Best Washburn Guitar Parlor Series Review

Washburn parlor series guitar review
washburn guitar parlor series review

Washburn Guitar Parlor Series Review

Washburn makes a lot of great products but one that has been around since before the civil war is the parlor guitar. Todays topic is  the Washburn guitar parlor series review.

Parlor Guitars have been around since the late 19th- early 20th century. Musicians such as Robert Johnson, the “king of Delta blues,” played parlor guitars.The Parlor Series guitar is just one of the styles, and models of guitar that Washburn has made since 1883. Where George Washburn founder of the Manufacture started making other musical instruments, other than guitars. Such as Banjos, Mandolins, Ukuleles, and more.



Many big name players in Rock, Folk and Blues have set the trend in music using the Washburn Guitar. It is no mistake these player understand the quality of Washburn.

Today’s focus will be on the Washburn parlor guitar. Parlor guitars  are a smaller body guitar. It’s name is from the era when primarily woman would play this style of guitar. It’s small size made it great for women to play inside. In a “parlor”, Which in more modern terms the living room. Hence the name Parlor Guitar. Fast forward to today, we have the revival of the Washburn Vintage Series Parlor  Series guitars.

The R314KK, R320SWRK, Wp11SNS, are three heavy hitters.

Washburn R314KK Parlor Series, Vintage Series Guitar

washburn guitar parlor series review
Washburn R314KK Parlor Series
Washburn parlor Series guitar review

The Vintage Series recreates the Washburn R314KK crafted Parlor guitars of the 19th – 20th century. Because these guitars are made of modern materials and techniques they are more durable. Even though Sound is left up to an individuals taste, it is of the opinion of many that the sound quality is better than its counter part of 100 years ago. Further more the Vintage finish and distressed hardware gives it that authentic 1900’s look. Buy the Washburn R314KK Parlor guitar on Amazon.

Quality and Beauty combined equates to Washburns Vintage Series parlor guitar and is surprisingly affordable. It has a rustic small design and a wonderful bluesy Sound. There is a unique beauty right out of the box.

This guitar is built to last with its Spruce top, Trembesi Tonewood back and sides. To give an impressive warm tone. The V-neck is made of mahogany with a rosewood fingerboard.




Features of the Washburn R314KK

  • Aged finish
  • Spruce top
  • Trembesi back and sides
  • Mahogany V neck
  • Rosewood fingerboard
  • Rope Purfling on the top edge
  • Rosewood bridge
  • 19 frets

R320SWRK Vintage Series, Parlor Series Guitar

washburn guitar parlor series review
Washburn Vintage Series R320SWRK
Washburn parlor series guitar review

To create the “vibe” of a 100 year old instrument that has been well played Washburn has added a vintage finish and distressed hardware to the R320SWRK.

Buy the Washburn R320SWRK on Amazon.

Because this instrument has been built with modern material and techniques this guitar is more durable than its counter part of 100 years ago.

Featuring a Solid Spruce top, solid rosewood back and sides. Quartersawn scalloped stika spruce bracing. A mahogany V neck with ebony 18 fret fingerboard. Also featuring the “tree of Life” inlays. Distressed open gear tuners, and D’Addario strings.

R320SWRK Features

  • Solid Spruce Top
  • Back Solid Rosewood
  • Sides Solid Rosewood
  • Bracing Quartersawn Scalloped Stika Spruce
  • Rosette – Abalone
  • V Shape Neck – Mahogany
  • Fingerboard Ebony with 18 Frets
  • Inlays – Tree of Life
  • Nut – Bone
  • Nut Width 48mm
  • Scale – 24.75
  • Tuners – Distressed Open Gear
  • Strings D’Addario EXP – 16

This guitar is beautiful and comes with a slightly higher price for all its  bells and whistles.

 Washburn WP11SNS Parlor Series Guitar Review

washburn guitar parlor series review
Washburn WP11SNS Parlor Guitar

The WP11SNS parlor guitar is based off of the same design as the other Vintage series guitars but this guitar is more affordable for the budget. It still has that Bluesy sound and the authentic 100 year old distressed look.

Best Bargain price of  the Washburn parlors. Buy the Washburn WP11SNS Parlor guitar on Amazon. 

It features a mahogany back and sides creating a slightly more focused articulate tone. The fingerboard displays pearl dot inlays. This Parlor scale model is 24.75″and features a natural stain finish. Solid ceder top supported by quarter sawn scallop stika spruce bracing. Abolone rosette and Washburn rosewood bridge. The fingerboard is rosewood and mahogany neck. Gold open gear tuners. The tones on this guitar are great for finger picking or with a pick.

This guitar is a Best budget guitar and true to its parlor size and shape has great clarity. You get Bang for your buck with this parlor series guitar.

Washburn guitar parlor series review

Features of the WP11SNS

  • Solid Spruce Top
  • Back – Mahogany
  • Sides – Mahogany
  • Bracing – Quartersawn Scalloped Stika Spruce
  • Rosetta – Abalone
  • Neck – Satin Mahogany with 2 way Truss rod
  • Fretboard – Rosewood with 20 Frets
  • Inlays – Dot
  • Nut – Bone 44mm Width
  • Scale 24.75
  • Bridge – Rosewood
  • Tuners – Gold open gear
  • Strings D’Addario EXP – 16 Light

Because the Wp11SNS Parlor Series has a lot of the same quality features as the rest of the guitars in this series, but for considerably less it makes it the Best Budget guitar in the Series. 

Don’t forget you need to keep your Pride and Joy clean, Take a look at the recommendations here:Guitar cleaning products.

Frequently Bought With this Product

 

Best Washburn Guitar Parlor Series Review

Washburn Hardshell Guitar Case

Washburn Hardshell Case Keeping the vintage look and Style.

There are numerous video lessons that feature the Washburn parlor series WP11SNS in the Guitar Essential Blog.

I hope this Washburn guitar parlor series review has been quite informative and helpful to making the process of  buying a parlor guitar an easier decision.

Keep Your Washburn Parlor guitar looking and feeling new with a humidifier. See why a humidifier is recommended for wood instruments.

To Summarize Washburn guitar parlor series review

The three heavy hitters in the Vintage parlor series are  R314KK, R320SWRK, Wp11SNS.

  1. R320SWRK has all the bells and whistles and costs the most, and has Great customer response review 3.5 stars.
  2.   R314KK has an over all customer review of 3.5 and comes with similar features as the R320SWRK, but with less sting when it comes to the checkout.
  3. WP11SNS is undoubtedly for the budget minded individual who is still interested in the quality that Washburn has displayed for century’s. The overall customer response is rated at 5 stars.

Whats the Best Parlor Guitar?

I own the WP11SNS Parlor Guitar and I have to say that I have no regrets with it. I Love the small size of it, small but doesn’t loose it’s great bluesy tones. The size makes it a great guitar to take everywhere you want to go.

Camping is my next great love. Next to music and guitars. The parlor guitar is so easy to take in the car. It doesn’t take up a lot of room, so you can still manage to pack the essentials. It is so much fun to sit around the campfire play tunes on my parlor guitar, and eat marshmallows.

Another reason this guitar works for me besides the great sound, and intonation, it is so easy to play. Is when I’m sitting at home relaxing watching the TV I can sit comfortably holding my parlor guitar, and playing it on commercials. It is just the right size for any occasion.

Last reason is the price this guitar was less than $325.00. Take it from me Sharon YourGuitarGuide, It is worth every penny. Check the reviews on Amazon for the Washburn WP11SNS.

You may see me playing my Washburn Parlor guitar in some of the video lessons in the Guitar Essentials Blog. Parlor guitars are Great guitar for practicing with, and playing the blues.

Satin Natural Parlor Guitar

 

Washburn parlor Koa acoustic guitar with a Satin natural finish. This is a Beautiful all natural finish that stays true to the parlor series tradition. The Washburn WP55NS has Koa Sides and back with stika spruce bracing. The mahogany neck has a rosewood fingerboard. To finish off the Vintage look of this parlor guitar it has open gear tuning.

Take a look here at the specs and price of the WP55 on Amazon.

Need to know how to chews the correct guitar strings? Take a look at this post and learn which strings to buy for your guitar.


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Learn the Blues on Your New Parlor Guitar. Buy eBook from Amazon Today!

 

The History of Washburn Guitars


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