GUITAR OF THE MONTH: Larrivée 50th Anniversary LV-10
2017 marks the 50th anniversary of Larrivée Guitars. Since founding the company in Toronto, Canada, Jean Larrivée’s family-run business has grown from strength to strength. Larrivée Guitars are now handcrafted in their facility in sunny Oxnard, California. All Larrivée guitars are hand-crafted with solid tonewoods so you’ll never find ply, laminates or synthetic substitutes on their instruments.
Now in his seventies, Jean Larrivée is still at the heart of the company travelling the world to source new and exotic tonewoods and putting his personal touch on Limited Edition models such as our Guitar of the Month: the Larrivée 50th Anniversary LV-10.
This guitar was unveiled at the 2017 Winter NAMM show in Anaheim, California. As ever, our intrepid Guvnor was there ready to snap up the very best and most desirable guitars. We are proud to be the only shop in the UK to have one of these limited edition masterpieces. Number 25 of only 50 made!
The body woods are from Jean’s private reserve wood store: Master grade Indian Rosewood back and sides, and Alpine Moon Spruce top hand voiced by the Jean himself. The Alpine Moon Spruce bracing is handmade by Jean’s son, Matthew.
This guitar is loud! The materials are fashioned into a slope-shoulder large body design which produces the most incredible low-end with a long sustain and smooth decay. The mid- to high-end is perfectly balanced making for a bold and dynamic instrument suitable for expressive picking or fingerstyle.
What really makes this guitar stand out is the incredible inlay work. The Celtic “Impossible” knot is made from 196 pieces of Mother of Pearl expertly inlayed into the ebony fingerboard. The headstock boasts an impeccable 50th anniversary commemorative inlay designed by Jean’s wife, Wendy Larrivée. Special mention should be made of Wendy’s amazing skill at designing and engraving these intricate pieces that give Larrivée guitars that extra bit of magic. Check out more of Wendy Larrivée’s work HERE…
The 50th Anniversary LV-10 comes complete with a hardshell case and certificate hand-signed by the entire Larrivée family.
Specifications:
- Model: 50th Anniversary LV-10
- Colour: Natural
- Bracing: Alpine Moon Spruce Bracing handmade by M.Larrivée
- Top: European Alpine Moon Spruce top – Jean’s Reserve
- Back : Master Grade Indian Rosewood – Jean’s Reserve
- Sides: Master Grade Indian Rosewood – Jean’s Reserve
- Neck: Mahogany
- Fingerboard: Ebony
- Fingerboard Inlays: 196pc Mother of Pearl “Impossible” Knot
- Nut Width: 1-3/4″ – Bone
- Scale Length: 25.5″
- Headplate: Ebony – Commemorative Headstock Inlay by Wendy Larrivée
- Binding: Body – Indian Rosewood, Fretboard – Maple
- Rosette: Abalone
- Top Purfling: Abalone
- Pickguard: Tortoise
- Tuners: “JCL” 18:1
- Bridge: Ebony w/Mother of Pearl 50th Knot Inlay
- Bridge Pins: Bone w/Black Dots
- Saddle: Compensated Bone
- Case/Gigbag: Hardshell Archtop