Black Swan Parlour Guitar
Taking inspiration from early American instruments, the Black Swan Parlour has been designed from the ground up to offer something different. Whilst the short scale-length and small body size will feel familiar to parlour guitar fans, its open and dynamic voice might take you by surprise. This is mostly thanks to its specially adapted fan-bracing which—although unusual for a steel-string guitar—provides a rich and complex tone with better bass response and overall projection.
Whilst I am happy to build this model from a range of tonewoods, I tend to favour home grown species such as English Walnut and Bog Oak. Photos and detailed specs of two recently completed examples are included below—one is English Walnut and the other African Mahogany.
English Walnut Parlour
Detailed Spec
Top: Sitka Spruce
Back and Sides: British Walnut
Neck: British Walnut
Fretboard: Bog Oak with inlaid shell dots
Head Veneer: Bog Oak with inlaid shell logo
Bridge: Bog Oak – Pyramid Style
Bridge Pins: Bone with black dot
Nut and Saddle: Bone
Pickguard: Red Tigerstripe Tortoloid
Rosette: 3-colour wood veneer
Body Binding: 4-colour wood veneer
Body Purfling: British Walnut
Finish: Hand rubbed Oil
Tuners: Handmade Robson open gear
Scale Length : 620mm
Neck Profile: Modified V
Neck Width at Nut: 46mm
Neck Width at 12th Fret: 55mm
String Spacing at Nut: 41mm
String Spacing at Bridge: 59mm
Fretboard Radius: 406mm (16 inches)
Overall Length: 930mm
Upper Bout Width: 213mm
Waist Width: 178mm
Lower Bout Width: 298mm
Body Depth at Waist: 90mm
Weight: approx. 1250g
Price: £2299 as shown
Top: Sitka SpruceBack and Sides: British WalnutNeck: British WalnutFretboard: Bog Oak with inlaid shell dotsHead Veneer: Bog Oak with inlaid shell logoBridge: Bog Oak – Pyramid StyleBridge Pins: Bone with black dotNut and Saddle: BonePickguard: Red Tigerstripe TortoloidRosette: 3-colour wood veneerBody Binding: 4-colour wood veneerBody Purfling: British WalnutFinish: Hand rubbed OilTuners: Handmade Robson open gearScale Length : 620mmNeck Profile: Modified VNeck Width at Nut: 46mmNeck Width at 12th Fret: 55mmString Spacing at Nut: 41mmString Spacing at Bridge: 59mmFretboard Radius: 406mm (16 inches)Overall Length: 930mmUpper Bout Width: 213mmWaist Width: 178mmLower Bout Width: 298mmBody Depth at Waist: 90mmWeight: approx. 1250gPrice: £2299 as shown
Mahogany Parlour
Detailed Spec
Top: Sitka Spruce
Back and Sides: African Mahogany
Neck: African Mahogany
Fretboard: Ebony with inlaid shell dots
Head Veneer: Ebony with inlaid shell logo
Bridge: Ebony – Pyramid Style
Bridge Pins: Waverley Ivoroid with black dot
Nut and Saddle: Bone
Pickguard: Red Tigerstripe Tortoloid
Rosette: 3-colour wood veneer
Body Binding: 4-colour wood veneer
Body Purfling: British Walnut
Finish: Hand rubbed Oil
Tuners: Handmade Robson open gear
Scale Length : 620mm
Neck Profile: Modified V
Neck Width at Nut: 46mm
Neck Width at 12th Fret: 55mm
String Spacing at Nut: 41mm
String Spacing at Bridge: 59mm
Fretboard Radius: 406mm (16 inches)
Overall Length: 930mm
Upper Bout Width: 213mm
Waist Width: 178mm
Lower Bout Width: 298mm
Body Depth at Waist: 90mm
Weight: approx. 1250g
Price: £2299 as shown
Top: Sitka SpruceBack and Sides: African MahoganyNeck: African MahoganyFretboard: Ebony with inlaid shell dotsHead Veneer: Ebony with inlaid shell logoBridge: Ebony – Pyramid StyleBridge Pins: Waverley Ivoroid with black dotNut and Saddle: BonePickguard: Red Tigerstripe TortoloidRosette: 3-colour wood veneerBody Binding: 4-colour wood veneerBody Purfling: British WalnutFinish: Hand rubbed OilTuners: Handmade Robson open gearScale Length : 620mmNeck Profile: Modified VNeck Width at Nut: 46mmNeck Width at 12th Fret: 55mmString Spacing at Nut: 41mmString Spacing at Bridge: 59mmFretboard Radius: 406mm (16 inches)Overall Length: 930mm Upper Bout Width: 213mmWaist Width: 178mmLower Bout Width: 298mmBody Depth at Waist: 90mmWeight: approx. 1250gPrice: £2299 as shown
Black Swan OM
Coming Soon!
Classical Guitar
Drawing heavily on early Torres instruments (FE19 in particular), this fan-strutted model is very light in construction and aims to recreate the sweet, lyrical sound of a traditional Spanish instrument. The body air resonance is therefore typically low and the guitar very responsive to the player’s touch.
I tend to build this model to commission only and am happy to do so from a range of tonewoods including home grown species.
Detailed Spec
Top: Sitka Spruce
Back and Sides: Reclaimed Imbuia
Neck: Spanish Cedar
Fretboard: Ebony
Head Veneer: Reclaimed Imbuia
Bridge: Indian Rosewood
Nut and Saddle: Bone
Rosette: Torres Style Green Herringbone
Body Binding: 4-colour wood veneer
Body Purfling: Reclaimed Imbuia
Finish: French Polish
Tuners: Gotoh Classical with Ivoroid Knobs
Scale Length : 650mm
Neck Width at Nut: 50mm
Neck Width at 12th Fret: 60mm
String Spacing at Nut: 41mm
String Spacing at Bridge: 57mm
Overall Length: 980mm
Upper Bout Width: 268mm
Waist Width: 225mm
Lower Bout Width: 355mm
Body Depth at Waist: 90mm
Weight: approx. 1200g
Price: £2299 as shown
Top: Sitka SpruceBack and Sides: Reclaimed ImbuiaNeck: Spanish CedarFretboard: EbonyHead Veneer: Reclaimed ImbuiaBridge: Indian RosewoodNut and Saddle: BoneRosette: Torres Style Green HerringboneBody Binding: 4-colour wood veneerBody Purfling: Reclaimed ImbuiaFinish: French PolishTuners: Gotoh Classical with Ivoroid KnobsScale Length : 650mmNeck Width at Nut: 50mmNeck Width at 12th Fret: 60mmString Spacing at Nut: 41mmString Spacing at Bridge: 57mmOverall Length: 980mmUpper Bout Width: 268mmWaist Width: 225mmLower Bout Width: 355mmBody Depth at Waist: 90mmWeight: approx. 1220gPrice: £2299 as shown