid Rosette, Ping Tuners w/ 18:1 Ratio, Ivoroid Fretboard Binding, Exclusive Beveled Tortis pickguard, Microdot Fretboard Markers.”