John Squire’s Larrivée LS-10

This Larrivée LS-10 acoustic guitar is a custom shop model made around 1994. It’s a small-body “LS” (Larrivée’s Grand Concert size) with a spruce top, rosewood back and sides, an ebony fingerboard, and ornate abalone inlays on the headstock and neck. Squire’s LS-10 was also fitted with a Mimesis soundhole pickup—an early example of a Rare Earth-style acoustic pickup—for amplification.​​ ^[1]

John Squire acquired this guitar around the time The Stone Roses were recording Second Coming (1994) and used it for both studio recordings and live performances during that era.​​ ^[1]

The album features several acoustic-driven songs, and Squire likely played this Larrivée on Tightrope, a fully acoustic track showcasing intricate fingerpicking. Another likely candidate for the LS-10’s use is Your Star Will Shine, another acoustic-led song from the album.

During live performances in 1995, Squire would bring out an acoustic for these songs, and it’s presumed that the Larrivée was his main stage acoustic, fitted with the pickup for amplification. This claim comes from the auction house, though there don’t appear to be any images of John actually playing the guitar—at least none available online.

It may have also played a role in songwriting during the early Seahorses period.

Recent Years, Sale

Squire likely kept the Larrivée into his solo career as well. His 2004 album Marshall’s House features several acoustic tracks where this guitar could have been used—though that’s speculation at this point.

When the guitar was later sold, it came directly from Squire with documentation confirming that it was indeed the one heard on Second Coming. It was listed for $8,100, significantly higher than the usual $1,800 price for similar LS-10 models.