What Does All-Solid Mean for a Parlor Guitar?

We know you love a Parlor, and you know we love a Parlor (especially Dee). So what are the tonal differences between an all-solid Parlor and a solid-top Parlor? What does all-solid wood bring for this body size? Find out in today's episode of Alvarez TV and join the discussion on what all-solid wood gives to a Parlor guitar.
Jump to…
0:00 Parlor Jam
2:40 Different to What You Think
4:43 Parlor Perks
6:10 Demos: AP66SHB vs. MPA66SHB
Dee is playing an Artist AP66SHB: alvarezguitars.com/guitar/ap6....
Chris is playing a Masterworks MPA66SHB: alvarezguitars.com/guitar/mpa....
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[@sidweazel2883]

I agree with Dee, the AP66 is great, does everything it should and looks so much better with that binding. The MPA66 sound more like a duff OM. If you want that softer classier tone the get an OM. I own both of these, plus a couple of Yairi parlours, but my go to is the AP66

[@michaelnewsomegreen5500]

Sold, guitar number 14 & I can't wait for it to arrive. Thank you gentlemen.

[@AlvarezGuitarsOfficial]

Very excting, thank you Michael 👍

[@MrRussellbum]

Yes yes yes ,thank you for sharing the opening music ,soft then with more intense playing. Sounded most awesome

[@AlvarezGuitarsOfficial]

We appreciate that, thanks for watching. 👍

[@billallen1594]

I’d love to see one of these without the adornments and with a dull/non reflective finish. Heard you say before that gloss is better for sound vibrations because it’s harder, but looks and feel are important also I reckon 🤔
I guess the market dictates?

[@brucejohansson9552]

I agree too shiny and also feel as you mentioned

[@nicholascowie5944]

I want one or other of these and having listened several times I can't really discern a significant difference. I suspect that's down to Dee's skill. Anyhoo the AP66 will do me fine stock due in locally in August

[@rogeroki7115]

my first midrange guitar was the amp660eshb . I kept playing it at guitar center for over 3 years and nothing matched the sound and looks and the lr baggs system, had to buy it.

[@AlvarezGuitarsOfficial]

Great choice, Rogeroki 👍 Thanks for choosing Alvarez.

[@damonlove8]

Please make a 12th fret MASTERWORKS parlor that’s an all Honduran Mahogany that are from the warehouse of Yairi in Japan. Price them @ $1300. with super slim neck & a warm, round tone that could rival or even surpass the Martin 000-15SM & Martin 00-15. That would be awesome. If you partner with K&K pure mini pickups would be a killer parlor! Thanks so much guys for these demos.

[@cowgirlinrainboots5336]

I would buy one

[@JaysonTuntland]

Killer comment. Count me in for one.

[@johnjones-uc3ni]

Sounds great. But based on the price of the Honduran series, there will never be one offered for close to $1300. The 50 year old Honduran wood makes that price point impossible.

[@sidweazel2883]

IMHO rosewood sounds better on the small bodied guitars.

[@Kevin-rh5li]

Can you confirm the nut width please its advertised at 44.5 or 1.3/4 but i saw a revue the other day and the review said that the nut width is smaller at 1.11/16 . cheers

[@FishTillYouDrop]

I heard this too stopped me from buying it. I have a Delta00 which is advertised as 1¾ nut. However the string spacing was tighter than I'd expect for a 1¾ so I had to get a replacement nut. Now it's great.

[@sgholt]

I have a DY61 Yairi, that I have had for over 30 years, one of my favorites. I do want a good small or parlor guitar, I have one cheap one, but I have been looking at the Alvarez Delta line...can you review one of those

[@arnoldrutjens6663]

K.Yairi F1 G
There is not a better one.

[@AlvarezGuitarsOfficial]

We would love to, those are some seriously fun and bluesy guitars. Will pass this on to the team 👍

[@sgholt]

@@AlvarezGuitarsOfficial thank you!

[@sgholt]

@@arnoldrutjens6663 I will look into those, thanks

[@752brickie]

I love the Alvarez' I have three hanging on the wall along with a Martin and the Martin does not get played . Two are the Blues 51 12 fret and the AP 66 12 fret.

[@AlvarezGuitarsOfficial]

Thank you, Thom! Super pleased to hear that.

[@752brickie]

I have probably owned 8 Alvarez’ over the years!
I feel they are the absolute best bargain for a top quality instrument on the market!

[@ellesnyder942]

I prefer the understated look.

[@chrissolum8323]

Any chance that you might make these in left-handed?

[@AlvarezGuitarsOfficial]

Hi Chris, thank you for asking! We are actually working on this right now, we have this and other offerings for our left-handed friends in the works. Watch this space… 👍

[@chrissolum8323]

@@AlvarezGuitarsOfficial Awesome follow up. Do you have a rough estimate of when they might hit the market?

[@markharwood7573]

I have no doubt that all of the Alvarez parlor guitars are just fine. My MPA66ESHB is a keeper. It's been great with D'Addario bronze and PB strings but I think it sounds even better with their nickel bronze. That could change as the guitar ages, of course.

[@JoMaMaz]

My MF60CEOM also sounds best with D'Addario Nickel Bronze strings!

[@nverga]

Would love a cutaway version of these parlors! Modern take on awesomeness

[@rickrigney9937]

I totally agree. I've been looking for a reasonably priced 12fret small bodied guitar with a cutaway for some time.

[@JoMaMaz]

​@@rickrigney9937You should checkout the Breedlove Organic Performer Concertina CE Bourbon Burst (the Concertina is a OO size). Great guitar for what you described! I think most Breedloves that I've played are too quiet unplugged, but this guitar sounds great! There are cheaper versions also, but the main part you want to look for is the Concertina - a small, 12 fret to the body with a cutaway. Until Alvarez makes something like this. ;)

[@always_pickin3565]

Wow even the artist series sounds amazing I’d get that one just to noodle on! Throw a K&K in it!

[@AlvarezGuitarsOfficial]

We love hearing that. Thanks for watching 👍

[@752brickie]

I have had two of them . I regretted trading to one for years so I bought another one!
I also have a Blues 51 12 feet tgat is absolutely amazing too.
But if I am going to have the 12 feet I want the slotted headstock

[@lhvent]

The all solid sounds great.

[@byroneism]

Im getting one next week cant w8

[@rickrigney9937]

I would probably prefer the all solid model for acoustic accompaniment/solo gigging but the laminate model would work better for in a band or ensemble situation.

[@AlvarezGuitarsOfficial]

Great thoughts, Rick, thank you for watching 👍

[@JaysonTuntland]

The all solid sounds great, and would look better with less bling. A Yairi offering of a parlor with all Honduran mahogany would be the cats meow.

[@AlvarezGuitarsOfficial]

Thanks for the feedback, Jayson.

[@jbanjo056]

Both sound great, would like to have the Artist to just lay around the house

[@AlvarezGuitarsOfficial]

It's a great choice for that 👍

[@kevincrouch3956]

The laminated model actually has a more authentic blues sound...the all solid model is too meaty and well rounded for blues playing

[@paulechols]

I like a little jewelry on the guitar🤠

[@AlvarezGuitarsOfficial]

So do we!

[@juansaintmalo8974]

Yo tengo AP66 y en todos los videos comparativos vs MPA66 pienso que suena mucho mejor. Les recomiendo AP66, tiene mucho caracter y entonacion para tocar con los dedos principalmente. Posiblemente no es muy buena para strumming

[@sidweazel2883]

Totally agree 100%

[@sandb1867]

Boomy base.