recommend a nice parlour style acoustic

benmurray85

long story short. i bought my first house beginning of the year and after 8 months of renovation ive decided to treat myself with a moving in present. the house is tiny so i thought a nice little parlour style acoustic would be a good addition to the household!

acoustics are something i know VERY little about so throw some ideas at me people?

ideally id love a martin but think price wise might be an issue! i have a four year old boy who could disassemble a ford fiesta to its component parts in less than an hour so something rugged would be great. i really like the look of the darker wood models but is this something i need to think about in terms of tone or is it more of a looks thing?

budget wise probably between 500 and 700. i see faith seem to be quite popular but im not sure i particularly like them. i need to get sat down in front of a few and try some bits out but theres not many DECENT guitar shops immediately local to me.

badlydrawnbanjo

The Epiphone EL-00 is a cracking little guitar for well under your budget.

bertie

(pssst,  try the acoustic section     )

to pick up on the Faith comment - what is it that makes you 'not particularly like them'  - it may help define alternative suggestions ?   ie dont like the neck,  would rather have a 14 fret join,  headstock is awful (id agree there, even tho I own one)  

Phil_aka_Pip

There's an odd-looking Peavey that got a decent writeup recently. I checked it out but bought the Gretsch Jim Dandy instead because the neck width and profile were more suitable. Both are well under your budget and if your 4yo trashed it would be less of a loss.

dindude

I had a blast on this Sigma recently and thought it was most excellent, so long as you like the 1930's vibe (I do).

http://www.gak.co.uk/en/sigma-000m-15s/73158?gclid=CLuc5JjA5rkCFQTHtAodjCgAcA

benmurray85

bertie said:

(pssst,  try the acoustic section     )

what an idiot! sorry guys! if someone who know what theyre doing wants to shift this over thatd be great. sorry!

bertie

you can do it yourself -  just edit your original post.............and chose from the drop down.........Robert is your proverbial

benmurray85

bertie said:

you can do it yourself -  just edit your original post.............and chose from the drop down.........Robert is your proverbial

thanks, sorted

benmurray85

bertie said:

(pssst,  try the acoustic section     )

to pick up on the Faith comment - what is it that makes you 'not particularly like them'  - it may help define alternative suggestions ?   ie dont like the neck,  would rather have a 14 fret join,  headstock is awful (id agree there, even tho I own one)  

re. faith. i really dont know what it is. ive just never seen one thats made me go wow! shallow perhaps.....

bertie

as I said,  I do own a parlor, spankingly loud and resonant for its size.....and even better if you can get one used at a great ££ (as I did) .....I played their  small jumbo (neptune ?)  the hi-gloss version and was completely blown away by its immediate playability and tone for the ££ (£600 ish)  its not that big either,......... OM ish more than anything

Worth checking out the thread on the recording kings,  great guitars - but I just cant get on with V shaped necks.

IanSavage

If electro's not an issue then I know someone who could be talked into moving on one of these at a more-than-reasonable price...

 

http://www.lagguitars.com.au/2010/products/4_seasons/L4S200PE.html

mellowsun

Vintage Paul Brett parlour is great

hungrymark

I've just bought a Washburn r314k for about £300. V-shaped neck but everything else is as you'd expect. Sounds a lot more resonant than what I was expecting for such a small body, and the workmanship seems fine for the money too. I think KT Tunstall plays one.

wrinkleygit

Not really a parlour as such, but if you're close to mid devon I have a Taylor gs mini ltd edition in maple in as new condition  that could be yours for £320 if you want to have a try, mike b

daveww

Guild GAD F-40 is a very good small bodied guitar especially if you can find a second hand one 

streethawk

Heard a lot of good things about The Loar range of little acoustics.

Look the part and are cheap too. That's where I'd look first.

bertie

streethawk said:

Heard a lot of good things about The Loar range of little acoustics.

Look the part and are cheap too. That's where I'd look first.

impressed with the reviews in Guitar Worlds buyers guide...................  

CloudNine

Used to have one of these Blueridge Parlors. Honestly was superb. I have a few high end Martins and this was very close to that quality. It seems very near in spec to the Martin Parlors and there is no real corners cut on the materials. You need to be sure you like the wide nut and V neck, but if you do, very hard to beat:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Blueridge-BR341-Parlour-Guitar-w-Fishman-Undersaddle-Pickup-Hard-Case-Pro-Setup-/261301832003?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item3cd6cd8943#ht_685wt_1238  

benmurray85

i really like the look of the washburn and the blueridge mentioned above. thanks will check them both out if poss

jimmyr

badlydrawnbanjo said:

The Epiphone EL-00 is a cracking little guitar for well under your budget.

I am with this post, and i feel it is very underestimated because of its low price, i mostly use this guitar in open Tuning for Blues, it sounds awesome, sounds very early Gibson.
Get two for your Budget, one tuned for standard and one in open G.

thermionic

streethawk said:

Heard a lot of good things about The Loar range of little acoustics.

Look the part and are cheap too. That's where I'd look first.

I've got an LH-200, similar to the Epiphone EL-00 but it has a bone nut and saddle which is what you read that Epi owners say they had to do to bring their guitars up to scratch. The Loar is much better looking imho as well. Maybe I got lucky but mine is an absolute peach. The LH-200 is your classic 1930s Delta bluesman's style guitar, the LH-215 is a parlour model. You don't need to spend £700 to get a great living room picker.