Larrivee OM-09 Monkeypod Custom

The Larrivee OM-40 is our top-selling guitar, and the OM-09 is in our top ten, so when Larrivee said they were doing a limited run of custom OM-09s with the 40-series bracing, I jumped on that one within seconds. Of course, a 40-braced OM-09 on its own would be a special instrument, but this one adds Monkeypod (also called Raintree or Saman) back and sides.

How best to describe the killer tone that is Monkeypod? Well, I suppose if East Indian Rosewood and Honduran Big Leaf Mahogany had a love child, it would be named Monkeypod (don't any of you young parents out there go getting crazy ideas about baby names). It has the punch and projection of mahogany, but colored with the lushness of rosewood. This really is a sweet instrument.

• OM body shape
• Sitka Spruce top over Monkeypod back and sides
• 40-series scalloped bracing
• No onboard electronics
• Includes Larrivee hardshell case