1999 Larrivee C-10E
This 1999 Larrivee C-10E Rosewood Deluxe is a highly appointed gloss finish guitar from the studio of Jean Larrivee, one of the early pioneers of custom guitar-making, and like all modern Larrivee guitars it is meticulously designed and built. Featuring a Florentine cutaway for easy reach to the upper frets, and a Fishman PRO-Blend pre-amp and pickup system, this instrument is ready to impress at your next coffeehouse gig. This C-10 model is very articulate and strong, with the famous Larrivee shimmer. Today’s MSRP is $7549, and its appearance and performance are worth every penny.
The unique mother-of-pearl and abalone fretboard inlays on this beautiful guitar enhance a gorgeous Canadian Sitka Spruce soundboard. The East Indian Rosewood back and sides is a very high grade set of rosewood, with long grain that is dark near the center. The ivoroid-bound fretboard, bridge, and headstock overlay are African Ebony, and the soundhole, bridge, purfling, and fretboard are inlayed with abalone. Multi-layer Indian Rosewood body bindings further the classy look of this instrument and look incredible next to the abalone purfling, and the clear pick guard presents no distraction from all this artistry.
The guitar plays comfortably with a 25 ½” scale and fast low action—a tad under 3/32” at the 12th fret low E. The single piece South American Mahogany neck is straight, and the frets are in 9.8/10 shape. Structurally, it is the same guitar as the L body: a 16” lower bout, but with a Florentine cutaway, a dovetail neck joint, symmetrical X-bracing, a 1 ¾” custom-made tusq nut and bone saddle with excellent intonation, and ebony and abalone bridge pins. This guitar sounds amazing, and is very responsive to a light touch – excellent for fingerstyle—but with all the resonance of a dreadnought.
This particular guitar has been dominating lesser instruments for some years—the serial number is 35338, which I believe indicates 1999, but only Larrivee can tell for sure, and they’re not answering the phone. This guitar is difficult to distinguish from new, with the exception of one bizarre nearly invisible flaw: a meticulously filled and touched up—reportedly by Jean Larrivee himself—micro-puncture near the middle of the back (I could only locate it by looking on the inside). There is a bit of faint buckle rash on the back and the barest beginnings of finish crazing at the back edge, but regardless, the resonance of its tonewoods will only improve with each new generation of players. Its gorgeous good looks make it stand out in a crowd, but it’s the purity of the Larrivee sound that will make other musicians turn around to check it out.
The included Deluxe Larrivee Arch-Top Case has almost no dings or bruises in the vinyl, and the soft black plush lining is clean and intact, but there is a single puncture like a nail hole in the back. All the hardware is working perfectly; structurally it is solid as a rock. It is an excellent complement for this fine guitar—and of course it offers outstanding protection.
Buyer pays a flat rate of $55 for insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. Payment by Paypal is preferred; cashier’s checks are acceptable, but checks must clear before the guitar will be shipped.
I have made every effort to describe and illustrate this guitar and case with scrupulous accuracy. Its return will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please check out the pictures and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy this wonderful instrument.
Thanks.
Payments by Paypal, cashier’s checks, money orders, or personal checks are acceptable, but all payments must clear my bank before the guitar will be shipped. I will CONSIDER reasonable offers, even including installment payments and trade-ins, but generally since I already attempt to price my guitars very competitively, unusual deals must be unusually sweet.
From henceforth [that's how retired English teachers talk], insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states is $55 due to constantly rising shipping costs unless a specific listing says otherwise; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. I have sold guitars to Russia, Japan, Australia, and over 50 other countries, as well as almost every state in the USA. Since some of my guitars travel thousands of miles, I take care to use lots of packing materials, protect the neck inside the case, and of course de-tune the strings.
I make every effort to describe and illustrate each guitar and case with scrupulous accuracy. However, many of my instruments are well-played vintage items which are many years old, and I am not a luthier. One should assume that any guitar will require some set-up to satisfy your personal requirements, and that not every flaw or ding will be seen/recognized/described in the listing. Thus the return of an instrument will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please read the listing carefully, check out the pictures, and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy.