Parlor Guitar reviews from Reddit
Summary
We analyzed 149 Reddit reviews across 7 subreddits and 29 posts to rank the best Parlor Guitar brands recommended by redditors, including communities like r/AcousticGuitar, r/Guitar, r/guitars, r/guitarporn, r/bluesguitarist. Top-rated brands include Martin (4.5/5), Gretsch (4.3/5), Alvarez (4.4/5).
Stats
Reviews149
Subreddits7
Posts29
Brands46
Products70
149 reviews from
and
By Brand
/By Product
#1
Martin
4.5
(20)
"Baby martin!"
"Came here to recommend this. It's a a killer guitar and well suited to couches and offices."
"I love my Djr."
"Gs mini all the way. I went through all of them or most if them anyways lol. Little martin was okay, not enough bass, the yamaha one felt cheap, fender small one was just mid, the GS mini i just love."
"My brother tells me he likes playing my GS Mini Mahogany better than his 614ce. In his words, “there is no better couch guitar”."
"I got myself a GS Mini for travels and the office. I got the Year of the Dragon one but that Koa is damn fine looking. Absolutely loving it and a pleasure to play."
"The Martin Shawn Mendes 000Jr is solid spruce top and solid sapele back and sides. Also an excellent value. $750."
"Have had a Martin 000-15 for a decade. Still my most prized possession."
"You might check out something like the Martin 15m series. I'm smaller in stature and went with the smaller bodied 000-15m."
"Martin 000-15m."
#2
Gretsch
4.3
(19)
"Two that stood out in terms of build quality and sound were the Gretsch Jim Dandy and the Larrivée P-03 hog."
"Gretch Jim Dandy, Recording King Dirty 30s, and the Orangewood Parlor are all great options I would say."
"Jim Dandy with some Martin Retro strings (the ones made of monel) is the epitome of early 1900's blues/folk guitar. Highly recommend it."
"Definitely buy the Jim dandy. they fixed a ton of stuff when they started using the pin bridges last year."
"Jim Dandy’s are incredible, I love putting the Earnie Ball Aluminums on mine!"
"Gretsch Jim Dandy"
"Gretsch Jim Dandy all the way. They’re dirt cheap - I think they’re $170 brand new - and they sound surprisingly good, good action, good intonation."
"You should check out a Gretsch Jim Dandy, those things are super affordable and tons of fun."
"Gretsch Jim Dandy"
"I do not recommend the jim dandy as a primary guitar, but if you need a decent couch guitar for cheap then I can’t recommend it more."
#3
Alvarez
4.4
(16)
"Alvarez AMP of AP if you can find them used. Those are the best parlors available for that price in recent years."
"Alvarez AP66 and Yamaha CSF1 are both very close to this price point and excellent choices."
"Alvarez’s range of Parlor is amazing. I have a higher end model but when I bought it I tried the lower costs models and they were all fantastic."
"I’ve had 2 Alvarez parlor guitars (I still have one of those) and they are fantastic."
"Alvarez makes some nice small body guitars too."
"Alvarez makes some of the best parlors"
"Man, there was this parlor Alvarez at my local Guitar Center that was so cheap and sounded and played amazingly."
"Alvarez or Godin brand (S&P, art & luthrie) is probably your best bet for a parlour."
"I have an Alverez 12 fret guitar sitting in my office. I'm not sure it qualifies as a "parlor." It was probably sub-$400 and sounds good to me."
"Just picked up a used Alvarez delta delite e and it’s quite nice."
#4
Yamaha
4.9
(9)
"CSF3M by a mile. There’s no other small guitar with all solid wood construction, great build quality and unique tone."
"Yamaha csf-ta has onboard reverb and chorus, which make it a lot of fun."
"Yamaha CSF3M. Bought a used mint for $450. Delightful guitar."
"I have the csf1m and I don’t think I need anything else for a parlor aside from its thin neck."
"I have the CSF1M and love it."
"I love the Yamaha JR1 and JR2. The first time i played one, i was so surprised that it was nothing like a toy."
"The best parlor I’ve ever played hands down was a Yamaha CSF3M, at like 1/3 of your budget."
"The best parlor I’ve ever played hands down was a Yamaha CSF3M, at like 1/3 of your budget."
"The Yamaha is probably the one you want, they go pretty quick on the used market so I think they're popular."
#5
Art & Lutherie
4.4
(8)
"I’ve got an Art & Lutherie Roadhouse and I love that little thing."
"My Art and Lutherie Ami is so enjoyable to play and sounds fantastic for the size."
"Art & Lutherie Ami"
"I had an Art & Lutherie AMI cedar top that was a great little parlor guitar."
"I've had an Art et Luthier Ami cedar for a long time now and it's a lovely little guitar."
"I have an arts and lutherie ami."
"The ami is the perfect little travel acoustic and sound great."
"I love the size and playability, but holy shit it’s sounds like a cheap ukulele compared to my Martin 0015m."
#6
Fender
4.1
(7)
"It's a great, well built guitar. Super smooth, comfortable neck. Scalloped x bracing, laminated mahogany back and sides with solid spruce top. It has awesome sound."
"Fender CP-60S would be my choice. $220 after taxes brand new and I absolutely love mine."
"My 2nd acoustic is a Fender PM-TE Travel all mahogany is parlour size and it plays really well."
"The Fender CP-60s is $199 and has a solid spruce top."
"Fender CP-60 S is a pretty cool little parlor, inexpensive but has a solid spruce top."
"Fender CP-60S, $199"
"The Fender parlors I've played sound boxy at best."
#7
Eastman
4.8
(6)
"The Eastman small body guitars are excellent as well."
"If you're a fingerstyle player or light strummer, the Eastman E20P with luscious rosewood and sunburst adi top, sounds awesome and really looks great."
"Check out the Eastman small bodied (travel) guitars. They are made from real wood and play nicely."
"Eastman E1OOSS or used E10OOSS, if those are small enough. Or E1P and E10P if you want a true parlor."
"I'd look at Eastman, but Larrivee also makes an excellent parlor model."
"Eastman is usually insane value and i bet this one will be as well."
#8
Taylor
4.7
(6)
"Take a look at the Taylor GS Mini in a burst or black."
"Gs mini koa is a very nice instrument."
"Go for a taylor gs mini."
"Buy a used Taylor Big Baby. They are amazing and you can find them on craigslist for ~ $250. They are 15/16th scale."
"The Taylor G3mini guitars are excellent."
"Try baby taylors, decent prized and sound quite good"
#9
Larrivée
5.0
(4)
"It’s a lovely little guitar that has a gorgeous sound for its size."
"I’ve got Larrivee P-09 that I love."
"Two that stood out in terms of build quality and sound were the Gretsch Jim Dandy and the Larrivée P-03 hog."
"Larrivee and Furch too if you find a nice deal could be in your price range."
#10
Seagull
5.0
(4)
"Seagull or Simon and Patrick almost all Godin guitars are wicked honestly"
"I love my Seagull Coastline Grand parlor. Highly recommend."
"Seagull Parlor if you can find one. I love mine, it's the perfect size for sitting in a regular chair with arms and it's not in the way at all"
"For right around or a tad over 300 you can get a Seagull Grand. Big sound from a little guitar."
#11
Guild
4.5
(4)
"Guild P-240. I just got one and it’s a great little parlor with a really classic and simple look."
"I just picked up a Guild P-240 and am really liking it."
"I keep a ‘67 Guild Mark II classical/folk guitar next to my desk."
"Guild has some new ones out there its becoming a popular item so more companies are offering them"
#12
Breedlove
5.0
(3)
"In my opinion myrtlewood is one of the most beautiful woods used for guitars right now, and breed love does a good job of making them."
"Wow, stunning is definitely the right word for the tiger's eye finish."
"A breed love concertina in myrtlewood would be great."
#13
Tanglewood
4.7
(3)
"Best cheap parlour I've played personally was the Tanglewood TW73 ... ended up falling in love with it and taking it home."
"I recently purchased as Tanglewoods Crossroads Parlour Guitar for the exact same purposes. Nice size, very lightweight."
"Tanglewood Crossroads Parlour. It’s cheap and able."
#14
Taylor GS Mini
5.0
(2)
"Great sound from a small package and very comfortable to play."
"Better than most parlors I've played that cost much more."
#15
Lowden
5.0
(2)
"Can Always go budget and get a Sheeran by Lowden. Recently got a W01 and I love it. Price was 450 Euros."
"If you want something extra special, check out the Wee Lowden. They are absolutely incredible in tone and volume for their size and are understatedly stunning."
#16
Pono
5.0
(2)
"Pono I have a op10c single cutaway slotted headstock solid cedar top acacia back and sides. sounds as good as it looks."
"Check out Pono guitars. They make a really nice parlor."
#17
Godin
4.5
(2)
"Anything by Godin is amazing, really."
"Look at a Godin or one of their sub brands like Art&Lutherie."
#18
Recording King
4.0
(2)
"Recording King"
"I've played a few Recording Kings and was impressed with their quality, especially since you can get them for under $200 new here in the US."
#19
Washburn
4.0
(2)
"Washburn has a great parlor..not sure of model number but do a search"
"They have some Blueridge, Larrivee's, the Seagull and a Washburn for the under $500 range."
#20
Takamine
4.0
(2)
"Takamine New Yorker. Great sounding parlor guitar, and quite affordable."
"Takamine makes one that sounds lovely. I think it was priced around $800 usd."
#21
Simon & Patrick
5.0
(1)
"The only two I would recommend usage Simon and Patrick Woodland Parlor Pro. I do realize that one cost much more then the ones you posted but I own this one and love it."
#22
LAG
5.0
(1)
"Absolutely love my LAG parlour. Priced around £500 I think"
#23
Gibson
5.0
(1)
"If you can find a used Gibson Parlor AG."
#24
Furch
5.0
(1)
"Take a look on a Furch little jane. It's small, but with huge sound."
#25
Nova
5.0
(1)
"I have 2 Nova Go’s. 1 non electric stays on my boat/camper and 1 el/ac I play in my bathroom."
#26
CEO
5.0
(1)
"The CEO-7 is a great value for the money. Adirondack top, life-time warranty… if the neck feels good to you, it's one of the best deals out there."
#27
VintageParlorGuitars.com
5.0
(1)
"Check with the guy at vintageparlorguitars.com. I've bought a couple from him and they are the ultimate office or travel guitar."
#28
Breedlove Exotic Pursuit Concertina
5.0
(1)
"I'm blown away. The founder is ex-taylor from the late 80s, so the necks are incredible."
#29
Seagull Entourage
5.0
(1)
"Easily found used sub 500$"
#30
Alvarez-Yairi
5.0
(1)
"Blows the doors off my Washburn."
#31
Gretsch Jim Dandy
5.0
(1)
"I’ve heard good things about the gretsch jim dandy."
#32
Yamaha CSF3M
5.0
(1)
"The best guitar i have ever owned."
#33
Alvarez Blues 51
5.0
(1)
"The thing sounds incredible for its size."
#34
Breedlove Parlor Pursuit
5.0
(1)
#35
Simon & Patrick Parlour Guitar
5.0
(1)
"I absolutely love it."
#36
PRS Parlour Guitar
5.0
(1)
"Sounds so much bigger than its size. Well built too."
#37
Yamaha CSF1M Parlor Guitar
5.0
(1)
"Is a killer lil parlor guitar for under$400"
#38
Yamaha Parlor Guitar
5.0
(1)
"Makes some killer parlor guitars for cheap"
#39
Fender Paramount Series PM-2
5.0
(1)
"I love my PM-3 to death."
#40
Norman Studio
5.0
(1)
"I would put it up against almost anything."
#41
PRS
4.0
(1)
"I have a PRS parlor that I have been very happy with."
#42
Stella (Harmony)
4.0
(1)
"Get an old Stella (Harmony) parlor off Reverb for $100-200. They don’t sound or feel like a modern acoustic, but they have mojo and a woody tone of their own."
#43
Ibanez
4.0
(1)
"I picked up an Ibanez PN12E in a trade this weekend. New strings and a quick clean up and I really like it."
#44
Santa Cruz
4.0
(1)
"I always wanted a Santa Cruz parlor, thats around your budget."
#45
Tim Armstrong Hellcat
4.0
(1)
"Tim Armstrong Hellcat acoustic, comes in lots of different colors and play very well"
#46
Larrivee
4.0
(1)
"Canada ok? Try Larrivee."
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