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Old 04-28-2014, 05:27 PM
VanMorrissey VanMorrissey is offline
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Default Loar LO-215

This is my first post on this here board. I know there's been some discussion about Loars as well as a lot about parlors. I've been looking around a lot at 12 fret parlors and small bodies like recording king and even vintageparlorguitars.com who I know frequents this board. Anyway the most recent guitar that's caught my eye is the Loar LO-215. I was wondering if anyone has played one/general thoughts. Is the 11/16" pretty small? I'm not too well versed in guitar lingo (getting better) but I think my preference lies more on the bigger side. Anyway I'd love some thoughts if anyone has any, maybe about set up required or any modifications that would help.

Thanks!
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Old 04-28-2014, 06:07 PM
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Norml Norml is offline
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I had an LO-216 for a while. Same specs just mahogany instead of maple. The neck profile is nice and chuncky but it was true to being 1 11/16" wide at the nut. The string spacing at the nut on mine was pretty tight, even for that nut width. I had a new nut made with the widest string spacing possible. After that I was really happy with it. Cost about $60 to have the new nut made. The rest of the setup was pretty good out of the box.
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Old 05-18-2014, 06:52 AM
TNO TNO is offline
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I like the neck on mine. Need to make a nut with wider spacing for it though. These Loars and Recording Kings will likely need a fret level and setup so allow for that.
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Old 05-18-2014, 08:33 AM
Pixelfergus Pixelfergus is offline
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it's what your "used to", if you already play a wide neck guitar
then maybe the 1 11/16 neck will be too narrow, if not then
maybe it'll be ok. I say look at the Loar Lo-16 because of the wider
neck which is easier for finger picking. The Alvarez "parlors" also
have a wider 1 3/4" nut like the lo-16.
That would be the alvarez ap70, ap66, or guitarcenter has the ap910 and
ap866.
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Old 10-21-2016, 06:49 AM
Fasteddie Fasteddie is offline
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Does anyone have experience with the LO-215?

Been seriously looking into picking one up, but I've had trouble finding much on it.
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Old 10-21-2016, 08:04 AM
Sesop Sesop is offline
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I had one for a few weeks; didn't really bond with it. Laminate back and sides means the "maple" isn't actually maple. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but I wanted maple tone (i.e. - quick decay), and the 215 was pretty resonant. Bad for me but maybe that's good for you.

I also couldn't get into the headstock, but that's obviously a very subjective thing.

I haven't bought a guitar from Steve at vintageparlorguitars.com YET, but I've had a lot of correspondence with him and I look at his site often. Not knowing you beyond this post I'd hesitate to say "you should buy a guitar from Steve," but I've come to the conclusion - for myself, at least - that older guitars are better.
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Old 10-21-2016, 09:33 AM
Fasteddie Fasteddie is offline
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I dont have much experience buying guitars. Recently started noodling with fingerprinting and blues. The acoustic that's around my house is a really short scale fender tg-4. I like the small body but would like a more typical scale and length.

I don't need a super crazy nice acoustic, just a well built middle of the road blues box.

I've been looking at the:

Washburn wp11sns

The loar LO-215

The loar LO-250

I'm currently trying to decide between the 14 and 12 frets. I play ope tuning slide (with a capo too) and wonder if the 12 fret is going to be a pain in the rear when I try to play A caped from G?
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Old 10-21-2016, 10:33 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by VanMorrissey View Post
Is the 11/16" pretty small? I'm not too well versed in guitar lingo (getting better) but I think my preference lies more on the bigger side. !
Hi VanMorrissey, and welcome! Great screen name, btw!

I don't have experience with the guitar you're looking at, but as far as the nut width goes, 1 11/16" is very common, although I wouldn't say it is typical of 12-fret guitars. Whether it's right for you can only be determined by trying some other widths, like 1.72" or 1.75", and making a hands-on comparison.

But to be honest, in my first many years of playing, I never even realized that guitars had different nut widths, so I think you can get used to whatever it is you have. In other words, if you like all the other features and it isn't downright uncomfortable, I wouldn't make nut width a dealbreaker.

Best of luck in your parlor search!
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Old 10-21-2016, 02:38 PM
Fasteddie Fasteddie is offline
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No current Lo-215 owners these days?

I may have another look at the seagull grand parlor sunburst, anyone picking on one of those?
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  #10  
Old 10-21-2016, 03:15 PM
Silly Moustache Silly Moustache is offline
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1 & 11/16" is narrow, but it is very common- introduced for banjo players on guitars designed just for rhythm.

1 &7/8" is best for fingerstyle, although many prefer 1 & 3/4" - I prefer 1 & 13/16".

The neck profile is also important.
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12 fret, loar, parlor, small body, vintage parlor

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