The loar lh-350-vs

[Jpchartrand]

Bump! Sorry but I wanna make sure my friend doesn't get ripped off. I'm sure one of you guys know about this brand

[rolandjuno6]

All you really need to do is to go play it and find out for yourself.

[Jpchartrand]

Originally Posted by rolandjuno6

All you really need to do is to go play it and find out for yourself.

What a useless comment.

I'm looking for feedback on the quality of these guitars. If anyone can help, I would really appreciate it.

[kennybro]

OK, so I've never owned one, but I've got a bud who picked up the 600. It's very nice. I'm pretty sure the 350 also has a solid sruce top, which is a big plus, soundwise. Even an ES175 has a laminated top. Acoustically, the Loars are more in the league of Heritage with the solid carved top and figured back and sides.

The 600 has no cutaway. His is a very nice guitar for the money, great fit work, thin nitro finish. I've been seriously considering a 350 myself, since I sold my ES175 and my Heritage 575. My guess, from playing the 600, is that the 350 will stand up to both the 175 and the 575.

It's made in China, of course, if that's an issue, but it looks about on par with the Heritage Sweet 16 (same size and construction materials and design), which is a tremendous jazz box, actually much nicer than their 575, which can be a bit ham fisted at times, like a rock guitar trying to be a jazz guitar. His Loar 600 has a more finessed and refined feel, lighter and more responsive than the Heritage 575, (or that non-cut Godin that it's actually more like).

I can say that the 600 is a very nice guitar, better than it's price; and I've heard or read nothing bad about the 350, only good stuff so far. If I get my hands on one soon, I'll update.

[Jpchartrand]

Originally Posted by kennybro

OK, so I've never owned one, but I've got a bud who picked up the 600. It's very nice. I'm pretty sure the 350 also has a solid sruce top, which is a big plus, soundwise. Even an ES175 has a laminated top. Acoustically, the Loars are more in the league of Heritage with the solid carved top and figured back and sides.

The 600 has no cutaway. His is a very nice guitar for the money, great fit work, thin nitro finish. I've been seriously considering a 350 myself, since I sold my ES175 and my Heritage 575. My guess, from playing the 600, is that the 350 will stand up to both the 175 and the 575.

It's made in China, of course, if that's an issue, but it looks about on par with the Heritage Sweet 16 (same size and construction materials and design), which is a tremendous jazz box, actually much nicer than their 575, which can be a bit ham fisted at times, like a rock guitar trying to be a jazz guitar. His Loar 600 has a more finessed and refined feel, lighter and more responsive than the Heritage 575, (or that non-cut Godin that it's actually more like).

I can say that the 600 is a very nice guitar, better than it's price; and I've heard or read nothing bad about the 350, only good stuff so far. If I get my hands on one soon, I'll update.

Awesome ! Thanks for your feedback. I will pass it along and report back if he buys it :D

[infiner]

Loar makes some amazing guitars, and the Loar LH 350 VS is no exception. Loar has a former Gibson employee on hand doing the designs, and they certainly know what they are doing. Loar is part of The Music Link which also makes AXL, Recording King, and Johnson. Quality does not equal country of manufacture.

This particular guitar has a solid spruce top, and maple sides. The sides complement the spruce rather well, the sides may be laminate but this will keep the solid top in shape better than an all solid. I actually prefer maple over mahogany and rosewood. The cutaway is a very nice touch, especially for getting to those hard to reach upper frets.

Definitely get a case and a strap for this guitar it is worth it. Keep it humidified with a humidifier, store for long periods with strings slack and in climate controlled areas, solid tops are sensitive to humidity, and will crack or warp if they get too dry or wet.

I speak from hard earned experience here. I had a Martin with a solid top go belly up once due to humidity, not a fun experience but the Martin survives.

Also, have an expert guitar tech do a setup on the guitar as well.

[rolandjuno6]

Originally Posted by Jpchartrand

What a useless comment.

I'm looking for feedback on the quality of these guitars. If anyone can help, I would really appreciate it.

It depends on how you look at it. The import Epiphone Emporer is a pretty nice guitar. But it isn't necessarily a "better" guitar than the Loar. I have also played single pickup Gretsch and Godin guitars that were priced around about the same as the Loar. I liked them all right but not as much as a Loar or Epiphone.

If your friend doesn't mind spending more money he might like a 1950s ES-125 or ES-150 from a reputable dealer like Action Music or Elderly Instruments. If I didn't already have a 1952 ES-150 I would be very tempted by this 1967 Epiphone Century.
EPIPHONE E422T CENTURY (1967) - Elderly Instruments

[spielemusik]

I've played and owned The Loar 350. Only reason why I didn't keep it was because I eventually preferred the sound of a P90, so I currently own and play The Loar LH-309 - my favorite guitar! The 350 is a great archtop - nothing really compares to it in its price range. Godin comes close, but you have to compare apples to apples. The Loar 350 has a solid, hand-carved top. Laminates are not a bad thing with archtops - they give you a different sound. The thing about the Loar archtops I really like is the v profile neck, and the wide nut.

[Jpchartrand]

Originally Posted by spielemusik

I've played and owned The Loar 350. Only reason why I didn't keep it was because I eventually preferred the sound of a P90, so I currently own and play The Loar LH-309 - my favorite guitar! The 350 is a great archtop - nothing really compares to it in its price range. Godin comes close, but you have to compare apples to apples. The Loar 350 has a solid, hand-carved top. Laminates are not a bad thing with archtops - they give you a different sound. The thing about the Loar archtops I really like is the v profile neck, and the wide nut.

Thanks for the feedback!

[spielemusik]

No problem. Unless if your friend already knows, he/she might want to look into exactly what type of archtop sound he/she is looking for. A floating mini humbucker like the LH350 will sound like an amplified acoustic - a mounted pickup, like my P90 LH309, or a mounted humbucker, will sound more like an electric guitar that is also an archtop - hope that makes sense. They are two totally different sounds, and it really depends on whether your friend wants a guitar that sounds like an amplified acoustic, or a guitar that sounds more like an electric with some 'air' to it.

[Jpchartrand]

So my friend received his deloar LH650 and he's real happy with it. However there is a small "scratch" beneath the finish. He wonders if this will affect the value of the guitar over time or if it could become worse with time. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.