I just purchased a Taylor mini for about $500 and I’m glad and sorry to say that I enjoy playing it almost as much as my cherished Martin. A few years ago I bought my first Cordoba (Cordoba GK), and was so impressed that I’ve stayed with them for several guitars/ukuleles since. I have an Alvarez AP710SB which is a variant of the AP70 in a sunburst finish. Chicago last TOC . Bottom Line: The Fender CP-100 is an excellent first step into parlor guitars or even as a gift for a child wanting to learn guitar for the first time. Got a Fender Ron Emory model — same dimensions as a CP-100 – fancier bridge – little stiff as a player, and of course not the projection I’d sound of a dreadnaught, but I like it a lot, Very Cool tele butterscotch color. Was curious about the wood used in the Washburn R320SWRK. I also have an Alvarez parlor model AP6090. Does anyone have experience with Weiss G 100 Parlor Guitars? Mahogany top and sides. This picture doesn’t really do justice to how beautiful the guitar is when you’re holding it in your hands. Expect a crisp, fairly neutral sound with fair amounts of definition and clarity. Fender’s CD-60S proves the point, offering a guitar that sounds great and is comfy to play - all delivered at a low, low price. The company also makes Seagull, their entry level offering. Both have a roughly 24″ scale length and look smaller than a full-sized guitar. But what is a parlor guitar and how is it different than a travel guitar? Then let's dive in... With Black Friday guitar deals and Cyber Monday guitar deals flooding in, now might be the perfect time to pick up a new sub-$500 acoustic guitar. Washburn. All-mahogany construction further enhances the Washburn’s bold, forthright tone - perfect for fingerstyle guitarists. I have an Alvarez MPA 70 Parlor. Top 5 Best Parlor Guitars (That Don’t Suck). While most travel guitars, including the Taylor GS Mini, have a smaller nut width (1 11/16″), most parlor guitars maintain a standard nut width of 1 3/4″. The Epiphone EJ-200SCE, for example, is a mix of spruce and maple, with a pau ferro fretboard. “The dreadnaught is king” they say. making it spec wise a 57 ,and 64 P bass 57 maple neck frets filed off professionally. Finally, the guitar that kickstarted renewed interest in parlor guitars when astronaut Chris Hadfield played it in space, the beautiful Larrivee P-09. It competes admirably too, offering big, full and refined sounds in GS Mini territory, if not quite as sublime. At this price, you’re getting all laminate wood which won’t matter to the average beginner guitarist but won’t get better with age like you hear with other guitars. *Note: Despite being recognized and marketed as parlor guitars, none of the manufacturers represented here choose to use “parlor” in the name of the guitar. Now the Washburn has a V neck, if you’re a player, you’ll adapt quickly. Workman ship is comparable to anything out there imho. Both have smaller bodies and both transport easily. In addition, instrument volume wasn’t as important since guitar players usually weren’t playing with large bands. Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer, Three-piece neck isn’t the most attractive, Today's best acoustic guitars under $500 deals, The rise, fall and rediscovery of the Fender Jaguar, How to set up a Les Paul: 7 essential tips, We check over 130 million products every day for the best prices. I went into my local music stores with my heart set on buying a Taylor GS Mini, or a Martin Dreadnought Junior. I doubt astronaut Chris Hadfield would ever have guessed the impact that his one little song would make on the history of the parlor guitar. I replaced the old tuners with Waverlies. I’m attracted to parlor guitars because I gather the bass-treble string balance is better than on dreadnoughts, which makes it a good tool for songwriting. The only complaint I have is that the tuners could be better… The G string tuner is stiff.