Parlor as main/only acoustic?

[Danny]

Another vote for OO. Parlors don't have the oomph of an OO. But they are not very big either, for an only guitar I would not want just want to have only a parlor.But I could easily be happy with just an OO.

[JOYCEfromNS]

Another vote for OO. Parlors don't have the oomph of an OO. But they are not very big either, for an only guitar I would not want just want to have only a parlor.But I could easily be happy with just an OO.

[Strings4Him]

Another vote for OO. Parlors don't have the oomph of an OO. But they are not very big either, for an only guitar I would not want just want to have only a parlor.But I could easily be happy with just an OO.

Yup!

[devellis]

I should also mention that when I say only guitar, I don't mean permanently.  If I start playing a lot and getting to the point where I play with other and want to play out sometime I'd certainly plan on getting a new L body probably. 

Honestly, when I think about what I want to play around with when sitting at home, it's the parlor.  Same thing when I was in the shop playing the parlors next to a L-03R.  The L-03R certainly sounded nicer and fuller, as is expected, but the parlors sounded nice in their own way and I kept wanting to go back to them.  Might go back in the next day or two to try again....but leaning towards picking up the P-03 possibly. 

Ultimately, it's your judgment that matters.  What any of us would do shouldn't influence you if your own hands and ears tell you that a parlor guitar is what would make you happiest.

[slide13]

Went back tonight and played the P-03, OM-02, and a OO-03MT. Loved the size of the OO and it was a really cool sounding guitar, though maybe a touch dark. Might consider it but it's a few hundred more than I was hoping to spend. Wish I could find a spruce top OO.

[Danny]

You are fortunate to be able to play so many first. I would suggest going back and playing each one until you think that you know which model you want. Then go back and play that model even more.

[HAMFIST]

Very cool thread.

One thing I am thinking about ...

I have an OM and an L. But I am thinking that a parlor would be a very cool guitar for swing blues. If I could get one with a cutaway, I figure I could swing just as hard on the thing as I could on a Les Paul. It would probably fit into the mix pretty well with an upright bass.

Whaddya all think?

[ewalling]

For me, a parlor is great as a main guitar providing it's not too small. I have a Takamine TF87PT New Yorker - all solid cedar and koa - and although I have a few guitars, I could quite happily play just that one if push came to shove. It has a rich sound, plenty of volume, and de-tunes well. It also has the Cooltube pickup. It has 14 frets to the body and a comfortable 24.7" scale length with 1 11/16" at the nut. Takamine does both cheaper and more expensive models of the New Yorker body size.

[Mr_LV19E]

I was at Elderly yesterday and played every parlor sized guitar they had. This one was by far the nicest sounding to me, very articulate with a ton of sustain and sounding much bigger than its size.

I would recommend this specific guitar to anyone looking for a small guitar. I played a lot of expensive guitars and this guitar stood out from the rest including the Larrivee 000 and Sloped Dread that surprisingly sounded the same to my ear. The H&D and the SCGC just didn't do anything for me, they were very nice don't get me wrong, they just didn't seem worthy of the price. The Elderly edition Martin 0 was also very nice but seemed a little tight compared to the Heindel.

Off topic but I also played a very nice sounding Martin D-28 12 string, they even had a left hand version.   

[webberink]

I have a P-03R and just love it.  It is definitely a guitar that can be played in all kinds of situations, although is is also definitly not the easiest guitar to play, at least for me.    IMO a Larrivee parlor is definitely not my choice for a beginner guitar any more than it's a dedicated couch potato.  But here is the thing, my dear old dad always said, "Beware of the man with only one gun, he can probably really shoot it."  A person with one guitar like a Larrivee parlor could do amazing things with it in all kinds of venues.  Larry Pattis is just one classical example of what can be done on a Larrivee Parlor. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvMKfkl3YGw  .  My advice ... buy the parlor, the rosewood one ... and play on it till the cows come home ... you bectha. 
Dave

[Danny]

I have a P-03R and just love it.  It is definitely a guitar that can be played in all kinds of situations, although is is also definitly not the easiest guitar to play, at least for me.    IMO a Larrivee parlor is definitely not my choice for a beginner guitar any more than it's a dedicated couch potato.  But here is the thing, my dear old dad always said, "Beware of the man with only one gun, he can probably really shoot it."  A person with one guitar like a Larrivee parlor could do amazing things with it in all kinds of venues.  Larry Pattis is just one classical example of what can be done on a Larrivee Parlor. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvMKfkl3YGw  .  My advice ... buy the parlor, the rosewood one ... and play on it till the cows come home ... you bectha. 
Dave

Very good analogy.

[bobsnuscruz]

Hi there. Welcome.

If you fingerpick: the parlor (subject to your definition of such) should be fine. 

On my wall are 4 guitars: 2-OMs, an LS, and one size 1.  (Note that I think a size 1 is bigger than a "parlor", but there are those who think "parlor" includes 00s and 000s. YMYV)

I pick up the size 1 first, almost every time.  It's easy to hold, and it was not too much money.  It's loud enough for home, unless I'm jamming with a group. My player friends say they like the sound, but they're just being polite.  I could live with this guitar as my only guitar, but a big part of it's appeal is its relative lack of value: if it gets whacked, I am not out a lot of money.   

[mdutr0]

I'm new to parlors myself, but I am really enjoying my new P-03R and it is quickly becoming my main, go-to guitar.

Of course I think it really depends on your playing style.