The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > General Acoustic Guitar Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 07-25-2012, 08:34 AM
Taylorplayer516 Taylorplayer516 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Are we there yet.....
Posts: 365
Default NGD - parlor guitar (Martin Style #5)

I picked up a little beauty on my recent Montana vacation. A Parlor guitar styled after the Martin Style #5 tuned up a minor third. Solid koa back and sides, Engleman spruce (from the Montana Bitterroot Valley) top, cocobolo fingerboard and bridge, bone saddle, end pins, and nut, Grover tuners, and rosewood binding. She was made by a luthier in Montana’s Bitterroot Valley – Bittersweet Guitar Company - and plays like a dream.

I have experimented in both the tuning up a third and down in standard and with some very heavy strumming in standard there is a bit of buzz, I discussed this with the luthier and he thought perhaps some lights or mediums might take the buzz away – it is currently strung with extra lights (which are very, very nice to play).

Ken (the luthier) gave me a tour of his shop and spent a couple of hours going over guitar building and just discussing guitars in general. He patiently answered all of my questions and then some. I am so jazzed with this little guitar, Ken really put a lot of work into this and it looks and plays beautiful.

I did a search here on parlors and learned alot, however, do owners keep them in the higher tuning or tuned down to standard?

The luthier who built mine called it a "terz" guitar designed to be tuned up a minor third from standard. E,A,D,G,B,e becomes G,C,F,A#,D,g (I think I transposed it right - up three 1/2 steps or one could capo standard guitar at 3rd fret). Apparently this compensates for the lower string tension based on the shorter scale.

Right now have it tuned to standard. I went to see his acoustic trio play and he pulled out a second one he currently has built with walnut and began playing with the higher tuning - I actually think it was tuned in Nashville tuning and it really sounded sweet next to the regular acoustic and the bass guitars.

Not sure if I'm going to restring or leave it in the higher tuning or even go to the Nashville tuning. I think if I leave it in standard it will be more useful for my musical repetoire but up a third would make me learn more theory and such - I do play the ukulele which of course it up a 5th from the guitar so between all of them I may finally learn the guitar fretboard....LOL

I just love this little guitar. When we walked in the store and I saw it I said "oh yeah" and my husband went "uh-oh" and the rest is history.

I don't have a web photo site but I did post some pics here: http://www.unofficialtaylorguitarfor...p?topic=1950.0
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 07-25-2012, 08:38 AM
lennylux lennylux is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,441
Default

Love parlour's, hope you get a lifetime of joy from it... all the best.
__________________
My music: http://www.youtube.com/user/TheAyeTunes
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 07-25-2012, 10:15 AM
Glennwillow Glennwillow is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Coastal Washington State
Posts: 44,927
Default

Hi TP516,

Congratulations on that new parlor guitar!

- Glenn
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 07-25-2012, 11:11 AM
talister106 talister106 is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Franklinville, New York
Posts: 955
Default

That sounds like a great wood combination, would love to here it sing. Enjoy!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 07-25-2012, 11:18 AM
Ed422 Ed422 is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Baltimore, Md
Posts: 3,116
Default

Obviously, you can call it whatever you want but calling it a Terz is more accurate than parlor (in my book). They were designed to be tuned higher and to be played as part of a guitar group. Technically, they are different from guitars in the same way a violin is different from a viola. Played much the same, but occupying a different part of the spectrum than (though overlapping with) a guitar.

That said, you can play it and call t whatever you want. (grin). I'd love to see pics.

Ed
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 07-25-2012, 02:42 PM
Dru Edwards Dru Edwards is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 43,428
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Taylorplayer516 View Post
<<snippet>>

I just love this little guitar. When we walked in the store and I saw it I said "oh yeah" and my husband went "uh-oh" and the rest is history.

<<snippet>>
I love it!!! Congrats on the Parlor and Enjoy Taylorplayer.
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > General Acoustic Guitar Discussion

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:48 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=