Need some advice please...Mahogany Parlor vs OM-03

[skinnybonedog]

HI All,

I am new here. Am looking to get an acoustic. I really can't play at this point. I tried to take lessons for reading music about 10 years ago with an Ovation. I loved the guitar but just could not get the hang of it so sold the guitar. A few weeks ago I got hit with wanting to try again so I went to Guitar Center to see what they had. I walked out with a Martin LXM only to find out that the thing is all HPL with no solid wood anywhere. It sounded ok but then I made a mistake last weekend and went to Buffalo Brothers guitar shop. I went looking to try a 00-15 Martin....but the Larrivee 0M-03 called my name....and that was it. So I thought I would try to find one used on Craigslist or ebay....not having much luck but I did find an ALL mahogany Parlor guitar for $500...the guy who has it says it does not have a model number on it. So what does that mean....he has not said if he is the original ower or not yet.

So here are my questions: What I want to learn is styles such as Steve Oliver and Craig Chiquico as well as just general playing....so is a parlor guitar too much in size to the 3/4 Martin I just took back....I found it too small and toy like.  Or would it work for me? Or would I be better off going with my initial feeling and getting an OM-03...I really like the OMV-03 but they are not easy to find are usually more than I want to spend....I only want to spend in the $400-$700 range . So the Parlor fits right in there....I have no use or want for electronics as I will just be playing whatever I get in my house with me, myself and I. I found that Notable Guitars has the OM-03 for $xxx brand new, shipped for free etc....so I could push my limit and go that route or post for a used one here. But if anyone has any thoughts regarding the Parlor Larrivee vs the OM-03 series I would really appreciate the help in deciding this.

Also can someone explain how things differ when using a 12 fret Parlor vs a 14 fret acoustic....I mean I know what it mean literally but for playing what I want to play, how would 12 vs 14 affect that?? I also got off ebay the Learn and Master Guitar DVD course....but now I have no guitar at all  :) so need to figure out what I should get. I do play piano by improv...can't read music for that either but I am musically inclined in case anyone wondered....I don't intend to learn to read musci as I just don't get it but I can already pick up songs from reading TAB.

Thanks,
Tammy

[Peter Cree]

Get the Om and have it set-up for your playing.

Forget the small size stuff etc for beginning.  Find a good solid guitar.  Set-up correctly you'll find it easy to play.   

Time enough later for niche guitars. 

And the OM is easy to sell if you want something else later.

[PortHueneme]

I agree go with the OM.
I find my OM the most versatile of all my guitars. I have a jumbo, a few dreads and O (same as a parlor).
I also have a Baby T. For playing around the house my OM is usually the guitar I pickup.

Spend a few bucks and get it set-up too, it will make all the difference in playability.
I also believe spending a little more can be a motivator to play, it is sometimes a reminder that you have an expensive hobby waiting for your attention.

Best of luck and let us know what you decide.

[stubby]

As much as I love my parlor, it does have its limitations, and I wouldn't recommend it as an only guitar. I would definitely go with the OM, or if you want a real "all rounder". check out the L series.

[sayheyjeff]

I like my parlor plenty and enjoy playing it fairly often.  However, I agree with the advise you already got, especially if you tried an om and liked it.  should not take too long to find one.

jeff

[skinnybonedog]

Hi,

Thanks for the thoughts to those who replied. I probably will go with the OM-03. But out of curiosity can anyone tell me anything more about the Parlor that has no model number....just this serial number 64561 ...it is all mahogany.

Thanks,
Tammy

[JoeInLex]

I believe that they were part of the original no-frills parlors that Larrivee developed and stopped marketing due to lack of a sufficient enough curtomer base at the time.  For whatever reason, the age of the Parlor has begun and those original all solid wood models are commanding a very large price compared to their original costs (for the most part).  I frankly loved the parlor sound and feel for the longest time (having collected several) but as of about 3 months ago I have outgrown them to the point where they are rarely played compared to my LV-09, OMVs, and dare I wirite it, a Taylor (blasphemy).  Just prefer the fuller sound of the larger bodies.  Just more substance.  I believe that everyone should at least at one time own a parlor just for their comfort and playability.  Nice couch guitars.  Larrivee I think has pretty much defined what a good quality parlor is supposed to be.

[saintandsinnerguy]

In my opinion.....the All Hog parlor for $500 is an absolute steal if it is in good shape.  Grab that, and a used OM and you are set my friend!  The All Hog parlor will be much, much harder to find......you can grab an OM anytime.  Get the hog parlor and run.

I missed out on the most recent all hog forum guitar in the sale section..... and kick myself hard.  I did, though, find another parlor (identical to my Mabelle) and in mint condition for a very nice price and am waiting for her to come in the mail on Monday.  I'll have 2 parlors again......one for my office and one for the house.  My Dred goes out for gigging.

But I digress, grab the all hog parlor (if in good condition) and run!

[imwjl]

Get the Om and have it set-up for your playing.

Forget the small size stuff etc for beginning.  Find a good solid guitar.  Set-up correctly you'll find it easy to play.   

Time enough later for niche guitars. 

And the OM is easy to sell if you want something else later.

I have to agree 100%. You want a nice versatile instrument above all. I have found that my OMV (OMV-03RE) is way more guitar than I expected. It kind of has it all in one intimate package - wide nut for finger style, cutaway for rockin' out and some darkness and percussive tone that makes it hold it's own. It is the perfect middle ground for me where my others are HD-28 and a Telecaster.

[bluesman67]

Get the Om and have it set-up for your playing.

Forget the small size stuff etc for beginning.  Find a good solid guitar.  Set-up correctly you'll find it easy to play.  

Time enough later for niche guitars. 

And the OM is easy to sell if you want something else later.

'Nuff said.

[bjstrings]

Yup. what Peter says.  An OM-size guitar will be plenty versatile for almost anything you can throw at it.  The paarlos are great guitars, but not right for every use.

[skinnybonedog]

Hi,

Can someone comment on the 12 vs 14 fret between the parlors and the standard guitars? How does it affect playing etc? I did just purchase an OMV-03 but may still try to grab that "hog" parlor since it is local and I could try it out first.

Thanks,
Tammy

[bjstrings]

The parlor will be easier to play, w/ less of a stretch to the far end of the fret board and the frets, relatively speaking, a little closer together.  Thats due to the shorter scale, not the 12/14 fret issue.  The 12 fret neck will just mean you will have a hard time playing any chord (or any fretted note, for that matter) that's up above the 12th fret.  Also, due to shorter scale, the strings will be both easier to fret and easier to bend.  The shorter the scale, the less tension there is on the strings, the less the volume (relatively speaking), and the easier it is to bend the strings. Many people prefer medium gauge strings on a shorter scale parlor to get more volume.  Also, with a shorter scale, its easier to play too hard and get buzzing when you pick "too" hard; this is somewhat overcome by using medium over light gauge strings.  Also, some people don't care for a parlor for hard strumming (its NOT the right tool for doing bluegrass rhythm guitar, for instance).   

[skinnybonedog]

bjstrings,

Awesome...thanks for the explaining that for me.  One more question....how does the size of a Parlor compare to the 3/4 size Little Martin that I returned?

Tammy

[bjstrings]

Its bigger:

The Martin has a 23" scale.  The Larri parlors are 24".
The lower bout on the Martin is 12", the Larri parlors are 13.125".
The Little Martin's body length is 15", the Larri Parlors are ???
Martin's body depth is 3"; Parlors are 4".
In addition, the Little Martins have a nut width of 1 & 11/16ths & the Larri parlors are 1.75"

I like my LX1 a lot, but it doesn't compare to the Larrivee Parlors.  The Larri's are much more guitar -- and much more money, too.  But you can see why the original Larrivee Parlors at ~$500 were such a great deal.  My spruce-top LX1 was $300.  The original parlors are much more than $200 better.

I hope that helps.

[skinnybonedog]

Thanks....I too liked the Little Martin....that is until I picked up the OM-03...then the Little Martin felt like a toy.  Thanks for the size descriptions....Parlor is quite a bit bigger than the LXM. So maybe one day I won't just have one guitar if I get into it  :)

[bjstrings]

Practice, practice.  The more you can do, the more fun it becomes.

Taking all that pretty (but inert) wood, wire, glue, steel, & plastic and making it all sing . . . wow!

[bobino]

Hi every one,

I've got my OM today and I could not be happier! It is a Mahogany back and side, with black binding, and a clear pick guard. I think it is an OM-02. Is it right?

Bobino

[rounder]

Hey bobino,

Congrats on your OM.  The 02 series are made of Sapele back and sides to the best of my knowledge.  I played one at Guitar Center years ago that was a great sounding guitar that I wish I had bought.

Welcome to the Forum!