Best Gretsch JD Parlor WPG RXB Alternatives

Based on 8 reviews

After strumming an old cheap laminated Jumbo acoustic guitar for a couple of months, I decided to buy something decent to learn on, I didn't want to spent too much money in case I lost interest, or failed to learn. I ordered the guitar on Monday, it arrived UK early on Thursday, well packaged. First thing that hits you is the lovely smell of mahogany wood, then the solid build as you lift it,, man, I was already impressed, I tuned it up and played a few simple chords, lovely rich tone and well balanced sound, lovely action, and just enough base, and clear ringing bottom strings without any harshness. I strummed and picked until my fingers were sore. Picked it up after breakfast on Friday and already learnt my first ever song The Beatles "And I love her" simple note picking and...

Based on 5 reviews

The headline sums it up. The standard of construction was perfect. I could not detect any flaws at all. The intonation was spot-on and the tuners were better than my, more expensive, CLF 200 WN. The book-matched mahogany top displays a subtle V-shape, very nice. With a tweak of the truss rod, it plays smooth as butter and sounds bright and punchy. The Fishman system gave a realistic acoustic sound through the amp. Heartily impressed. I recommend it very highly. If you are into Parlour guitars this is a great choice at a great price.

Based on 4 reviews

Estética La guitarra es una joya. Aunque no tocaras la guitarra, te gustaría tenerla en tu casa, porque es un objeto hermoso en sí mismo. Igual el color de la tapa es de un tono pelín rojizo que no llegó a entusiasmarme tanto como el de los aros y el cuerpo, pero el conjunto es perfecto. La pala es la misma que la de las eléctricas de PRS, por lo que rompe con la posible estética vintage parlor, si es lo que vas buscando. Pero si precisamente quieres algo que no sea la típica parlor, esta es tu guitarra. Acabados Perfectos. Sólo pude notar un par de detalles de acabado que solo se ven con lupa cuando estás revisando la guitarra al milímetro. Está revisada en Europa antes del envío. Trastes...

Based on 4 reviews

This is my 2nd Harley Benton guitar. After I got an HB 35plus a couple of weeks ago, I was so impressed that I picked up this little acoustic. The fit and finish are great. The fret ends are very well dressed with no sharp frets. The action out of the box was spot on, and I love the tone. The built in tuner is good, and the guitar holds tune well. Tuning machines are smooth and functional. The electronics are decent. Sounds a little tinny through my electric guitar amp, but I don't have an acoustic amp to try it with (yet). Shipping was 4 working days to mid US. For the price, both this and my HB 35 plus are fantastic instruments. If you have been on the fence about Harley Benton you should give them a try. This little guitar easily competes with similar acoustics I've tried at my local...

Based on 3 reviews

My first ever mahogany guitar, and first ever 18 fret guitar with the 12 fret at the body. Its just excellent, great fun to play. The wide nut, small body and low string tension, means it is a great beginners guitar. Good travel guitar. For a collector, quite unique, fun to play, warm sound and louder than you would expect (it is actually quite a big body for a parlour, my other parlour is smaller). The finish and build quality is good, excellent for the price. But wait I forgot to mention, I have to take a 2 stars off for quality because the frets were very rough and scratchy, unacceptable - I spent 1 or 2 hours polishing them with Maxparts Polishing Rubbers - then it was nice. Harley Benton should have not let it leave the factory like this. So if you have one with scratchy rough frets,...

Based on 3 reviews

This is a really good parlor guitar - material, fit, finish and sound are all excellent. Size-wise it's a tad bit smaller than a 4/4 classical so if you have a 4/4 bag it will fit in. Note that you will most likely need to set it up. Many players use the truss rod for action adjustment - this is wrong! The truss rod should only be used for neck relief! Mine came with a proper neck relief (measured with a capo at the first fret, strings pressed at the 12th and using a feeler gauge at the sixth fret) but it had really high nut and saddle actions. I had to dislodge the nut (luckily it wasn't glued too hard) and file both the nut as well as the nut slot in the neck to properly bring it down, angle it and adjust the string height at the nut end. The saddle was high as well and need a solid...

Based on 3 reviews

First things first, this is a nice guitar. It's not a top-of-the-line Martin, but it's nice. It's my first acoustic in 20 years and I didn't want to break the bank. So this fits the bill nicely. Pros: It's a super light guitar, surprisingly light. The sound is good. Not a huge full-bodied sound, but good. It looks great. The fact that you can plug it into an amp is nice. Cons: None really, other than the action. It's really high. I'll have to take out the saddle and sand it down. I've never done this on an acoustic. For the price, it's a nice guitar that gets the job done!

Based on 3 reviews

Got Takamine P3NY a months ago. The Taka is amazing and comfy instrument to play! If I decide to buy another acoustic I would go with Takamine made in Japan again and again! - factory setup is good. However, string action is a bit too high; - Made in Japan. I like it! - Japanese Taka’s quality control is very high level. Respect! - comfy neck and body shape. The neck is close to Gibson’s slim taper. However, Taka’s neck is asymmetrical, so nice! - small body but BIG SOUND! - it sounds amazing on its own and plugged in too; - very comfortable body shape. It is a good choice for electric guitar players. It is an easy playing instrument; - on board preamp is high level. Tuner is good. Easy to replace a 9V battery; - case is weak side of Taka. I was choosing between P3NY and...

Based on 3 reviews

There are lots of inexpensive guitars out there. I doubt there are many that are made with such obvious professionalism and care as these. This puts the large manufacturers to shame and underscores just how much we are all over-paying for a big-name headstock. I have small-bodied Martins, Gibsons and Guilds so have a good reference point for this parlor, bought for fingerpicking. This certainly holds its own with guitars costing way, way more. The cedar tone is smooth but clear and it has more than sufficient thump in the bass. And it certainly doesn't sound like it has laminated back and sides when picked. There is generous string spacing at the nut and the bridge which was what drew me in, and this is a real plus. (I really don't know why the big American brands insist on standardised...

Based on 2 reviews

I used to have some parlor guitars with mahogany top and thought I've got some imagination of how do they sound in common. I was mistaken. PRS SE 20 sounds much better than expectations! I believe that special way of PRS bracing does it's job really. When the package arrived, there was a notification telling the guitar was set up "to PRS factory specs at UK HQ" just as they do with each and every PRS guitar. That work was done very good, but the action was a bit higher than I prefer in my usual fingerstyle playing. So I've made it lower a bit (about 2.2 mm on 12-th fret now) and the factory' strings set of 'gauge 12' still works fine. Guitar plays amazing, staying in tune perfectly. I would say this guitar is of professional grade and level really. And it's look is...