The guitars for this music were very lightly braced and very responsive - they were often small, but that is not what defined them. This was a major genre - different from the Spanish styles, which were wider spread. Parlor guitars are a style of guitar used to play parlor music - a form of music popular in the 1800s and the early 1900s. I've said this before - some really well known important people disagree with me, but I don't care. He ended up with a Little Martin.and is convenient, tough, small, and inexpensive. It could be a miracle of humankind to find a decent sounding and convenient 'traveler' at a reasonable price (anyone wanna go snipe hunting?) I had posted for recommendations on a traveler for my bro a while back. I have heard some parlors or various small bodies that sound decent or even excellent (and priced accordingly).but the good sound comes with a fragility that a true traveler cannot by definition be characterized. Travelers, to me, imply materials which can endure tough conditions and which have a small body.neither of which generally sound good. I've yet to hear any traveler that can offer more than convenience. I've always tried real hard to 'think' of parlor guitars as 'travelers' as they generally seem to sound a whole lot better than the true 'travelers'. Please see photos for close-ups.įeel free to reach out if you have any additional questions about this guitar.Very interesting Dave.and thanks for that perspective photo. However, we want to make sure to communicate all of them to anybody considering this instrument. It is common to see multiple cracks like this on a guitar of this age. Want to be clear about some of the cracks that are present on the guitar: there's a couple in the front, below the bridge, a few different places where the seam is slightly coming apart along the binding, and a couple cracks in the lower and upper part of the back.

There has been some work done on it, such as the bridge being re-glued, but really just makes it a much more playable instrument for its age. Interestingly, the bracing inside is ladder-style rather than X-style, yet the sound that it puts out is comparable to vintage parlor-style Martin guitars of that age.

Extremely resonant and warm with great bass sound. It is from the late 1800s or early 1900s. Unclear about maker, but possibly an early Lyon and Healy or Bruno. Incredible little vintage parlor guitar with back and sides made of out some interesting wood-could be sycamore or brazilian rosewood.

1880s lyon and healy parlor guitar