5 Best Parlour Guitars - Traditional Small Bodied Acoustics - All Under £500!
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- čas přidán 17. 07. 2024
- Meg takes a closer look at 5 of our favourite small-bodied Parlor Acoustics. Find out more about any of the guitars featured in this video at PMT Online...
Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy: bit.ly/3dZXvdo
Tanglewood Java TWJP: bit.ly/3q3yvYw
Epiphone L-00 Studio: bit.ly/323RCJZ
Faith Naked Mercury: bit.ly/3E0D5f8
PRS SE P20 Tonare: bit.ly/3pYCxBr
00:00 Best Parlor Guitars Tone Comparison
00:50 What Is A Parlour Guitar?
02:14 Gretsch G9500 Jim Dandy - Features & Specifications
03:58 Gretsch Jim Dandy - Demo
04:50 Tanglewood Java TW JP - Features & Specification
06:33 Tanglewood TWJP - Demo
07:32 Epiphone L-00 Studio - Features & Specifications
09:27 Epiphone L-00 Studio - Demo
10:22 Faith Naked Mercury - Features & Specifications
12:00 Faith Naked Mercury - Demo
13:08 PRS SE Tonare P20 - Features & Demo
14:44 PRS P20 - Demo
15:33 Where To Buy Best Parlor Guitars
Other gear used in this video...
Lewitt-Audio LCT-440 Pure Condenser Microphone: bit.ly/3dZxnzA
Rode LavGo Lavalier Microphone: bit.ly/3mbjx1h
With an ever growing demand for smaller acoustics, whether its for travelling, for kids or even just to have a convenient acoustic next to the sofa to pick up whilst you're watching Netflix, Parlor guitars have been a growing popular choice. If you aren’t too familiar with what a parlour guitar is, these are one of the oldest acoustics dating back to the late 1800's and one of the first guitars to be made widely popular with steel strings instead of nylon strings.
They were predominately used by musicians for performances in smaller venues such as bars or parlours, hence the name. They tend to have a slightly shorter scale length than a standard acoustic and they have a recognisable elongated body shape which makes them distinguishable from your classic Dreadnought or Concert size. Because of the smaller body they also do tend to have a slightly higher tone with more midrange than bass, this does make these guitars particularly popular for folk, blues and roots guitarists due to the twangy tone.
In this acoustic guitar buying guide, we answer the question "what is a parlor guitar?" and recommend 5 of the best parlor guitars for under £500 from the likes of Gretsch, Tanglewood, Faith, PRS and Epiphone. So if you're looking for a small sized acoustic or the best travel acoustic or an acoustic for kids, take a quick look and listen here with PMTVUK and try one out at your nearest Professional Music Technology store...
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Jim Dandy sounding boxy is exactly what makes it so cool...
The opening montage makes your video the most useful on the topic on CZcams. Thanks!
This is easily the most useful PMT video I've seen. Well done.
you play guitar with so much care and delicacy its so beautiful
The back on that Java is AMAZING 😍
Very nicely done and informative video comparison. Thank you!
Just got this very same Jim Dandy, absolutely love it!
Informative. Well done.
Very nice guitar and playing great video thanks
I could have done with more picking in this video, but the bit at the start of the Jim Dandy demo is enough to make this one the one I most want to investigate further. Beautiful playing there, by the way.
The Faith is my favorite with the PRS close behind , the Epiphone wasnt bad at all, and The Tanglewood had it going on too.I still like my old Taylor BigBaby for a couch guitar. But the Gretch looked and sounded " vintage " for a parlour guitar
As much as I love your playing and the sound of an open tuned guitar, I'd sure like to hear these in standard tuning with the same piece played on each guitar in order to get a better baseline for comparison, not just with each other but with other guitars on CZcams.
thank you for this review
Cool. I got the D9500 as my only acoustic & love it
Kala has some very nice 3/4 or parlor sized guitars in both solid mahogany top for the classical and I believe solid cedar for the steel stringed instrument at around the $200 and less range.
I actually bought the classical in spite of building baritone Ukuleles as a hobby in my retirement because at Sweetwater it was about $160 with free shipping and I could not build one cheaper since I'd half to buy the tone woods.
Great job 👍
The PRS and the Epiphone have a lovely tone....I may have to acquire one of those two some day....
I got a Gin Rickey (which is the Jim Dandy with a fancy looking pick up installed), enjoy it a lot!
Healy very simple strumming pattern and chords but lovely touch well done
Loved the Joni Mitchell theme on the Faith. Playing and tones were really good! Thanks. Roddy. :-)
What song was she strumming ?
The tanglewood twjf is a great guitar and sounds beutyfull i own one and love it. I Even compared it to guitars dobbelt the price guitars but they dont come near it. The Only bad thing is the freetboard is a little small if you have big hands. My second choice would be the faith !
Love the sound of that Faith Naked Guitar! Too bad not available in Canada! You don't ship to Canada, do you? I'd buy one sight unseen! Can you tell me what tuning was used in the beautiful demo playing?
I bought the Gretsch, my first Gretsch, and my first acoustic, I love it!
I toured for 3 years with the Gretsch JD as my main guitar. It is so great!
My addiction to Gretsch began when i bought a streamliner im torn between this or the more expensive acoustic electric vesion
Played the Gretsch Jim Dandy in a shop a few years ago and very nearly bought one. Played very well and pretty loud for its size
That little Gretsch sounds great!
Grest video ;)
I also love Art and Lutherie from Canada.
That PRS looks really nice! I was looking for a smaller-sized acoustic just a couple weeks ago, I'm a bit sad I didn't know about it to try it out. I didn't like the Gretsch very much, it's cheaper but the neck felt rough to play. I ended up getting a Fender campfire/malibu, pretty happy with it so far.
What's better Fender Sonoran or the gretsch?? Please
I tried a few out today, and absolutely loved the Fender Malibu! The Gretsch felt cheap and plastic to me also, and sounded to raspy/buzzy like. I did like the Gretsch Rancher parlor Penguin a bit better.
Godin made a really nice one also, but it was this weird silver/grey colour and not for me.
I'll pick one out soon.
Excellent video, very informative. After a long illness all of my possessions are gone including a gorgeous chrome red American Telecaster w/5 way p/u switching, an Alvarez MC90 nylon string classical, a Washburn D20 solid spruce top acoustic and my Fender Blues Deluxe tweed amplifier.
When I get out of the rehabilitation center, I have been here 4 years, I am enrolling in the Jazz guitar program at The DesPlaines School of Music. My main instrument will be an Ibanez semi hollow body in "green gradation." My "knock around" guitar for carrying back & forth to class will be a sea foam green Fender or Squirt Jazzmaster. Yes, I like green! 😉 For relaxing outside on my balcony, without messing with an amp, I would love a parlor guitar. 🤗 Do any of them come in green? 😄
Yes, the Jim Dandy
Who the hell at PRS thought that "heavy metal" headstock would go with a classic parlor guitar?
It ruins the guitar for me.
I wouldn’t exactly say that the PRS headstock looks “heavy metal” I think it’s the best looking guitar out of all of them. Maybe more of a modern feel to it, at least it’s different. If everyone did the “classic” design then they would all look the same & that’s just boring. At least PRS stands out from the rest.
That’s Prs signature head stock. It’s one if these things if your sitting in an audience you can truly know what guitar that is no matter how far away. And the strings go straight to the tuner which is ideal for staying in tune and intonation
Yeah for me it also ruins it
PJE also made quality acoustics. Met him at a stall at a festival , wound up going on a wee session with him , sound chap.
It would help if you quoted the nut width.
Really like the Faith guitar
What are your thoughts on the Gretsch Gin Rickey?
the epi sounds too brilliant.. wich kind strings .. do you wear.. !?
ors is just the fretboard.. !?
What strings are you using on these?
What's better Fender Sonoran or the gretsch?? Please
I like the faith and Tanglewood, PRS is nice.
Came to watch a video about guitars, got distracted by the fact Meg reminds me of Evanna Lynch
Either way, amazing video and playing!
No review is complete without an Eastman E10P Parlour here. One of the best I've ever played with the absolute best quality materials. I try not to by made in China for personal reasons, but that is once place that I broke my rule. At least the company is small with dedicated craftspeople...and it appears that they use ethically sourced woods etc. Where is the Canadian made Larrivee? Another killer!
1599,00 € is nowhere around 500...
The PMT website offers two nearly identical looking pure acoustic guitars with identical measurements, but one is called the PRS SE P20 Parlor and one is called the PRS SE PE20 Parlor Tonare and is much less expensive. What's the difference? The only ones I can see are the tuners are different colours and the P20 is heavier.
Which one of these is best for small hands.. Im tall so have long arms but small hands. Cheers
Love the tones of Parlour guitars. Mentioned before that I have a Simon & Patrick (Canadian Made in the Godin factory) and play it daily.
I have a Seagull Grand Coastline parlor from '99 , and an Arts and Luthiers
Ami , also from the '90's.
Both are great sounding cedar top parlors.
As far as a spruce top parlor, my Takamine g 406 vsb with a similar back as the Tangle wood in this video, sounds and looks great!
Honorable mention is a
Road King Ros 6 slotted head parlor.
Looks great, sounds good.
Best looking and sounding parlor I have played is the Alvarez ASP66SHB Mahogany top.
Have not tried the Master built Alvarez all solid Mahogany yet.
I've loved everything Godin makes that I've tried so far. Thank God it's not more popular, their prices are excellent. I'm looking for a parlor now. Which one did you get?
As a Canadian, I had hoped to purchase a parlour from Norman or Simon and Patrick that had all solid wood back and sides. Unfortunately they have discontinued both. I may have to go for one by Faith.
@@rossgill7462 What about the Art&Lutherie roadhouse? I played one a few days ago and it was very nice. Solid cedar top, and solid wood back and sides(forget which wood).
I like 24" (610mm) scale length parlors. The Gretsch lacks sound (I know, I got one...)The Faith looks cool, but 43mm neck is not enough for me, I like 45mm...
Very good parlors with all the specifications I want are very expansive, between 3000 or 4000 euros new... I found a very good compromise for 680 euros (only $550 if you live in the States) with the Martin 000-Junior. All solid woods, very good sound, 610 mm scale and 45mm nut. Almost the perfect guitar for me, almost the Parlor size body, just a little bigger... Great guitar!!! 😎
No truss rod for adjustment. Not good.
@@DEATHVIPER1777 Your're right! The Martin has a trussrod...
I’ve played the Gretsch a number of times. In my opinion, too thin a sound. Yes, I think it sounds like an old style catalog guitar. Doesn’t work for me. I’ve owned two Epiphone L00. Very nice looking and very easy to play, and the sound wasn’t bad. Projection was weak and really needs to be amped up. At least, that’s my opinion. I’m very interested in trying the Faith guitar.
Thank you
True. Epiphone loves using way too much gloss finish on their cheaper end guitars that it dampens the vibrations of the sound wood. If they were satin natural it would be killer.
Its weird you use a word like thin because i know what you mean but i would say its extremely thick. By that i mean its got a big boost in mostly high mid range frequencies, so its all body and no sparkle or bass. Boxy is another word i think means the same thing. Someone could say it lacks depth but to me thats another way of saying its super compressed and in-your-face, offering no soundstage really. Like with a dread it kinda sounds like its from inside an auditorium - with a parlor it might as well be coming from inside your skull.
What song where you strumming ?
I can't remember is it PMS in the states and PMT in the UK?
Is the Epiphone 00 the same exact size as the Gibson L-00 ??
Not a fan of the pickguard on the Gretsch. I think a black one would have looked better.
Tanglewood sounded the best to me, must be the combination of woods used. I'm surprised you didn't mention the Ibanez pn12e. I recently purchased one and it sounds great, has built-in electronics with a tuner, and was only $200.
F.y.i. drop tuning a parlor down to D standard makes them sound more full, just add a capo on the second fret for standard open tunings. Wishing you and everyone there a great new year. 😊
What's better Fender Sonoran or the gretsch?? Please
It's easily peeled off with a hairdryer 👍
Initially I felt the same re the white (actually vintage off-white) pickguard on the JD, but it's a great little guitar and you soon just get used to it.
Don't let it put you off.
That Faith sounded tremendous
Alvarez Guitars, Artist Parlor and the Art & Lutherie Roadhouse Parlor are two that I'm interested in. Seems to be very nice for the money.
I've got an Alvarez AP66SHB for around 18 month now all mahogony (solid top) and it's a great guitar, wonderful playable neck (no radius) and a great tone. I have a 6 guitars including a Taylor 314ce and I still tend to pick this one up it really is a great guitar, recomended.
Definitely check out the Alvarez range. It's an excellent brand. I have the Masterworks parlour and the sound is amazing.
Got a Art & Lutherie Roadhouse series (Tennessee Red). Amazing sound for a parlor. I play blues and fingerstyle (Landslide...). Great parlor!
@@markharwood7573 quick question as I’m eyeing up the Alvarez. Recording. Home studio. Finger picking. Would you recommend it? Or even the cheaper artist version. I’ve play on a cheap 1980s epiphany dreadnought and am now now looking for a finger picking guitar sound. Easier on the hand and fingers than my current model. Your thoughts would be appreciated
@@seasidebutstilldocked The MPA66ESHB has a great sound for fingerpicking, and it's a powerful flatpicker too. I think it's a tremendous guitar. Two things to consider, though: the fingerboard is just a bit narrow, and I find a foot stool helps with that; also, the string spacing at the bridge could have been wider for me. It's fine, you adjust, but with fingerpicks I'd like a little more.
So, for fingerpicking, I say it's great, it sounds clear, sweet and full, and there is no need for a larger guitar. But if you are used to (or very much prefer) wide string spacings, try before you buy.
I bought a Guild Troubadour. Sad it wasn't on here.
What are the prices of these guitars thanks
Love her playing. Now going to see if Lindsay Straw has a youtube channel in 3 ... 2 ...
Faith Naked Mercury was a real surprise.
I bought one and it’s ridiculously good. I don’t care for the look but it’s sound is brilliant. I had an LR Baggs put in and it’s astonishing. My two main guitars are Maton but for considerably less money (a fraction) this is simply the best.
What about Cort Gold P6, P8??
The solid wood tops make all the difference. Currently though those models are breaking through the 500 pounds barrier. The Faith and PRS sound great but the lack of fret markers on the top of the Faith puts me off. The PRS is over 500 pounds now too.
The PRS she's playing, the parlor tonare, is still £481 on the PMT website. There's another just called the parlor, which looks almost the same except for the headstock and is heavier and that's closer to £600.
Eppi 00 studio. very good choice, I love it
Although basswood is known as linden or limewood in Europe they are from different species with similar timber characteristics. It is a pale, tightly grained, easy to carve hardwood, and should in no way be considered a cheap substitute for anything else. It will have its own acoustic properties, as do other tone woods.
Which is smallest for a 5ft person?
Wish you had the Simon and Patric songsmith parlor in the line up
The guild memoir parlor is great
I had a very bad experience with the PRS and returned it.
Ugh… now I’ve got to get another Epi
I chose my Jim Dandy knowing that it's unique 'boxy' tone would still serve as a useful contrast once I eventually upgrade to a 'proper' guitar with a 'nice' tone. The fact it's cheap and compact means I never think twice about chucking it in the car, taking it out to parties or going camping with it - Well, I've still not gotten around to finding a 'nice' guitar. Instead I've installed a DeArmound Tone Boss sound hole pickup and paired it with humble little pignose amp. It's a dirty little blues beast now!
People who criticise them JDs need to remember that the great early delta players mainly used cheap guitars that they got from Sears Roebuck catalogues. No way Charley Patton used anything fancy.
That's how it's done. Just enjoy.
I have one of these as well. What strings did you use on it??
@@paullongaker8850 You can't go wrong with the stock EJ16s. However, I've opted for Retro Monel 12s to go with the soundhole pickup since theoretically the nickel alloy interacts better with the magnets. Acoustically Monel's aren't as strident as phosphor bronze but that's not necessarily a bad thing
@@-Pol- I think I have Martin Retros on it now , but not a fan. Might sound better if I had a pickup on it. Probably try some PB lights on it next
I have a Recording King parlor that I’d put over the Jim Dandy any day.
Great playing with relaxed non-classical postures. But, why are the nut widths left out of the otherwise precise info? People with smaller hands - who are many - need narrow necks, unless playing in classical posture, neck up, neck touched only by the tip of the thumb that´s under the neck and the tips of the other fingers.
bought the mini maton pre covid. but the string tension is quite high, so i love it and hate it.
Have you tried lighter strings?
Tune it down a half step
3:58 This Gretsch is so different!
Good informative non-biased look at these guitars. As a guitar teacher for many years I have bemoaned the fact that parlour guitars were not being made for smaller players, especially younger players . Elvis used a Gibson parlour in his musical movies for convenience and scale--- brilliant ! From this vid, I think the Epi sounds most like a full size guitar, but the Tanglewood the most balanced parlour sound. Gretch......? Nope. Cheap 40s Sears catalog hardwood top sound.
Hardwood? More like Formica worktop, sorry.
It could just be a bad example. If you go along a rack of the same models, no two will sound the same.
What's better Fender Sonoran or the gretsch?? Please
@@philosophy4242 dunno, I picked out a Fender electro-classical over a Taylor and it wasn't the price. It was just the best on the rack.
"40's Sears catalog...." You've really missed the point there...
Bla bla bla
Interesting. Not very much seems to have changed in the last ten years: In 2012, I bought an Epiphone EJ200 which just sounded bland. I've found this with almost all Episode-acoustics I played... and the one presented here seems to be no exception. It sounded as if we only hear the strings, without the body contributing much. That PRS... well, the headstock just looks plain WRONG & oversized for the parkour-size of the body. Then again, right after selling off my EJ200 in the spring of 2013, by accident I saw an interesting looking parlour from a brand I'd never heard of before. Turns out it was a Tanglewood Premier TW173, neck joining @14th fret, un-slotted headstock (very much like the classic Martin shape). I picked her up, and didn't expect t much considering the price...end of story: I bought it, and with very little work (bone-nut plus setup), this became my main Acoustic and has been ever since. It is not the loudest guitar acoustically, but it gets mic'ed at gigs anyway. What I got for the small lack of volume, is a very detailed sound with great, very even sound (scientifically: no "boom", no "plink"). While not the loudest, it still allows for very dynamic playing. As it's a parkour, my Tanglewood has proven to be a perfect guitar for travelling, with a sound that belies its' price & size.
Vete a por epiphone masterbuild. Esas guitarras suenan maravillosas.
Tanglewood seem to make quite good guitars. I have one i have used for awhile which is really good but cheap only 160 euros. Recently bought a fender acoustic parlor and i havent got used to the difference in sound volume yet but i am glad i bought it because it is so comfortable
Richwood P50 !!!
Why not a Taylor Mini?
Not at the price point of the rest of these. Under 500.
Parlor or parlour guitar usually refers to a type of acoustic guitar smaller than a Size No.0 Concert Guitar by C. F. Martin & Company. Mottola's Cyclopedic Dictionary of Lutherie Terms describes the term as referring to "any guitar that is narrower than current standards."
Gretsch jim dandy define real parlour earlier era sound ,trully for bluesman n fingerpicker style
As far as I'm concerned it's gotta have a slotted headstock or you might as well buy a Dreadnaught
For the price range I would definitely consider buying either the Martin Dreadnaught Junior or the Martin 000 Junior. Both these guitars are made of solid wood and sound fantastic. As everyone knows Martin is a renowned guitar maker with a top of the pile reputation. I bought the Dreadnaught Junior with a spruce top and Sepele mahogany back and sides. It joins at the 14th fret and has a 1.75” nut width. I bought it new in Canada for $600 Canadian, which at today’s exchange rate is 320 pounds Sterling. I assume there might be higher shipping costs to the UK however, it would likely fit well within the cost range you discussed.
Yeah martin has some nice sounds from their Jr's but no one really wants a richlite fretboard/bridge, it just makes an instrument feel cheap even a name brand as grand as Martin
I agree I would prefer an ebony bridge and fingerboard; however, for $600 Canadian I accept the richlite compromise for an otherwise mahogany and Sepele Spruce top very resonate sounding Martin option. The richlite does not look or feel any different to ebony when playing. It certainly does not look cheap.
Definitly a good option. If you can get it, I would consider either the Recording King Dirty 30s series (RPS-7) or an Alvarez Blues 51. Especially the later one, because the QC of Recording King sucks and you have to get lucky
А где же art & lutherie?😢
=== The Gretsch and the Epiphone sounded the best. ====
If you want a parlor guitar under $500 then definitely check out the Recording King Dirty Thirties 11 series. The 11 series is all wood. No laminate! It’s head and shoulders above anything else in its price range. After you buy one come back here and thank me
Tanglewood Java is out of tune?
Why not plaing the same thing on every guitar and why are the last three guitars downtuned ??
My complaint is that most of these guitars seem to have a lot more body than what is traditionally labeled a parlor guitar. They seem to be larger guitars joined at the 12th
This was a good comparison between those guitars for sound.
Clearly there was one immediate loser for me sound wise, the Gretch. It sounded like recorded trough a sewer pipe and played back on a 1970s transistor radio. The all laminate construction surely contributing to this.
I would place the Epiphone third, it has a full sound but still a bit boxy, the Tanglewood is second, the sound is well balanced.
The winner however for me is the Faith Mercury, it's like the Tanglewood very balanced, but it is richer in overtones which makes it sing more.
I'm looking to buy a new guitar and watching dozens of reviews, and still Faith is on top of the to want list, as they score high in tone, playability and finish.
Only Taylor is the real contender for me in a slightly higher price bracket however
Really? I just bought the Gretch G9500 Jim Dandy today and am in love with it. I've wanted it for years and finally took the plunge. No regrets here! :)
i bought the jim dandy, but then again, i like sewer pipes & transistor radios ! 🤔
I seriously doubt that any of these guitars are actually parlour sized instruments.I own a true parlour by Washburn.All of the featured guitars appear to be 00 size one of which actually identifies itself as a 00.I do wish people would stop refering to what are actually 00 guitars as parlours they patently are not.Only the Gretch appears slightly smaller but is still not convincing me as to its parlour credentials..............................................
I tried a Gretsch parlor, sounded n' felt more like a toy then a guitar im hoping that one was a dud, these dont sound as bad.
I don’t think so. I tried one and thought exactly the same. I don’t get why they are rated.
It would have been most helpful if you would have played the same music passages on every instrument. Anytime you are doing side by side comparisons of different guitars, you can only get an accurate review if the same progression is performed on each instrument.
Not one of these has a wider neck. For me a parlour has to have a nut width of at least 45mm.
I am just going to order Harley Benton custom line CLP-15ME with 45 mm nut width.
it is 239 EU, maybe you want higher quality I dont know, just an idea for you.
@@neita9066 Thanks but I'm not looking for one at the moment. I have an all solid woods Recording King with a 45mm nut. I also have an old parlour with a 48mm width. Good luck with yours when you get it. It looks great.
Typically I really dislike PRS, but it blows the others away here in terms of tone
Faith良いよ
PMT, please in your review videos, refrain from playing in harmonic tunings (like this example of the Faith guitar). All review or guitars played as exemplars should be played in standard tuning for our reference. Thank you.
Only needed to watch the 1st minute. The Faith had the best tone by some distance.
Yamaha’s CSF series is better than everything that’s in this video
My ranking:
1 Epi
2 PRS
3 Faith
4 Tanglewood
5 Gretsch (pitiful)
I have the PRS, mine is a lot better than this example, sounds more parlour than the Epi which is larger and heavier finish. I have nothing against Gretsch the brand but this was a ringer for "awful cheap guitar" I wouldn't even give to kids even as it would be uninspiring. The other choices are a matter of taste
That Faith guitar sounds absolutely lovely, shame it has to look so bland.
I totally agree regarding the look but I walked out of PMT with one after being blown away with the sound.
No one says that they are all made in China. Why?
At this price I don't think it's possible to make them outside China. So it's kind of assumed.
no one cares😢
The Gretsch is made in Indonesia.
Some of the commentators need to read the title...." UNDER 500 POUNDS WHICH IS LIKE UNDER $600 Candian I believe. " Of course, you can't avoid the Martinites and Taylorites putting in their two cents, even though they don't make anything in the price range being discussed here. Good review for what it is......I personally wouldn't buy any of these because I have a better and more expensive one, but for beginners and kids it's an excellent review, despite the off topic comments by the usual snobs lol!
Nice review. No offense, but the Jim Dandy plays rough at best and doesn't sound good to my ear. I have played quite a few parlor guitars and I personally like the sound and feel of the PRS p20 guitar. I have never played the Faith or the Java guitars but they both sound great. Peace
That rough boxy spank is why I love mine so much. Sonically it's a total contrast to my friends lovely sounding Taylor but it matches my taste for rough 'n' ready finger pickin' blues much better. It's a lot of fun to play and I tend to find that whenever I pass it over to someone at a jam session it's a while before I get it back.
Faith sounded best to me
For us SMALL-HAND guitarists: We may be attracted to the parlor's "small-body" image, but I caution that parlors usually have terribly wide, fat necks/nuts and flat fretboard radiuses that are the opposite of what we need. Plus, a "12-fret" scale means that the frets are farther apart than on a 14-fret instrument. If you have small hands, forget most "parlors."
wtf are you even talking about?
1. "12-fret scale" you serious? That means that neck meets body on 12 fret, not on the 14 fret like most guitars and now THAT means that your beloved first 3 frets are closer to you. And no, its NOT affecting distance between frets, you just have less frets to play. The actual scale length (aka 25.5", 24.75") affects distance between frets.
2. Historically parlors came right after classical guitars, so old models from 20th century may have thick and wide necks like their preancestors, but now times changed. Yes some companies can produce true-to-original spec parlors to pay tribute to the old times, but there is plenty of modern one's as well. Ed Sheeran plays parlors almost forever at this point, do you think he is tall?
TL;DR READ THE FUCKING SPECS BEFORE BUYING SOMETHING
liked the look of the gretsch but it just sounds tinny to me, I really enjoyed the Faith.