We usually don't order elaborate guitars for this limited run ... just a collection of features and tonewoods that are visually appealing and offer unique sonic possibilities.  This year we scored BIGTIME with a limited run of ten highly figured Reserve Grade Hawaiian Koa sets,   matched with tops that were hand selected by Matthew Larrivee,   in my all-time favorite shape ... the original Larrivee "L-body"! 

     The Larrivee L-body is the optimum acoustic instrument for professional side men.  These guitars have enough percussive bottom end to do heavy flatpicking & rhythm work,  a gorgeous treble/mid/bass balance for complex fingerstyle repertoire & single line work AND they react equally well to a controlled right hand or an aggressive attack!  This guitar design is not a "Swiss Army Knife" compromise.  It does all of these jobs extremely well!!! 
 
 

     Jean added some really nice touches to this Limited run with custom prototype tuners (I love the grained ivoroid buttons!) ,  hand signed leather Larrivee straps,  Certificates of Authenticity hand signed by both Wendy and Jean Larrivee, custom numbered labels,  bone nuts and bone intonated saddles! 

     So why Koa you say?  Have I succumbed to this beautiful tonewood's obvious visual charms?  Well ... YES would be only part of the answer to that question.   I've been in love with the sound of this hardwood since I made my first koa guitar in 1978.  To my ears it is the PERFECT amalgam of rosewood and mahogany's best tone properties.   It has a touch of that late '30s J-35 raw power ... aggressive, untamed and in-your-face authority ... but it is tempered by a rosewood-like smoothness in the midrange with many layers of overtones,  and when it matures,  it displays an extremely appealing warmth in the overall tonality.   There is no doubt in my mind that this combination of Sitka spruce and Hawaiian Koa matched with a Larrivee L-body outfitted with bone nut & saddle makes for one of the most potent sounding flattops available anywhere!!! 

*  1 3/4" wide bone nut
*  adjustable truss rod
*  bound ebony fingerboard
*  hand fit dovetail neck joint
*  custom tuners with grained ivoroid buttons
*  bound peghead with mother-of-pearl logo
*  figured Hawaiian Koa back & sides
*  premium bookmatched Sitka spruce tops
*  maple body binding
*  L-body shape
*  gloss body finish
*  low friction matte neck finish
*  custom numbered labels
*  ebony bridge
*  intonation compensated bone saddle
*  abalone rosette
*  'tortoiseshell' pickguard
*  signed certificate of authenticity
*  signed leather straps
*  deluxe arched top hardshell case
*  Lifetime warranty to original owner

     Larrivee Guitars are still very much a family affair with all members contributing in very "hands on" kind of way.   This company has slowly evolved over the last 37 years into one of the biggest and most prestigeous high-end guitar facilities in the world BUT from my standpoint it still has all of the positive attributes of a small family run business.  These folks really do care about each and every instrument that leaves their shop!  If you have a special concern or need some personal attention,  you are likely to get John Junior,  Matthew,  Wendy or even Jean himself taking care of you!  And you know what?  It shows in their guitars and their service.  They're the greatest!

    Here are a few shots of this limited run during the construction process!  As well, if you look closely at the virtual Larrivee shop tour on the Larrivee Homepage,  you will notice more shots of these Limited Edition L-09K Hawaiian Koa guitars!

    The colour and grain pattern of this beautiful species is as varied and diverse as the region it is harvested in. Koa sapwood is narrow and a yellowish white, while the heartwood ranges form light brown to dark brown, with golden or red tinges, or darker streaks.  It is moderately hard and heavy, has a specific gravity of 0.83 (air dried) and weighs approximately 45 pounds per cubic foot (oven dry weight). It is a diffused porous hardwood (not unlike black walnut) with excellent musical characteristics.
 
 

    Koa trees are relatively fast growing and it is not unusual to find mild to pronounced "flame" figure in trees 20 years or older.  A mature koa tree can grow to 100 feet in height with a ten to twenty-five foot diameter at the base!   Old growth trees are getting very difficult to find currently which accounts for the extreme rarity of guitar sized wood of good colour,  grain and figure.  Fortunately there has been a significant effort recently to plant Koa along with other native trees to help assure they will be available well into the future.

Link to review of Limited Edition L-03R-TF & LV-03R-TF Larrivee guitars

Link to feature on P-09MR Custom Parlor guitar

Link to Larrivee L-09MR Limited Edition Madagascar rosewood guitar

Link to Larrivee Custom 000-60 Hawaiian Koa Guitar

Larrivee LV-10 Custom Guitar

Larrivee PV-09 Cutaway Electric Parlor Guitar

Link to Larrivee L-09 Custom Koa guitar

Link to the limited run Larrivee OM-03 MQ quilted mahogany guitars

Link to Twelfth Fret Limited Edition Larrivee L-09K Hawaiian Koa guitars

Link to the Larrivee LSV-11 Fingerstyle guitar

Link to Larrivee D-03 Sapele Limited Edition

Link to Larrivee BT-60 Baritone guitar page

Link to Twelfth Fret  Limited Edition Larrivee OM-03R SH guitars

Link to feature on Larrivee 000-50 and 000-60 guitars

Link to feature on Larrivee OM-50 guitar

Link to feature on Larrivee OM-60 guitar

Link to feature on Larrivee D-60 guitar

Link to feature on Jean Larrivee's Birthday Party!!!

Link to our main Larrivee Page

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