No Passion for The Parlor

[Brett Valentine]

Anybody try using the Parlor in Nashville tuning?

Brett

[damianip]

Maybe it's just mine because it's an MT parlor, but I wouldn't describe the sound from it as "boxey". To me it's more of a barking sound, which, for some things, sounds absoutely perfect. It's my guitar of choice for imprompt blues jams, and, as described by others, couch playing.

When I think of boxey, I think of a more constricted sound combined with a lack of response. The Larrivee parlors don't sound constricted so much as slightly limited in range. I'm probably not making any sense here. However, mine has great volume and mid-range punch and is responsive to a fairly light touch with fingers.

The fretboard is definitely a little tighter than my other guitars, but the shorter scale lets me use mediums without a big playabliity hit.

I couldn't put it down for months after I got it. I'm finally getting back to my other guitars, but I wouldn't want to be forced to give it up.

So, in short, I guess the moral of the story is:

"De gustibus non est disputandum"

Paolo

[fitness1]

I had a VINTAGE 1897 Washburn parlor that was really sweet.....problem was it was just too fragile. It had also opened up so much that it was hard to put a mic in front of it....pretty boomy.   It was a really cool little collector's item and conversation piece though :GRN>

[Fredmando]

I like the KOA parlors the best and I hate to disagree with my Bro Denis, but the ones I try seem to flatpick pretty nicely ^_^ ^_^...of course I am not exactly a heavy picker!
Denis, did you get the mahogany?
The only thing that has really kept me from buying a parlor is the Martin 00 and the Martin 000-15's. Sweet! Yup, they aren't as small, but they are sweet!
--Fred

[Randy_R]

I like the KOA parlors the best and I hate to disagree with my Bro Denis, but the ones I try seem to flatpick pretty nicely ^_^ ^_^...of course I am not exactly a heavy picker!
Denis, did you get the mahogany?
The only thing that has really kept me from buying a parlor is the Martin 00 and the Martin 000-15's. Sweet! Yup, they aren't as small, but they are sweet!
--Fred

Fred,

Of course, there are always Larrivee OO's.......

[Denis]

I like the KOA parlors the best and I hate to disagree with my Bro Denis, but the ones I try seem to flatpick pretty nicely ^_^ ^_^...of course I am not exactly a heavy picker!
Denis, did you get the mahogany?
The only thing that has really kept me from buying a parlor is the Martin 00 and the Martin 000-15's. Sweet! Yup, they aren't as small, but they are sweet!
--Fred

No Fred, I got a satin rosewood on hold and I won't be able to go pick it up for another 4-5 weeks.  I will, one day, own another mahogany Larrivee.  More than likely an L-03.  BTW Fred, was it really necessary for you to talk about that OM-03R-12 string?  As if my GAS isn't bad enough you had to go an open your big fat... :WNK>

[pdc2506]

I would agree the Parlour fitted with light guage elixirs can sound boxy.

However if you replace the light gauge strings with medium gauge non coated strings, the boxiness is almost gone.

I think it takes medium gauge strings to get the Parlour to sound its best. I use Martin Phosphor bronze strings on mine.

Denis is right about the Parlour sounding good in DADGAD. I happily use DADGAD on my Parlour.

[sublro]

One note here - (forgive me if someone already said this, but I'm scanning quickly -

I have an A&L Ami (solid cedar top), which sounded OK, but REALLY came alive when I put medium strings on it. A short-scale guitar so still really easy to play with the med's

FWIW....

[Fredmando]

Denis--I am so sorry. I thought you were on medication for your GAS! ^_^
Next time, I'll send out a warning message before posting.
But, while we are on the subject, that was a great guitar!
The people who are suggesting medium strings on the parlors sound right on the mark. I know my D-03 sounds very different with mediums on it--it's like a different guitar all together.
--Fred

[solarbean]

I have found that they do not sound as nice as a full-size guitar when playing open chords, but that they sweeten up and sound awesome when playing barred chords and when moving up the neck.

Here's a sound sample (1.6 meg) : http://www.masolar.com/pub/parlor_ditty.mp3

[Denis]

Denis--I am so sorry. I thought you were on medication for your GAS! ^_^
Next time, I'll send out a warning message before posting.
But, while we are on the subject, that was a great guitar!
The people who are suggesting medium strings on the parlors sound right on the mark. I know my D-03 sounds very different with mediums on it--it's like a different guitar all together.
--Fred

I've only ever tried one Larrivee 12 string and it was a really beat up D-09 I think.  I'd love to try the OM-03R-12 or even the mahogany version.  As much as the 12 string is a GAS issue, I have recently become enamoured with a mahogany L, an L-05 to be exact.  Problem is, it would be a much longer wait than say an L-03.  I am not too sure how much difference in tone we'd be talking about.  Asthetics are not an issue for me...I love the 03 look anyway.  After I get the parlor, we'll see...after I get the parlor.  I want to spend many evenings with my new/used "couch guitar"first.

[Peter Cree]

I thought he said crotch guitar............

[Fredmando]

I thought he said crotch guitar............

(In my Beavis or Butthead voice) Heheheheh, he said Crotch!

[Peter Cree]

I'm a bit dyslexic so sometimes I misread things.

Did you just say heheheheheh?

[Denis]

I'm a bit dyslexic so sometimes I misread things.

Did you just say heheheheheh?

A bit dyslexic???   :WNK>

[Denis]

I thought he said crotch guitar............

You've got dirty mind Peter!!

[Fredmando]

I'm a bit dyslexic so sometimes I misread things.

Did you just say heheheheheh?

Yeah, but it doesn't come out as good as the cartoon, you know? If you ever see Beavis & Butthead you know the drill. Those boys get a quick charge out of any word like that.
Seriously, I almost saw "crotch" as well Peter, so you are not alone!

[Fredmando]

Denis, you and Peter seem to really be into the smaller body guitars.
I thought I was moving that way until I played my Taylor 355 and a couple of other jumbos.
Now,  I think I like Jumbos and OM's better than most dreads. Some of the slope dreads are different and more comfortable to play.
Now you have me thinking about a parlor again. Man, life is not fair!
--Fred

[Peter Cree]

No one ever said it was.

I've got jumbos , I've got dreads, Om's SD's etc.  After alot of years at it the body size doesn't equate to alot of fundamental qualities a guitar should have.  Build, tone woods etc creat a guitar that can be loud, sensitive, etc..  It doesn't matter what size it is.

I've got a Baritone 29" scale, with an M or 0000 configured body thats about the best guitar I've evr owned.  It's little sister, an O body EIR with 16 frets to the body, can equal the tone and volume of any dread.

The 455 is a nice guitar.  I've got the 355.  But its still pretty big.

Ain't the size of the dog in a fight but the size of the fight in the dog.

[Fredmando]

Peter, I had that wrong. I do remember you talking about your 355. I like my Taylor 12 string.
I seem to like the way the jumbos feel. I played a great Breedlove over the weekend that was their
entry level jumbo. Nice sound, but a little steep in price.
When I spend some time on my Santa Cruz OM it's very noticable going back to a dread like my D-03.
The jump to the jumbo doesn't seem to be the same--maybe it's the waist cut on both guitars.