No Passion for The Parlor

[laughingskunk]

Well folks after being a short time parlor owner(a couple months) I sold mine. Im still trying to figure out exactly why. It was a beautiful little guitar and very comfortable to play. I guess it comes down to I didnt feel passionate about it like my other guitars. I didnt feel that it was a guitar that I had to grab when I sat down, or was at the computer and needed a guitar in my hands. Of the guitars I have owned it may have been the prettiest but did the least for me. This really surprised me because I am a big fan of Larrivee guitars, and love to hear others when they play there parlors(Larrivee or otherwise). My D-02 sits downstairs in the kitchen waiting  for me. I pick it up and play when I'm waiting for my wife to go out, or after I do the dishes, or when Im trying to write checks its there to tempt me. Like some others I know I'm a dread man. Theres something about holding on to that big ole body and feeling the vibrations against you. I also realized how much I like my little Martin. Sure it made be made out of countertop material but it has such a big booming sound and is so easy to play lounging on the couch or in bed. I did really like the spacing on the parlor felt easier to do fingerpicking on it than on my dread, but that still wasnt enough. I almost kept it but decided if I dont play it then it has to go, and I do hope that its next owner feels the zing for it. It's kinda funny its been through three owners in a fairly short time, all who were searching for something else. Maybe Im maturing and realize Im satisfied with what I have(highly unlikely) or maybe its just GAS for something else. Patrick

[oneeyedjack]

Parlors are for playing on the couch during the commercials or for travel so you don't totally jones for lack of a guitar. There's one in my future, either a Larrivee or a Girdis.

[Peter Cree]

"Parlors have specific sound that you either like or dislike."

Lao Tsu

[jwsamuel]

I felt the same way. I had a Little Martin and sold it to buy a satin Larrivee Parlor. SOmething about the Parlor just never felt right to me. So, I sold that and now have no little guitar. I may pick up another Little Martin or I may just forget that idea altogether. But I did like the Martin better.

Jim

[prof_stack]

Maybe I'm part of the big-body-guitar club, but the parlor guitars I have played (at least 5 Larrivees) have sounded boxy.  That's not what I like to hear in a guitar.

[HangFire]

I think it depends on the songs you play with the Parlor. I love mine on blues and some bluegrass, not so good on Beatles, I use my Dreads for that;-)

[Ratishna]

Little guitars are cute, and convenient to travel with, but there are sacrifices in sound and playing feel.  I wish you could get then with wider necks.  I'll stay with my small-bodied 1930s acoustics.  They have manly V necks.

E. Shoaf

[LaminateBoy]

but the parlor guitars I have played (at least 5 Larrivees) have sounded boxy.  That's not what I like to hear in a guitar.

The first thing to know about a cat, is that a cat is not a dog.

[Denis]

The first thing to know about a cat, is that a cat is not a dog.

Seems like a lot of former cat owners thought they were buying a small dog.

[unclrob]

I use both my parlours{koa b+s,maple b+s} in place of a resonator,much more appealing to my ears.

[Rescon]

Me too!! I've only had her for two month and I just still keep thinkin', "do I keep this or let her go" It's not growing on me like I had hoped. IMO, all the hipe about the comfort and  palyability is true. The sound, not so much. "Boxy" sounding is a understatment. There is no sound comming out of the low E, which isn't unusual I guess, and there is very little separation between notes. Very sloppy sounding. Funny, when I first played it, I thought, Blues Guitar. I DON'T PLAY THE BLUES. I may just keep it for when my daughter get older it can be her first guitar. I really don't think different strings would do much. I hate cats...... :WNK>
Nick

[Peter Cree]

Coated strings on the parlor do suck.   D'ad 16's give the lower end its due.    Parlors also tend to lose the boxy sound in time.  But you have to like it and have the playing stlye that coaxes the sound out of them.

They are not for everyone and I'm very glad others don't make it through the honeymoon.

I want more of them.

[Denis]

Well, I have one on hold at a local store and I've played it for a grand total of about 30 minutes and I can't wait to get it home.  I think they are best suited to fingerstyle and especially ragtime type stuff.  The all mahogany versions must be sweet for the blues but the one I'm getting is rosewood.  I think it sounds great for alternate tunings like DADGAD too. 

[Caleb]

ive only played a few of them. in shops, with dead strings. never really did much for me. i figured they just had not been taken very good care of or something. but i was never even close to tempted to buy one. i, like some others here, have probably just not played the right one.

but if i were going with a small guitar, id likely go with the baby taylor. just something cool about that little axe to me.

[LaminateBoy]

The parlor does what it is supposed to do very well. But, rest assured that you won't hear any parlors on Windham Hill recordings.

[jwsamuel]

For me, the shortcomings of the parlor have nothin gto do with sound. I thought the mahogany one I had sounded great for fingerpicking. It did break up a bit when I used a pick on it. My problem had more to do with the way the thing felt. It's hard to explain but I never felt comfortable playing it.  Even though I am a fairly big person, the Little Martin just feels more comfortable to me.

Jim

[Denis]

For me, the shortcomings of the parlor have nothin gto do with sound. I thought the mahogany one I had sounded great for fingerpicking. It did break up a bit when I used a pick on it. My problem had more to do with the way the thing felt. It's hard to explain but I never felt comfortable playing it.  Even though I am a fairly big person, the Little Martin just feels more comfortable to me.

Jim

I don't think a pick should ever come near a parlor.  To me a parlor scream fingerstyle exclusively...that's me  though

[Peter Cree]

Actually the parlor records extremely well.

It's not the guitar but the player.  If parlors don't do it for you, cool.  Leaves more for me. 

I gig with mine as well.  Sweet.................through a mic.

[bleumax]

just like all guitars, no two parlors are alike.

i've had my hands on four different larrivee parlors and although all were nice in their own way, one was a particular stand out.

[HangFire]

I use both my parlours{koa b+s,maple b+s} in place of a resonator,much more appealing to my ears.

agreed!