Hi Dominique, thanks a lot for your comment and the nice words! I agree, two amazing instruments! What kind of guitar/brand do you play yourself? Cheers, Lukas
@@LMGuitarCorner Oh gosh…I just actually got my dream job, so I WILL be playing a Larrivee soon, if all goes as planned. Right now, I play a Fender Strat Squier, a Yamaha, and a Taylor 214 CE Grand Concert Series, the latter two of which I’m currently doing some restoration work on. I’m planning on grabbing either an LV or an OMV Recording Series acoustic/electric.
I agree. Both sound good but the Martin has a fuller, richer tone. Also, if your Larrivee is new it may open up and improve it’s tone over time. Cheers guys.
Hey Brian! Thanks for commenting. I totally agree with what you're saying. I hope that the Larrivée opens up even more and will just get better and better over time. Cheers, Lukas
As noted in the video, the best of three Martins was selected for the comparison. I compared three Larrivee D03s some years ago, and one was definitely better than the other two. Also noted, the Larrivee will improve with age. Also noted, different scale lengths. All these will make the comparison one of “apples and oranges” to some extent, but it is nevertheless interesting to listen to the difference in sound. Twenty-four years ago, when I purchased that Larrivee, money was a limiting factor in my choice, and I fe😂t that , in my price range, I could get a better guitar in a Larrivee. I still have that guitar, and don’t regret my choice. I enjoyed the video, thanks.
Thanks for the comment! Yeah, I only find it fair to mention that I was able to choose between 3 guitars. I'm honestly not so sure how much the scale length changes. I've also played an OMJM when I selected my 000, and the difference was about the same as from one 000 to another. Larrivee builds great guitars, no question about that! Cheers, Martin
I own a Larrivée D-03 strung with D’Addario EJ26-3D Phosphor Bronze Custom Light Gauge (52-42-32-22-15-11). - I played quite a few Martins recently including one D-28 that was selling for $8k. - I thought my Larrivée compared well considering it cost under $2k when I bought it many years ago. - My Larrivée’s tone unquestionably improved with age. It did not sound as good when new as it does now, over a decade later. (Keep guitars at the correct humidity level, 45-55%.)
I have both Martin and Larrivee guitars. Sitka Spruce tops, Indian Rosewood back and sides. As most of you will agree, strings can make a tremendous difference in sound. They do in my guitars. That being said, in this demonstration I have to say I preferred the Martin over the Larrivee. I just don't know if I preferred it $2,000 more.
Yeah, strings make a huge difference. We also did a video on that recently. There is also that, that not every guitar likes the same strings. I like Monel on my Martin, but I don't particularly like them on my Harley Benton, which is pretty much a clone of that guitar. Cheers, Martin
great to see y'all both have your dream acoustic guitars boys. Ive got plenty(too many:) of upper entry level to intermediate guitars of all shapes and sizes, electric and acoustic, but ive always been "wise/patient" enough to wait for my perfect higher end acoustic. I love the idea of a d18 or d28 for my style, even a hd28,...but i know if i find the exact right OM or OOOM that can can cover ALL the bases, that would be perfect 👌 (great A-B test - cool vid👍)
Thanks deja voodoo. I found quite early that Dreadnaughts are too bulky and large for my taste. Never felt comfortable playing them, even though I'm a big guy being 6'3. I was lucky to find a really big sounding 000. I hope you'll find your dream acoustic soon. :) Cheers, Martin
Really nice comparison video. I preferred the tone from the Martin and agree that the Larrivee sounded a little harsh. Maybe it would sound better with different strings?
I've played a Larrivee L-05 for more than twelve years and have touted and bragged about Larrivee guitars for some time now--regardless of the limitations my guitar has and less than stellar build it came with. Five months ago I bought a Martin OM-28 and it has already blown the Larrivee away in every way possible. I know these are two different sizes and styles of guitars but the Larrivee's symmetrical bracing (the OM-03 shown has) really does close the guitar off and give it a rather quiet and somewhat muted, lighter sound. IMHO, the two rather large sound bars attaching fully to the X brace don't allow the top to vibrate as freely. Twelve years later and I still feel like my Larrivee hasn't even completely opened up (though I do love that guitar). The OM-28 already plays better, projects better, and in my case, is built better. It does everything better and I believe it is because of the open-ended scalloped bracing on the guitar allows the top to move more freely giving it more volume, more resonance, a fuller (bassier?) sound and responds better to a lighter touch. Just something to keep in mind if you are considering a Larrivee or Martin guitar. The 40 Larrivee series does have scalloped, Martin-like sound bars if one is looking for a more open, fuller sound.
I've never played a Martin 000-28EC but have played a variety of Martin guitars over the years also own a 6 year old Larrivee OM-03R. Here are my observations: - The Larrivee OM-03R is robustly built, not just because the bracing is not scalloped but in that the braces on the lower bout of the guitar between the lower legs of the X brace do not "float" but instead lock between them. This is what gives the guitar a more "balanced" tone with less pronounced bass and also reduces the deformation of the soundboard over time. The main detractor to this is that it seems that the guitar took much longer to age to its full tonal potential. - .012"-.053" light gauge strings tend to have less energy to drive the top, so a more lightly braced guitar will respond better. That being said, I've used D'Addorio medium gauge (.013"-.056") phoshor bronze EJ-17 strings with a 1mm nylon pick on both my Larrivee OM-03R and my other main acoustic, which is a dreadnought sized Martin D-16GT. The additional energy makes both guitars much louder and more responsive. The dreadnought obviously sounds much fuller when strummed but the Larrivee OM-03R sounds "sweeter" when strummed with a moderate touch at best - especially with the use of a capo. It's much more of a "folk music" instrument. - the polyester satin finish feels thinner than the nitro gloss finish but the "swish" sound that the satin finish makes when I brush against it inspires me to play with more restraint. On a gloss finish I don't feel as inhibited.
Hey Neil, thank you for sharing! Very interesting to read. I guess I will end up with Phosphor Bronze on the OM-03R, but I first want to put Monels on. Not sure though if I will take the leap and change to 13s. Martin uses those, but I don't like the way they feel. I'm way too accustomed to the 12s ;) Cheers, Lukas
@@LMGuitarCorner I understand the desire to stick with light gauge, particularly if you primarily play fingerstlye. I have become accustomed to playing with medium gauge strings and feel like it helps with strumming/flatpicking. I have also modified it by adding strap buttons, bone nut/saddle, Gotoh 510 tuning machines, ebony bridge pins and a K&K Pure Western mini pickup. I used to amplify it when I played during services in our local church. It's been a very versatile instrument, though I also play a lot of fingerstyle with it. If those modifications don't sound like something you'd prefer I'd at least recommend experimenting with a variety of picks in different materials and thicknesses as well as experimenting with a capo and altered tunings. My favorite pick is a 1mm nylon Jim Dunlop that is black in color but depending on my mood I will sometimes go with the same material in .88mm thickness. I will admit that sometimes I use a hard plastic pick and strum/faltpick on it as well though because of the way the guitar is braced it's really easy to "overdrive" the top. By and large though, I prefer to play with bare fingers with the slightest of fingernails on my fingers and just bare flesh on my thumb. It gives the guitar a "warm" tone, though it sounds less articulate.
@@ducktape2425 Hey there. I play with a pick most of the time but I change those quite a lot (material, thickness etc.) to get different tones out of the guitar. About half a year after I bought it I got the LR Baggs Anthem installed (I think it was a year ago in March 2023). Back then the guitar was also set up perfectly for light gauge strings. Changing to 13s or any other guitar is therefore no option for me, but I don't like the feel of 13s anyway :) Cheers, Lukas
Hey,Luke and Martin,great comparison the Martin sounded richer and more bass where the Larrivee sounded more mid range,both nice guitars and playing,Cheers!
I have owned many guitars over my life - Martin,Yamaha ,Takamine. I currently own a Santa Cruz OM and a Larrivee L-O3R and a Larrivee O-01. In this video, the Martin was clearly better. It had a better tone and projected better. The reviewers did a good job explaining the differences in the guitars. The Martin was a cherry picked one among three. The Larrivee should open up over time.
@1deadtoe Thanks! I find it necessary to always clarify that I cherry-picked this guitar out of 3 for particular reasons. It wouldn't be fair otherwise to the viewer or the guitar it's compared with. Cheers, Martin
I have tried both myself, and was disappointed with the Martin I played at the time, but they all vary. I once owned an Larrivee OM-10 and loved it, big mistake selling it. On this demo I would have preferred both guys use a pick and dug in a bit more. The Larrivee sounded much better with a pick when strummed/driven, the Martin a little brittle by comparison which is unusual for scalloped bracing. With just thumb and fingers, the Martin sounded fuller and warmer, but the Larrivee might have needed a little harder attack to get this, or different strings. Elixirs can be bright on some guitars, especially when new. Overall, my instincts says the Larrivee. Larrivee are also noted for their fine OM's with more attention to QC, but once again, each guitar is different
Thanks for the feedback. I agree, I'm not a big fan of the Elixir strings. Under normal circumstances I'll always use the Martin Monel ones on my Martin, but I had to use the same as on Lukas' guitar to make it fair. Lukas tried them now too on the Larrivee and I liked the sound on it also much better than with the 80/20 Elixir. It lost a lot of volume in comparison, but overal it was way more balanced. Great to also see someone root for the Larrivee in the comments. Larrivee really makes fine guitars. Cheers, Martin
@@LMGuitarCorner Agree re Larrivee. They tend to get sidelined against the bigger names, unfairly so, but not by those who play them. It's important to state the beauty of Larrivee is they offer something different, and in many cases, better, regardless of the competition at reachable prices. I have recently picked up a used Larrivee dread and can honestly say it's one of the best guitars I've owned in over 50 years of playing guitar. The mark of a great guitar? The amount of times it gets taken out of its box and played in favour of others. A musician is inspired to be creative with such instruments.
Very nice comparison guys. I'm a Martin lover, but being totally objective I think the 000-28EC has a richer sound where as the OM-03 was brighter. Thanks so much for the comparison.
Thanks a lot. I think they complement each other really well. Just compared my Martin today with a few other acoustics, among them another 000-28EC and it is certainly a characteristic of this specific guitar to be especially full sounding. Cheers, Martin
It’s not a fair comparison unless both sets of strings are the same age. You can hear that the strings on the Martin are newer. Should have put brand brand new strings on both guitar.
Hey Chris. Thanks for your feedback! I agree, it would have been a fairer comparison. However, I don't want to change the Elixir strings on the Larrivée yet as they still feel and sound pretty fresh (the benefit of coated strings!). And as I didn't have a spare set and we are not sponsored, we decided to only change them on the Martin. Cheers, Lukas
The EC is warmer. I sold mine because I can't play the huge clunky neck on it and got a 000-28 MD, which still sounded muddy and settled on the 000-18 MD instead. Larrivee's are great when you get a good one. Martins are wildly inconsistent sounding. The 000-18 MD is my favorite of the new stuff because I don't like Indian rosewood and mahogany gives a brighter, more defined, clear sound .Or so I think.
Yeah, the neck is something you either love or hate. I don't think there is much in between. And I agree, mahogany is usually more pronounced and brighter with less bottom end. It's really a matter of taste. Lukas' Larrivée sounds more like a mahogany back and sides guitar to me. Cheers, Martin
Hey Stephen. I'm not really familiar with the L body and have never played one, but I did a little bit of research and think this forum post might answer your question: rec.music.makers.guitar.acoustic.narkive.com/yDuPLA7h/larrivee-l-vs-om-body-styles Cheers, Lukas
Nice video, but really is it not a bit pointless comparing a new guitar and one which has aged. The top has clearly aged on the Martin. The follow-up video would be interesting though, it would make this one much more worthwhile.
To be honest, I think people are making too much out of this aging thing, especially in this short period of time. The guitar itself hasn't changed much since I've got it, the characteristics certainly did stay the same, so I wouldn't go this far to call it pointless. Also, I wonder where you notice that the top has clearly aged. To me it looks exactly like on the first day I bought it. Martin uses what they call a "Vintage Toner" on the 000-28EC to make it look like it's older, but I can't make out abolutely 0 changes since I've got it. But regardless, rerecording in a few years is not a bad idea and certainly something we'll keep in mind. I'm curious myself if it really makes a difference by then. :) Cheers, Martin
Interesting exercise. I would have preferred if you both played some fingerstyle music and some strummed music for a better comparison. Strumming tends to sound harsher and there isn't the opportunity to let individual notes ring. I have a 1978 Larrivee and will enjoy comparing its sound to your samples. Thanks
Thanks! If I understand you right, you would have wanted us both to play in both styles? We've decided to split the playing like this, because I'm more used to fingerstyle playing and Lukas is better at strumming than I am. As we've played all the styles with the same songs/chords on both guitars, played by the same player to reduce variables I'm currently a bit baffled as to what that would have added to the information we could provide. As we would like to improve ourselves and our videos all the time, would you be so kind to elaborate any further on this matter? Thanks for your feedback! Wow a 1978, did you keep track a little how the sound changed over the years? Cheers, Martin
Hey there, thanks for your comment. There are, of course, also more expensive Larrivées that cost 4-5k as well as much more affordable Martin guitars. But I'm sure you are aware of that 😁 Cheers, Lukas (the owner of the Larrivée)
@Ricardo Sotosan The Martin importer of Austria recommended that I try the Tony Rice signature Monel strings with this guitar. Those are 13s. I just loved everything about them, including the feel, so I kept them. Back then, there were no retro 12s. I just bought a set recently, but I didn't get to try them yet and see exactly what difference it makes. Cheers, Martin
One important difference you haven't mentioned which is the top bracing. That particular model Larrivee I think, has symmetrical top bracing while the Martin has their traditional cross bracing which is asymmetrical and may be scalloped as well. So the Martin will have a very different timbre compared to the Larrivee so it's not the best comparison realy. Why not compere two of their dreadnoughts made with the same woods. I think the Larrivee dreds have top bracing similar to Martin. Cheers.
Hi there. You're right, we forgot to mention this. Regarding the comparison of dreadnought models - we are not a professional channel and did not get the guitars provided. We used our our, personal instruments for the comparison because although the bracing is different, they still share many features. Cheers, Lukas
You think they sound similar? To me there's a huge difference, but both are great. If they sound similar to you and you consider it a coin toss, then you have to give it to the Larrivee as it costs only half of the Martin. ;) Cheers, Martin
@@LMGuitarCorner That's interesting. Larrivee are very particular about such details so it appears they have been experimenting and decided on EXP16's, 12-53 for their guitars (some of their range at least). That's probably a good choice. My experience is they are a little warmer than the Elixir equivalent which are fraction brighter and more articulate. The EXP's definitely last longer however and the tone is also excellent.
@maxwellfan55 Yeah good point, they probably chose those particular strings for a good reason. I'm not really happy that the Austrian importer outright replaced them because he doesn't like them. Currently I have Martin strings on the guitar (Monel), and they sound pretty good. Like them better than the Elixir that were on. Cheers!
This is an inadequate comparison! The Larrivee compared in the video (OM 03) is an inferior model to the Martin 000 28. An adequate comparison would be a Larrivee OM 50 or 60. I have a Larrivee OM 60 and a Martin 000 28 looks like a toy in comparison. Larrivee are way better guitars than Martin. Martin are good guitar but just old one
Hey Michael. Thanks for your feedback. Actually, I don't want to justify our comparison - but let me say this: We did our best (and used the same strings, by the way) to compare these two guitars we own. We are neither a big, professional channel, nor do we get guitars provided from brands/shops. Also, except for the scale length, the guitars are pretty similar in many ways, in particular the woods used in manufacturing. Therefore, I believe the comparison is not that bad. Cheers, Lukas
@@LMGuitarCorner please try after few more years if you guys could still remember. But the martin will age as well. In that case it will sound better too😅 I got a solid top guitar that sounds quite better after several years.
i own both martin and larrivee guitars, larrivee craftsmanship is second to none, i have had problems with both martin guitars the 2015 d 41 the binding has come off twice, the d 15 came out of the american factory with frets so shape you can cut cheese with it , Martin craftsmanship has really gone down hill in the last 20 years , larrivee guitars are half the price of martins and three times better than martins !
Unfortunately, I just recently had the problem with the binding on mine too. At least Martin covers the repair with their lifetime warranty. They had issues with the glue they used during this time, which is what my local dealer told me. According to him, they've changed that again and shouldn't be an issue anymore with newer ones. Still not what you'd expect from such an expensive guitar, but I still love it. Cheers, Martin
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I’ve still gotta go with Larrivee, as a fingerstyle classical guitarist at heart, but both guitars sound splendid, my friends. Great job!
Hi Dominique, thanks a lot for your comment and the nice words!
I agree, two amazing instruments! What kind of guitar/brand do you play yourself? Cheers, Lukas
@@LMGuitarCorner Oh gosh…I just actually got my dream job, so I WILL be playing a Larrivee soon, if all goes as planned. Right now, I play a Fender Strat Squier, a Yamaha, and a Taylor 214 CE Grand Concert Series, the latter two of which I’m currently doing some restoration work on. I’m planning on grabbing either an LV or an OMV Recording Series acoustic/electric.
Sounds fantastic! Congrats on your new job and good luck finding the right Larrivée for you. Cheers
I agree. Both sound good but the Martin has a fuller, richer tone. Also, if your Larrivee is new it may open up and improve it’s tone over time. Cheers guys.
Hey Brian! Thanks for commenting. I totally agree with what you're saying. I hope that the Larrivée opens up even more and will just get better and better over time. Cheers, Lukas
TO me that rich tone sounds boxy and woody. Not smooth like the Larrivee.
Excellent review!
Thanks a lot for the positive feedback, Raul! Cheers
Good playing, guys!
Thanks you so much, Janice! Which one is your favorite if you had to pick one? Cheers, Lukas
As noted in the video, the best of three Martins was selected for the comparison. I compared three Larrivee D03s some years ago, and one was definitely better than the other two. Also noted, the Larrivee will improve with age. Also noted, different scale lengths. All these will make the comparison one of “apples and oranges” to some extent, but it is nevertheless interesting to listen to the difference in sound. Twenty-four years ago, when I purchased that Larrivee, money was a limiting factor in my choice, and I fe😂t that , in my price range, I could get a better guitar in a Larrivee. I still have that guitar, and don’t regret my choice. I enjoyed the video, thanks.
Thanks for the comment! Yeah, I only find it fair to mention that I was able to choose between 3 guitars. I'm honestly not so sure how much the scale length changes. I've also played an OMJM when I selected my 000, and the difference was about the same as from one 000 to another. Larrivee builds great guitars, no question about that!
Cheers,
Martin
I own a Larrivée D-03 strung with D’Addario EJ26-3D Phosphor Bronze Custom Light Gauge (52-42-32-22-15-11).
- I played quite a few Martins recently including one D-28 that was selling for $8k.
- I thought my Larrivée compared well considering it cost under $2k when I bought it many years ago.
- My Larrivée’s tone unquestionably improved with age. It did not sound as good when new as it does now, over a decade later.
(Keep guitars at the correct humidity level, 45-55%.)
Hi there, thanks for sharing your experiences when comparing your Larrivée to a Martin. Can't wait for mine to age and get better and better. Cheers!
I have both Martin and Larrivee guitars. Sitka Spruce tops, Indian Rosewood back and sides. As most of you will agree, strings can make a tremendous difference in sound. They do in my guitars. That being said, in this demonstration I have to say I preferred the Martin over the Larrivee. I just don't know if I preferred it $2,000 more.
Yeah, strings make a huge difference. We also did a video on that recently. There is also that, that not every guitar likes the same strings. I like Monel on my Martin, but I don't particularly like them on my Harley Benton, which is pretty much a clone of that guitar.
Cheers,
Martin
great to see y'all both have your dream acoustic guitars boys. Ive got plenty(too many:) of upper entry level to intermediate guitars of all shapes and sizes, electric and acoustic, but ive always been "wise/patient" enough to wait for my perfect higher end acoustic. I love the idea of a d18 or d28 for my style, even a hd28,...but i know if i find the exact right OM or OOOM that can can cover ALL the bases, that would be perfect 👌 (great A-B test - cool vid👍)
Thanks deja voodoo. I found quite early that Dreadnaughts are too bulky and large for my taste. Never felt comfortable playing them, even though I'm a big guy being 6'3. I was lucky to find a really big sounding 000. I hope you'll find your dream acoustic soon. :)
Cheers,
Martin
Really nice comparison video. I preferred the tone from the Martin and agree that the Larrivee sounded a little harsh. Maybe it would sound better with different strings?
Thanks for the kind words! I've changed to Phosphor Bronze for the Larrivée and like it much better. Cheers, Lukas
I've played a Larrivee L-05 for more than twelve years and have touted and bragged about Larrivee guitars for some time now--regardless of the limitations my guitar has and less than stellar build it came with. Five months ago I bought a Martin OM-28 and it has already blown the Larrivee away in every way possible. I know these are two different sizes and styles of guitars but the Larrivee's symmetrical bracing (the OM-03 shown has) really does close the guitar off and give it a rather quiet and somewhat muted, lighter sound. IMHO, the two rather large sound bars attaching fully to the X brace don't allow the top to vibrate as freely. Twelve years later and I still feel like my Larrivee hasn't even completely opened up (though I do love that guitar). The OM-28 already plays better, projects better, and in my case, is built better. It does everything better and I believe it is because of the open-ended scalloped bracing on the guitar allows the top to move more freely giving it more volume, more resonance, a fuller (bassier?) sound and responds better to a lighter touch. Just something to keep in mind if you are considering a Larrivee or Martin guitar. The 40 Larrivee series does have scalloped, Martin-like sound bars if one is looking for a more open, fuller sound.
Hey Michael. Thanks a lot for sharing your experiences with both brands! Cheers, Lukas
Great comparison, Agree the Martin is "Louder", art imitating life perhaps.🤔 But 2 Larrivee vs 1 Martin that is worth consideration. Cheers Guys!🥃🥃🥃
Thanks a lot buddy! Haha yeah, you can get yourself a backup Larrivée OM-03 for the same price :)
Cheers, Lukas
I've never played a Martin 000-28EC but have played a variety of Martin guitars over the years also own a 6 year old Larrivee OM-03R. Here are my observations:
- The Larrivee OM-03R is robustly built, not just because the bracing is not scalloped but in that the braces on the lower bout of the guitar between the lower legs of the X brace do not "float" but instead lock between them. This is what gives the guitar a more "balanced" tone with less pronounced bass and also reduces the deformation of the soundboard over time. The main detractor to this is that it seems that the guitar took much longer to age to its full tonal potential.
- .012"-.053" light gauge strings tend to have less energy to drive the top, so a more lightly braced guitar will respond better. That being said, I've used D'Addorio medium gauge (.013"-.056") phoshor bronze EJ-17 strings with a 1mm nylon pick on both my Larrivee OM-03R and my other main acoustic, which is a dreadnought sized Martin D-16GT. The additional energy makes both guitars much louder and more responsive. The dreadnought obviously sounds much fuller when strummed but the Larrivee OM-03R sounds "sweeter" when strummed with a moderate touch at best - especially with the use of a capo. It's much more of a "folk music" instrument.
- the polyester satin finish feels thinner than the nitro gloss finish but the "swish" sound that the satin finish makes when I brush against it inspires me to play with more restraint. On a gloss finish I don't feel as inhibited.
Hey Neil, thank you for sharing! Very interesting to read. I guess I will end up with Phosphor Bronze on the OM-03R, but I first want to put Monels on. Not sure though if I will take the leap and change to 13s. Martin uses those, but I don't like the way they feel. I'm way too accustomed to the 12s ;)
Cheers, Lukas
@@LMGuitarCorner I understand the desire to stick with light gauge, particularly if you primarily play fingerstlye. I have become accustomed to playing with medium gauge strings and feel like it helps with strumming/flatpicking. I have also modified it by adding strap buttons, bone nut/saddle, Gotoh 510 tuning machines, ebony bridge pins and a K&K Pure Western mini pickup. I used to amplify it when I played during services in our local church. It's been a very versatile instrument, though I also play a lot of fingerstyle with it.
If those modifications don't sound like something you'd prefer I'd at least recommend experimenting with a variety of picks in different materials and thicknesses as well as experimenting with a capo and altered tunings. My favorite pick is a 1mm nylon Jim Dunlop that is black in color but depending on my mood I will sometimes go with the same material in .88mm thickness. I will admit that sometimes I use a hard plastic pick and strum/faltpick on it as well though because of the way the guitar is braced it's really easy to "overdrive" the top. By and large though, I prefer to play with bare fingers with the slightest of fingernails on my fingers and just bare flesh on my thumb. It gives the guitar a "warm" tone, though it sounds less articulate.
@@ducktape2425 Hey there. I play with a pick most of the time but I change those quite a lot (material, thickness etc.) to get different tones out of the guitar.
About half a year after I bought it I got the LR Baggs Anthem installed (I think it was a year ago in March 2023). Back then the guitar was also set up perfectly for light gauge strings. Changing to 13s or any other guitar is therefore no option for me, but I don't like the feel of 13s anyway :)
Cheers, Lukas
Hey,Luke and Martin,great comparison the Martin sounded richer and more bass where the Larrivee sounded more mid range,both nice guitars and playing,Cheers!
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it. I really think it's a matter of taste.
Cheers,
Martin
Great comparison. They both do sound great but the Martin does seem to sound fuller.
Thanks Charles. Yeah, the Martin sounds larger than it is.
Cheers,
Martin
both guitars sound great 👍 thanks for sharing this guys ✌️
Thanks Mark, glad you liked it!
Cheers,
Martin
I have owned many guitars over my life - Martin,Yamaha ,Takamine. I currently own a Santa Cruz OM and a Larrivee L-O3R and a Larrivee O-01. In this video, the Martin was clearly better. It had a better tone and projected better. The reviewers did a good job explaining the differences in the guitars. The Martin was a cherry picked one among three. The Larrivee should open up over time.
@1deadtoe Thanks!
I find it necessary to always clarify that I cherry-picked this guitar out of 3 for particular reasons. It wouldn't be fair otherwise to the viewer or the guitar it's compared with.
Cheers,
Martin
I have tried both myself, and was disappointed with the Martin I played at the time, but they all vary. I once owned an Larrivee OM-10 and loved it, big mistake selling it.
On this demo I would have preferred both guys use a pick and dug in a bit more. The Larrivee sounded much better with a pick when strummed/driven, the Martin a little brittle by comparison which is unusual for scalloped bracing. With just thumb and fingers, the Martin sounded fuller and warmer, but the Larrivee might have needed a little harder attack to get this, or different strings. Elixirs can be bright on some guitars, especially when new.
Overall, my instincts says the Larrivee.
Larrivee are also noted for their fine OM's with more attention to QC, but once again, each guitar is different
Thanks for the feedback. I agree, I'm not a big fan of the Elixir strings. Under normal circumstances I'll always use the Martin Monel ones on my Martin, but I had to use the same as on Lukas' guitar to make it fair. Lukas tried them now too on the Larrivee and I liked the sound on it also much better than with the 80/20 Elixir. It lost a lot of volume in comparison, but overal it was way more balanced.
Great to also see someone root for the Larrivee in the comments. Larrivee really makes fine guitars.
Cheers,
Martin
@@LMGuitarCorner Agree re Larrivee. They tend to get sidelined against the bigger names, unfairly so, but not by those who play them.
It's important to state the beauty of Larrivee is they offer something different, and in many cases, better, regardless of the competition at reachable prices.
I have recently picked up a used Larrivee dread and can honestly say it's one of the best guitars I've owned in over 50 years of playing guitar.
The mark of a great guitar?
The amount of times it gets taken out of its box and played in favour of others. A musician is inspired to be creative with such instruments.
Very nice comparison guys. I'm a Martin lover, but being totally objective I think the 000-28EC has a richer sound where as the OM-03 was brighter. Thanks so much for the comparison.
Thanks a lot. I think they complement each other really well. Just compared my Martin today with a few other acoustics, among them another 000-28EC and it is certainly a characteristic of this specific guitar to be especially full sounding.
Cheers,
Martin
Exactly….it *is* a matter of taste. Well done.
Do you have a favorite? And thanks for the kind words! Cheers, Lukas
Larrivee for me!
Thanks for your comment. Do you happen to have one as well or do you play a different brand? Cheers, Lukas
It’s not a fair comparison unless both sets of strings are the same age. You can hear that the strings on the Martin are newer. Should have put brand brand new strings on both guitar.
Hey Chris. Thanks for your feedback! I agree, it would have been a fairer comparison. However, I don't want to change the Elixir strings on the Larrivée yet as they still feel and sound pretty fresh (the benefit of coated strings!). And as I didn't have a spare set and we are not sponsored, we decided to only change them on the Martin. Cheers, Lukas
The EC is warmer. I sold mine because I can't play the huge clunky neck on it and got a 000-28 MD, which still sounded muddy and settled on the 000-18 MD instead. Larrivee's are great when you get a good one. Martins are wildly inconsistent sounding. The 000-18 MD is my favorite of the new stuff because I don't like Indian rosewood and mahogany gives a brighter, more defined, clear sound .Or so I think.
Yeah, the neck is something you either love or hate. I don't think there is much in between. And I agree, mahogany is usually more pronounced and brighter with less bottom end. It's really a matter of taste. Lukas' Larrivée sounds more like a mahogany back and sides guitar to me.
Cheers,
Martin
@@LMGuitarCorner Yup.
What is the difference between the L body and the OM?
Hey Stephen. I'm not really familiar with the L body and have never played one, but I did a little bit of research and think this forum post might answer your question:
rec.music.makers.guitar.acoustic.narkive.com/yDuPLA7h/larrivee-l-vs-om-body-styles
Cheers, Lukas
Nice video, but really is it not a bit pointless comparing a new guitar and one which has aged. The top has clearly aged on the Martin. The follow-up video would be interesting though, it would make this one much more worthwhile.
To be honest, I think people are making too much out of this aging thing, especially in this short period of time. The guitar itself hasn't changed much since I've got it, the characteristics certainly did stay the same, so I wouldn't go this far to call it pointless. Also, I wonder where you notice that the top has clearly aged. To me it looks exactly like on the first day I bought it. Martin uses what they call a "Vintage Toner" on the 000-28EC to make it look like it's older, but I can't make out abolutely 0 changes since I've got it. But regardless, rerecording in a few years is not a bad idea and certainly something we'll keep in mind. I'm curious myself if it really makes a difference by then. :)
Cheers,
Martin
Interesting exercise. I would have preferred if you both played some fingerstyle music and some strummed music for a better comparison. Strumming tends to sound harsher and there isn't the opportunity to let individual notes ring. I have a 1978 Larrivee and will enjoy comparing its sound to your samples. Thanks
Thanks! If I understand you right, you would have wanted us both to play in both styles? We've decided to split the playing like this, because I'm more used to fingerstyle playing and Lukas is better at strumming than I am. As we've played all the styles with the same songs/chords on both guitars, played by the same player to reduce variables I'm currently a bit baffled as to what that would have added to the information we could provide. As we would like to improve ourselves and our videos all the time, would you be so kind to elaborate any further on this matter?
Thanks for your feedback!
Wow a 1978, did you keep track a little how the sound changed over the years?
Cheers,
Martin
Both are really good, so... I'll keep the $1000-2,000 saved, and support a much smaller company.
Hey there, thanks for your comment. There are, of course, also more expensive Larrivées that cost 4-5k as well as much more affordable Martin guitars. But I'm sure you are aware of that 😁
Cheers, Lukas (the owner of the Larrivée)
You use 13 guage on the 000-28EC?
Normally, yes. In this comparison, I use the same 80/20 12 gauge Elixir as there were on Lukas' Larrivée.
Cheers,
Martin
@@LMGuitarCorner interesting. 000-28 and OMs use 12 gauge normally. Any benefits with the 13 gauge?
@Ricardo Sotosan The Martin importer of Austria recommended that I try the Tony Rice signature Monel strings with this guitar. Those are 13s. I just loved everything about them, including the feel, so I kept them. Back then, there were no retro 12s. I just bought a set recently, but I didn't get to try them yet and see exactly what difference it makes.
Cheers,
Martin
One important difference you haven't mentioned which is the top bracing. That particular model Larrivee I think, has symmetrical top bracing while the Martin has their traditional cross bracing which is asymmetrical and may be scalloped as well. So the Martin will have a very different timbre compared to the Larrivee so it's not the best comparison realy. Why not compere two of their dreadnoughts made with the same woods. I think the Larrivee dreds have top bracing similar to Martin. Cheers.
Hi there. You're right, we forgot to mention this. Regarding the comparison of dreadnought models - we are not a professional channel and did not get the guitars provided. We used our our, personal instruments for the comparison because although the bracing is different, they still share many features. Cheers, Lukas
That's ok. Thanks for the video.
It's a coin toss for me. Both sound similar, I grew up playing a Martin but the Larrivee is Canadian so....
You think they sound similar? To me there's a huge difference, but both are great. If they sound similar to you and you consider it a coin toss, then you have to give it to the Larrivee as it costs only half of the Martin. ;)
Cheers,
Martin
@@LMGuitarCorner I'm going to blame TH-cam compresson and my hearing loss for my tone opinion.
The Larrivee sounds closer to Taylor
Larrivee use Cleartone strings 13-56's from my understanding
Hey Brad. I've contacted Larrivée in September - the reply was: 'The precise strings are the D'Addario EXP16 12-53's. (...)'. Cheers, Lukas
@@LMGuitarCorner That's interesting. Larrivee are very particular about such details so it appears they have been experimenting and decided on EXP16's, 12-53 for their guitars (some of their range at least). That's probably a good choice.
My experience is they are a little warmer than the Elixir equivalent which are fraction brighter and more articulate. The EXP's definitely last longer however and the tone is also excellent.
@maxwellfan55 Yeah good point, they probably chose those particular strings for a good reason. I'm not really happy that the Austrian importer outright replaced them because he doesn't like them. Currently I have Martin strings on the guitar (Monel), and they sound pretty good. Like them better than the Elixir that were on. Cheers!
Personally I prefer mahogany over rosewood.
I'd love to compare them side by side to hear the difference! When I bought my OM-03, the shop only had the one with rosewood. Cheers, Lukas
I can't believe I'm about to buy a Larrivee. Lol
How so? Which did you like better in the comparison? Cheers, Lukas
This is an inadequate comparison! The Larrivee compared in the video (OM 03) is an inferior model to the Martin 000 28. An adequate comparison would be a Larrivee OM 50 or 60. I have a Larrivee OM 60 and a Martin 000 28 looks like a toy in comparison. Larrivee are way better guitars than Martin. Martin are good guitar but just old one
Hey Rino. Thanks for your feedback. We can, however, only compare the guitars we personally own as we are not a big channel. Cheers
@@LMGuitarCorner Yes, that fine but are those are completely different levels (and price) guitars. Anyway thanks for the video
Martin
Hard to beat! Cheers
Damn, the Martin has a terrible EQ curve in comparison to the Larrivee. The Larrivee is so much richer recorded.
Can you elaborate a bit further on what you don't like about the Martin's EQ curve?
Cheers,
Martin
The scale length alone can make a difference not to mention strings.
Your not comparing apple's to apple's so the comparison isn't a good one
Hey Michael. Thanks for your feedback. Actually, I don't want to justify our comparison - but let me say this: We did our best (and used the same strings, by the way) to compare these two guitars we own. We are neither a big, professional channel, nor do we get guitars provided from brands/shops. Also, except for the scale length, the guitars are pretty similar in many ways, in particular the woods used in manufacturing. Therefore, I believe the comparison is not that bad. Cheers, Lukas
Do it again... now the larrivee has aged a bit.
It has definitely aged a bit, but probably not enough to make a significant difference. But we will think about it! Cheers and thanks for the comment.
@@LMGuitarCorner please try after few more years if you guys could still remember. But the martin will age as well. In that case it will sound better too😅
I got a solid top guitar that sounds quite better after several years.
i own both martin and larrivee guitars, larrivee craftsmanship is second to none, i have had problems with both martin guitars the 2015 d 41 the binding has come off twice, the d 15 came out of the american factory with frets so shape you can cut cheese with it , Martin craftsmanship has really gone down hill in the last 20 years , larrivee guitars are half the price of martins and three times better than martins !
Unfortunately, I just recently had the problem with the binding on mine too. At least Martin covers the repair with their lifetime warranty. They had issues with the glue they used during this time, which is what my local dealer told me. According to him, they've changed that again and shouldn't be an issue anymore with newer ones. Still not what you'd expect from such an expensive guitar, but I still love it.
Cheers,
Martin
Mine The bibding is maple wood did not come out yet after 5 years