Parlour guitar

Bongadav · February 2015

Hello,

I'm a beginner. I'm thinking about a Vintage v880 or a Tanglewood Java parlour guitar. Does anyone have any opinions?

One thing that is putting me off the tanglewood is the lack of fret markings, as a beginner they help me find my way around. Could I put dots on the frets or am I being silly?

Thanks

Fuzzdog · February 2015

I had a Tanglewood TW73 parlour for a few years, really superb guitar which more than held its own against many more expensive acoustics. Never played the Java, but if it's anything like the more expensive versions, it'll be an absolute cracker.

Sold it last year due to thinning the herd a bit, and have regretted it ever since.

Bongadav · February 2015

Hi FD,

Any feelings about the fret markings?

underdog · February 2015

As long as it has fret markers on the side of the neck you will adjust very quickly to them not being on the board.

Not sure of the price of the guitars your mentioned but I have a faith parlour (the naked series one) and it's a lovely guitar, so worth seeing if they will fall in to your price range new or used.

VimFuego · February 2015

re the fret markings, you can always stick a couple of sticky dots on the fret board, they'll last until you learn your way round the fret board.

Bongadav · February 2015

thanks all.

VimFuego · February 2015

oh, and welcome BTW, have a free WIS fret.

timhulio · February 2015

Watch this demo. It's really impressive how good a £130 parlour guitar can sound.

stimpsonslostson · February 2015

I've got a Vintage Brett 12string parlour acoustic. It's lovely.
The V880 is a very decent guitar.

Tanglewoods are consistently nice too... So that's no help!

If it were me shopping for a parlour, I'd be looking at the Sigma range- some of those are VERY nice (but seem to be a bit more pricey- £300)

Fuzzdog · February 2015

Bongadav said:

Hi FD,
Any feelings about the fret markings?

My TW73 had fretboard markers - I personally don't like them on acoustics, one of the reasons I bought my current Lakewood which just has a big blank stretch of ebony.

As long as the side markers are there, that's all you really need. If you're desperate, just use the sticky dots mentioned above.

Phil_aka_Pip · February 2015

Gretsch Jim Dandy. Sounds far better than it deserves to given its price

Rigid_Digits · February 2015

Yes still loving my Gretsch Jim Dandy too. Play it the most of any of my guitars.

Bongadav · February 2015

Thanks for the kind help. I tried a Jim Dandy but found it hard to get clear chords higher up the frets, picking was fine.

I mentioned the Tanglewood because I've seen a 2nd hand one for sale, and the Vintage because the reviews are so good for a price of around £175. I've seen a Tanglewood java in the flesh and found it easier to play. However its such a shame that the lovely aesthetics are on the back and the front is rather plain. Obviously you don't see the back when playing!

I've also seen a Vintage Paul Brett 12 string for sale. Stimpson, as a relative beginner, would you think I could (not would!) get on ok with one - bearing in mind I found getting clear notes out of the Dandy hard around the 8 fret upwards? Is the nut width a bit wider to allow the 12 strings?

My brother used to have a 12 string years ago and I remember loving the sound it made.

Phil_aka_Pip · February 2015

The only trouble I have with the Jim Dandy above fret 8 is where the knuckles of my fretting hand hit the body, which the neck joins at the 12th fret. Unless you had a cutaway, or the neck joins at the 14th, you'll have that problem on any parlour guitar, and if either of those are true, then your guitar probably isn't a 'traditional' parlour (but that's not to imply there's anything wrong with that).

stimpsonslostson · February 2015

Phil_aka_Pip said:

The only trouble I have with the Jim Dandy above fret 8 is where the knuckles of my fretting hand hit the body, which the neck joins at the 12th fret. Unless you had a cutaway, or the neck joins at the 14th, you'll have that problem on any parlour guitar, and if either of those are true, then your guitar probably isn't a 'traditional' parlour (but that's not to imply there's anything wrong with that).

This is true of the Brett 12 too. 12th fret join & no cut away means it's VERY tough to go up to the dusty end... but to my mind, that's not what it's about on a parlour.

The Brett 12 is excellent, it's a very easy to play 12string and sounds sweet (it's an electro too, so there's no issue with a lack of volume- you can amp it up to make it louder). I like it so much that I sold my Art Lutherie Ami, Simon & Patrick Cedar 12 and my Yamaha APX500 after I got it.

The nut is 48mm (rather than the 6 string version which is 46mm)- it's a handful, but certainly isn't a HUGE neck like my Simon & Patrick was!

I'd say that you should try the 12string, to see if you like it (I'd say that about any guitar!) It's a wonderful thing, but 12 strings does make for a lack of space and a need for lots of acclimatisation. If you wanted a 14th fret join, try the 6 string version of the Brett- if I recall correctly it joins at 14 & is virtually identical otherwise.

My thoughts are here:

http://thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/16767/

The Yamaha CPX500ii would be an excellent option too- they're not a true parlour, but are smaller than your average acoustic and play REALLY well.

PS thanks to everyone suggesting the Gretsch Jim Dandy- I'd gotten over that particular GAS attack... now it's back!

Sassafras · February 2015

Try the 12 string. If you can't get on with it you can always string it with 6.

I first learnt on a 12 string with only 6 and I found it easier to learn chords due to the extra space on the fretoard.

Bongadav · February 2015

Thanks all, very helpful. It wasn't the 12 fret, or probably not the guitar, that was my problem I think, it was just my lack of ability.

Thanks anyway. I'm going to try to go and see the Paul Brett 12.

VimFuego · February 2015

never let lack of ability stop you buying a shiny, I never have and I never will.

57Deluxe · February 2015

@Bongdav get a gittar wiv fret markers cos when you undoubtably have a few lessons or try to teach yourself off the web you will spend less time trying to appropriate what you see in front of you...

Bongadav · February 2015

Hi 57,

I've tried to analise what I do at the moment and I do look a lot at the fret markings as well as the side dots. I know what other say is correct about not needing the fret markings but I do feel I would be happier for a considerable time with them.

I need all the help I can get!

DartmoorHedgehog · February 2015

I've never tried the Java, but I've got a Tanglewood TW133 ASM parlour and it's excellent. It's slightly cheaper than the Java (£250 vs £290 from what I can find), but I only paid £150 for mine, new B-stock (although I've got no idea what the "fault" is - I suspect it may have been bankrupt stock or something), and at that price it was a massive bargain. The only thing that could possibly do with changing on the TW133 is the plastic bridge saddle is a bit soft - the strings have dug into it a bit, but that's only being really fussy.

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