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| Moderated by: Tony Provencher, Richard Hefner |
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| Larrivee OM-03R series | Rate Topic |
| Author | Post |
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| Posted: Fri Sep 26th, 2008 02:57 am |
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1st Post |
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UkeForever Approved 
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Last March, I had the urge for a good fingerpicking guitar. OM guitars (stands for Orchestral Model) had come up in various discussions on the ezFolk board, and I began watching--well, studying--all the great fingerpickers I could find on YouTube and the internet. Actually, the urge extends to quite a bit before March, but hey, who's counting months? I really love many things about OM guitars. As I drove around to various shops in the area, and listened online, I began to hear that not only does an OM model offer something of a different feel--thinner body, wider fretboard (compared to its dreadnought brethren), but a completely different sound. In popular music, most ears are tuned to the boomy presence of dreads and jumbos. Volume over tone seems to be the most important factor with these big guitars. With smaller bodied guitars, it's all about voicing and notes. That's why the OMs make great fingerstyle guitars. The notes don't overlap in a constant sustain or onslaught of sound. Instead, individual notes begin to matter. I know there are flatpicking styles that work the same way on dreadnoughts (thinking of Norman Blake who plays large and small guitas, and Tony Rice), but nothing sounds like an OM. However, to someone attuned to big strums, the OM sound will probably not satisfy in the same way. Enter Jean Larrivee's "entry-model" offering to the OM market: the OM-03, matte finish series. Larrivee actually lives in California, and his first son John runs the Canadian factory. Here are some pictures:  As you can see, ebony fretboard, body dimensions, ebony bridge, are all traditional. Single-piece mahogany neck. Dovetail joint (uber-traditional). But Larrivee is known for his Maverick breaks with tradition. First, the obvious. Larrivee uses ebony/maple binding. Not traditional, but it works. Second, wide-grained Canadian Sitka spruce. There is clearly a lot of controversy about how fine the grain should be, but Larrivee has repeatedly claimed that this sort of grain opens up very quickly. I have found that to be true. He also braces his OMs, like all of his models, symmetrically. That is, you will find the same un-scalloped bracing on each side of the guitar. Yes, the X-brace is offset--close to the soundhole--but you can string this guitar left-handed and it wouldn't matter a bit. This guitar has the most stable top I've seen on higher-end steel-stringed guitars, and the sound doesn't seem to be sacrificed. Over the months I've had it, it has become a screamer with a very pleasing tone. I never plug it in if I don't have to, and when I close-mike it, its sound garners some pretty nice comments. The sound is incredible, and over the months, when going back and playing other instruments, I have not found anything that sounds anywhere close in the under $1K market (granted, that's a huge market). It has the fit and finish of a much more expensive guitar. (OM-03Rs pop up used on eBay for anywhere from $700-1200, and new, they're around $1K, unless you get a special deal from a dealer.) When I have looked at the higher gloss models (05 and up), I have noticed that the guitars made in California do not always have the same pretty finishing on the inside. The Canadians really do have a pride of workmanship that is so rarely found in factory settings in the United States. Go to this page to hear: http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/3/music.php Songs that use the guitar are "Henrietta James," "Atheist's Lament," and "Spare a Drop." The guitar is an inspiration to play, and a true gem. I credit it with teaching me how to fingerpick. There's just something about a great sounding, responsive axe that keeps the music flowing. I highly recommend this Larrivee to anyone needing to satisfy the OM urge. Hey, if you really like it, you might just want to pick up one of Larrivee's higher models, or a truly historic OM. That's what happened to me. Some more pics:   and the ugly player  :
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