larrivee parlor question

[johbren]

I recently got a LO-3 that I dearly love and have been thinking about one of the satin parlors why is it some of them have the ivroid binding on the neck and some dont. Also are they all 1.75 neck width got to have that. Any particular models that sound better than others?  I saw one that had a maple body on evil bay how do they compare to hog or rosewood. Personaly I like the sound of mahogany over rosewood but maybe rosewood would sound better on a parlor. any help is appreciated thanks :huh: :huh: :huh: :huh:

[Ratishna]

The very first parlors had no trim at all.  Binding was added later.  A few of the first had 1 11/16 necks but nearly all you will find are 1 3/4.  You can do a search here to read the many discussion threads about tonewoods in parlors.

E. Shoaf

[Randy_R]

your choice of a wood is very dependant on your own preferences.

I think the mahogany parlors are one of the best choices, but you should try some.

Luckily, you can always trade around if you want to try another wood   :WNK>

[Fergy07]

For my money, I chose the Koa, as it has a mellow sound like mahogany with some really nice killer looks.

Andy

[rpg51]

When I bought my Parlour I went to a shop that had several in various wood combinations.  The mahogony and spruce in that group was clearly the best.  Maybe it was just a small sample and that explains it.  I'm not sure.  But if you can, go to a shop and play them - they are different from on another.  When you get it I STRONGLY recommend that you through a bone saddle and a set of full medium 80/20 strings on there. 

[Denis]

I'll echo rpg51's statement about medium gauge strings.  I use 80/20's as well but I think the most important thing is really that they are mediums. 

Secondly, I was lucky enough to find my satin rosewood parlor nearly new in a local store.  They haven't made the satin finish parlors in a couple of years now and there have been a few sold on Ebay that have gone for big$ so shop around. 

I personally love the rosewood body on mine.  I've never actually tried a mahogany model that I remember.  I think the rosewood gives it a bit stronger bottom end, sustain and overtones.  Now, if you're looking to play blues, mahogany might be a better option but if you like celtic, folkier stuff, DADGAD and other alternate tunings, then rosewood is an excellent choice. 

I've had some two dozen or so guitars over the past 25 years and my parlor is quite possibly my favorite that I've ever owned.  I love playing fingerstyle on it especially.  Too much fun!!

[Blue in VT]

johbren,

AAAhhhh the parlor hunt.  I recently aquired one of those mahogany parlors with abosolutly no bling...trim...binding nothing...so I guess its one of the early models.  Anyway I love it....I followed the advice here and trew in a bone saddle...some new ebony bridge pins...and a set of Mediums...and it sounds fantastic.  The one you see on ebay....I think its maple too....looks nice...to bad the photos ain't so hot.  I have never played a maple parlor...but I think certain folks feel that maple works best on large bodied guitars....again this is only seconded hand "information" and I'm sure others will chime in.  Again the best thing you can do is play as many as possible.

Also as for buying on...ebay seems the more expensive way to go these days...if you hang out here long enough and watch some of the smaller guitar shops that carry used guitars a plain jane model should show up eventually for less that they are going for on ebay.

enjoy the hunt

Blue

[LaminateBoy]

I wouldn't get too hung up on the different woods. The difference is very subtle. The small size and the construction of the guitar are the overriding factors in its sound. I thought I could hear differences when I played the mahogany, rosewood and koa models, but when I turned my back and had the salesperson play them for me, they were indistinguishable, so I bought mahogany, the least expensive.

[Tycho]

Denis and rpg51, why would you recommend 80/20s over PBs?

[Denis]

Denis and rpg51, why would you recommend 80/20s over PBs?

I use them but I think it's a personal thing.  I wrote in my reply that medium gauge is the important thing.  80/20's are brighter the PB's when first put on the guitar but the brightness dies much quicker than PB's.  They still sound good after but not as bright.  I played phosphor for years and then all of a sudden, switched to 80/20.  And just a couple of weeks ago, someone was selling strings in the buy & sell section and I bought 4 sets of John Pearse "new" mediums in PB...a good string is a good string in my books.  Be it 80/20, PB, 85/15...etc.  For me, as long as they aren't coated...if they are Martins, D'Addarios, John Pearse...they all work for me.

[Tycho]

Thanks.  I may try them on my 00-50.  I've decided that I don't like PBs on it.

[bhika]

Thanks.  I may try them on my 00-50.  I've decided that I don't like PBs on it.

NEWTONES!!!!!!

[Tycho]

Them too!

[rpg51]

I think the rosewood gives it a bit stronger bottom end, sustain and overtones.  Now, if you're looking to play blues, mahogany might be a better option but if you like celtic, folkier stuff, DADGAD and other alternate tunings, then rosewood is an excellent choice. 

I've had some two dozen or so guitars over the past 25 years and my parlor is quite possibly my favorite that I've ever owned.  I love playing fingerstyle on it especially.  Too much fun!!

I agree with this comment about rosewood v. mahogany in general - BUT when I did my A/B of numerous Parlours including rosewood and mahog and maple I DID NOT find this to be the case and it was very much a surprise to me.  Again, it was a small sample, but it that small sample the mahog/spruce really stood out all these characteristics you describe and I agree are usually present with rosewood. Not sure if it is something about the small body?  Or maybe the top (which is by far the bigger factor) was poor on the rosewood.

I also agree that this little Parlour is my favorite guitar.  I love it. 

[Mati]

Yeah it totally depends on your preference as to what kind of sound you like.  The lighter the wood (Mahogony, Koa)  the brighter the sound.  The darker woods (Rosewood etc) have a deeper, bass sound to them.  With a guitar such as the parlour sometimes the darker woods give you a bit more volume and body.  My partner has an endorsement with Larrivee, and has two custom made Rosewood backed guitars and both will ring for hours when warmed up.  Just beautiful!  I just ordered myself the new Rosewood Parlour, and they sound pretty spectacular.  Anyway...Hope this helps :-) :mellow:

[Queequeg]

I've had a mahogany satin parlor for 3 years now & I like it so much I just received a rosewood from Dave @ Guitar Adoptions. Somewhere in between there I bought a SD-60, but thats another story, albeit, a happy one.
I love these parlors, I'm telling you. As the years have gone by, Larrivee has tricked them out a little more cosmetically. This new P-09 rosewood is beautiful. I have a number of guitars but i always have a parlor out of the case. I associate maple with Jumbos so maybe i wouldn't get that one myself, I don't know. But, hey- they look great, don't they?
I've strung them up with any number of different strings and I can't get them to misbehave.
I hope you find one soon & enjoy yours as much as I do mine.

[wyodeb]

I haven't tried a maple parlor (Unclrob has one, so maybe he'll chime in), but I have a maple OM 12-fret. I tried a maple L, but I really didn't like it. I think the 12-fret and maple is a magic combination. The only other maple guitars I really like are jumbos. I'm guessing the maple parlor would be bell-like, brighter than the rosewood, less "woody" than the mahogany.

Deb

[malone]

I have a satin Mahogany parlor, i love it, but why has no one mentioned that they do not play in tune on the low E past fret 7. I ordered a "custom bone saddle" from Larrivee and it does not address this problem. If you play with a capo up the neck then this is a real problem. I will second the medium guage choice for strings, and if you havent tried tuning it up a half step you should, you will be amazed. After a couple of different saddles and string choices ive setttled on .13s tuned standard but with a .59 on the low E because this is where the sound just dissapears . So apart from having to retune the E quite often it is a great guitar.

[Blue in VT]

hhhhhmmmmmm :huh: :huh:

this is not a problem that I have noticed with my parlor.....

seems to be proper tune all the way up the neck...

Blue