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Larrivée (guitar company)
Encyclopedia
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
company that manufacturers acoustic guitar
Acoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
s. Founded in 1967 by Jean Larrivée
Jean Larrivée
Jean Larivée is a Canadian luthier specializing in guitars.He was originally trained as an auto mechanic, but began making guitars in 1967.-Early career:...
, the company was moved from Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
to Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria is the capital city of British Columbia, Canada and is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island off Canada's Pacific coast. The city has a population of about 78,000 within the metropolitan area of Greater Victoria, which has a population of 360,063, the 15th most populous Canadian...
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
in 1977, and to Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
in 1982. A second plant opened in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in September 2001.
History
Jean LarrivéeJean Larrivée
Jean Larivée is a Canadian luthier specializing in guitars.He was originally trained as an auto mechanic, but began making guitars in 1967.-Early career:...
began a guitar building apprenticeship with Edgar Monch Sr. in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
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 of 2001, Larrivée opened a second plant in California.
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.
Models
- 03 Recording Series
- 05 Mahogany Select Series
- 09 Rosewood Artist Series
- 10 Rosewood Deluxe Series
- 11 Fingerstyle Series
- 50 Mahogany Traditional Series
- 60 Rosewood Traditional Series
- 30 Series Classical Guitars
The 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 are produced at the California facility.