Larrivee Guitars are the result of what Jean Larrivee has called "success through ignorance". As a young builder, he gambled that a classical-style symmetrical bracing pattern might result in more balanced tone when used to build a steel-string guitar. He was, of course, correct, and Larrivee guitars ever since have been famous for their impeccable attention to balance. In fact, whenever we do head-to-head tests of various guitars in our shop, for anything under $2000, Larrivee inevitably wins the day as the most balanced of the bunch, whether it's the L-body or an OM. Different wood combinations mix things up, of course, but the essential design focus of Larrivee remains. If you're looking for a truly balanced sound, it really is hard to beat these.