The Parlor Shootout: Why You Need a Parlor Guitar - Alvarez TV

This week on the Acoustic Show we have four of our Parlor guitars - Artist AP70e, Masterworks MP70e, Laureate LP70e and our Yairi Masterworks PYM70 - all have the same wood configuration but sound surprisingly different in tone. We talk about the origins of the body shape, why we love it and what made its resurgence in recent times, and finally we play them side by side for comparison Join us on the show as we discuss all things Parlor.
#alvarezguitars #alvarezyairi #parlor #alvareztv #acousticguitar #guitarplayer #yairi #musician #guitar
0:00 Intro
0:17 Parlor Vou Anglais? Jam
1:52 What we doing today, Dee?
3:32 A little history of the Parlor
5:54 It’s all about the midrange focus
7:10 Alvarez Parlors revisited, FST6 bracing
8:07 Peaks and troughs
9:10 Wrap Up
11:20 Artist AP70e Parlor
11:39 Masterworks MP70e Parlor
12:00 Laureate LP70e Parlor
12:18 Yairi Masterworks PYM70 Parlor
12:57 End credits
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[@ronchave6354]

Another brilliantly explained video on Alvarez Guitars. I don't have a parlor guitar, but gee you Guy's make me want to go out and buy one. Please never stop doing these informative videos.👍👍👍

[@anthonyb2334]

I own an Alvarez delta 00 and love it. Will be purchasing an Alvarez masterwork parlor in the near future. Thank you for your videos

[@architypeone8646]

I think Parlors are popular because they are comfortable to play, don't take up much room, easy to travel with, and you get a lot of tone in a small package. Also they are a very good value for the money. I think a parlor would be an excellent choice for a child learning to play since they fit smaller people better and if the child doesn't stick with it you still have a decent guitar that has value as opposed to a cheap beginner guitar that will be almost worthless if you wanted to sell it.

[@triples4good]

I always look forward to another production of Alvarez TV. I truly enjoy the playing, love the groove. I think I’m needing a Masterworks Parlor.

[@powell.christopher]

Loved the Masterworks one.

[@triples4good]

@@powell.christopher yeah I really like the idea of all solid wood but the Artist series sounded really close. And when you think about it Alvarez layers of solid mahogany to get their laminations so it should age really well.

[@playbandcflat9829]

Marty Robbins performed 50+ years ago on television and live at the Grand Ole Opry with a Martin parlor-sized guitar. Light-colored back & sides suggest mahogany. No pickups at that time, but nor was he mic’d up, most likely a prop that grounded him. He didn’t use a guitar strap either - nimble on stage. He was a showman in his day, yet his legacy are the lyrics he wrote, rich in Texas cowboy lore, sucked the listener right onto the scene as it unfolded, and likely inspired (I’d like to believe) strumming a parlor guitar that lived beside his sofa. Boys, as usual, well-done again on your video. We all need an Alvarez parlor to be inspired and play a set at Rosa’s Cantina in El Paso.

[@cody31]

Great groove. Great vibes. Wonderful episode. Thank you very much!

[@gordf2619]

All the guitars sound great! To my ears, the artist and masterworks sound very similar while the laureate has a sizzle on top. The Yairi surprised me. It’s in a whole other league.

[@bosse641]

Lovely sounds at the beginning. ....well done guys

[@robmc1232]

“Microphones are not like ears.” More comments will probably come up about that squeak. It was probably a lot less pronounced in the room to their ears.

[@shawnbruce6934]

Something called Finger Ease. Generally eliminates that.

[@mortonwilson795]

True dat - a bit of talcum powder can help in the studio. True story, a few years back there was a trend on TV commercials here in HK for 'authentic, folksy, acoustic' soundtracks so me and my fellow guitarist dutifully obliged, playing carefully, as one is supposed to do. The ad agancy clients were not impressed . . . "could you add some squeaks to make it sound more realistic?". Yup, np, but you know, we do charge extra for solo squeak overdubs! 🤣

[@JeffSimpson-yy2si]

Y’all’s got it love the looks and sounds what a tone from both

[@RR-mi5ni]

Just the other day I acquired my super parlor instrument AU70WC - concert ukulele :) my new little friend, but the real dream is PYM60HD14 - adirondack and Honduran. I wish they were easier to find in South Africa. Thank you for another great video. Really enjoy the Alvarez TV series.

[@callawaycass5148]

My wife recently gave me a PYM66HD. Wow! Beautiful look, even better sound.

[@GuillermoCarrasco]

I liked them all... beautiful sound !

[@goodtimefolkrock]

I just purchased an Art and Lutherie Roadhouse parlor A/E while it resembles the gretch jim dandy penguin in terms of color scheme (mine is faded black with MOTS pearloid pick guard) that is where the similarities end.......this little feller is a wonderful north american built player that punches way above it's price point of 699 usd and the neck is soooooo comfortable. It feels like a Martin in terms of build quality and tone ......i love it. I tried the alverezs too and didnt care for them

[@daithi48]

It is possible to avoid excessive string squeak with a quick lift off as you change position🙂 . Please correct me if I’m wrong

[@bradettinger3072]

Wow. The ego is something else.

[@lhvent]

Really nice playing

[@darrencarillo7321]

Love Parlor Guitars. Please make a Parlor size, 14 fret to the body, with a cutaway. I don't see any major manufacturers making one.

[@heidih2887]

Delicious! Combine that beautiful sound with comfort, how could you go wrong!?

[@brianhoey1107]

I bought a Guild F20 in 1976 which is small body but 25.5inch scale length. The sound always impresses people when they see small size of it.

[@mortonwilson795]

Lovely guitars, really enjoyed the playing. I have an S. Yairi parlor I bought back in the late '70s which I have used on countless recordings - the fullness is remarkable for such a modest body size but like mentioned here it lends itself to a more 'intimate' approach, particularly good for finger picking - I still use my big Taylor for 'solid strummy' stuff if that's called for. I recently bought a nice K. Yairi single cutaway parlor with ebony board which is absolutely gorgeous, also still rely on my K. Yairi Nylon String Classical from late '70s (also ebony board) for more classical stuff. Definitely a fan of K. Yairi guitars, have my eye on a couple here - maybe Christmas! I would love to check out the Alvarez stuff if it turns up in any of the main HK stockists.

[@bobbyh.3911]

Someone needs some Elixer (or coated) Strings to tame the squeaky chord changes. And there is an annoying low-end boom, that could be attenuated.

[@bradettinger3072]

Thank god for mister smarty-pants.

[@robotusa88]

I have an AP70 I bought used 6 years ago. I brought it to a friends acoustic jam session and played it in a room full of expensive Martins and custom acoustics. The sound blew people away, especially when I told them what it cost me.

[@scottfishkind5335]

Great presentation as always!! Listening with headphones… 11:20 Artist AP70e Parlor 11:39 Masterworks MP70e Parlor 12:00 Laureate LP70e Parlor 12:18 Yairi Masterworks PYM70 Parlor First, they all sounded great!! The Artist and Masterworks sounded relatively close though the Masterworks seemed to have a bit more fullness (which I didn’t catch until my second time through). The Laureate had a very different, more transparent sound, really its own character, very beautiful shimmery quality! The Yairi was strikingly different, much rounder sound, sonically bigger (almost sounded more like an OM by comparison) not just louder, but more resonant! I could totally see using that in the studio for its specific voice! Of course this is all subjective so it’s just how my ears perceived it through my JBL headphones which are pretty balanced though not expensive. For someone like myself you tends to favor grand auditorium’s, and would not be using a parlor as a primary guitar, I would be completely happy with the artist series. I could see having that guitar to take around with me without having to worry about it but still being able to enjoy a nice quality sound!

[@andrewhnorris1]

I love the Alvarez Parlors. I have all mahogany Artist and Yairi versions (Yairi for home - Artist for taking out the house). For me a great selling point is that they are actually larger than a true parlor and more like the size of a classical guitar. The small body size, low string tension, short scale and 12 fret make them the perfect personal guitar. Most people don't play on stage, but play at home. The parlor range has a lovely intimate tone and effortless playing.

[@752brickie]

I have had 2- AP 66 12 frets and they are amazing guitars ! I had an old Alvarez 12 fret many years ago, not sure what model it was?? They are all AMAZING GUITARS !

[@adamstevenson8463]

I have 3 guitars. A GS mini travel guitar and two Alvarez parlors - a AMP660ESHB and the 50th anniversary APA1965. I love the parlors so much because they sound beautiful, and for their size, the sound is bigger than you’d expect. To me the tone is very balanced, without the overwhelming boom of a dreadnought. Add to that, at 54 years old I have some chronic pain in my right shoulder, so the size of these instruments is just much more comfortable to me. On a tone for size (comfort) for price equation I think parlors just make sense to a lot of players like myself and each has it’s own advantages. The 1965 gives me a little bit of spruce brightness and the 660 gives me the mahogany warmth that I love. The slimmer neck of the 660 is easier on my thumbs but the 12-fret join of the 1965 is a more comfortable reach for me. If (big if) I replace these guitars my plan is to go for an AP66 and an AP70. Although I might just keep the 1965 in an open tuning to learn slide on. (Plus, it’s just plain gorgeous to look at)

[@dkerwood1]

I recently bought a Sigma parlour, though I suspect it's closer to a concert size. It's a great companion to my Gibson J15 with the same scale length, just more compact and a little more focused in the sound without getting thin. I use it as my classroom guitar, a role which was previously played by my Alvarez baritone. The baritone has now come home and I couldn't be happier.

[@NormsBu-nk1hc]

When can we see and hear you play the new Alvarez-Yairi Parlor PYM66HD all solid vintage honduran mahogany parlor?

[@dankeck6230]

hello I read that Alvarez guitars also makes the Baton Rouge guitars. Is that true?

[@dankeck6230]

Have you made me a parlor with a 1and13/16 inch nut width ?

[@christopherstanford5599]

❤

[@nicholascowie5944]

D'Addario XS strings are usually low squeak. Maybe the mike? The Yairi( sadly not available in the UK) was the best as it should be at the price. The Masterworks sounded every bit as good as the more expensive Laureate, but I do like the ebony and traditional bridge, so maybe that's the one. I sold my Delta00 and MF60OM recently with the aim of getting one of the new range of parlours. I'll enjoy choosing.

[@artman133]

The Yairi wins in my book……if I succumb to another guitar it will be that one

[@johngbradt]

Zen Koan Can you Tune A Fish in a Florida Key? 🎣

[@mk-wv6yv]

Love the sound of all 4 parlors. Would rather a trade off comparison of the exact tune for each guitar, though. Hearing a portion of the tune does not do the comparison justice.

[@kurt8805]

Agreed. The ABCD sound comparison was nearly useless. C'mon Alvarez, we can't do such a comparison in a store. Re-edit the video you shot and replace this one with a longer version or one with less talking and more playing.

[@jeszar2011]

For me, that noise when changing positions is an unpleasant technical error.

[@thasandmanmorrison8469]

why has yairi not made a masters model of a honduran parlor with either a high grade sitka or adirondack top? my dream is an adirondack top with solid honduran back and sides with a 24 in scale and 12 fret, slot head. looks like they will never make one before the aged honduran runs out. very disappointed about that.

[@johnjones-uc3ni]

Your best choice right now is the Alveraz Yairi PYM60HD. Aged Honduran with AAAA Adirondack top. Just doesn't have a slotted headstock.

[@thasandmanmorrison8469]

@@johnjones-uc3ni nor is it a 12 fret

[@triples4good]

The comparison was very interesting. The Artist series sounded almost as good as the Masterworks. Maybe just slightly less articulate on the higher end. I thought the Laureate had a very nice chimy quality almost bell like in the midrange. The Yiari was very clear I thought, but the others were really not far off interestingly.

[@andrewhnorris1]

I tried the Artist and Masterworks side by side - to me the masterworks wasn't worth the upgrade. The masterworks is better, but the value for money of the Artist is incredible.

[@triples4good]

@@andrewhnorris1 I have to agree. They were really close!

[@jeromestevenfaigin6059]

In one word that brought back to the front of why dreadnought started to loose it's dominant interest of players. First it was Yamaha came in the 1970s. No players that made a living playing music could afford to buy one. Yamaha made an inexpensive acoustic concert size that their setups were close to well made like Fender-like to Gibson-like guitars. Yamaha's were made with lieminate sides, back and plywood top. It was better playing Martin. Martin had the best collection of woods and maybe more today then now. They started making the Tee-Bar. A heavy neck in the D-35 was high price at $600 a lot of money and I didn't know how to record until KZbin came a long and showed me of many that need show me. Then I'd learn?

[@jtezzi]

squeaky...🤔

[@user-no1cares]

That’s not thde guitar.

[@keestoft250]

Sorry Alvarez, calling you out again on discontinuing the AP70 in left hand (which was a great guitar) and never offering the AP66 left hand. Always disappointing when lefties get limited token options, which usually aren't the cool models either.

[@AlvarezGuitarsOfficial]

We understand your frustration, and are currently working on expanding our lefty options :)

[@macaulaysmyth8620]

Man, I was so lucky I ordered my AP70WL when I did, about 2 weeks later they were nowhere to be found. My favourite of all my guitars, and I have one 5x the price I paid for the AP. I understand your pain 😢