Serial Number 055

Parlour Modern

Started on September 14, 2026

This guitar was started from waiting for CNC work to be done on the fingerboard of S/N 054. I don’t like to work multiple guitars at the one time as I worry about mixing up what I am doing or forgetting to do something from the back and forth between guitars. I believe I have built multiple instruments 2 or 3 before and it was a juggle.

With the new categorization of my builds in models instead of “Generations” as I had before, it is easier to see how many of what guitar models I have built. Leading is Orchestra Model and Parlour size being the least. I feel that when I come across some back and sides sets with great/interesting grain patterns and it would be a waste to have a smaller guitar unless the wood was for a customer build.

I have always felt that Parlour guitars I build seem to have a really good voice to them – at least when I follow blueprint specs. As I have started to do “modern” options on the guitars that I build, I feel that all the steel strings are more in the same level. This may not necessarily be a bad thing but I think I need make sure that the Modern Parlours are still on par with those that are traditional, blueprint specs.

I did see that I have a good number of Honduran Mahogany back and sides sets but I felt that I should save those. I also wanted this guitar to be use set of back and sides that I haven’t tried before and decided on Zebrawood after checking my inventory list and seeing the woods in person.

At a certain point, I decided to stitch or sew back sets as they come into my stock. The Zebrawood back set, after looking at it with a customer was cut and restitched. It was initially in a more arrow pattern up the middle of the back and now it is more uniform and straight which I feel would be better for sound. After building a few guitars, research and reading and watching videos online – the information says it is hands down that a boring straight grain pattern to the wood will produce better sound than wood that is fancy looking (figured) wood.

The soundboard is a set of Sitka Spruce I got from Luthier Tom. Tom had a good number of soundboard sets.

SPECS

Body Parlour

Scale 24.9″

Top Sitka Spruce

Back Zebrawood

Sides Zebrawood

Neck 

Fingerboard 

Bridge 

Tuning Machines 

Strings D’Addario EJ26