Left Handed Larrivee Electric Guitars

Adolescence is a time of discovery and self-exploration.  It was also at this time that Jean Larrivee first got interested in guitars.  How did the Larrivee guitar history unfold?  Jean Larrivee started by studying traditional guitar playing.  In the course of his study, he met Edgar Mönch who was a German maker of classic guitars.  Jean became one of Mönch’s trainees in his shop in Toronto and the rest of the Larrivee guitars history unfolds.

From classical guitars, Jean moved on to make string guitars that are made of steel, both acoustic and electric, which further encouraged him to make unique innovations.  The most important feature that has persevered over the years for the Larrivee guitar is its well-balanced bracing pattern.  The same proportioned bracing has set its sound quality and solid bass projection distinct from other scalloped bracings.

When Jean got married, his wife Wendy added the crafty style and designs of Larrivee guitars while the guitar manufacturing shops grew larger.  Larrivee became famous in different parts of the globe including Europe and America.  Moving to British Columbia allowed the couple access to premium spruce and cedar woods.

Meanwhile, the business went through more challenges including joining in the electric guitar building bandwagon to the crisis after the September 11 terrorist attack.  Larrivee guitars survived it all and have stabilized in making gloss finish guitars in the California plant and the satin guitars in Canada.

Growing with the Larrivee Guitar Company

Opening up a new shop in Oxnard, California has brought new and exciting changes for the people in the in Larrivee’s guitar company.  The fresh start gave opportunities to experiment on new techniques that later focused on building handcrafted acoustic guitars.  The processes were more specialized from bodybuilding, kerfing, buffing, and painting guitars.

The shop also boasts of two climate controlled rooms, a large spray booth and two mezzanines.  Surprisingly, the Larrivee family – Jean, Wendy and children Matthew and John Jr. – continues to work on the production centers every day. The processing takes place from raw woodworking, bending, trimming to African Mahogany kerfing and so on.

The Makings of a Larrivee Left Hand Guitar

What is at the finish line of Larrivee guitar building?  A model called the OOO-50 Mahogany Top is a left hand electric guitar.  Like most Larrivee left hand guitars, it has a solid select mahogany for its body and top.  Ebony is for the fingerboard and the bridge.  It glows with a natural gloss color and weighs about 4.1 lbs.  It also has 3 tuners on the side and medium strings.  Finally, the features of this left hand electric guitar include a slotted headstock, 12 fretters, herringbone trim, and a pyramid bridge.

Your Own Larrivee Experience

Another desirable model from Larrivee guitar is the OMV-03RE, which has the same specifications as the LV – 03RE.  This model is a limited edition grand concert cutaway and is handcrafted.  Its small body is comforting and easy to handle.  The tone from this acoustic guitar is true with other Larrivee guitars.

With this, one can expect quality beyond expectation with the Larrivee.  Jean does not rely on what works for others in guitar building.  He personally chooses the wood for the guitars and processes them customarily.  Folk artists with the likes of Christine Lavin and David Wilcox have preferred to use Larivee guitars that it is quite encouraging to follow in their lead.  As such, if you want to have your own Larrivee guitar experience, don’t hesitate to purchase one for yourself.