Best Parlor Guitars: Top 6 Picks for Unique Sound and Comfort
A growing trend in guitarists today is the search for smaller compact guitars. Parlor guitars, as they are called, came into the scene in the late 19th century. They were smaller than their dreadnought older brothers but still packed a punch. You do not necessarily have to be a certain type of musician to sport a parlor guitar. It can be used across various music styles like blues, folk, and rock.
Parlor guitars have a small size and a unique narrow waist. This shape gives it its signature crisp sound. They are usually midrange heavy but can also produce bright tones.
However, do not be fooled by their compact size. The shorter scale length can make them a great option for beginner guitarists!
If small guitars are your bread and butter, let’s list down some great parlor guitars that you can choose from in the current market. We hand-picked these guitars as each has something different to offer.
Have A Quick Look At The Best Parlor Guitar Options
- Zager Parlor
- Gibson G-00
- Yamaha CSF3M
- Taylor GS Mini
- Gretsch Jim Dandy
- Takamine GY11ME
Our Top Picks Of The Best Parlor Guitar
Here are our top picks of the best parlor guitars to consider for 2024
1. Zager Parlor
The Zager Parlor guitar is a premium choice if you are looking for portability without sacrificing sound quality. It is a 38-inch in size engineered for ease of play. The Zager Parlor’s 38-inch size is perfect if you travel frequently.
The guitar features a short neck, making it easier to play, especially for those with smaller hands. Like its bigger brother the ZAD900, the Zager Parlor gets a custom neck design and slim profile. Due to their small size, parlor guitars compromise on sound.
However, the Zager Parlor stands out with a slightly larger body than standard. It also has a hand-carved bracing system that aids in giving you great sound from a compact body.
The Zager Parlor is built to last thanks to its solid mahogany wood construction. The mahogany back and sides give the guitar its punchy bass, solid mids, and sparkling highs. Whether fingerpicking, strumming, or flatpicking, this guitar truly delivers.
Additionally, the Zager Parlor has an Abalone Rosette inlay. It is hand-laid with precision enhancing the overall aesthetic of the instrument. Complementing this is a high-gloss finish that protects and spotlights the natural grain of the mahogany.
To add to better playability the guitar has Zager’s custom adjustable truss rod to fine-tune the action. You also get a hand-carved bone nut and Tusq saddle that keeps the string height low with optimal spacing. Overall, the Zager Parlor is a great guitar to have simply due to its price-to-feature ratio alone!
Specifications
- Back and Sides: Mahogany
- Neck: Mahogany
- Headstock: Mahogany with registered trademark design
- Rosette: Hand-laid Abalone
- Finish: High Gloss
- Nut: Hand-carved bone, with custom spacing
- Saddle: Tusq and hand-carved
Check out the Easy Play 38″ parlor-size Solid Mahogany Acoustic
2. Gibson G-00
The Gibson G-00 is a parlor guitar from the Generation Collection. It is a great parlor guitar that combines the original design with modern enhancements. It also comes with solid wood construction, with a solid spruce top and walnut back and sides. This gives it a robust midrange and ample bass, unusual for a parlor guitar.
Something unique to the Gibson G-00 is its Player Port soundhole placed on the side of the guitar that faces the player. This design helps the player hear the guitar upfront giving full auditory feedback. If you are a fingerpicker this will come of great use to you.
The neck is made from mahogany-like utility that offers a comfortable grip and easy playability. The G-00 is fully analog without any built-in electronics. Although it doesn’t take much to amplify the sound externally, it is something to consider.
Overall, the Gibson is a great choice for studio work and personal play sessions. The unique Player Port makes the Gibson G-00 an interesting choice for beginner and experienced guitarists
Specifications
- Body Type: Parlor/L-00 acoustic
- Top: Solid Sitka spruce
- Back and Sides: Solid walnut
- Neck: Utile
- Fingerboard: Ebony
- Scale Length: 24.75 inches
- Nut Width: 44mm
- Tuners: Grover Mini Rotomatic
- Finish: Natural gloss
- Electronics: None included
3. Yamaha CSF3M
The Yamaha CSF3M parlor guitar merges portability with powerful acoustic performance. It comes with a solid Sitka spruce top and solid mahogany back and sides. This combination gives it a rich, full sound found in larger instruments.
Thanks to the solid Sitka spruce top, the guitar sound is clear and bright. Paired with solid mahogany back and sides you get depth and warmth to the overall sound. This creates a well-rounded acoustic sound that you can easily play unplugged. With a scalloped bracing system, the guitar sound gets a great boost to its volume and sustain.
With a shorter scale length and a comfortable neck profile, the CSF3M is very easy to play. If you have small hands this guitar is for you.
Yamaha used rosewood as the fingerboard material that provides a smooth playing surface further improving the playability.
The guitar looks very sophisticated due to its natural finish. Yamaha’s attention to detail in the build quality is not only durable but also visually appealing. It also comes with a passive piezo pickup with which you can plug it into an amp.
Specifications
- Top Material: Solid Sitka Spruce
- Back and Sides: Solid Mahogany
- Neck Material: Nato
- Fingerboard: Rosewood
- Scale Length: 23 5/8 inches
- Electronics: Passive piezo pickup
- Additional Features: Scalloped bracing, deluxe gig bag included
4. Taylor GS Mini
The Taylor GS Mini is another parlor guitar loved for its rich, full-bodied sound. It is a favorite among musicians who value compact yet powerful instruments.
The guitar sports a solid Sitka spruce top that gives it a bright sound profile. It also has an Indian Rosewood back and sides that add depth and warmth to the sound. The guitar might be small. However, the sound it produces is similar to bigger guitars.
Taylor included a mahogany neck and smooth ebony fingerboard. This means that this guitar is great for both beginners and experienced players. The GS Mini comes equipped with the ES-B pickup system. This system includes a built-in digital tuner which is a part of Taylor’s renowned Expression System 2 electronics. It is loved for producing a clear and natural amplified sound.
The GS Mini comes with a thin satin finish adding to the guitar’s resonance. This may not be the greatest in terms of durability but you can get by with extra care. Its lightweight and portable build makes the GS Mini an excellent travel companion.
Specifications:
- Top Wood: Solid Sitka Spruce
- Back and Sides Wood: Layered Sapele (Indian Rosewood in some versions)
- Neck Wood: Tropical Mahogany
- Fingerboard Material: Ebony
- Nut & Saddle: NuBone nut and Tusq saddle
- Bracing: X-Bracing with Relief Rout
- Finish: Satin Varnish
- Electronics: ES-B pickup system (includes a built-in digital tuner)
- Tuning Machines: Die-Cast Chrome
5. Gretsch Jim Dandy
The Gretsch Jim Dandy is a beautiful parlor guitar that brings back the charm of vintage instruments with a modern touch. The Jim Dandy is loved for its bright, punchy tones great for genres like blues and folk music.
The Jim Dandy has laminated basswood for its top, back, and sides. This wood choice makes the guitar more affordable while with a lively sound. It has a nato neck and a walnut fingerboard for a durable build and comfortable playing experience. Its build is solid, best for beginners and traveling guitarists.
The guitar has a clear and well-balanced tone with a C-shaped neck profile. This makes it sound great and accessible for players with smaller hands. The smaller parlor body size does affect sound projection due to the choice of tonewood.
The Jim Dandy comes in several colors including a vintage sunburst finish. The design is not only appealing but also functional. It has open-gear tuners and a pin-less bridge making maintenance and string changes simple.
Overall, the Gretsch Jim Dandy is ideal for you if you need a budget-friendly guitar that doesn’t sacrifice quality for cost. Its vintage appeal alone makes it a standout instrument to have in your collection.
Specifications
- Top Material: Laminated Basswood
- Back & Sides Material: Laminated Basswood
- Neck Material: Nato
- Fingerboard Material: Walnut
- Finish: Vintage Sunburst
- Bracing Pattern: X-Bracing
- Bridge: Walnut
- Tuning Machines: Open-Gear Die-Cast
- Nut Material: Synthetic Bone
- Truss Rod: Dual-Action
6. Takamine GY11ME Parlor
The Takamine GY11ME combines the convenience of a small guitar with the rich features of a full-sized one. It is crafted with a mahogany-like Sapele top, back, and sides. With this tonewood, you get a warm, midrange-focused tone. While it doesn’t feature a solid wood top, the quality of the laminates makes it visually pleasing with great sound quality.
The guitar sports a natural satin finish showcasing the wood’s grain. The “New Yorker” parlor body shape is unique to a guitar in this price range. The Takamine GY11ME is a great starter guitar thanks to its shorter scale length, flat fretboard radius, and narrow nut width.
These features make it easy to handle for players with smaller hands. It also comes with a soft-C neck profile and a smooth laurel fingerboard to further comfort. One great thing about the Takamine is that it is equipped with the TP-4T pickup and preamp system. The preamp has essential controls such as 3-band EQ and gain, along with a built-in tuner.
Specifications:
- Body Shape: New Yorker Parlor
- Top Material: Sapele
- Back and Sides: Sapele
- Finish: Natural Satin
- Neck Material: Mahogany
- Fingerboard: Laurel
- Electronics: TP-4T pickup and preamp with built-in tuner
Features You Should Look For In Parlor Guitars
Parlor guitars may be small but they can be of great help if you choose right. Here are some features that you should look for when choosing a parlor guitar.
How Portable Is It?
It is a no-brainer when looking for a parlor guitar. The smaller the guitar the easier it will be to transport. However, if you are a big individual, you may require a guitar bigger than the standard parlor size. Auditorium guitars should be what you need to look into in such a case.
What About The Build Quality?
Parlor guitars sport a vintage design coupled with modern aesthetics. Look for attention to detail such as the quality of the wood fittings, fret smoothness, and the guitar finish. Cheap parlor guitars can skimp on small things to keep the cost low. They may be great in the short run but may not be long-lasting like a well-built one.
Check The Tonewoods
The tone of parlor guitars makes them well-suited for genres like folk and blues. This sound profile is a direct result of the smaller soundboards and body size. The small footprint makes the sound focused with minimal clutter. The choice of wood also plays a big factor in how a parlor guitar sounds. Different woods add different qualities.
Look for guitars that have these tonewoods for the best sound reproduction:
- Mahogany provides a warm, rich tone with an emphasis on the midrange.
- Spruce tops are known for their bright, clear sound and dynamic range.
- Rosewood is often used for back and sides, offering deep basses and high-end brilliance.
Acoustic Electric: Additional Quality Feature
If you regularly play live, look for guitars that have onboard electronics. Some parlor guitars come equipped with pickups and preamps for amplification. Although they may drive up the price a bit, why not have the option rather than not at all?
However, if you are a beginner guitarist, you can go without plugging in as you do not need to at the learning stage.
| By Budget | Best Guitar Options |
|---|---|
| Under $1,000 | – ZAD20 |
| Under $1,500 | – ZAD50CE Smaller “OM” – ZAD50CE Acoustic Electric Natural – ZAD50CE Solid African – ZAD50CE Vintage Sunburst |
| Under $2,000 | – ZAD900 Full Size – ZAD900 “OM” Size |
Frequently Asked Questions
Parlor guitars are not meant to be loud. However, they are very articulate in terms of producing notes from each string. This makes it great for finger pickers. Strumming may not be fun but play a single note at a time and you will be pleasantly surprised at how well a parlor guitar can sound.
In comparison to full-sized guitars, it is best to get strings that have lower tension for parlor guitars. Try to get a lower gauge string for parlor guitars. Standard strings can be anything lower than 10-46 gauge.
Yes, parlor guitars often have fewer frets compared to larger guitars. Parlor guitars come with either 12 or 14 frets clear of the body.
Parlor guitars are ideal for those seeking a guitar with a vintage sound in a smaller, more manageable size. They are best for traveling guitarists or beginners with a small build.
Play While Moving With The Best Parlor Guitars
Parlor guitars nowadays have caused a storm in the market. People nowadays look for portability over anything. This makes parlor guitars a great option because they are small, have great sound, and can be plugged in. Back in the day, not everyone had amps to plug in guitars. With cheaper alternatives readily available, parlor guitars seem like the ideal choice for many musicians!
