Jean Larrivee Guitars USA

What Jean Larrivee Guitars USA does

Jean Larrivee Guitars USA Inc. is a family-owned American manufacturer of handcrafted acoustic and electric guitars, operating from a single facility at 1740 Jones Way in Oxnard, California since September 2001. The company was founded by Jean Larriv\u00e9e in Toronto in 1967 after he apprenticed under German luthier Edgar Munch Sr., and currently operates with his two sons, John Jr. and Matthew. All production was consolidated to the California location in November 2013 following the closure of the Vancouver, BC facility, with current output of approximately 8 guitars per day versus a peak of 32 guitars per day with 45+ staff at the prior Vancouver operation.

The company's product portfolio spans 14+ acoustic guitar series organized by tonewood and bracing architecture, ranging from the entry-level 01 Premiere Series ($1,299) to the flagship 72 Presentation Series ($9,149), plus the Baker-T Classic and Baker-T PRO electric guitars ($1,999-$2,899). Core technical differentiators are the proprietary X-Brace system (developed in the 1970s and still used industry-wide) and the Scalloped Parabolic Hybrid bracing exclusive to the 40/44 series. All guitars use all-solid wood construction with hand-fit dovetail neck joints, hand-selected FSC-certified tonewoods, and integrate L.R. Baggs pickup systems (Stagepro Element, Anthem) as standard or optional equipment. Wendy Larriv\u00e9e's inlay artwork across 25+ headstock designs represents a separate artist-driven brand asset.

Revenue is generated primarily through wholesale hardware sales to an authorized dealer network across North America and 22+ international distributors, supplemented by direct-to-consumer sales through the Pro Shop e-commerce storefront ($9 USA flat-rate shipping) and custom inlay services. The distribution strategy was upgraded in November 2025 with the launch of the Destination Dealers program, requiring participating retailers to maintain minimum 15 models across 5+ series. Marketing channels include artist endorsements (Brandon Lake, Kelsea Ballerini, Keith Urban, Tommy Emmanuel), the JCL Players Club newsletter, the Larriv\u00e9e Forum community, YouTube content (Jean's Bench series, 23+ episodes), and sponsorship of the Music Makers and Soul Shakers podcast. Customer segments are professional and semi-professional musicians, advanced amateur players, and guitar collectors; no institutional investors, private equity, or external capital structure is evidenced.

Name

Jean Larrivee Guitars USA

Legal name

Jean Larrivee Guitars USA Inc.

Website

https://larrivee.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1967

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Jean Larrivee Guitars USA is a family-owned American manufacturer of handcrafted acoustic and electric guitars, operating from a single Oxnard, California facility. Founded in 1967 by Jean Larriv\u00e9e, it sells all-solid-wood guitars ranging from $1,299 to $9,149 through dealer networks, international distributors, and direct-to-consumer channels to professional musicians, advanced amateurs, and collectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Acoustic & Electric Guitar Manufacturing

NAICS

Musical Instrument Manufacturing (339992), Musical Instrument and Supplies Retailers (45914)

SIC

Musical Instruments (3931)

akta.pro primary industry

Musical Instruments (Acoustic & Electric) (MPAIAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Musical Instrument Retail (Guitars, Keyboards, Drums, Band/Orchestra) (CRALAEAA)

Keywords

• Handcrafted acoustic guitars
• American-made electric guitars
• All-solid wood construction
• Guitar bracing systems
• Custom inlay artwork

Headquarters

HQ city

Oxnard

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Acoustic Guitars: Primary revenue stream from handcrafted acoustic guitars sold through dealer network and direct Pro Shop. All-solid wood construction across multiple series lines from entry-level Premiere Series ($1,299) to premium Presentation Series ($9,149).
2. Electric Guitars: American-made electric guitars including Baker-T Classic ($1,999) and Baker-T Pro ($2,899) featuring custom pickups, swamp ash bodies, and stainless steel hardware.
3. Pro Shop Accessories: E-commerce storefront selling apparel, leather goods, guitar accessories, tuners, cases, care products, and string winders. Flat-rate shipping model with $9 USA, $20 Canada, $25 International.
4. Custom Inlay Services: Custom inlay design work by Wendy Larrivée. Up to 4 additional months working period for current inlay designs. Custom one-off designs require approval and individual pricing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Jean Larrivée Guitars USA hand-builds premium acoustic and electric guitars in Oxnard, California, using all-solid tonewoods and the proprietary X-Brace or Scalloped Parabolic Hybrid bracing systems. The catalog spans more than ten named series ranging from the $1,299 Premiere line to the $9,149 Presentation flagship, complemented by L.R. Baggs pickup integrations, custom inlay work, and a Pro Shop of branded accessories and parts. Sales run through an authorized dealer network, Destination Dealer showcases, and the larrivee.com Pro Shop.

Product overview

Larrivée Guitars is a guitar manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of acoustic and electric guitars. The product lineup includes multiple acoustic guitar series (01 Premiere, 03 Recording, 05 Select, 09 Artist, 10 Deluxe, 40/44 Legacy, 50/60 Traditional, 24 Vintage, and 72 Presentation) distinguished by wood types, bracing systems, and appointments, plus the Baker-T Classic and Baker-T PRO electric guitars. The company integrates L.R. Baggs pickup systems as standard or optional equipment and offers custom inlay work by Wendy Larrivée. Guitars are built using all-solid wood construction with no laminates, featuring either X-Brace or Scalloped Hybrid bracing systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 01 Premiere Series Entry-level all-solid-wood acoustic guitar series returning after 25 years, handcrafted in Southern California with BC Sitka Spruce tops, African Khaya back and sides, and African Ebony fingerboard and bridge. Available in Parlor, OM, LV, and Dreadnought body styles for first-time Larrivée buyers.
• 03 Recording Series (Mahogany and Rosewood) American-built all-solid-wood mid-tier acoustic guitar line with hand-fit dovetail neck joint, available in African Khaya Mahogany and East Indian Rosewood variants. Includes L.R. Baggs Stagepro Element pickup system standard and is offered in all body styles.
• 05 Select Mahogany Series Complete mahogany line with FSC-certified African Khaya, JCL 18:1 tuners, maple body binding, abalone rosette, and silver headstock border for balanced tone at $3,499–$3,974.
• 09 Rosewood Artist Series Longest-standing model in the catalog representing Jean Larrivée's original 1970s recipe, featuring East Indian Rosewood back and sides, Sitka spruce top, and the X-Brace system for powerful yet balanced dynamic range at $3,899–$4,699.
• 10 Rosewood Deluxe Series Built from the finest-grade tonewoods sourced from the coastal jungles of West India, with Wendy Larrivée inlay work on the fingerboard and bridge wings and custom wood and inlay options at $5,249–$6,049.
• 40/44 Legacy Series (Mahogany and Rosewood) Acoustic guitar series featuring the revolutionary Scalloped Parabolic Hybrid bracing, combining non-symmetrical scalloped lateral cross-bracing with the X-Brace pattern for maximum soundboard vibration with controlled bass response. Built in America with bone nut and saddle, diamond fingerboard dots, and 18:1 open-back tuners.
• 50 Mahogany Traditional Series Vintage-inspired acoustic series with flat-top headstock, hand-carved volute, diamond inlays, enlarged soundhole, FSC-certified mahogany, herringbone trim, and casted bronze open-back tuners.
• 60 Rosewood Traditional Series Vintage-specification acoustic line featuring highest-grade rosewood, flat-top headstock, hand-carved volute, diamond inlays, enlarged soundhole, herringbone trim, and casted bronze open-back tuners with Wendy Larrivée engravings.
• 24 Mahogany Vintage Series Vintage-inspired acoustic series with a 24.75-inch short scale tailored for guitarists transitioning from electric to acoustic. Features Adirondack spruce top, vine inlay headstock, classic tulip tuners, pyramid bridge, and radial wood rosettes and purflings. Priced at $2,749–$2,949.
• 72 Presentation Series Flagship premium series using master-grade tonewoods from Jean Larrivée's private reserve, with complete abalone body purfling on top, back, and sides, plus abalone fingerboard extension. Available in all contemporary body styles with custom inlay combinations at $9,149.
• Simple 6 Series Most affordable Larrivée entry-level acoustic line, featuring all-solid wood construction with scalloped hybrid bracing and hand-fit dovetail neck joint, built solely in America with MAP pricing starting at $1,549.
• Western Cedar / American Walnut Limited Edition Limited-edition acoustic collection pairing American walnut with AAA Western Red Cedar tops, available in OM, LV, and D body styles with a unique tri-color herringbone rosette and purfling.
• Baker-T Classic Electric Guitar American-made electric guitar with single-piece ultra-light Swamp Ash body, custom Larrivée pickups, Gotoh SDS 510 tuners, polished stainless steel hardware, exclusive vintage electronics, and three interchangeable neck profiles (Fast, Standard, Historic). Priced at $1,999 with five finishes.
• Baker-T PRO Electric Guitar Ultra-high-end electric model offering cap wood selection in eight exotic options including Spalted Maple, Figured Rosewood, Flamed Maple, Quilted Maple, Bubinga, Hawaiian Koa, Ziricote, and Flamed Redwood. Built on a lightweight Swamp Ash body with a custom flamed maple neck upgrade. Priced at $2,899.
• L.R. Baggs Pickup Systems Integration L.R. Baggs pickup systems offered as standard or optional equipment on Larrivée guitars. Includes the Stagepro Element side-mounted preamp/EQ, Stagepro Anthem (TRU-MIC + Element), Anthem no-cut, and Element EAS systems for amplified stage and recording performance.
• Custom Inlay Work Service Bespoke inlay design and execution by Wendy Larrivée, including headstock inlays (Aimee, Angel, Cleopatra, Dancer, etc.), fingerboard inlays, and bridge wing inlays. Custom one-off designs require approval and individual pricing with up to four additional months of working period added to current designs.
• Pro Shop (Accessories and Parts) Direct-to-consumer online storefront at larrivee.com/shop offering Larrivée-branded apparel (jackets, hoodies, t-shirts), leather goods, picks, straps, guitar parts (tuners, nuts, bridges, pins), care products, and cases with flat-rate shipping ($9 USA, $20 Canada, $25 International).

Quantifiable outcome

• In 1997, Larrivée produced the first made-in-North America all-solid wood high-end guitar for under $800 (D-03), changing guitar industry accessibility
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• L.R. BaggscoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2000Partnership established approximately 25 years ago when Larrivée was searching worldwide for the ideal amplification system for high-end acoustic guitars. Lloyd Baggs located only 2 hours north of the Larrivée California factory. L.R. Baggs Stagepro Element, Anthem, and Anthem no-cut pickup systems are offered as standard or optional equipment on Larrivée guitars. Free installation of Stagepro Anthem and Anthem no-cut systems offered for dealer orders through February 2025 ($400 value).
• Long & McQuadeflagshipChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCanada's largest musical instrument retailer with 40+ years of Larrivée partnership dating back to Vancouver production era. Six Destination Dealers across six provinces. Features at least 15 guitars from 5 different series at each location. Special financing offers available.
• Music Makers and Soul Shakers PodcastminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBi-weekly Nashville podcast in its ninth season, produced by guitarist Steve Dawson (Larrivée player for 30+ years). Larrivée sponsors the show and gives away a new guitar every season. Features conversations with music legends including Norman Blake, John Hammond, Peter Rowan, Tommy Emmanuel, Robben Ford, Bettye LaVette.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Gibson: Iconic American guitar manufacturer offering both acoustic and electric instruments. Overlaps with Larrivée across acoustic and electric categories but operates at much greater scale with broader product portfolios spanning multiple price tiers.

Direct peers

• Bourgeois Guitars: Maine-based boutique acoustic guitar maker specializing in premium tonewoods and traditional construction. Comparable to Larrivée's Legacy and Traditional series in craftsmanship approach and high-end pricing ($4,000-$8,000+).
• Taylor Guitars: Premium American acoustic guitar manufacturer based in El Cajon, California. Competes head-to-head with Larrivée's Premiere and Recording series in the $1,000-$3,000 accessible premium segment, with significantly larger production scale and marketing investment.
• PRS Guitars: Premium American guitar maker competing directly with Larrivée's Baker-T Classic and Baker-T Pro electric lines. Both brands target professional guitarists seeking American-made quality with boutique positioning at accessible premium price points.
• C.F. Martin & Co. America's most iconic acoustic guitar maker, headquartered in Nazareth, Pennsylvania. Directly competes with Larrivée in the premium all-solid wood acoustic segment across overlapping price points ($1,500-$10,000+), serving the same professional musicians, collectors, and serious hobbyists through authorized dealer networks.
• Santa Cruz Guitar Company: California-based boutique acoustic guitar maker operating in the same premium tier as Larrivée. Both companies emphasize handcrafted construction, premium tonewoods, and artist endorsements, with overlapping customer bases among professional fingerstyle and acoustic players.
• Collings Guitars: Boutique American acoustic guitar builder based in Austin, Texas. Targets the same high-end professional and collector segment as Larrivée's Deluxe, Legacy, and Presentation series, with comparable handcrafted construction and similar premium pricing ($4,000-$10,000+).
• Breedlove Guitars: Pacific Northwest boutique acoustic guitar manufacturer offering all-solid wood instruments in similar price ranges. Competes with Larrivée in the advanced amateur and semi-professional segment through specialty dealers and direct-to-consumer channels.
• Guild Guitars: American acoustic guitar maker (originally founded in 1952, now owned by Cordoba Music Group) producing premium acoustics in similar price ranges. Competes with Larrivée in the traditional and dreadnought body style segments at mid-to-premium price points.
• Lowden Guitars: Northern Ireland-based boutique acoustic guitar maker known for premium tonewood selection and distinctive voicing. Comparable to Larrivée's higher-tier offerings in craftsmanship philosophy and price points ($3,500-$8,000+), competing for the same discerning professional and collector customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/LarriveeGuitars
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/LarriveeMedia
• Facebookfacebook.com/LarriveeGuitars
• Instagraminstagram.com/larriveeguitars
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/jean-larrivee-guitars-usa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Jean Larrivee Guitars USA