looking for a cheap parlour guitar

[purpleorange]

I am looking for a cheap parlour guitar for finger picking, I want to spend less than £300 and I am happy to go second hand if it means more guitar for my money.

I was thinking something like the epiphone EL- 00 or one of the tanglewood parlour guitars.

Does anyone have any recommendations on what to buy?

[Matt]

I can recommend the Recording King ROS-16. I picked one up for £260. It's got a solid spruce top, 12-frets to the body (giving it a particularly nice bass), fairly wide neck which is good for fingerpicking but not too wide, and the neck also has a v-profile, which I wouldn't have considered before, but is actually fine and makes the guitar more distinctive which I like. The headstock is slotted and it has some good solid open tuners (Grover I think).

Edit: Here's a link for good measure www.recordingking.com/guitars_ros16.html

[Gerry C]

I have a Tanglewood TRP-73 which is a very nice little guitar: I think I paid mnore that £300 for it but check on E-bay etc. Have a look here:

www.tanglewoodguitars.co.uk/products/acoustic/rosewood/trp73/TRP73.html

Cheerily,

Gerry C

[blueshome]

This is an example of what this guy has, there are some others on his uk ebay at the moment which may suit you. I think someone on this forum has dealt with him.

cgi.ebay.co.uk/vintage-1930s-Oahu-Harmony-stella-parlor-guitar-/150526021495?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item230c0ccf77#ht_500wt_1156

These pre-war ladder braced guitars are the way to go for the blues sound, great for sliding too and generally loud.

[Deleted]

The bloke that blueshome has mentioned is Mike Savage in Kings Lynn. I've just bought a little Harmony Stella 928 from him. Just over 200 quid. Solid birch body, ladder braced, 12 frets to the body and an adjustable bridge. Fantastic little guitar, great for finger and slide, with a good old fashioned bluesy sound.

Mike is a great bloke, very helpful and very knowledgeable when it comes to these old guitars, and he always has a good stock of them.

All the best.

Rich.

[andys]

Ive heard good things about the Art and Lutherie AMIs. Made in Canada, and you can get them quite cheap used. Im always on the lookout for one.

I already have a parlour in the shape of my little Busker Cannon. Does both parlour and resonator in one package;-)

[andys]

One on ebay at the moment

cgi.ebay.co.uk/art-and-lutherie-ami-parlour-guitar-/150524766878?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item230bf9aa9e

[purpleorange]

Thanks for the replys, they have given me a few things to think about.

I had been looking at a few of the vintage parlour guitars on ebay, but I thought it would be a risk to buy one. If I do go vintage I will see what Mike Savage has to offer.

I had a look at the Art and Lutherie AMI on ebay, but it is all laminate.

The tanglewood TRP 73 looks OK, but for less money I would rather go for the Recording King ROS-16. They seem to be a similar spec, but I like the shape of the headstock on the ROS-16 better and it doesn't have the tanglewood logo that is dislike.

The faith mercury parlour guitars look good and they are all solid wood, I think I might keep an eye out for one of these on ebay.

Washburn could be another option for an all solid guitar, but from the picture I don't think I like the look of them.

There is a larrivee parlour guitar on ebay at the moment with a starting bid of £400, it looks good but it isn't affordable for me.

[5slide]

An A&L Ami was going to be my suggestion, or a used oahu for a great blues tone.

[andys]

I dont think the AMIs are all laminate.

The specs I have looked at say they have cedar tops and cherry sides.

From what I can tell they are all solid timber.

[oldmanblue]

i have a faith mercuary that i bought s/h on ebay for a small amount over your budget could not be happier .omb

[Matt]

The AMI on ebay is described as all laminate. I reckon the new recording king is still the best buy for the money, unless you gert a real bargain on ebay for a better spec instrument/

[purpleorange]

I might try and save a little extr money and hold out to see if any recording king ROS-627's come up for sale.

The blueridge parlour guitars are almost identical to the recording kings, I am not sure if they are the same company or if they come from the same factory.

I think it is best to try and get something 2nd hand, you get more for your money and you don't lose as much if you decide to sell it on.

[slidenpickit]

I have the ROS 626 - awesome guitar for the money. All quality solid woods, ebony board with a 1 13/16" width nut, great for slide and fingerpicking.

[purpleorange]

I was looking at the ROS 626, but I don't want a guitar with electrics in it.