Larrivée Guitars

History

Jean Larrivée began a guitar-building apprenticeship with Edgar Moench Sr. in Toronto, Canada, 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 2001, Larrivée opened a second plant in California. However, in November 2013 Larrivée announced that it would be consolidating its Canadian division and closing its Vancouver factory.

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 have been designed by Wendy Larrivée except for a 1998 inlay called "The Joker". In 2007 Larrivée began using laser engraving for their inlays.

The astronaut Chris Hadfield performed a cover of David Bowie's "Space Oddity" on a Larrivée parlor guitar while in orbit on the International Space Station.

Model history

All models

(in numerical order):

01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 07, 09, 10, 11, 19, 20, 27, 28, 30, 31, 35, 38, 40, 41, 42, 45, 48, 50, 60, 70, 72, 78

Body Styles

The 03 Recording Series features all wood construction without the inlays and high gloss finishes. All models are now produced in the California facility.