Jean Larrivée Guitars Ltd. is a Canadian company that manufactures acoustic guitars. Founded in 1967 by Jean Larrivée, the company moved from Toronto, Ontario to Victoria, British Columbia in 1977, and to Vancouver in 1982. A second plant opened in California in September 2001. Canadian manufacturing was closed in 2013.
Jean Larrivée began a guitar building apprenticeship with Edgar Monch Sr. in Toronto, Canada and built his first two Larrivée style guitars. The first Larrivée Guitars were based on European classical Guitar designs and became part of the Larrivée Family Collection.
The company was founded in Toronto, Ontario in 1967 and moved to Victoria, British Columbia in 1977, and to Vancouver in 1982. In September 2001, Larrivée opened a second plant in California. However in November 2013 Larrivée announced that it would be consolidating its Canadian division and closing its Vancouver Factory.
In 1971 Larrivee began adding inlay designs to their guitars and in 1977 inlays became a standard for their guitars. Beginning in 1978 their inlay designs took on a more romantic style. Since 1979 all engravings were designed by Wendy Larrivee except for a 1998 inlay called the "Joker". In 2007 Larrivée began using laser engraving for their inlays.
Chris Hadfield performed a cover of David Bowie's Space Oddity on a Larrivée Parlor guitar while in orbit on the International Space Station.
Models
03 Recording Series40 Legacy Series04 Performer Series05 Mahogany Select Series09 Rosewood Artist Series10 Rosewood Deluxe Series11 Fingerstyle Series50 Mahogany Traditional Series60 Rosewood Traditional Series30 Series Classical GuitarsBody Styles
P - ParlorPV - Venetian Cutaway ParlorOM - Orchestra ModelOMV - Venetian Cutaway OMLS -Larrivée Small BodyLSV - Venetian Cutaway Small BodyL - Larrivée bodyLV - Venetian Cutaway L-BodyC - Florentine Cutaway (L - Body)D - DreadnoughtDV - Venetian DreadnoughtJ - JumboJV - Venetian JumboLJ - Larrivée JumboLJV - Venetian LJ0 - Single "O"00 - Double "O"000 - Triple "O"SO - Slope OM - same as 000SD - Slope DreadnoughtThe 03 Recording Series features all wood construction without the inlays and high gloss finishes. The 03 series are produced in Canada while most other models currently are produced at the California facility.
All models in numerical order01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 07, 09, 10, 11, 19, 20, 27, 28, 30, 31, 35, 38, 40, 41, 42, 45, 48, 50, 60, 70, 72, 78
Description01, 02, 03, 04 = all satin models with 04 having gloss top05 = glossy mahogany07, 09, 11 = glossy Rosewood. All very similar. 09 & 11 came first.19 = Glossy Rosewood. Small headstock inlay. Less ornate fingerboard inlays.27 = same as 19 but in cutaway version10 = Glossy Rosewood. all the bells and whistles... Nicer headstock inlay with silver border, nicer fingerboard inlays20 = Koa guitar with Eagle inlay and feather fingerboard and bridge wing inlays. Very early 90's28 = same as 10 but cutaway version30 = Nylon string classic in both L body and C cutaway31, 35 = Nylon string classic38 = Nylon string cutaway40 = Legacy series featuring all new (2013) asymmetrical bracing current [ Also Satin finish version of the 60 Traditional series (rosewood) during mid to late 2000s, and "09" version of 12 String late 1970's ]41 = 12 string "19" version42 = 12 string "10" version45 = 12 string "10" version48 = 12 presentation model. créme de la créme50 = Traditional series Mahogany current[ Also deluxe "19" version for short while in very late 80's ]60 = Traditional series Rosewood70 = Large sound hole "19" style briefly made during very late 80's. Usually had a horse's head or an eagles head.72 = Presentation model. the créme de la créme78 = cutaway version of "72"
