Art & Lutherie Roadhouse Parlour Review
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- Опубліковано 19 лип 2018
- I check out the Roadhouse Parlour from Art & Lutherie - a Canadian company who specialises in using sustainable woods.
Buy it here - (affiliate links)
Bourbon Burst - US: amzn.to/2X6sAX3 UK: amzn.to/2IhqmL7
Tennesse Red - US: amzn.to/2IJcv0v UK: amzn.to/2X8FRhN
Faded Black - US: amzn.to/2IKHrh4
Faded Cream - US: amzn.to/2Y6XFpT
Check out my music here -
www.tomorrowbird.com
www.burttomorrow.com
Love the thoroughness of your review, very considerate with the mic & pickup comparisons and listing pros and cons. Looking for guitars right now and you've totally won me over to this beauty, seriously considering getting this or an A&L Legacy. Wish you had reviews for all these different guitars I'm looking at, hehe.
Ha ha...I wish I did too! That would mean more guitars for me!! I’m glad you liked it....please do keep me posted on your new guitar journey. Thanks so much for watching.
some people say parlors are not good for strumming, but the strumming sounds pretty good to my amateur ears.
great review.
Thanks! Yeah...I use mine for strumming all the time. It’s actually quite a big sound and has a great tone too.
Thanks for a great review!
I have had this guitar for a year now. Highly recommended!
Thanks for the comment! I cannot recommend this guitar enough 😊
Which finish do you have?
We love the Roadhouse series. Sounds great, looks great, plays great. It's pretty much great!
An incredible little guitar for the money! Love that they use sustainable wood and I love the look of it.
One of the best reviews and demos. Period. Nothing average about this content. Godin should thank you: I'm starting my budgeting today. But i'm partial, and already a fan of the Godin/Norman/A&L/S&P family.
Picking up my Bourbon Burst on Monday! Thanks for the review!
Awesome! Happy new guitar day for Monday...let me know how it goes 🎵
I spent the last 3 months watching youtube videos trying to decide on a new guitar. I missed a couple of deals on Ebay and Facebook because I couldn't make up my mind. When I watched this video I knew I had found my guitar and as I'm typing a Bourbon Burst parlour by Art & Lutherie is on a Fedex truck with my address on it. Thank you for this vid that I'm viewing over and over again until my guitar arrives.
Amazing!! Let me know when it arrives and what you think of of it ☺️🎵
That's what I do as well 😌
Just got mine I like the way it sounds and feels. Thanks for your review
Just bought a Bourbon Burst Roadhouse . It had a crack in the soundboard so I got a small discount . I put some ca glue in the crack and I'll just put a bigger pick guard over the scar . I love the sound and the parlour size is so comfortable . Thanks for the review 🍺
Nice! Always lovely to grab a cheeky discount on a sweet guitar! Thanks for watching 🎵
Tasty review. Just got mine in faded black. I've already got 2 songs in the bag straight away. This guitar has its own vibe that pulls something special from your heart that is unique. I can't say more.
I’m so happy to hear that...it’s great to find that guitar connection so soon...I hope it continues for you
great review, straight to the point, great playing and recording! bravo :)
What an astonishing beautiful sound ,, thank you as I was thinking Jim Dandy , but after this, I'm converted as I already have D28, thanks again
I genuinely love it! I use it live constantly and it is my go to travel guitar. I also used it for a few tracks on my latest album and it stood up beautifully along with my other more expensive guitars too 🎵😉
Great review! I bought one with onboard electronics, in Tennessee Red, I absolutely love it! and beautiful to look at. I also love the smell of the wood
I’m glad you’re enjoying yours!
They are great little guitars...I love mine.
Thanks for watching and happy playing 🎵
Fantastically honest and true and warm and subtly clear. This review is above and beyond average, and I subscribed immediately. PS: And I will consider the A&L Roadhouse Parlor - thanks mate, and keep goin'! :)
Thanks so much for the kind words! I’m finding it hard to get more reviews done as I’ve been so busy with my duo...but I’m hoping to do more this year if possible. Let me know if you get the Roadhouse (or any other new guitar) 🎶
Great reviewer! Wish you would do more reviews. Going to buy a parlor soon, this one might be it. Cheers!
Thanks so much for your kind words.
I really recommend trying this out. It continues to serve me well.
Let me know which parlour you settle on 😉
I bought one yesterday because of your great review! Thank God for a Covid Warriors who bought such nice guitars, played them for 3 months and are now selling them for hundreds less!!
Excellent! Happy new guitar day 🎵
Bourbon Burst Parlour was the first guitar I owned, a birthday gift 10 years ago and the guitar I subsequently learned to play on. Just bought my second, a Tennessee red Americana from Art & Lutherie with electronics.
That’s awesome!
Good stuff. I think one additional 'pro' is that it doesn't have a slotted headstock unlike a lot of other 12-fret parlours. I have an Eastman E1P-LTD, which has a similar aesthetic to the Roadhouse but uses different materials and has a slotted headstock. I just find it a little bit more fiddly to string up, but that's a minor quibble. Overall, I love it and can't put it down. I zip it up in its gigbag and 2 minutes later I'm getting it out again.
I love the E1P-LTD!!! It was in my final 3 when choosing....the sound was actually too lovely for I needed it for and the A&L had a touch more drive to it.
Aesthetically I adore the slotted headstock on a parlour, but they can be a touch more fiddly 😳
I’m not surprised that you can’t put it down 😊
Thanks for the comment
Si
Love that review. Very I formative. So I just purchased one. The only one I could find was the faded black. Many thanks
That’s great! Happy new guitar day. Let me know how you get on with it...and thanks for watching 😃
Neil Angus I just bought one too . Mine is Bourbon Burst . Lovely little parlour guitar . Paid $515. Canadian . They knocked off $40. Because it had a crack in the soundboard and I just put some ca glue in it .
I love all of Godin products, being Canadian myself I feel obligated to support them, I love their philosophy towards sustainable wood. I bought myself a Simon and Patrick (another Godin company) faded blue concert hall, it’s a great guitar, it has that vintage look a little bit like the roadhouse serie.
I know of the Simon and Patrick stuff, but I’ve never had a chance to play any.
I completely agree with the sustainable wood philosophy too.
I’m glad you’ve found yourself a sweet guitar in the S&P.
Thanks for the comment 😉
They also make Norman, LaPatrie, and Seagull. I know people aren't crazy about the headstock on the seagull, but they stay in tune really well. Once you love a seagull you can pick them out real quick at a guitar store.
I have to admit that I’ve always been put off by the headstock too...I will definitely try one out next time I see one 😉
@@thorinbane I was talking to someone about Godin's brands the other day . LaPatrie was the one I had forgotten about. Thanks !
Love the ginger beard guide
One of the best guitar reviews I've come across, I greatly appreciate the piezo vs mic comparison. Tennessee Red will be in my hands tomorrow. Primarily a blues player. My advice, with a blues box like this? Try some open G with a slide. Keep reviewing!
Woo hoo...Happy New Guitar Day! Nice idea about the open G... I currently keep mine in DADGAD and it absolutely sings. I will hopefully be able to do some more reviews again soon. Thanks for watching!
I have decided for a Havanna Brown version, mostly because of the Q-Discreate Piezo Pickups. They are slightly more brilliant and come even closer to the mic sound. Great guitars are both!
Great Useful Review. Beautiful playing is an essential part of good review. Thanks a lot.
Thanks so much! I’m so glad you enjoyed it ☺️🎶
Will put some video up when the wife gets home , ime a bit ashamed that both A + L guitars look unloved, however it may be possible to tidy them up ,
The parlour guitar lives at home , and played nearly every day, (finger style) new nut and frets before Xmas,
The jumbo is my strumming guitar, I use a pick , this projects the rich bright sound ,
Actually my guitar familly consists of 6 instruments ,
But I must say , the parlour is my darling
Just come back to this review..beautiful playing ..listening to loads of parlour guitars ..must say they are all great and different ..but that one has the tone it should have for the period ..half the price of the others ..
I’m very happy with it...it’s used constantly in my duo and always gets comments at the end of a show 😉
These little guys are great. Pretty compariable to a Taylor 322E but at 1/3 the price if you're looking for a 12-fret. Haven't had a chance to compare it to a Martin 000-15SM yet.
Just an FYI I have no idea which strings the previous owner had on mine but I was very underwhelmed and then I swapped them out for some D'Addario EJ16 12s and HOLY SMOKES this little Parlor Guitar woke up and soared! I can not believe the difference I thought I purchased a dud it's amazing the difference.
Nice review! I got one in Tennessee Red. Great, great parlor guitar. I opted against the preamped version though as I don't like that Fishman piezo. Think I'll get an LR Baggs Anthem installed at some point
Oh yes! You can’t go wrong with a Baggs 😃
I use mine through a Fishman Aura Spectrum that gives the pick-up a bit more life 🎶
Thanks for watching ☺️
I have owned art and Lutherie parlour guitar since, 2008 ,
Brilliant guitar , mine doesn’t have scratch plate and ime slowly wearing away the wood,
I also own A+L jumbo with cedar top lovely bright sound ,
I would like to express my appreciation to all those involved in the production of these
Fine instruments at a very reasonable price
Hi! Thanks for the comment 😉
Do you have any video or audio of your Jumbo...I would love to hear it.
I also have a A&L dreadnaught that I picked up about 15 years ago (wild cherry again) which still plays brilliantly.
I second your shout out to the people involved 😊
is your A&L parlor an Ami Cedar? if so how do you think it sounds vs this newer spruce top roadhouse?
Gorgeous little guitar! Well played and reviewed! Thanks!
I really love it! It’s one of my main guitars at my gigs now…
Do you have one or are you looking to buy?
Thanks so much for watching, I’m glad you enjoyed it ☺️
@@AverageReviewsFromAnAverageGuy No, I was looking for a friend. Thanks though.
Ah, cool cool. 🎶☺️
Thanks! Great Review!
Arghhhh. Help me out here. Got my A&L and aesthetically I love it. Gorgeous....but it's not singing to me. I'm not blown away. I have NO idea which strings the previous owner put on her please advise what strings should I have on here to wake her up. It sounds hollow and dull....
Lovely review, thanks man!
Thanks so much!
These guitars and various sister companies are a Quebec and Canadian treasure. Thanks to the internet, the secret is long out on these guitars. Prior to 2005 or so they were far less known outside of Canada than they are these days. Imagine an American made acoustic guitar for these prices and at this quality!
It’s great that they are getting the recognition they deserve now. My first Art & Lutherie guitar was a random Dreadnaught I found back in the very early 2000s. It was marvellous and a great price then too. Thanks for the comment and for watching ☺️🎵
They did make a nylon version of this guitar...same specs with a slightly longer scale length. It’s not a classical guitar strictly speaking though, more a nylon folk style.
Keb' Mo was playing a Seagull back in the '90s ;)
Great review and I agree with all of it. You'd have made me buy it if I hadn't already bought one a week ago. This thing really sounds much better than you'd necessarily think based on the size.
I love it! It’s a firm fixture in my sets now 🎶
Happy new guitar day for last week and thanks for watching!
😉
@@AverageReviewsFromAnAverageGuy: Is the bit from 3:06 onwards from some song? I think you used the same in another review.
It’s just something I wrote that never quite made it into a song. I use the same music and same set up for each review so that you can compare the sounds of all the guitars I review.
Thanks for a great review.
Thanks for watching!
The Bourbon Burst model has Cedar top, not Spruce top according to manufacturer. I see many resellers miss that and advertise as Spruce. I'm curious how the two tops sound differs.
That’s odd! I’m pretty sure this is a spruce top, but now I’m going to have to do some investigating 😉🎶
I have 2 one with a ceder top and 1 with a spruce they were around 500 bucks back in the 0s ..great bang for the money..
Love this review. I have subscribed to your channel.
Thanks so much 😊
Just bought sounds great
This review is great! I bought the same guitar because of it!
Thanks for watching and happy new guitar day!!!
Awesome review!
Thanks!
I love the tone. Will definately be on my list. I'd like to be able to try one before buying but that is not likely
I highly recommend trying one out....
Let me know how you get on 😉
@@AverageReviewsFromAnAverageGuy Will do sir :)
Can anyone comment on the sonitone pick up and it’s tone adjustment?
Anyone played live through Di?
I’m between this and Seagull entourage grand natural a/e.
Basically brothers...
Will be playing live 90% plugged in
Hi Steve
The sonitone does a decent job and the tone adjustment is a dial inside the sound hole that sweeps from bass to treble. I play this guitar live regularly and managed to find a decent balance quite quickly.
I will note that I also play through a Fishman Aura Spectrum that gives a bit more body to the sound, so it could be worth investing in a good acoustic DI too.
If you watch the video from 2:21 you can hear sound samples of the pickup vs a microphone.
Hope that helps?
Simon
Look like they don't make it with nylon strings anymore...?
Great guitar, excellent review.
Thanks so much 🙏😊
Please always include info on . . . 1) Nut width. 2) Strings gauge.
cricklekid thanks for the feedback. I will make sure that I include this from now on
I believe Robert godin once said, that they grow their own wood and use wood from local trees that have already been cut down
Brilliant!
They do indeed. Robert Godin owns 5 lumber mills in Canada. Having this access to their own wood helps keep their prices down.
sorry if I missed this but hows the action on it? My current Epiphone is a bit high and I want something that can be riffed on a bit easier
It’s a very nice action...not really really low, but very easy to play. I use Martin Retro strings with it and it’s a dream for finger picking and strumming 🎵
Let me expand on 3-layered construction.
It's a three pieces of solid wood glued together to prevent wood warping due to climate changes while travelling from region to region. Layered wood (three pieces of solid wood, central piece of solid wood is oriented 90 degrees oppose to outer layers for stability) is not the same as laminated wood (many pieces of cheap leftovers of wood glued together & not suitable for guitars with grain running in cross direction, thus affecting the tone).
3-layer lamination is a bit easier to work with, maybe a bit cheaper too...but the tonal properties are almost the same as solid wood guitar, with being much more durable. The more glue you have, the more it affects the tone.
Hey. I'm thinking of buying the Tennessee red. Is the roadhouse suitable for strumming and finger picking?
I use mine for strumming a lot (mainly in dadgad) and it works great! It’s not the largest sound...but then it a small guitar.
I have also taking it away as my only guitar and it has covered the fingerpicking beautifully.....it has a really nice forward focus to the sound. If you you check out the demos in the video you can hear a mix of both to give you a better idea.
Hope that helps
@@AverageReviewsFromAnAverageGuy I've ordered the Tennessee Red. I should get it in a few days.
Awesome! Happy new guitar day 😊🎵
My 2005 A&L Folk Cedar CW Antiqueburst Q1 guitar top, near where u strum, has suddenly developed slight discoloration....help....how can I add pictures of the damage? Cheers from Toronto.....
Oh dear! You can email me at simonaveragereviews@gmail.com with some pics and I’ll see if I can help…no promises, but I’ll try.
I've been considering a parlour guitar for quite a while now and looked at depression era Kalamazoo's (way too much money for wall hangers) , dirt cheap Chinese stuff (poor quality) and even the crazy expensive Collings / Waterloo (Ok for the gigging pro - not me!) . Great review and I want one of these for sure now ! Just have to save up for a bourbon without the piezo. 👍👍👍
I’m still loving playing this! I use regularly in live sets tuned to dadgad.
Good luck with the saving and thanks for watching! 🎵
@@AverageReviewsFromAnAverageGuy Cheers 👍
Superb!
Pressure tested? Solid laminate? Nothing wrong with the guitar, & it's a nice demo, but the language that comes from the manufacturer makes you wonder sometimes.
Hat were those chords you just played on the first song?? Thanks!
It’s from a Song called “Eva” from my duo Tomorrow Bird.
The verse is based around G(#11) and A7....
The chorus works through D, G/B, Cadd9, Asus4 before heading to a Bm, E7, G(#11), A7.
Sorry for the vagueness...I can knock up the TAB if you’re interested?
Great review, tried an Alvarez parlor my first choice, but then went for the Canadian made Art & Lutherie same model, less expensive and just a great guitar, plus being Canadian myself had to support the makers...Any idea what gauge strings works best? I changed them recently but forgot to check the factory issued strings, I'm thinking Light?
Great review. This looks to me like the Havana Brown version, which according to the Art & Lutherie website has a solid CEDAR top and NOT a solid Spruce top as this video presenter is saying. Unless I'm missing something...
i like that guitar want to buy one thanks for revue
Thanks for watching! Let me know if you do get one 🎶
Now this is a guy that knows how to do a review
Thanks so much! I really enjoyed doing them...hopefully I’ll find time to do more soon.
Great guitar and great musician :)
What do you think about the electro acoustic version ?
I use the electro acoustic version and I love it. The pick up is decent and after running it through my Fishman Aura Spectrum I love the sound. Thanks for watching!
@@AverageReviewsFromAnAverageGuy Thank you !
I wonder what you think of the Americana and Legacy models?
Hi Matt.
Thanks for the comment... I haven't had the chance to try out the Americana models so I can't comment on them. However, the legacy models seem to be very nice instruments for the money similarly to the Roadhouse series. The tonewoods are the same - Pressure Tested Solid Spruce top, Wild Cherry Back and sides (3 layered), silver leaf maple neck, and rosewood fretboard and bridge. I tried out both the standard and the Q-Discrete versions and plugged in they sound quite sweet and responsive. Unplugged gives you a good overall balance to the sound although I found it to be just a touch thinner than I would have liked.
Hope this helps?
Cheers
Si
Average Reviews From An Average Guy Thanks, Si. Will try em out in the store. Enjoyed your videos. Was wondering what that ‘tester’ piece of music was. The fingerpicking...Beautiful stuff.
The first bit that you do...
The music I use is all from my acoustic duo or band. The piece I think you're referring to is called "Eva (Hope Against Hope)". The demo of the song can be found here - ua-cam.com/video/JlpbA5HG4Jc/v-deo.html
A very good review by a Better than Average Guy.
Thanks so much Dennis!
Very nice.
I'm sold...
These guitars are worth more than their price may suggest. I own one (the parlor) and love it.
I completely agree....it’s my go to parlour 😊🎵
@@AverageReviewsFromAnAverageGuy Keep picking. I keep mine in open D tuning.
I keep mine in DADGAD....they seem to serve well in alternative tunings
@@AverageReviewsFromAnAverageGuy I use DADF#AD for that bluesy growl. Side note....YT took the F# symbol and made it a hashtag...funny.
Great review. I'm in the market for a parlour guitar and love the Gibson L-00 but can't justify the expense. This A&L fits the bill perfectly and I love the styling. It sounds fab acoustically BUT suffers badly from the el-cheapo piezo electronics; why do manufacturers even bother? They sound really hokey, as do most cheap electro acoustics. I have a Godin Steel Duet Ambiance which is the best electro acoustic I've ever played but it's 3x the price of the Roadhouse but it's how an electro-acoustic should really sound, My philosophy is forget the cheap electronics and invest in a decent acoustic guitar then, if it needs electrifying, get a decent aftermarket system fitted - even a sound hole pickup sounds better than a cheap piezo. And solid woods would be better but that would up the price significantly. Those things aside, I think I'll be buying the acoustic version as it sounds like a gorgeous little guitar for the money and it is what it is. How the Canadians manage to make such good guitars for the money, I'll never know! If they were made across the border in the US you could probably double the price.
The A&L really is wonderful for the price....
I know what you mean about electronics....it’s become the acoustic guitarists mission to find the best plugged in sound and so many people have so many preferences now.
I personally use a Fishman Aura Spectrum and have different banks set up for my different guitars. The initial set up takes quite a while but once it’s set it is very easy to use live.
I don’t know much about the Godin Steel Duet...but I will do a bit of hunting to have a look now 😉
Thanks so much for the comment and I hope the new parlour serves you well
Si
Looks great, how wide is it at the nut, thanks
It’s 1.72” nut width on this guitar.
@@AverageReviewsFromAnAverageGuy thanks.
how does it compare to the A&L ami?
Haven’t had a chance to play one yet… hopefully soon though
Just bought one for my daughters birthday. Anyone know a good case for this model?
What type of case are looking for - Hard Case or Soft Case? Also, could you give me an idea of budget and I’ll throw some recommendations your way 😉🎶
@@AverageReviewsFromAnAverageGuy oh thanks! Would like a hard shell...theres a gator model i think works... 100 bucks range. More if absolutely necessary🤘🏽
The Gator cases are great. There is also a Godin TRIC Multifit Deluxe which is going for around $111 - $125 (I think) which is a case specifically made for their parlour guitars (although I have not tried it out so I can’t vouch for it). TRIC stands for Thermally Regulated Instrument Case. I can vouch for Gator cases...they’re very good!
Good Review. 💪👍
Thanks so much 😊
good review, would like to hear abit about what kind of battery it uses and where its located though.
Thanks!
The battery is a standard 9 volt and is located by the jack input ☺️
Mine is bourbon burst, just like yours
Awesome 😎My favourite 😉🎵
You might be an average guy but you ain't an average guitar player! good stuff! nice review.
Thanks so much!! I’m glad you enjoyed it 🎵
very nice job.
Thanks!
Have you played one yet?
Ever tryed play slide on it?
Not yet....I need to really get better at using a slide, but never seem to have the time!
It’s on my “to do” list though...
🎶👍
J'adore 🤟🏻🕶️
Liked it
What a beautiful sounding guitar ..good has anything I’ve heard ..That’s what the guitar is for .gorgeous
Great review great playing, but would to heard the sound without a capo
Thanks...I play without the capo at around 4:20.
Hope that helps.
@@AverageReviewsFromAnAverageGuy Hi Thanks for your reply, have had another, but just looking,, this guitar arrived by courier,,,Awesome looking
Excellent! Happy new Guitar day!
@@AverageReviewsFromAnAverageGuy Thanks its hard to put down , sound good, but not as good as yours , will have to wait for that until i play it in
You’ll have it sounding even better in no time I’m sure!
Subscribed!
Can't decide between that and the new godin rialto. Kind of like the vintage look of the art and lutherie Roadhouse line especially the denim blue q-discrete. The look of the godin Rialto is starting to grow on me but still prefer the wood color of the neck and rosewood. Damn Im really confused about this choice... Im going to buy my guitar tomorrow and still can't decide wich one i'm going to get. Advice anyone ?
All I can suggest is to try playing them both and seeing which one feels like the right guitar....
Sometimes if I’m really struggling to choose between two I take another guitarist with me and make them play various things on each while I look away (like a blind test). I normally find that there is one that I constantly pick over the other.
Good luck with the choice and happy new guitar day!!
@@AverageReviewsFromAnAverageGuy Thanks for the advice, i went for the one that sounds and play better to me. I played both for maybe 2h finally i chose the godin rialto, wich is a no brainer in the fact tha its the high end of the same model from the new godin acoustic line. This little thing play like butter and sound like a tons of brick. I recommend people to take a look at this model since its like 250$ more and the quality of the build feels like a very expensive guitar.
@@jeremyleger2624 Amazing :) I haven't played one yet, but maybe I need to now! If you have any vids or audio of you playing it I'd love to hear. Congrats on your new guitar.
Not named after Ray Parlour fyi
Man, I've been a fan of art & lutherie for years and it seems like no one gives them any respect. I mean, you can buy a guitar made from north american woods made in north america for under 500 bucks (at least here in Europe) and nobody cares.
They seem to be becoming more popular now...let’s hope that more people learn of their awesomeness.
Canada!
Nylon?
There is a nylon version of this but I haven’t played one yet. The guitars look very similar but the nylon has a solid cedar top instead of spruce. The nut width on the nylon is 2.0” vs 1.72” on the steel string, and the scale length of the nylon version is a touch longer. The headstock is slotted and the tuners are classical rather than open gear brass. Other than that they are pretty much the same. Hope that helps?
Your playing is far beyond average, I'll give you that!
HEY !!! I'M AN AVERAGE GUY, TOO !!!!! LET'S BE FRIENDS, OKAY !!!!!!!
These guitars are designed in Canada, but made in China
'Good for the environment and sustainable... we love that".
More rhetoric. (Psst... nobody cares)
(Psst...yes they do)
I care.
I most certainly care and it influenced my purchase decision. Tennessee Red will be in my hands tomorrow...
Bill Shamblin awesome! ☺️
Quebec has a strong outdoor culture and stewardship