For a company that doesn't have an official
"Custom Shop", Larrivee Guitars sure comes up with a lot of really
interesting, exotic & intelligent departures from their extensive
standard models! This rare Custom L-09 Lacewood is a perfect case
in point.
Jean has been addicted to hunting down premium
tonewoods for forty years. When he was in our store recently he was
telling me about his recent adventures when he journeyed 500 kilometers
into the jungle in southern India looking for dead-fallen rosewood trees.
He has traveled literally all over the world to get right to the source
of exotic tonewoods that are the basic ingredients of the tone stew he
has consistently served up in generous portions for decades.
"Lacewood" is the generic term used for several
species of woods which grow in various parts of the world ... Australia,
North America, Europe and South America primarily. The "Roupala
Brasilensis" that Mr. Larrivee utilized on this particular custom instrument
was sourced in South America and features a gorgeous warm cinnamon brown
patina riddled with a magnificent display of rays that imparts an almost
snakeskin-like pattern!
From a tone standpoint, Lacewood is
quite dense with a loud sustaining tap tone which has translated into a
guitar with superb bass/mid/treble balance, excellent volume &
projection and an especially intriguing midrange that has a haunting sort
of vocal like expressiveness ... very unique but in a very accessible way!
The sound of this one really gets under my skin and keeps me interested
in playing ... and playing!!! |
