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Post by Onechordtrick on May 26, 2024 14:06:30 GMT
I have a hankering for a parlour sized guitar. I prefer smaller bodies and 12 frets over 14.
Not concerned about the lack of volume as it’s for home use and it’ll be almost exclusively fingerstyle.
So what are the downsides? If any?
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Post by earwighoney on May 26, 2024 14:51:11 GMT
What body size do you have in mind? The term Parlour seems to be used for a number of different sizes. I've seen some guitars which I would describe as an OO or a concert body, say a lower bout at around 14.5" described as parlour guitars.
Eastman refer to their 13.75" wide guitars as parlour guitars, whilst some would refer to them as 'Single O's'. In the Martin tradition, I think they would refer to 'parlor' guitars as ones smaller than their O sized models.
I have a lot of experience playing smaller bodied but none smaller than Single O's.
If you have a 13.75" sized guitar as a parlour guitar, then from my experience the one I have is fantastic for playing fingerstyle, doesn't have much bass or sustain, but works beautiful for playing fingerstyle blues and slide guitar. It's not great for enthusiastic strumming though! But I barely ever play with a pick, so that doesn't matter too much.
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Post by Onechordtrick on May 26, 2024 14:55:39 GMT
What body size do you have in mind? The term Parlour seems to be used for a number of different sizes. I've seen some guitars which I would describe as an OO or a concert body, say a lower bout at around 14.5" described as parlour guitars. Eastman refer to their 13.75" wide guitars as parlour guitars, whilst some would refer to them as 'Single O's'. In the Martin tradition, I think they would refer to 'parlor' guitars as ones smaller than their O sized models. I have a lot of experience playing smaller bodied but none smaller than Single O's. If you have a 13.75" sized guitar as a parlour guitar, then from my experience the one I have is fantastic for playing fingerstyle, doesn't have much bass or sustain, but works beautiful for playing fingerstyle blues and slide guitar. It's not great for enthusiastic strumming though! But I barely ever play with a pick, so that doesn't matter too much. Thanks I’m thinking around the Martin O size. |
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ocarolan
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Post by ocarolan on May 26, 2024 15:42:27 GMT
I'm a big fan of smaller guitars, but I often find that when playing them sitting upright they are too low so I tend to use a strap to bring them into the same position as they would be if I were playing standing up. No strap needed for genuine slouched sofa noodling though - and a small body can be so cuddly then...
Keith
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Post by earwighoney on May 26, 2024 16:33:30 GMT
What body size do you have in mind? The term Parlour seems to be used for a number of different sizes. I've seen some guitars which I would describe as an OO or a concert body, say a lower bout at around 14.5" described as parlour guitars. Eastman refer to their 13.75" wide guitars as parlour guitars, whilst some would refer to them as 'Single O's'. In the Martin tradition, I think they would refer to 'parlor' guitars as ones smaller than their O sized models. I have a lot of experience playing smaller bodied but none smaller than Single O's. If you have a 13.75" sized guitar as a parlour guitar, then from my experience the one I have is fantastic for playing fingerstyle, doesn't have much bass or sustain, but works beautiful for playing fingerstyle blues and slide guitar. It's not great for enthusiastic strumming though! But I barely ever play with a pick, so that doesn't matter too much. Thanks I’m thinking around the Martin O size.
I like this size a lot. Good for fingerpicking whilst sitting on the couch.
I have the predecessor of this model, which isn't the best sounding guitar I own but one I seem to pick up more than the others. |
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Post by borborygmus on May 26, 2024 16:43:10 GMT
I have a hankering for a parlour sized guitar. I prefer smaller bodies and 12 frets over 14. I have a similar hankering. I think I do use the word "parlour" when I really just mean "small and cuddly". I have seen definitions for "parlour" saying the lower bout width typically ranges from 12 to 13.5 inches, and scale length around 24 inches. Parlour, yes or no: Martin 0-28? Gibson L-00? Taylor GS Mini? I just sold a Martin 0-28VS because I couldn't get on with the, not untypical, thick Martin neck. I don't think Martin call this a parlour, just the smallest full-size guitar they make. That leaves me with a Recording King Dirty 30's Solid Top Harmonella guitar as my smallest. It's a single 0 size. I bought it in Clarksdale Mississippi as a sort of souvenir of a blues road trip, it was only a couple of hundred bucks. It has a very dry, vintage tone, not very sophisticated, but fun for some things. I have just taken it off the wall - it needs new strings  But I would like something a bit more refined in a small body. I look forward to hearing about your candidates. Peter |
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Post by borborygmus on May 26, 2024 16:48:12 GMT
Just outside of Clarksdale Mississippi is the Shack Up Inn, where you stay in, um, shacks. In the reception area was this array of guitars, and you are allowed to just borrow one to take to your shack.  This is a picture of the Stella I borrowed, and the Recording King I bought, taken in our shack.  |
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Post by Onechordtrick on May 26, 2024 17:04:11 GMT
But I would like something a bit more refined in a small body. I look forward to hearing about your candidates. Peter There’s a Furch OOM on Reverb that I may have more than a passing interest in  |
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Post by Phil Taylor on May 26, 2024 18:48:24 GMT
But I would like something a bit more refined in a small body. I look forward to hearing about your candidates. Peter There’s a Furch OOM on Reverb that I may have more than a passing interest in I’ve seen a Brook Lyn for sale somewhere. Gorgeous looking thing it was. Unique as well. I’ll let you know if I find it. 😉 Phil |
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Post by Onechordtrick on May 26, 2024 19:02:58 GMT
There’s a Furch OOM on Reverb that I may have more than a passing interest in I’ve seen a Brook Lyn for sale somewhere. Gorgeous looking thing it was. Unique as well. I’ll let you know if I find it. 😉 Phil Thanks, I was very tempted but I already have a Lyn |
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Post by fred7 on May 27, 2024 21:07:23 GMT
As ocarolan has mentioned, my first thought was to the lower position of holding one whilst sitting but you're used to a Little Jane so that won't be a problem. My sister has a small 12 fretter which I love playing. That Furch OOM sounds tempting. |
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Post by Onechordtrick on May 27, 2024 21:27:27 GMT
As ocarolan has mentioned, my first thought was to the lower position of holding one whilst sitting but you're used to a Little Jane so that won't be a problem. My sister has a small 12 fretter which I love playing. That Furch OOM sounds tempting. I used to have a Vintage Paul Brett 12 string that was very comfortable to play. I only sold it because it wasn’t played enough but that was down to the number of strings rather than its size. I also prefer to use a foot stool that somewhat negates the lower position. |
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My main instrument is: A Francis Milsom parlour guitar
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Post by doc on May 28, 2024 9:17:04 GMT
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Post by cesspit on May 29, 2024 8:48:59 GMT
I have a Faith mercury naked. Cheap solid wood parlour that I use, mainly when we holiday in the UK.
I'm away in Cornwall at present and the Faith is here. Brilliant little guitar that I would highly recommend.
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Post by fatfingerjohn on May 29, 2024 9:03:39 GMT
If I'd realised that Francis does haircuts too I would have had one when I picked up Lacy! 'Does that look OK for you sir?'. (Mind Doc needs more than a 'back and sides' (haircut-wise I mean, not guitar!). |
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