The Loar LH-309

[Geert]

Exiting

The Loar Mobile

I'd like one in a black finish...would be cool


G

[M-ster]

You mean "exciting," right?

But, yes, it's an attractive "vintage" look.

[MGI]

Terrible burst. They make quite decent guitars, but they all are badly bursted. When I visited their factory, I pointed on this problem, but, seems, they don't care.

[Vihar]

It indeed looks weird with the rather small, well defined orange spot in the middle.

[Drifter]

As always, it seems to be a matter of taste. I like that kind of burst much better than a clearly defined drop shape.

I do wonder however why this is the cheapest archtop from The Loar. It's even cheaper than the LH-300, although it has a pickup that should add to the cost. Where is the snag to it?

[robertm2000]

Cost, schmost. Looks, schmooks. How does it SOUND??

[robertm2000]

Summer NAMM '11 - AXL Guitars 1216 Badwater Junior & Loar Guitars LH-309 Archtop Demos - PremierGuitar.com

Found this! Sound seems to have promise. It's a hand carved top, supposedly, for $499 (list? or street?). I may look at one.

[spiral]

Originally Posted by MGI

Terrible burst. They make quite decent guitars, but they all are badly bursted. When I visited their factory, I pointed on this problem, but, seems, they don't care.

I agree the photo looks patchy but my LH700 is beautiful. It is as nice as an L7 that i owned. The shape and size of the burst is highly subjective but i like it going to black all around the edges and the lighter color on the peak of the arch. I can't stand the lighter bursts where you can see the grain on the darker color, it looks unfinished or faded.

Originally Posted by robertm2000

Found this! Sound seems to have promise. It's a hand carved top, supposedly, for $499 (list? or street?). I may look at one.

All the Loars are carved, even the cheap ones. The 300, 500, and 600 just have less fancy features like fretboard material and simpler wood. The LH300 is $450 street; the LH309 @ $500 is probably street. Not sure how great a P90 is going to sound on a carved top but i'm all for variety. I love my Loar.

Thanks for posting.

Edit: Just listened to the clip. Sounds nice!

[mr. beaumont]

I'd have to play one...my gut says "Why the heck would I want a P90 on a carved top?"

But I've always loved the ES-125/150 style...

[murian]

Originally Posted by MGI

Terrible burst. They make quite decent guitars, but they all are badly bursted. When I visited their factory, I pointed on this problem, but, seems, they don't care.

Hi. Where is their factory? China or Korea?

[spiral]

Originally Posted by murian

Hi. Where is their factory? China or Korea?

China.

[Little Jay]

If they would make the top a laminate and put a cutaway, I think they would have a top seller 50ies 175-clone....... (I don't know any other brand that makes a 50ies 175-clone)

(I would buy it in a heartbeat!)

[Waynedog]

I ordered my LH-309 from Saint Fishy's Music Stand in Bartlett, TN. $473.00. Nice hardshell case $68.00. Free Shipping. I was taken back by the beauty of her at first. I'm a novice musician. With my 2.75 reading glasses on, I can see a light blotchy spot by the tail-piece.... and two small streaks in the stain coming from the lower f-hole. Polyurethane finish. I also have a light bleached out spot between the nut & first fret. I don't know much about P-90 pickups either. I play her thru a Peavey efx-112, 100 watt ecoustic amp. tones go from warm meaty to a twangy banjo like sound. Any suggestions on what strings sound best on this axe?

[Stevebol]

Anyone know what kind of finish is on these? I'm guessing polyurethane.

[Retroman1969]

See I'm another one that likes this kind of burst, which gives a vintage '20s L-5 hand rubbed look...


vs. the more common burst that, even on more expensive instruments, looks cheap, like Martha Stewart stenciled it on with a can of spray paint.

[mr. beaumont]

You all can ignore MGI, he bashes anything made in China that he doesn't make money on.

The Loar's bursts are great...very authentic looking vintage burst.

[PTChristopher]

[MGI]>>> I pointed on this problem, but, seems, they don't care.

Oooooh, they may care very much but just not consider themselves now specifically informed about a problem.

It may well be possible that they are very aware of the design aesthetics involved, and rather specifically choose this burst style.

Some may like it more or less than others, but it seems very informed and consistent with the guitar design.

Just one possible interpretation of the situation.

Chris

[Waynedog]

My father bought my mother a Gretch sunburst archtop around 1948? It was stolen in 1976 by her younger brother. This guitar looks a lot like it except the Gretch came with a pick guard.