Larrivée RS-4

Made in America

Head: Larrivée Indian Rosewood with Pearl logo
Tuners: Schaller M6 (made in Germany) -----> no problem keeping agree. Rather sensitive to the tuning (no need to do 3 laps)
Nut: Tusq, 43 mm
Rod Adjustment: Simple way to access after the 22nd fret
Neck: Mahogany, one piece -------> rather flat, average width (wider than a strat)
Fingerboard: Indian Rosewood with nets "ivory", marks Abalone and mother of pearl
Frets: 22, Silver / Nickel
Body: Flame Maple Table of Canada with a thickness of 2 cm on mahogany body with nets "ivory"
Pickups: Jason Lollar 2 (Standard & Wind Imperial Humbucker), American made
Bridge: TonePros ---------> to deadlock.
Electronics: 2 volume + 2 tone (brand: CTS), pickup selector with 3 positions
Hardware: Nickel & Chrome
Finish: Brilliant (round satin)
Strings: D'Addario
Case: Larrivée -------> luxury types Gibson (the guitar-shaped)
Strap locks: Schaller -------> comes home ...

Rating: 10 (What you want more?)


UTILIZATION

Channel: I had read that it was the (only ..) black spot of the beast, well not at all!
I took a chance and ordered this guitar without trying it and was expecting to be disappointed, see handicapped by this point (I have small hands). Wider than on my Strat (Custom Shop Beach California), a thicker hair on my VGS Spirit Pro (thus relatively late), form "U" flattened, it proved to be the easiest and comfortable of the three.

Ergonomics: lighter than a LP, much more comfortable (abdominal cut). Access to acute, but not that of an Ibanez RG, is much easier than on an LP and makes good use of this part of the neck without any discomfort or fatigue, despite a certain thickness.

Rating: 10 overall comfort, ease of handle (subject to the tastes and morphology of each), quality of components (bridge locking, mechanical end adjustments, etc ...), everything has been thought to provide an instrument totally pro, to the musician.


SOUNDS

I play instead of Old School, Blues, Rock 60's / 70's.
My musical preferences: U2, Pink Floyd, Allman Brother's, ZZTOP, The Who, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Trigger Finger.

I play in a Blackstar HT-5, with various effects (Reverb EH Booster Xotic, TC Nova Delay, MXR Micro Chorus), not to name them.
I favor in my games (with the Larrivee) sounds warm and clear CrunchyGras very thick.

But everyone who cares about my tastes and my gear, what you want to know is what it was in the belly, the RS4?
Well, like the Audi of the same name, it gives you happiness on a platter.
To begin, I find it important to say at once that if you want the sound of a Gibson Les Paul, well do you buy a Gibson Les Paul.
The Larrivee has not the sound of a LP, but still allows to approach it.
That said, do not let influence by the "type" of guitar or microphone, because, thanks to the quality of the electronics, the number and versatility of sounds is extremely large, making this guitar much more versatile than what one might think.
the sonic palette of sounds going clear, crystalline (bridge pickup), you'd be simple or funky while (bridge + neck) to arrive at distorted sounds, full of harmonics, through the divine crunch. Sound, anyway is always "full", rich and full of grain.
The potentiometers are also, without defects, the volume gradually descends, at first, without any real influence on the volume itself, but rather on the gain. Then they always go down very gradually, without this, at any time, influence the tone (it's still clear).
The tones are of the same quality, very progressive, they can even simulate a wah end of the race.
The three position selector make him a little noise (the famous "scratch") when used for effects "Kill Switch"), but this defect does not appear absolutely no use in "normal".
The pickups are at the height of the lutherie. They have a high output level. Attention, the winding is not "coated", which promotes their lights, but they are much more sensitive to the feedback. (I can not put my HT-5 at max volume on the lead channel without feedback, even as I walked away).
With distortion, I can paint an agreement on all the strings, I do not have the classic mashed draft, every note distinctly off this and it is beautiful.
The pickups are so thin that it is actually you who will make the sound. They transcribe exactly what you do, depending on the position of the pick, its inclination.
The game is pure magic fingers means the pulp on the ropes and again, for you to vary the sounds of it depending on how you play.

Note: For use of 10 rockabili to heavy metal. Supreme jazz, blues, rock. The RS4 is definitely not a guitar shredder, or metalheads (in the original configuration microphones). But, it will fill the musician looking for pure sound, a true grain, sounds sublime, tends rather vintage and some versatility.


OVERALL OPINION

I have the chance to play this wonder and try to show myself worthy since September 2011.
I tried several other models: Duensenberg TV Player (beautiful), Taylor Solid Body (bluffing pickups), Gibson LP (standard, traditionnal, custom), Telecaster, among others.
What I love most? feel to own an instrument thought and realized, with an obvious passion. Created to meet the musician in all areas: appearance, comfort, quality, sounds.

What I like least:
That others look ... (It is on my own ... my precious ...).
More seriously, the pickup selector (only during specific uses "Killswitch").
The inlay buttons (purely subjective opinion).
This is not a defect, but the RS4 is a demanding instrument, those who reveals the true musician that you are (you play badly it does not sound = / = you play itself is nirvana).

Quality / price: at least to the "good deal" ... it is expensive. But for that price you really upmarket. We do not make you pay for the brand, but quality.

In summary: Thank you Mr. Larrivée!

PS A tip, do not try it before you have the means to pay it ...


For those who have the time and inclination, here's my little story Larrivée, I intitulerai randomly:

THE DEPARTURE LARRIVEE

Several months ago I was looking for a sis to Mr. and Mrs. Strat Pro Spirit, I wanted a "Type LP", but Gibson is too "Standard" and inlaid for me too. So I got interested in the high end, but in "small" manufacturers. I tried the Taylor Standard. Course of Gibson LP (standard, traditionnal, Custom), Duesenberg TV Player, etc. ... Unfortunately, I have not been able to try the RS4, or rather fortunately, because-I probably would have "cracked away and this would have prevented me from making a good economy ... (read more)
Anyway, I scoured the forums, videos, reviews, essays, magazines, not great things about the RS4, but still very positive, during the research I "kitchen" to prepare my wife ... and in August, I came across the offer of a famous website and there (I just Swiss) with the rate of the Euro, French VAT least, stick me back in 1600 Frs. -, Euro 1426 ... (More customs charges ~ 120 Euro, which will be increasingly forgotten! ...), Is in too. For that price, I renounce my convictions (promoting local trade), I put the "kidney shot" end to my wife, doing the "right stuff" in my banker and my new command shamefully shovel ... Some two weeks of agony later (you know what that is pending), a beautiful September day, there it is!
Just to savor the moment, the issue, I wait a few minutes, then I feverishly unwrapped the box, opened one by one the beautiful hinge of case, raises ... and there, I literally fell off in front of the beautiful ... sleeping, lying in its case to the mattress royal blue ... it's love at first sight. I have not been able to control the color I wanted (Sun Tobacco burst) and on the pictures, not the Cherry Burst "gave" no. But once under the eyes, this guitar is a real work of art. I was stuck for several minutes, nothing to admire the maple top, simply sublime. The varnish is soft, perfectly placed and smells hauntingly mellifluous. The mahogany neck and back is beautiful. The head of rosewood, inlaid with the logo reflects it only concerns Larrivée give us an instrument as beautiful, as well finished. I inspect the object from all angles, and really, everything is beautiful, coherent. The quality of finish is perfect.
The only thing that may disturb, perhaps the key inlays, a little too "responsible" for my taste (too many colors) and reflecting a bit with the rest. This is a personal and a detail which I easily do now.

Rating: 10 (you guessed it, I'm in love ...)

Guitar Made in USA
mahogany, maple canada, rosewood
Jason Lollar Imperial pickups
TonePro easel, mechanical Schaller
cherry sunburst color
great guitar, great sound, extra round
after a string change (D'Addario 11-50)
and a home setting this guitar is a real gem

SOUNDS

plugged into a Line 6 POD X3
is a pure wonder!

OVERALL OPINION

I have this guitar for 3 days.
I had a Fender Strato in 1967
Lespaul a Gibson in 1980, Vigier, etc. ovation ...
hundreds of guitar in my hands for 20 years
with my job (commercial musical instrument)
I have rarely met a guitar of this class!
Congratulations to Jean Larrivee.

Made in USA (it's written on it). Mahogany body and neck, maple table of Canada. Lutherie of the highest caliber. Flawless finish. Schaller that take the agreement unabated and nice little detail: the original Straplock (There is a scratch her, Mr. Larrivee!)
It appears that the body is hollowed chambers of resonances. Well, I'm not going to see it. What is certain is that the knobs turn smoothly and have a nice progression.
Mine is Amber finish with 2 humbuckers Imperial Jason Lollar.

UTILIZATION

The neck is kind of modern, relatively flat and very comfortable, but it is not a shred stick (it's good, it's not my niche).
The overall balance suits me well. The guitar stands in its place. It is much lighter than a LP and ergonomic design facilitate the game while standing. For access to acute in the genus Singlecut is what I've seen better.

SOUNDS

I played on a Koch Studiotone and I enjoy. We quickly found the sound that we seek, as long as you seek something that goes from jazz to blues and crystalline right surly with pedal. For metal, I dunno, it's not my thing. There is round and velvety if we want and then it can get rough and nasty as hell, just by varying the attack and setting tone. The sustain is outstanding and accuracy of its incentive to monitor his game (if you shit, that means serious, whatever.) But the comfort of the instrument makes it almost easy.

OVERALL OPINION

I have a telecaster which I love but it's quite another thing. Otherwise, I sold a Gibson 339 (sniff!) To buy the RS4. I do it again without hesitation that choice (even if it was hard to see from the arms of another, my 339). What I like most: sound, playability Least? Ben is that you can not get them all! Without dec, if you cross one does not try, you do not get over