❌SOLD❌ Larrivee LV-10 50th Anniversary Guitar #39 of 50, 2017

The Larrivee LV-10 50th Anniversary guitar celebrates 2017 and 50 years of Larrivee production, from humble beginnings in Jean’s Toronto workshop, to Victoria in 1975, Vancouver in 1983, and finally to Oxnard California in 2001. Receiving training himself from the legendary Edgar Monch and Manuel Valasquez, Larrivee in turn provided many of Canada’s top luthiers with training. The list includes David Wren, Grit Laskin, G W Barry, Linda Manzer, Tony Duggan Smith, Serge de Jonge, and many others.

In 2017, The Twelfth Fret sent staff to the Winter NAMM show in Anaheim, California and visited the Larrivee both. As Larrivee dealers, we were invited to reserve one of the limited edition 50th Anniversary models, built only to order and to a maximum of 50.

Mike Gray chose this LV-10, based on the classic Larrivee LV-10 design but built using master AAA grade woods and a new, custom Celtic Knot fingerboard and bridge inlay pattern by Wendy Larrivee, with a headstock inlay of a woman in flowing robes holding a 50th plaque. Paua Abalone is used for the inlays. The headstock also features the silver border inlay originally designed by Tony Duggan-Smith.

The back and sides are master AAA grade Indian Rosewood from Jean Larrivee’s private stock, and the neck is Mahogany with maple-bound ebony fingerboard; the bridge is also ebony. The body binding and rosette feature abalone linings.

The hand-tuned top is a very special feature, and is built with rare Master Grade Alpine Moonwood. This is not a distinct species, but rather a somewhat esoteric and traditional harvest. In Switzerland’s upper Alpine regions, carefully selected spruce is felled during winter months and in the waning phases of the moon. The idea is that at this time, resins and sap are at their lowest point and the resulting wood cuts will be lighter and more responsive while still retaining stiffness The low sap content may also contribute to the extremely bright whiteness seen in the top of this guitar. It’s so white, and the Paua shell so blue, that many of the top photos take on a bluish cast. Moonwood is never in anything but very limited supply.

The Larrivee 50th Anniversary LV-10 was produced in a run of 50, and we have received number 39. The serial number text on the neck block reads LV-10 50TH ANNIVERSARY 39 of 50, 131414.

This spectacular, collectible instrument has just arrived at our shop and is brand new. The original Larrivee case is included.