Larrivee D-09 or Martin D-35

[Oakvillain]

Need your help please.

Larrivee D-09. Mint. $1350

or

Martin D-35. Very good. $1450.

Love them both. I"m stuck. What's a better investment in case I sell later in life?

[mark norwine]

Martin

[Griz]

Which do you like better?

There's not much point in picking the one that will command a higher price later on unless it's also the one you prefer to play. Otherwise, you're just buying something to sell.

Both are great guitars, though. Enjoy whichever you choose.

:D

[Oakvillain]

They both play well with very unique characteristics. I'm leaning towards Martin?

[Jaan]

Martin

[G Man]

Martin will definitely hold its resale better, also has that classic acoustic tone that we all grew up with, whereas the Larri will have a more modern, bright tone. Both great guitars, but for me, it would be a no brainer, the Martin.

[Flogger59]

I've never really gotten along with Larrivees, and I own a D35.

[alexanderplatz]

Martin.

[Blanket Jackson]

Different animals, really. I would go with the one that you like the sound and feel of better. There is no "right" answer. The D-35 should have more pronounced low end, but the D09 should sound overall a bit darker. I own both, and love both, but there is more not in common that in common with the 2 dreads.

[c_mac]

When I went acoustic shopping 5 years ago I went with my heart set on a Martin. In the process, I ran across a Larrivee, strummed an open E chord and the rest is history.

[Oakvillain]

What is the used going rate for a D-35? Is $1450 too high?

Thank you.

[hunter2]

I was in the same boat 10 years ago I narrowed it down to a martin d-28 and a Taylor then I noticed a Larivee D-09 a new arrival , I strummed a few open chords and it had the sound I was looking for It sounds better every year

[pennylink]

Martin will keep its value better, but when I was last shopping for an acoustic I picked a Larrivee DV-09 (D-09 with Venetian cutaway) over the Martins, Taylors and Gibsons that I tried. Its beautifully balanced sound really appealed to me and it simply sounded better than the others to my ears.

[musicofanatic5]

What is the used going rate for a D-35? Is $1450 too high?

Thank you.


What year? A pre 1970 w/brazilian r/w? Great price! A post 1969? I wouldn't pay that much unless it was somehow exceptional.

[daddyo]

Buy with your ears, not your calculator.

[frisco kid]

Agreed...my LV10E sounds better and better as it ages. Converted my jamming buddy who loved Taylors.


I was in the same boat 10 years ago I narrowed it down to a martin d-28 and a Taylor then I noticed a Larivee D-09 a new arrival , I strummed a few open chords and it had the sound I was looking for It sounds better every year

[mac7ry]

I think that everyone who has spent any time with a Larrivee does nothing but sing their praises...and play the guitar. I have a Larrivee LV09E and will never part with it. Its a little bit Martin, a little bit Taylor and a whole lot of awesome! The L.R. Baggs iMix Notch dual source pickup, an active DI Box and a Feedback Buster is my recipe for huge sound and a tone adjusted to just the way you like it. I don't know anyone thats had one and not liked it. GO LARRIVEE!

[Flogger59]

They're both respected makes. I own a D35, it's a great guitar, especially solo, but doesn't cut like a D28. On its own it sounds huge.

[DanR]

I have a Larrivee L03R that I love. From the one's I've played, Larrivee's have always been great sounding and their lower priced models, great bang for the buck guitars. I've also owned a couple of Martins, including a D35 and I was quite fond of them, also.

In my opinion, you really need to compare the 2 specific guitars yourself and decide which one you like best. Much of the time with acoustic guitars, 2 guitars of the exact same model will have tonal variances so it's hard to generalize whether one will be better than the other, especially considering you will have to factor in your own personal taste.

[carty]

larrivee all the way!

[jrjones]

For sound an feel, I'd say larrivee, if flipping it is a priority, I'd say Martin. Just like a Gibson vs a Collings. Not many are going to argue that the Collings isn't likely a much better made guitar, but at time to sell, everyone knows Gibson and Collings isn't as well known and brand name recognition does equal sales.

[Seegs]

Back in the day I went looking for a Martin and came away with a Santa Cruz...

Few years ago I went looking for a Dread and came away with a Larrivee OM O3R...best guitar in the store in its price class and many above as well...

Why limit it to makes and modesl? Draft the best athlete avaliable regardless of position:crazyguy

Chow,
Seegs

[Deathmonkey]

Another Larrivee fan here. I have a D-03R that I love. A friend of mine once described the Larrivee sound as "each chord is like biting into a fresh green apple". Also, I find that they record better (easier) than Martins. Martins sound great in the room, but are often too much for mics to handle, especially in the low end. Larrivees record exceptionally well, with great sparkle.

All that said, there's nothing like thundering away on a Martin. So it all comes down to preference. If you do mostly strumming and blues picking, I'd probably steer Martin. But if you do singer/songwriter and delicate finger-picking, a Larrivee is hard to beat.

[snakestretcher]

The D35 with its scalloped bracing is quite a 'tubby' sounding guitar-lots of bottom end much not much sparkle. Personally I would have a non-scalloped D28 in preference, if you're after a rosewood dread, as the tonal balance is much better. A fantastic alternative is the Gibson Advanced Jumbo-the best acoustic they build IMO; I have owned both an AJ and several D28s and would take another AJ in a heartbeat. I haven't played the Larrivee.

[utterhack]

There's really no predicting future value, but in theory the Martin should be more liquid than the Larry. $1450 for a recent D-35 in good condition is fine. Not a steal, not a rip.

[1956tele]

Buy the Martin .....