Luthier Jean Larrivée met German classical guitar luthier Edgar Mönch and began studying classical guitar at the age of 20. Larrivée moved to Toronto and apprenticed with Mönch and learned to build classical guitars. Larrivée built two guitars under Mönch's leadership and then he began to build guitars by himself at his home workshop. Larrivée guitars was officially started in 1968, and he moved into his first true workshop in 1970, which was above a theater. After exclusively building classical guitars, Larrivée built his first steel string guitar in 1971. Larrivée continued to experiment with guitar building by introducing his own body styles/shapes, different bracings, and other technologies not previously used. In 1972, Jean Larrivée married his wife Wendy, who designs and engraves inlays on many of Larrivée's guitars.
Larrivée grew throughout the 1970s, and by 1976, Larrivée had eight employees and they were building between twenty-five and thirty guitars a month. In 1977, Larrivée moved operations to the island city of Victoria, British Columbia, which provided access to the wet coastal forests on the west coast of North America. In 1982, Larrivée decided to move to the mainland of British Columbia just as most acoustic guitar manufacturers were going through their toughest times. Instead of consolidating operations, Larrivée began building solidbody electric guitars in 1983. Larrivée's first electric line lasted through 1989 when the acoustic guitar market improved to the point where he solely focus on acoustics again.
The 1990s marked a resurgence in guitar building as they moved to an 11,000 square foot factory in 1991 where they employed thirty-five people and built twenty-five guitars a day. In 1997, Larrivée introduced their lowest priced model in their lineup with the D-03, which would firmly establish Larrivée in the acoustic guitar world. In 1998, they moved into another new factory with 33,000 square foot and by now they had 100 employees and they were producing sixty to seventy-two guitars per day. In 2001, Larrivée opened a new factory in southern California ten days before 9/11. Although production slowed for the next two years, Larrivée overhauled some of their production and streamlined production where only the 3 Series of guitars are produced in Canada, and all remaining models are built in the U.S. In 2005, Larrivée introduced their Traditional Series of guitars that are based on traditional designs of the "golden era" of guitar manufacturing. In 2008, Larrivée ventured into the solidbody electric realm with their RS-4 model.
Larrivée continues to offer several body shapes, including a few of Larrivée's own designs, and several decoration levels ranging from plain satin-finished models to highly ornate decorative models. For more information, visit Larrivée's website or contact them directly.
Instruments currently produced in Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada), since 1982 and Oxnard, CA since 2001. Previously produced in Toronto, Ontario between 1968 and 1977 and in Victoria, British Columbia between 1977 and 1982. Distributed by Larrivée Guitars, Ltd. in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and in the U.S. by Jean Larrivée Guitars USA Inc. in Oxnard, CA.

LARRIVÉE Acoustic Guitars Models

LARRIVÉE 0-50 Image

LARRIVÉE 0-50

- 0-sized body, Sitka Spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides, maple body binding with herringbone, tortoiseshell pickguard, mahogany neck, 12/19-fret ebony fingerboard with dot inlay, ebony bridge, three-per-side tuners, Natural finish,...

LARRIVÉE 0-01 MH PARLOR GUITAR Image

LARRIVÉE 0-01 MH PARLOR GUITAR

- parlor sized body 13.25 in. width, South American mahogany back/sides, solid Sitka spruce top, mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard and bridge, transparent pickguard, satin finish, mfg. 2002-03.

LARRIVÉE J-03 MAHOGANY STANDARD Image

LARRIVÉE J-03 MAHOGANY STANDARD

- Canadian Sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides, multi-strip rosette, Canadian maple body binding, mahogany neck, ivoroid bound ebony fingerboard, three-per-side tuners, ebony bridge, tortoiseshell pickguard, current mfg.

LARRIVÉE LSV-11 FINGERSTYLE Image

LARRIVÉE LSV-11 FINGERSTYLE

- single Venetian cutaway body, solid Canadian Sitka spruce top, solid Indian rosewood back and sides, enlarged round soundhole with abalone rosette, one-piece South American mahogany neck, 14/19-fret ebony fingerboard with deluxe abalone f...

LARRIVÉE B-03RE BASS Image

LARRIVÉE B-03RE BASS

- rounded body, solid Canadian Sitka spruce top, solid Indian rosewood back and sides, round soundhole with three-ring rosette, symmetrical parabolic Canadian Sitka spruce X-bracing, Canadian maple body binding, one-piece mahogany neck, han...

LARRIVÉE L-19 CALIFORNIA ANNIVERSARY Image

LARRIVÉE L-19 CALIFORNIA ANNIVERSARY

- Larrivee body style, Indian rosewood back and sides, solid Sitka spruce top, mahogany neck, African ebony fingerboard and bridge, multi-layer rosewood body binding, soundhole with abalone rosette, headstock volute, palm tree with logo hea...

LARRIVÉE 0-40 MAHOGANY Image

LARRIVÉE 0-40 MAHOGANY

- Concert style body, Canadian Sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides, multi-strip rosette, Canadian maple body binding, mahogany neck, maple bound ebony fingerboard with diamond inlays, ebony headstock overlay with logo, three-per-side...

LARRIVÉE D-LITE Image

LARRIVÉE D-LITE

- dreadnought style, solid spruce top, wood fiber body binding, round soundhole, mahogany back/sides, mahogany neck, 14/20-fret ebony fingerboard, three-per-side chrome tuners, ebony bridge with white bridgepins (satin) pickguard, available...

LARRIVÉE L-19 LVE Image

LARRIVÉE L-19 LVE

- 16 in. body, solid Sitka spruce top, solid rosewood back and sides, mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard with vine inlays, ebony bridge with wing inlays, abalone rosette, tortoiseshell pickguard, headstock with vine inlay, natural finish, mfg...

LARRIVÉE P-03 Image

LARRIVÉE P-03

- 13.25 in. body, solid Sitka spruce top, solid mahogany back and sides, maple body binding, mahogany neck, 12/19-fret ebony fingerboard, ebony bridge, tortoiseshell pickguard, three-per-side tuners, available in Natural finish, current mfg...

LARRIVÉE JV-03 Mahogany Standard Cutaway Image

LARRIVÉE JV-03 Mahogany Standard Cutaway

- single cutaway, Canadian Sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides, multi-strip rosette, Canadian maple body binding, mahogany neck, ivoroid bound ebony fingerboard, three-per-side tuners, ebony bridge, tortoiseshell pickguard, current mf...

LARRIVÉE 0-40R Rosewood Image

LARRIVÉE 0-40R Rosewood

- Concert style body, Canadian Sitka spruce top, Indian Rosewood back and sides, multi-strip rosette, Canadian maple body binding, mahogany neck, maple bound ebony fingerboard with diamond inlays, ebony headstock overlay with logo, three-pe...

LARRIVÉE L-03 MAHOGANY STANDARD Image

LARRIVÉE L-03 MAHOGANY STANDARD

- Canadian Sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides, multi-strip rosette, Canadian maple body binding, mahogany neck, ivoroid bound ebony fingerboard, three-per-side tuners, ebony bridge, tortoiseshell pickguard, current mfg.

LARRIVÉE L-LITE Image

LARRIVÉE L-LITE

- similar to the D-Lite, except features Larrivée body (Larrivée Series) design, available in Natural satin finish, mfg. 1997-99.

LARRIVÉE D-03 MAHOGANY STANDARD Image

LARRIVÉE D-03 MAHOGANY STANDARD

- Canadian Sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides, multi-strip rosette, Canadian maple body binding, mahogany neck, ivoroid bound ebony fingerboard, three-per-side tuners, ebony bridge, tortoiseshell pickguard, current mfg.

LARRIVÉE 00-40 MAHOGANY Image

LARRIVÉE 00-40 MAHOGANY

- Grand Concert style body, Canadian Sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides, multi-strip rosette, Canadian maple body binding, mahogany neck, maple bound ebony fingerboard with diamond inlays, ebony headstock overlay with logo, three-per...

LARRIVÉE OM-03 MAHOGANY STANDARD Image

LARRIVÉE OM-03 MAHOGANY STANDARD

- Canadian Sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides, multi-strip rosette, Canadian maple body binding, mahogany neck, ivoroid bound ebony fingerboard, three-per-side tuners, ebony bridge, tortoiseshell pickguard, current mfg.

LARRIVÉE P-03R Rosewood Image

LARRIVÉE P-03R Rosewood

- 13.25 in. body, solid Sitka spruce top, Indian Rosewood back and sides, maple body binding, mahogany neck, 12/19-fret ebony fingerboard, ebony bridge, tortoiseshell pickguard, three-per-side tuners, available in Natural finish, current mf...

LARRIVÉE 00-50 Image

LARRIVÉE 00-50

- 00-sized body, Sitka Spruce top, solid mahogany backand sides, maple body binding with herringbone, tortoiseshell pickguard, mahogany neck, 12/19-fret ebony fingerboard with dot inlay, ebony bridge, three-per-side tuners, Natural finish,...