Larrivée Forum Guitars

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Revision as of 11:17, 23 February 2010 by ST (talk | contribs) (Forum IV)
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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:


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

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

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)
The Beginning

Orphaned Larris What If...

Since many Forum-ites and Larri-loyalists lament the fact that there are orphaned Larri-models... crying.gif (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? confused.gif confused.gif

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

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? wacko.gif

— Source:Orphaned Larris What If...

Discussions & Links

Forum IV

Larrivée Forum thread on the Forum IV

Two production runs.

Specifications
  • * 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 [1]


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

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

RS4 Forum Guitar


  1. I received an email from Jim Holler stating that the guitars will have the normal 2-3/16" string spacing at the saddle. — Randy R on the Larrivée Forum 2009/12/27