LARRIVÉE GUITARS
BAKERSFIELD
BY DIMITRI SIDERIADIS
It’s not puzzling that the Telecaster continues to inspire guitar builders.
Elegant—arguably perfect—but dead simple, the Tele practically beckons luthiers
to reinterpret its iconic design. Jean
Larrivée knows a thing or two about tackling classics. His first instruments were
inspired by the great classical builders of
Spain and Germany, and his beautiful
interpretations of mid-century American
flattops have been one of the cornerstones
of his company’s business since it was
born in Toronto in the late ’60s. So it’s
Forearm
body contour
little surprise that the Canadian-turned-Californian luthier would be compelled
to try his own take on a Tele-style in the
form of the Bakersfield.
While many players may think acous-
tics when they think Larrivée, the com-
pany has a long history of dabbling in
solidbody electrics, from pointy metal
machines in the ’80s to the more
recent RS series. Larrivée also
had a big hand in making the
Seymour Duncan 35, a
recent limited-run clone
of Seymour’s own customized Tele—the
TeleGib—that the pickup wizard built
35 years ago. The sum of that experience
adds up to a Tele-style that’s both unique
and exceptionally playable.
Seymour Duncan
SM1 mini humbucker
Seymour Duncan Custom
Shop Real Broadcaster
bridge pickup
