When I tell people that I play Parlor and Grand Concert sized guitars, many people have no idea about these types of guitars or if they see them in a guitar store they may think they are junior or starter guitars. The Parlor is slightly smaller than a Grand Concert which is smaller than a Dreadnought. As primarily a fingerpicker, it is much easier for me to play Grand Concerts and Parlors compared to Dreadnoughts and Jumbos.
You will see many famous musicians play Grand Concerts and Parlors in concerts. To get a bigger sound out of a smaller guitar most Grand Concerts and Parlors are made from all solid materials. I particularly like the sound from a Spruce or Mahogany top rather than Cedar tops. Cedar will give you a softer or warmer tone.
Below find a list of common Parlor guitars you can purchase that won’t break the bank.
 Gretch make a great Parlor guitar and lately have introduced some real great looking Parlors.(review)They make a quality product for the money and most of their parlor guitars include: X-braced basswood body, a “C”-profile nato neck, smooth walnut fingerboard, 18 vintage-style frets, pearloid dot inlays, top-load walnut bridge, compensated synthetic bone saddle, Gretsch Deltoluxe acoustic magnetic soundhole pickup. Check Reverb for prices Check eBay for prices |
 Paul Reed Smith make an affordable good parlor, (review), including PRS hybrid “X”/Classical bracing, Top Wood: Solid Mahogany- Back & Side Wood: Mahogany- Body Shape: Tonare- Body Depth at the Neck Block: 3 15/32″- Body Depth at the Tail Block: 3 7/8″- Bracing: PRS Hybrid “X”/Classical Bracing- Number of Frets: 20- Scale Length: 24.72″- Neck Wood: Mahogany- Neck Shape: Wide Fat- String Spacing: 2 7/32”- Fretboard Wood: Ebony- Fretboard Inlay: Birds- Strength/Truss Rod: Adjustable- Nut: Bone- Bridge Wood: Ebony- Tuners: Vintage-Style with Butterbean Buttons- Acoustic Saddle: Bone- Strings: .012 – .053- Included Accessories: Gig Bag.Check Reverb for prices Check eBay for prices |
 Fender is a name that everyone knows in the guitar world and make a really affordable and good parlor, (review), including Burgundy SatinBody – Solid Spruce Top with Laminated Mahogany Back and SidesBody Finish – SatinBody Shape – MalibuNeck Material – MahoganyNeck Finish – Satin UrethaneNeck Shape – Slim “C”Scale Length – 24.1″ (612 mm)Fingerboard – WalnutFingerboard Radius – 15.75″ (400 mm)Number of Frets – 20String Nut – Graph Tech® NuBoneNut Width – 1.69” (43 mm)Position Inlays – DotControls – Volume, Bass, TrebleBridge – Modern VikingHardware Finish – ChromeTuning Machines – Sealed NickelPickguard – 3-Ply GoldStrings – Fender® Dura-Tone® Coated 80/20 Bronze.Check Reverb for prices Check eBay for prices |
 Taylor is another household name in guitars and make an excellent parlor, (review), including Featuring a layered sapele back and sides and a top of solid Sitka spruce, you can add a capo, high-string it, tune it down, play it around the campfire, help your kids form their first guitar chords, 19 rosewood frets, and a compact 3/4 size, the Taylor BT1 Baby Taylor.Check Reverb for prices Check eBay for prices |