Category: Parlor

Parlor Guitars: A Brief History and Buyer’s Guide

What is a parlor guitar? A parlor guitar is a compact and narrow-waisted instrument, generally smaller than Martin’s single 0 size. The name comes from the rooms in which the guitar was typically played in the late 19th century. Here you’ll find our reviews of parlor guitars. (And you’ll find reviews of even more small-body acoustics here.)

A guitarist plays a Fender Highway Series Parlor acoustic-electric

Review: Fender’s Highway Series Parlor—A Thinline Acoustic-Electric Engineered to Sound Big

With its fast-playing neck and thin, flattop-shaped body, the Highway is ideal for electric guitar players looking to add some acoustic vibe to their sound.

Emile Menasché
February 7, 2024

Hill Guitar Company Companion crossover nylon string parlor guitar

Review: The Hill Guitar Company Companion Is an Exemplary Parlor-Sized Crossover Nylon-String Guitar

The Hill Guitar Company Companion is designed to be a professional-quality travel instrument for a classical guitarist or a crossover guitar for the steel-string player.

Mark Goldenberg
December 21, 2022

Guitar Review: Luna’s Vineyard Koa Bevel Folk Is a Versatile and Vibrant Acoustic-Electric

The Vineyard Koa is based on Luna’s Folk body, which splits the difference between a grand auditorium and a parlor. Hear how it sounds in this guitar review.

Kate Koenig
May 11, 2022

PRS SE P20E guitar in Vintage Natural finish

Guitar Review: PRS’ Punchy Tonare Parlor SE P20E Evokes a Bygone Era at a Budget Price

The PRS Tonare Parlor SE P20E guitar evokes the spirit, sound & form factor of a classic parlor while bearing the imprint of PRS’ signature aesthetics and playability.

James Rotondi
February 21, 2021

Acoustic Guitar Review: Gretsch G9520E Gin Rickey Parlor Guitar Is a Secret Tone Weapon

Based on Gretsch's Rex guitars from the 1930–1950s, the Gretsch Gin Rickey is a low-cost parlor guitar that would serve as a cool entry-level instrument.

Nick Millevoi
October 21, 2020

Gear Review: Yamaha CSF-TA

Few musical pleasures compare to playing well-made small guitars. They’re comfortable. They resonate easily. They reward a subtle touch in ways few of their big siblings can match.

Emile Menasché
August 29, 2019

Gear Review: Art & Lutherie Roadhouse Q-Discrete Parlor Guitar

I didn’t hop on any freight trains, but I certainly enjoyed toting the Q-Discrete around town with its modest weight, petite profile, and comfy gig bag.

Bill Leigh
September 12, 2018

Gear Review: RainSong Concert Hybrid Series CH-PA Parlor and CH-OM Orchestra

RainSong OM and Parlor guitars can be virtually immune to the terrible things that changes in climate and weather can do to an instrument.

Greg Olwell
October 16, 2017

Tanglewood Java Parlor and Winterleaf Orchestra Model acoustic guitars.

Gear Review: Tanglewood Java Series Parlor and Winterleaf Series OM

Despite being distributed in 60 countries and receiving the “All-time best-selling acoustic guitars in the UK” award by the Music Industry Awards, Tanglewood brand isn’t a household name in the US. But that may change now that the UK-based brand of guitars made in Indonesia and China are being…

Pete Madsen
September 20, 2017

Gear Review: Gretsch G9511 Style 1 Single-0 Parlor Guitar

An affordable, fun-to-play small-bodied guitar with a refined tone.

Pete Madsen
September 12, 2017

Review: The New Bedell Revolution Parlor Is a Feast for the Ears and Eyes

A big part of what makes the Revolution Parlor such a satisfying instrument is how smoothly it plays.

Adam Perlmutter
April 11, 2017

Alvarez Delta 00/TSB and Blues 51/TSB Parlor Guitars

Review: Alvarez’s Delta 00/TSB and Blues 51/TSB Parlor Guitars Capture an Old-School Vibe

A pair of freshly made parlor guitars with a growl and bark perfect for fingerpicked blues and ragtime, conjuring up vintage sounds of the Mississippi Delta and the American South.

Adam Perlmutter
July 20, 2016

Larrivée Reissues P01 ISS Space-Station Commemorative Parlor Guitar

“It’s cool playing a guitar in space because it floats in front of you—you don’t need a strap,” Hadfield said on a 2013 Larrivée video. “But one of the weirdest things is that as you float around the room while you’re playing, you bump into things.”

Greg Cahill
March 4, 2016

Chris Hadfield plays parlor guitar in outer space

Parlor Pickin’: The 2015 Guide to Buying a Parlor Guitar

Parlor guitars are finding renewed interest among a broad spectrum of players, both professionals and those looking for small, lightweight instruments to take to beach parties or campfire singalongs.

Adam Perlmutter
May 4, 2015

Review: Faith Releases the Impressive Mercury Parlor Guitar

Like all Faith guitars, the Classic Burst Mercury is made from solid, eco-friendly FSC-certified woods at the company’s workshop in West Java, Indonesia. It does have that imported-guitar vibe, thanks to its polyurethane lacquer finish and its chemical-rich aroma. But unlike the typical budget guitar, it’s very well-built. The frets are cleanly dressed and the sunburst finish is perfectly graduated—inside the box things are relatively neat and tidy.

Adam Perlmutter
March 7, 2015

Alvarez AP70 Review

The AP70 is part of Alvarez's Artist Series of instruments, a comprehensive line of guitars that includes dreadnoughts, jumbos, folk guitars (slightly smaller than dreadnought, designated by other makers as 000), classical, 12-string, acoustic bass, and parlor models, many available with built-in electronics, some with cutaways, and all priced for the experienced, budget-minded player or beginning enthusiast.

Danny Carnahan
December 12, 2012