acoustic dilemma

[G-lover]

Greetings all, this is my first post and I hope that you will be able to give me some direction on a problem I have:
My Garrison G-40 CE is cracked through from the sound hole down to past the bridge to the bottom of the body. It is also cracked on both sides of the neck. I only noticed the damage after a house party I was at and while I was having some humidification issues, it was nowhere near this kind of damage. So, who in Edmonton does good repair work and if my Garrison is not economically repairable, what should I replace it with? My budget is around
$1k but there is some wiggle room. I have a few options in mind but am open to suggestions.

1) Babicz Spider or Tribeca cut-away.
2) Larrivee LV-03 unamped cutaway and I'll mic it when I gig (and destroy my budget...)
3) Takamine EG523SC

I like innovation if it works and want to support cdn guitar builders which is why I bought the Garrison. Having had a look around this site I suspect I've come to the right place for advice. My thanks in advance.

[suttree]

that isn't uncommon on those guitars in my experience. the store i worked at had a few such issues. the owner of garrison seemed very genuinely interested in making great guitars, and would replace them under warantee. they've now been sold to gibson. what that will do to any attempt at a warantee claim is something i couldn't guess at. it's a humidification issue, and gibson may decide so, but i've seen others do it, and severe stuff at that. i theorize it's the bracing unit does not expand and contract with the wood, and that they're going to have to do some serious work on the materials or design to correct the problem overall, if it is possible to correct.

if you're replacing the guitar, get the larrivee, hands down. you can have a pickup installed when you're flush again. you won't regret the decision at all. see if you can find a used one on the market.

[onewiley3]

I agree with the previous poster about opting for the Larrivee. BUT, I honestly do believe that for gigging, it's hard to beat a Takamine. Ask Bruce Springsteen.

[RIFF WRATH]

Hi G-Lover, welcome aboard. sorry to hear your bad luck. hope you make a decision soon and get back to playing.
cheers
gerry

[mykey]

Why would you say Larrivee hands down? Have you tried the other two guitars? What are you basing this on, a name? You don't even know what the OP's criteria are.

I'm not saying that Larrivee's are bad guitars but I just don't like people who give opinions without providing any argument to support their reasoning. G-Lover could have just as easily used www.googlefight.com to tell him which guitar to purchase.

My suggestion is simple. Just play all of them and pick the one you think feels and sounds the best to you. As long as you are happy, it won't matter what others think.

As for advice, to avoid having another guitar crack on you, I'd look for handmade (not just handbuilt) guitars. Guitars in which all the components (i.e. bracing, body/sides, neck, etc...) are handmade are less prone to cracks as the process of building a guitar by hand takes longer, allowing the wood to expand/shrink gradually, at a more natural pace. Technology is great for making guitars quicker and cheaper but nothing beats a handmade guitar. At your price point that'll be hard to come by so look for something used.

Of course, if you're asking which is a better investment, then yes, get the Larrivee :)

[G-lover]

Hello and thank you to all of you who have replied thus far. My problem is this; I've tried the Tak and the Larrivee and really like them both. Unless I am heading down to the States soon, I won't be able to try the Babicz. I've listened to the youtube posts on this guitar and it seems like a good deal, but... reveiws and badly repro'ed 8-bit sound tells me nearly nothing. I would have to order it online and if I hate it, ship it back, which seems a big PITA. Some of the technology Babicz uses on it's guitars is being used on the new Martin OM-CRE so I suspect the technology can't be bad if Martin is adopting it.. Has anyone tried one of Babicz' guitars and if so, what did they think?
If I had the budget, I would go for a handmade guitar, but how realistic is it that I'll be able to find such a beast, unless it's the fabled guitar under Johnny's bed that his Mom is selling since he moved away.... If budget were no object, I'd be looking at a Manzer or a Ryan Bevel, or maybe a vintage Martin D-28, but since I don't have that kind of cash they'll be dreams for a while yet. I leaning toward the Larivee but I still have to get the Garrison assessed for a repair. That'll probably be in two weeks. Thanks again!

[Ship of fools]

That sounds more of a party problem then humidity, one crack and even two I would have said more than possible but it sounds more like someone just got carried away with your ax, which is to bad not sure the Garrison would be cost effective to repair, and while I really like Larrivee's if your kooking for a work horse for playing on stage with well I would stick with the Tak, sorry I have never tried the other guitar you mentioned so can offer no opinion on it.
As for a hand built guitar, well I don't think your budget is going to come close and I am not sure I would take my handbuilts out on a stage,recording studio, yes but not to play on a stage ( I'd be to afraid of someone accidently whatever to it ) I would also look at other brands these days the Chinese guitars being made are to shabby and some are just down right great guitars, but lkike in all guitars you have to look.
Good luck which ever way you go and put your babies away at the next party I would even lock them in a truck.Ship

[suttree]

Why would you say Larrivee hands down? Have you tried the other two guitars? What are you basing this on, a name? You don't even know what the OP's criteria are.

because i've played thousands of guitars in my life, and i've always been impressed with l'arivee's fit and finish. my first expensive guitar was a takamine, and she was a great guitar (got stolen in timmins). now i have an alvarez and a santa cruz. great guitars too... but i'll tell you there were a few $1500 l'arrivees that i had to think carefully about passing over in favour of my alvarez. which also leads me to mention alvarez guitars. the yairi's are some of the best guitars being made today, if the OP can find some (axe in edmonton used to be a dealer), they're well worth checking out. oh, and yes, i've played babicz guitars (even the prototype, at the NAMM booth a few years ago.. i have to say i wasn't floored.. but then the environment made it tough to really listen), and tons of takamines (and these ARE a great stage guitar, nothing against either brand). the thing is, are you buying a stage guitar (as in, does the OP have a bourgeois at home, and needs a plug in guitar to beat around), or are you buying an everything guitar... i'd argue that l'arrivee makes a consistently better "everything" guitar.


I'm not saying that Larrivee's are bad guitars but I just don't like people who give opinions without providing any argument to support their reasoning. G-Lover could have just as easily used www.googlefight.com to tell him which guitar to purchase.

that's ok by me, i have lots of friends, i can live without another one :D

My suggestion is simple. Just play all of them and pick the one you think feels and sounds the best to you. As long as you are happy, it won't matter what others think.

while this is excellent advice (and it's exactly the advice i've given numerous times here, and on other forums), the OP asked for opinions between those models, so that's what i gave him. ultimately, if the OP buys a guitar strictly because some random internet troll tells him to, then he's got bigger problems than which guitar to buy.

As for advice, to avoid having another guitar crack on you, I'd look for handmade (not just handbuilt) guitars. Guitars in which all the components (i.e. bracing, body/sides, neck, etc...) are handmade are less prone to cracks as the process of building a guitar by hand takes longer, allowing the wood to expand/shrink gradually, at a more natural pace. Technology is great for making guitars quicker and cheaper but nothing beats a handmade guitar. At your price point that'll be hard to come by so look for something used.

Of course, if you're asking which is a better investment, then yes, get the Larrivee :)

this is untrue. the attention to the wood drying process is one of the main factors in how well a guitar will survive extremes of humidity and temperature. this is something you will find on a boutique guitar more often, but then you're also looking at $3000 plus. that being said, i've seen plenty of cracked handmade guitars (my santa cruz comes to mind, or any of the legions of wonderful old martins out there). also, let me get this straight, you come out all guns a-blazin' about how the OP should forget silly considerations like brand, and buy the guitar that feels the best, but then add that no mass produced guitar can compete with a handbuilt? you're contradicting yourself there, aren't you?

[G-lover]

Suttree, Ship and Mykey, Thanks! I think irrespective of what happens with the Garrison, I will start looking for either a Larrivee or one of the Godin products. Since this would be my primary "home and recording" guitar vice the one going to the parties, It will be more secure. I am very interested in luthery and repairs, having set the action and building my own saddles for years now. Maybe I'll use the Garrison as my guinea pig for top repairs (and find a couple of yard sale specials to practice on first...).I know Axe has the Seagulls and I have always liked the tone of the cedar tops as much as spruce. I do tend to use the internet for research but I still realize that ultimately you have to hold it in your hot, sweaty little hands to see if the guitar fits your requirements. So where do I find a Larrivee for a decent price in Edmonton? :0)

[mykey]

because i've played thousands of guitars in my life, and i've always been impressed with l'arivee's fit and finish. my first expensive guitar was a takamine, and she was a great guitar (got stolen in timmins). now i have an alvarez and a santa cruz. great guitars too... but i'll tell you there were a few $1500 l'arrivees that i had to think carefully about passing over in favour of my alvarez. which also leads me to mention alvarez guitars. the yairi's are some of the best guitars being made today, if the OP can find some (axe in edmonton used to be a dealer), they're well worth checking out. oh, and yes, i've played babicz guitars (even the prototype, at the NAMM booth a few years ago.. i have to say i wasn't floored.. but then the environment made it tough to really listen), and tons of takamines (and these ARE a great stage guitar, nothing against either brand). the thing is, are you buying a stage guitar (as in, does the OP have a bourgeois at home, and needs a plug in guitar to beat around), or are you buying an everything guitar... i'd argue that l'arrivee makes a consistently better "everything" guitar.
That's a much stronger opinion that no one can argue with. It'll help the OP much more than just saying "get the Larrivee hands down".


that's ok by me, i have lots of friends, i can live without another one :D
I apologize. I didn't mean to sound like I didn't like you specifically. I just don't like opinions without any supporting arguments. I'm glad you have lots of friends ;)


while this is excellent advice (and it's exactly the advice i've given numerous times here, and on other forums), the OP asked for opinions between those models, so that's what i gave him. ultimately, if the OP buys a guitar strictly because some random internet troll tells him to, then he's got bigger problems than which guitar to buy.
You may have given the OP your preference but I disagree that it was an opinion. You shouldn't be surprised how easily people take the advice of some random internet troll and buy a guitar just because everyone said that brand is best, especially if you're giving the same advice here and on other forums.


this is untrue. the attention to the wood drying process is one of the main factors in how well a guitar will survive extremes of humidity and temperature. this is something you will find on a boutique guitar more often, but then you're also looking at $3000 plus. that being said, i've seen plenty of cracked handmade guitars (my santa cruz comes to mind, or any of the legions of wonderful old martins out there).
How is what I said untrue? An ideal wood drying process would take longer to allow for the wood to move. Building a guitar by hand lets you do this at every step of the process as opposed to a machine built guitar that's built in a day. I never said handmade boutique guitars were cheap. That's why i said at his pricepoint it would be hard to find, but still not impossible (just very close to).

Yes you are correct, even handmade guitars are prone to cracking. That's just the nature of working with organic materials. It's unpredictable. However, I would still put more faith in a handmade guitar not cracking than a machine made guitar if you took proper care of both (aside from manufacturing defects).

also, let me get this straight, you come out all guns a-blazin' about how the OP should forget silly considerations like brand, and buy the guitar that feels the best, but then add that no mass produced guitar can compete with a handbuilt? you're contradicting yourself there, aren't you?
I think you need to re-read my post. My post was not about one brand being better/worse than another. I never said forget silly considerations like brand. If I did, then why would I end by recommending the OP get a Larrivee for investment reasons? Clearly that means the Larrivee brand is better, warranted or not. I directed my question to you asking why you would just recommend a brand, especially without any arguments to support your recommendation. I gave my reasoning as to why I think a handmade guitar is better. If you disagree then that's your opinion. There is no contradiction with what I said.

[Slidewinder]

I just picked up a Babicz dreadnought rosewood cutaway with an engelmann spruce top and the L.R Baggs imix pickup.
http://www.hudsonvalleyguitars.com/shop/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=123
It sounds fantastic, but unfortunately the clips on the site are terrible. Those are not what the guitars sound like at all.
It's loud, big and clear. I've been playing a taylor 414ce for awhile now, which is also a great guitar but even my wife remarked that the babicz sounds bigger and warmer with better clarity.
It reminds me very much of a Santa Cruz I played awhile ago, but as far as unplugged acoustic tone it's closer to a martin than a taylor.
It has a thin neck from back to front, maybe too thin for some but it fits my hand well and I can get the action so low that you can shred on it without buzzing or high enough to play slide on in a matter of seconds with no loss of tuning or pitch.
I haven't played the Taylor in a few days and am honestly thinking of selling it to get a babicz spider.
Whatever the logic is behind these guitars, it's not a gimmick.
Unfortunately there aren't any babicz dealers in Canada at this point so I bought mine online.