Parlor, 0, 00 Recommendations for Finger style Blues

[kmckenna45]

Let's get some input on used finger style blues small bodies.

Looking for hands-on recommendations for a parlor/0/00 - for those you've played or own - All USED Price points

I have yet to find a really great parlor guitar (used) for <$2000....Ideally - like a 1920's Stella.

If you had the below $ - what used parlor/0/00 (in Good-VG) would you recommend?

I've found anything except a solid wood top is unacceptable.

Here's what I've found to be the best in each pricepoint - based on what I've played/bought/sold....

USED
PRICE
< $500 Alvarez AP66

1,000 Gibson LG-1, Martin 00-15

1,500 Gibson L-00,

2,000 Martin 00-18, Waterloo (great sound - but I had construction problems - which Collins fixed)

2,500 or above Too expensive for me

[Parlorman]

I was going to suggest Waterloo’s. There are others I much prefer but not at your price point

[godfreydaniel]

Which Waterloo model did you have?

[Silly Moustache]

Originally Posted by kmckenna45

Let's get some input on used finger style blues small bodies.

Looking for hands-on recommendations for a parlor/0/00 - for those you've played or own - All USED Price points

If you had the below $ - what used parlor/0/00 (in Good-VG) would you recommend?

I've found anything except a solid wood top is unacceptable.

Here's what I've found to be the best in each price point - based on what I've played/bought/sold....

USED
PRICE
< $500 Alvarez AP66

1,000 Gibson LG-1

1,500 Gibson L-00

2,000 Martin 00-18, Waterloo (great sound - but I had construction problems - which Collins fixed)

2,500 or above Too expensive for me

Hi, I've approached this challenge to my "collection"a number of times.

Initially I decided that I wanted a small body guitar, preferably with a short scale.

My first ever was a Martin 2-17. which was a beauty but as soon as I got it from a private American dealer in London, it was confiscated my Customs and Excise as he was a smuggler. I had to pay the taxes on it to get it back and by then I was so broke I had to sell it to pay the rent. (about 1975).

Later, in 1998 I decided that I'd like a Martin 00 but none were to be found in the UK so my wife had one built by a British builder. 1 & 7/8" nut width, and short scale. I still have it.



Came a time when I thought a Gibson L-0/1 style guitar would be more appropriate. The local Gibson dealer and good friend advised me against buying a Gibson as they were so "iffy" and if he got a poor one he couldn't return it.

I found one online built by a British guy in Spain and modelled on his own 1928 L-1. It was a fine guitar, but we didn't "meld"

See :

Later, in 2016, I played an old gibson L-00 that had been totally rebuilt by a
friend and it was magical so I went in search of a newer Gibson but all i saw on sale were new but poorly made and finished, so i bought a Waterloo and chose the WL-12 because I like 12 fretters.

Initially A had trouble with the thin nut width (1 & 3/4" is thin for me) but I grew to love it. It is the best small body "bluesy guitar on the market in my humble.

see:

My latest acquisition is an Eastman E20-P which is really a Martin style "O"

[der Geist]

I have 2 parlor guitars.
Larrivee P-10. Incredible tone woods and craftsmanship. Purchased it last year for under $2,000.

Washburn R320SWRK. Extremely underrated guitar. All solid tonewoods, much bling and hand carved detailing. I think it was $1200 list but you can find them used for less than 1/2 of that. I comes close to my P-10 in sound but different. Many are put off by the 1 7/8” nut and hard V neck but I like them. Extra benefit is the cool coffin case it comes in.

[jpd]

H&D CrossRoads standard

[whvick]

I had a TacomaPMZ0E2 deep body parlor
It was great to play finger-style and Sitka over mahogany sounded great
The pick up sounded good also
My grandson has it now
Like many Tacomas the finish went bad
But if you could find one you might get it cheap!

[Shortfinger]

+1 on the Washburn R320SRWK.

Available today for $695 no tax shipped to you with its coffin case. Look on Reverb.

Search YouTube for one on which someone's playing some dark slide delta blues, and you'll want one, plus the brass rock slide.

Edit: here's the lesson for it.

https://youtu.be/hnqKfdb3ZTA

And the Washburn singing it:

https://youtu.be/_tq3s7JX2vM

[Goat Mick]

I think a Waterloo will give you everything you want. However if you want to go a less expensive route check out a Farida OT series. Mine amazes me every time I play it.

Another contender is a Martin 000-17. Mine wants to make me play old Guy Clark songs but it’s also perfectly voiced for Delta Blues.

[zombywoof]

I do get the idea of a concert size guitar (lower bout width of 13" to 13 1/2") being associated with the blues. No guitar has become more associated with the pre-War blues than the Oscar Schmidt Stella. And I did start snapping them up in the 1960s because I was convinced I needed a certain kind of guitar to play the blues. Lots of wrong turns until I figured out there was a difference between Schmidt and Harmony Stellas.

But what I finally figured out was that no matter what guitar I was playing, I just sounded like me. My jumbos and 000/0M guitars will get me there as quick as any of my parlors, 0, and 00 size guitars (and the couple I own which fall somewhere in between). So for what it is worth, do not get hung up on the notion that a certain guitar is the spice you need in your blues stew. Just buy any guitar you like the feel and sound of.

[jrdavies]

Larrivee makes 00 guitars and with a bit of patience you can find them used in a variety of woods for less than your upper limit. They are mostly long scale which I think is different than most other 00 guitars. I have owned a couple for quite a while.

There is a Pono 00 Cedar over Indonesian Rosewood in the classifieds. If you are just going to finger pick that is a great wood combo. I don't know the seller and am only aware of Pono through their reputation.

There is also a used Northwood in Guitar Centers listing at a good price. It has been tempting me for a while so you might be able to get it for a better price than listed. I have owned a Northwood guitar and it was an excellent instrument.

As a few others have said you will likely try a few to see what works for you,

[reeve21]

Originally Posted by Goat Mick

I think a Waterloo will give you everything you want. However if you want to go a less expensive route check out a Farida OT series.

I just picked up a Farida 0T—22W. It’s only been a few days but this is a lot of guitar for the money. Perfect for Country blues and a surprisingly good strummer, too. Purchased it online from Elderly instruments based on input from Mick and others here on AGF. Highly recommended.

[Deliberate1]

Originally Posted by der Geist

I have 2 parlor guitars.
Larrivee P-10. Incredible tone woods and craftsmanship. Purchased it last year for under $2,000.

Care to share the wood selection. I have a splendid Larrivee 00040RE custom that was built for a Larrivee sponsored artist. My first guitar, in fact. Not sure how the guitar feels about this epic demotion. But I am so pleased with it I naturally thought of a Larrivee when the idea of a smaller body, finger style guitar percolated.
Thanks.
David

[dr461]

I use the Martin 000-28EC, and the M-36 as my fingerstyle guitars. Yes, the Martin M-36 is a bit wide in the lower bout, but it has a fantastic neck, and narrow waist. Parlor guitars do nothing for me, personally. The sound just isn’t there.

[der Geist]

Originally Posted by Deliberate1

Care to share the wood selection. I have a splendid Larrivee 00040RE custom that was built for a Larrivee sponsored artist. My first guitar, in fact. Not sure how the guitar feels about this epic demotion. But I am so pleased with it I naturally thought of a Larrivee when the idea of a smaller body, finger style guitar percolated.

Thanks.

David

Yes, absolutely. The top is gorgeous sitka spruce with rosewood back and sides. It is a beauty to be seen and a pleasure to play