Larrivée Forum Guitars

This page is specifically for Larrivée Forum Guitars; special order Guitars whose origins began on the Larrivée Guitar Forum. Ongoing discussion about this page: Larrivée Forum - Forum Guitars Wiki page discussion thread. General information about Larrivée Guitars see: Larrivée Guitars Special thanks go out to everyone on the Larrivée Guitar Forum who provided information and links to support this page. Quick Notes: Forum I - January 2005 Forum II - April 2005 Forum III - March 2009 Forum IV - organized in November - December 2009 Forum V - January 22, 2010 - ongoing discussion

What is a Forum Guitar?

Source: Discussion on the Larrivée Guitar forum

• Larrivee Forum guitar is one that is developed and designed solely with input from members of the Larrivee Guitar Forum and a willing dealer to coordinate and place the orders with the factory. Source: teh

• By ordering a bunch of guitars at once, either all the same, or with a very limited number of options, the Forum members were able to get a very special guitar, and both the customers (us) and the manufacturer (Larrivee) benefit from the associated economies of scale. Source: AZLiberty

• The Larrivee company does not initiate these nor do they make reference to them in their catalogs or website. They have been most gracious in allowing members of the forum to design a guitar that's a little bit different than their standard offerings. In the past they've thrown in some surprises like fancier rosettes and they even agreed to use some pretty special Italian Spruce on the Forum III guitars. Source: tuffythepug

Forum I

Forum I - 7 of 17, armrest not standard

Forum I - 7 of 17

Forum I - 7 of 17

Shipped January 2005.

Jason at Notable Guitars worked extensively with the Larrivée Forum to select what would become the forum guitar.

Specifications

• OM - Orchestra Model Body Style
• 03 Series appointments (satin finish) plus * below
• Built in Vancouver, BC Canada
• Mahogany / Spruce top or
• Mahogany / Mahogany top
• 12 Frets clear to the body
• * Abalone Rosette
• * Mother of Pearl logo inlay on headstock
• * Black Tuner buttons
• No cutaway models were produced

• Forum I — 17 produced

There were 17 Forum guitars delivered in early January 2005. One of the Forum I guitars was damaged and a replacement was shipped with the 9 Forum II's that were shipped in April 2005

Discussions & Links

• Randy R.'s Forum Guitar page (note: Build Photos)
• Forum I build pictures on the Larrivée Forum
• Dotneck on Larrivée forum
• Danerada on Larrivée forum

Forum II

Same as Forum I, released in April 2005

Specifications

• OM - Orchestra Model Body Style
• 03 Series appointments (satin finish) plus * below
• Built in Vancouver, BC Canada
• Mahogany / Spruce top or
• Mahogany / Mahogany top
• 12 Frets clear to the body
• * Abalone Rosette
• * Mother of Pearl logo inlay on headstock
• * Black Tuner buttons
• No cutaway models were produced

• Forum II — 9 produced. One more was built as a replacement for a Forum I that was damaged in transit.

Discussions & Links

• Randy R.'s details about the Forum II
• Randy R.'s Forum Guitar page (note: Build Photos)
• Dotneck on Larrivée forum
• Danerada on Larrivée forum

Forum III

Forum III Mahogany top back sides

Forum III Italian Spruce top Rosewood back, sides "Bella"

The Forum III Guitar started shipping March 16, 2009. There was a factory tour of the Vancouver, BC plant where these were built.

Specifications

• Number produced: 78 (official number but there were overruns)
• First guitars shipped March 2009
• LS - Larrivée Smallbody Body Style
• 03 Series appointments (satin finish) plus * below
• Built in Vancouver, BC Canada
• Wood Combinations available
  • South American Mahogany / Italian Spruce Top (32)¹
  • Rosewood / Italian Spruce Top (20) ¹
  • South American Mahogany / Mahogany Top (14) ¹
• Neck: 12 Frets to the body
• * Herringbone sound hole Rosette
• * 12th fret inlay three micro dots, no other fretboard markers, with dots on neck edge binding.
• Maple binding
• Standard 03 level tuners
• Original Hardshell Case
• * Detached tortoise pick guard (Jim Holler at Trinity Guitars will install only IF requested)
• Custom bone saddle made by Jim Holler
• Personalized set up by Jim Holler
• Price without options - under $1050 USD
• Label says
  

Forum Guitar III
No # of 78
Each label signed by JCL (Jean Claude Larrivée)

• Options:
  • Herringbone purfling - $150 (34) ¹
  • Venetian Cutaway - $300 (7) ¹
  • Left-handed (9)

• ¹ counts approximate
• Final Specifications published on the Larrivée Forum

The Beginning

Orphaned Larris What If...

Since many Forum-ites and Larri-loyalists lament the fact that there are orphaned Larri-models... (i.e. OOs, OMVs) as in out-of-production models...
What if enough Forum-ites commission Mr. Jean Claude Larrivee himself & his sons to produce... a Special Order batch for a discontinued model...
say through 12th Fret, Guitar Adoptions, Notable, Trinity... as distributors - that just about covers the continent and both sides of the border.

We'll stick to the RW-Spruce and HOG-Spruce variety only.

Please keep your comments brief - (1) specify Larri-MODEL ONLY you wish to order.... (2) Yes or No - do you think this is possible?

ricky (IMHO - I think this is possible or at least worth trying... given enough number of us who are loyal Larri-fanatics)

SERIOUSLY... I guess this is a survey / vote ===> so we can have our dream most cherished Larri to own... or you can tell me if I'm on GAS-delusion?

— Source:Orphaned Larris What If...

Discussions & Links

• Forum III discussion Part I
• Forum III discussion II - The Wait
• Forum III impressions and discussion
• Forum III owners' pictures
• Facebook Forum III group
• Facebook Forum III photos
• Forum discussion about the March 16, 2009 factory tour including pictures
• Forum discussion - photos from the tour — thread dedicated to pictures
• Larrivée Guitars Forum Tour, March 16, 2009 — PhotoMat's online album.

Forum IV

Larrivée Forum thread on the Forum IV

Two production runs.

• The first scheduled after ordering cutoff December 15, 2009. 23 Guitars.
  • Estimated delivery: End of March 2010 Source
• The second is scheduled after order cutoff on January 15, 2010
  • Total guitars in this run: 29 per Jim Holler
• 2010 02 23 Rumour of first instrument completed per Bluesman1
• photos from Jim Holler March 11, 2010

Specifications

• OO Body Style 00-03 Mahogany Top
• 03 Series appointments (satin finish) plus * features below
• Headstock Ebony overlay with:
  • * Silver border
  • * Pearl Logo

• * Back strip
• * Herringbone Rosette
• * 12 frets open to the body

• Body
  • Length ( without neck ) 19 3/8th
  • Width upper bout 10 1/8th
  • Width lower bout 14 1/8th
  • Depth at butt end of guitar 4 1/4th
  • Depth at neck end of body 3 3/8th
• One piece mahogany neck
• Ebony fingerboard
• Nut width 1 3/4th
• Bridge: 2 3/16 th string spacing <<< confirmed

Ordering information
Jim Holler, Luthier
Trinity Guitars
800 West Third St
Jamestown, NY 14701
716-665-4490
email: JimHoller@TrinityGuitars.com
website: http://www.trinityguitars.com

Source: dependan on the Larrivée forum

Options

Source: Options (Trinity Guitars)

1. Custom Bone Saddle Included no charge
2. Custom bone nut to match Larrivee nut $65
3. Strap button on neck $5
4. K&K Pure Western Note I have only 3 of these and will not be ordering more. All Gone. $85
5. K&K Trinity Western $186 Note I have only 2 of these and will not be ordering more
6. LRBaggs Active I Beam $150
7. LRBaggs Imix no cut $250
8. LRBaggs Active element $135
9. LRBaggs M1 $196
10. Fishman matrix infinity $ 139.95
11. Gotoh 510 Mini Delta chrome tuners installed $ 80.00
    • Installation $26.00.
    • A new set of strings will be required. Total for Machines, Bushings and install $ 106.00 Plus strings.
      • Cleartone Lights or Medium $12.00, Martin SP Lights or mediums $7.95, D'Addario EJ16 or EJ17 $6.99
      • Note that there is an exposed hole.
12. Oasis Humidifier Standard or Plus $19.95
13. The question has come up about Bob Colosi bone pins. The best way to do this is to order them yourself and put them on once you get the guitar. If you would like me to put them in during the sey I can just have them shipped here with your name on the package.
14. Grover Sta-Tite GX1245 tuners Chrome $ 37.00 Adaptor Bushings $ 7.00. Installation $26.00. #* A new set of strings will be required. Total for Machines, Bushings and install $ 70.00 Plus strings. Cleartone Lights or Medium $12.00, Martin SP Lights or mediums $7.95, D'Addario EJ16 or EJ17 $6.99

The Beginning

The Forum IV Guitars began with a post on the Larrivée Guitar Forum

F-IV special order 00-03MT by the forum & Trinity Guitars

YUP. Jim is going to get us the information on pricing and timing. But we are going to be able to order some 00-03 MT's.

There will only be one guitar NO options for this order a 00-03 MT

Please don't ask for other options. This is all Larrivee will make this time.

So if we keep it simple as has been discussed in the 00-03 thread then we can get this done easily and quickly.

So who will be in for sure? I know of 3 already including myself that are ready, but I'll let y'all say so.

Source: F-IV special order 00-03MT by the forum & Trinity Guitars

Forum V

• Just discussion so far. Nothing concrete. Current Forum V discussion

RS4 Forum Guitar

• Just discussion so far. Nothing concrete Current RS4 Forum guitar discussion

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