Thursday, September 19, 2024
ClassicalGuitar

Why You Need a Parlor Guitar | TNAG Feature with Lindsay Straw


We’re back again to help sell you on (or help you justify!) another guitar acquisition: an inviting parlor guitar! With improvements in amplification, these small-bodied instruments aren’t limited to intimate performances anymore. Whether you prefer the narrow-bodied 19th century design or the more familiar feel of the scaled down 0, nearly every luthier is crafting their own lovable little parlor these days.

Scripted and performed by @LindsayStraw. Filmed and edited by Thien Phan.

Parlors and single 0s featured in this video:

Martin Custom Shop 0: https://thenorthamericanguitar.com/products/martin-custom-shop-0-pau-ferro-birdseye-maple-spruce-pre-owned

Santa Cruz Style 1: https://thenorthamericanguitar.com/products/santa-cruz-style-1-brazilian-rosewood-old-growth-adirondack-spruce

G.R. Bear SP 12-Fret: https://thenorthamericanguitar.com/products/gr-bear-12-fret-sp-maple-blackwood-engelmann-g-2100259

1918 Maurer Standard: https://thenorthamericanguitar.com/products/mauer-standard-brazilian-rosewood-spruce-pre-owned

Collings Parlor 2H T: https://thenorthamericanguitar.com/products/collings-parlor-2h-t-indian-rosewood-sitka-spruce

Breedlove Masterclass Parlor: https://thenorthamericanguitar.com/products/breedlove-masterclass-parlor-exclusive-brazilian-rosewood-adirondack-spruce-pre-owned

Tippin Staccato “Pink Lady”: https://thenorthamericanguitar.com/products/tippin-staccato-pink-lady-pre-owned

#parlorguitar #acousticguitar

#Parlor #Guitar #TNAG #Feature #Lindsay #Straw

Originally posted by UC4d4o8PA5vh6We8TlJU6aZQ at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOZEA0K3V2Y

44 thoughts on “Why You Need a Parlor Guitar | TNAG Feature with Lindsay Straw

  • I'm looking to start playing guitar but live in an apartment, so I need something quieter. Is a parlor guitar much quieter than a dreadnought ? Is it a good option for a beginner ?

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  • Probably a silly question, as I don’t see anyone doing it, but can I use a pick on a parlour guitar? I’m buying my first guitar and will be an absolute beginner. I would love to learn both finger style and pick, but I’ve fallen in love with the parlour size and sound. Thank you ????

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  • I love my new Fender Malibu! ???? It's an acoustic-electric, so loudness isn't an issue. It feels more like playing an electric guitar, which helps the playability. It stays on my bed, and feels so good in my arms!

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  • Parlour guitars: not just for ladies with little hands…but mainly. 😉 (I'm only winding you up)

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  • you play beautifully, and i am actually quite surprised and impressed with the fullness in tone of these instruments. i DO need a parlor guitar!

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  • I love listening to this, and would love to learn to play. Does anyone know the tunes she is playing?

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  • The sound of that Collings gets me misty eyed. Shout out to the Vietnamese brother on video production…

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  • Did you even name the guitars? The links don't really work anymore for me.
    But seeing some of the parlor guitar prices in that shop: 15.000… ????
    Yeah sure a guitar in that range should sound right…

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  • paradox– these are sometimes the loudest guitars around. You can't lay into them like a dred, but for picking, they are among the best!

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  • Thanks for sharing. Great video! I did not knew what were these guitars. Eventhough I have seen many guitarists playing a Parlor guitar, I did not knew all the things you explained. Thank you very much and congratulations. I am looking forward for a Parlor one.

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  • The Collings is too treble forward for me. What's your fav that's more bass forward (not needing volume). Great vid!

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  • I have a lovely Stadium parlor guitar and i like it because I keep it close bye ,watching tv or relaxing and i just grab it and play and experiment and I really like it very much . I just like it close by and fool around
    with it ,writing songs or entertaining in an interment setting and i fool around with finger picking that I try and never really did it that much before. Nice . Thank you for the reminder Lindsey . Cheers, The Elusive Kenny Brown.

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  • "They were made small to be comfortable for women to play" oh for sure ????, these feminists……

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  • I have about 10 or so guitars, my most expensive and best is a Martin D35, I also have an OM Alvarez from the early 70s made in Japan, an older Fender dreadnought, A guild classical, a 57 Gibson ES 125 and several electric guitars. Years ago I bought my kids a cheap $50 Olympian by Tacoma parlor guitar made in Indonesia as its small and perfect for a kid to learn on. They never really got the bug like I hoped they would and it sat around for a long time. Several years ago I decided to go over it and make it better to take camping as we have an RV and I just didn't like to take my more expensive guitars out in the outdoor weather as well as have them in an RV during travel. I put on bone bridge pins, nut and saddle, Grover mini tuners and did a proper set up on it and installed a JDL Bridge Dr which I put on all my acoustic guitars. I also, after watching a guy do this on a YouTube video, drilled out three holes (sound ports) on the upper top bout, the closet to the neck is about 1.25 inches and they are about 3/4 of an inch apart and the largest is 2.25 inches, the middle one is between the two in size. The finish on it is a flat finish so it turned out looking like it was made this way. It boosted the sound and looks pretty cool in my opinion, totally don't regret doing it and its been this way for a good 5 or more years with no issues. I take it camping all the time and it sits right next to me in my office so I can just reach over and grab it anytime I feel. I totally play it way more then any of my others just because its so convenient. I love it and am just blown away at how great of a little guitar it is for not hardly any money. If I hit it on the desk which I have many times I don't really care. I would recommend anyone who wants one of these smaller type guitars but can't afford to spend a bunch of cash on one to go find you one of these, they are still out there and still really cheap, make the adjustments and do a proper set up and you will probably love it as I do. Its perfect for watching videos and learning songs with at your desk and to take camping as well.

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  • Some of us don't want a guitar to be loud, to record in a studio, to be part of a band, to play for an audience, some of us want a guitar to express our feelings alone, on the couch, after a long day, to let our hearts speak through the chords, not using the guitar to impress someone, but to let our feelings tell a story, the guitar not being a tool to catch attention, but as an intimate friend, loving your guitar like a memory of a night sitting with your father on the porch.

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  • Wow! So clean picking. Each note is ringing crystal clear. I can easily do this on a nylon guitar as I only played nylon guitars. I don't know how steel string guitar players do this with their fingers/nails. Would anybody know how long does it take for a nylon string player to switch to steel string and make this clean sound?

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  • Thank you very much!
    I play a La Partrie Motif and someone told me I could use it with steel strings. Is that correct? Or would that ruin the instrument?

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  • A wonderful presentation thank you. I was delighted to be able to restore a parlour guitar recently, it was lovely to play and wonderful to give back to its owner to enjoy. Cheers Dave

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  • Such a class act, Miss Straw. Great finger-pickin' skills. Perfect spokesperson for TNAG, You could sell ice cubes for my freezer and I'd buy them after that playing.

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  • Do you have any alternate tunings you'd recommend or tunings (maybe Open E) best avoided on Parlor guitars?

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  • I'm actually really impressed with the sound of the parlor guitar. I was not familiar with them until now. I find they sound a lot like my Ovation. If I didn't switch to bass due to arthritis in my thumbs, I'd be looking for one. Not to mention, of course, Lindsay's playing! love her style!

    Reply

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