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Archives for March 2011

Larrivee plant tours part II

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Now I’d like to complete the final part of a post I did a while ago about a guided video tour of the Larrivee plant. If your a serious or casual guitarist, you might find some neat answers to questions about how they make acoustic guitars. Enjoy!

In video 4 @ 01:13, they talk about all the parts of the neck of a guitar. The way they carve the neck is a craftsmanship at it’s best. I was amazed at how many parts of it that has names attached to them. Who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks or words! The prep work before painting is neat as well as the technique itself. The finishing part that Larrivee uses in this section is called a UV finish. They use to use a lacquer finish now but took around 2 weeks to dry properly. The new stuff cures in a minute and a half in comparison to 2 weeks for the older finish. I wonder if the new finish they apply affects the guitar’s tone, even a little bit? If you know this answer, I’d love to here from you.

In video 5, they show a technician using wood shims while installing the neck of the guitar to the body. I just thought it would size up perfectly but for a supper snug fit, I can see how shims come in handy @ 01:52. The way the neck is glued onto the body has to be a bit stressful for the technician. This is brought to us @ 03:28. It has to be perfect or otherwise and little problems at this part of the process will be magnified at the end. If the friction fit dove tail section is not match perfect, I think that there you got some explaining to do! Near the end of this last video, at the final polishing/buffing stage, I was hoping that the guy was going to show us what might happen if he launches a guitar when using the buffing wheel. That would be priceless! At my second jewelry job, I did that launching thing once while polishing a necklace for a boss of mine and I mangled the hell out of it. it can honestly be quite dangerous.

Here are the remaining links to complete the Larrivee Plant Tour.

Part 4, and 5.

To finish off the tour I thought that I’d add video of the man himself Jean Larrivee the genius behind the Larrivee.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3P6HcKVTrY&NR=1

Keep on Jammin’





Off to see Bruce Cockburn, Neil Peart & Jeff Tweedy

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My beautiful wife Tricia, just got us some tickets to see Bruce Cockburn, Neil Peart and Jeff Tweedy being interviewed by George Stroumboulopoulos today! The show will be in the CBC building in downtown Toronto and I would not miss this for the world.

(side note: I wish I thought about telling you earlier Dom and Julian because I would of at attempted to get each of you guys tickets, at least to see the drumming god Neil Peart of RUSH.)

I believe that Bruce will be on to promote his 31st studio album Small Source of Comfort on True North Records.

I’ve seen Bruce before in Chicago and Mississauga but this will be a nice setting. Just him and George chattin’ together in a small studio. I’m bring my Larrivee in the hopes that he’ll sign it.

So wish me luck on getting to meet him after the show and get his signature!

Keep on Jammin’

Selinger’s Music in listowel Rocks

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Through good old Face Book I ran into an old guitar playing buddy of mine who now runs a music store called Selinger’s Music in Listowel (pronounced Lis-Twoll) Ontario. I’ve never been there before but if my buddy Al is the same kind of stand up guy he was when we were kidz then his store must truly rock.

Looking at a few pic’s from Selinger’s Music site, I spy some nice vintage axes hanging around the shop. He has a nice collection of Taylor acoustic guitars in all sizes. He also looks like he has a decent selection of amps and pedals as well. And speaking of pedals, the other part of the store he has that I like is his tech department that is dedicated to rebuilding vintage guitar pedals. It’s nice to see all those old school pedal(s) are there, still alive and kicking around!

If you check out this link you’ll see a picture of a very old pedal called the Silencer by Electro Harmonix that they are working on. I use to own one when I first started playing electric guitar and it brought back some painful memories. For the life of me I can’t remember what this pedal sounded like but I thought it looked real cool.

There’s an area in Selinger’s that highlights their drum section, which appears to be quite big. I’m not a drummer but what they had I was impressed with.

Last but not least you have to see this sign they have offering lessons to anyone purchasing any instrument, best ad I’ve seen in years.

Keep on Jammin’ Selinger Music in Listowel!

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