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Kala Solid Cedar Top Parlor Guitar - Natural

6-string Acoustic Guitar with Cedar Top, Mahogany Back and Sides, Mahogany Neck, and Ebony Fingerboard - Natural
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$349.00

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Kala Solid Cedar Top Parlor Guitar - Natural
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An Excellent Parlor Acoustic with Classic Sound and Style

If you're on the hunt for a lightweight, small-bodied acoustic guitar for songwriting, recording, or performing, the Kala Solid Cedar Top Parlor Guitar is your kind of instrument. This guitar's solid cedar soundboard exhibits a soft, lush tone that's tailor-made for fingerstylists and soloists, while its mahogany body unleashes a smooth blend of resonant warmth and ear-grabbing harmonics. You'll also benefit from effortless playability, courtesy of the Solid Cedar Parlor Guitar's comfortable mahogany neck and silky 19-fret ebony fingerboard. This acoustic guitar features a sustain- and tone-enhancing bone nut and saddle. Plus, its light-diffusing satin finish, traditional slotted headstock, and handsome walnut binding and herringbone purfling give it a charming, attention-snatching look. Don't let the Solid Cedar Top Parlor Guitar Guitar's budget-conscious price tag fool you. Its classic small-bodied sound and eye-pleasing style are undeniable.

Every part of this guitar enhances its tone

The Kala Solid Cedar Top Parlor Guitar was built using only high-quality materials. At Sweetwater, we've found that its solid cedar top yields subtle textures that are ideal for fingerstylists and soloists; its mahogany back and sides deliver all the resonance and harmonic-rich warmth you could want. This acoustic guitar's comfortable mahogany neck is capped by an effortless 19-fret ebony fingerboard. You also get a toneful bone nut and saddle.

Kala Solid Cedar Top Parlor Guitar Features:

  • Solid cedar top exhibits a soft, lush tone that's great for fingerstylists and soloists
  • Mahogany back and sides deliver resonance and harmonic-rich warmth
  • Comfortable mahogany neck
  • Easy-playing 19-fret ebony fingerboard
  • Toneful bone nut and saddle
  • Light-diffusing satin finish and handsome walnut binding and herringbone purfling

Additional Media

Acoustic Guitar Buying Guide

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Tech Specs

  • String Type: Steel
  • Number of Strings: 6
  • Left-/Right-handed: Right-handed
  • Body Shape: Parlor
  • Back & Sides Wood: Mahogany
  • Top Wood: Solid Cedar
  • Finish: Satin
  • Color: Natural
  • Binding: Walnut/Herringbone
  • Neck Wood: Mahogany
  • Fingerboard Material: Ebony
  • Number of Frets: 19
  • Scale Length: 24.875"
  • Nut Width: 1.6875"
  • Nut/Saddle Material: Bone/Bone
  • Bridge Material: Ebony
  • Tuning Machines: Open Gear
  • Case Included: Gig Bag
  • Manufacturer Part Number: KA-GTR-PLR W/BAG

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Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5

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Great little 12 fret, short scale guitar!

I had basically given up on playing guitar for the past 20 years due to left hand pain. I have recently heard that the short scale guitars with lighter tension could be easier on the hands. I didn't want to spend a lot of money since I didn't know if I'd be able to really play ANOTHER guitar, even if short scale, but price on the Kala Parlor was so low and reviews at Sweetwater and other online sites were so consistently positive that I bought the Kala.

I LOVED the Kala at first sight and first touch. The size is very comfortable, nice light weight, looser tension felt great, and the solid cedar top gave a surprisingly rich warm tone. I finger picked a little since that's what the 12 fret guitars are popular for, but then I jumped into some rusty flat picking. Being able to flat pick after all these years was amazing!

I'm playing a LOT, at least an hour each day, so my time on other instruments (fiddle, mandolin, claw hammer banjo) is suffering lol. My chops are slowly coming back, but they ARE coming back!

Complaints? One minor one - the back of the neck feels grainy and that bothered me at first. I'm pretty much not noticing that now. Also, I do like the look of a 12 fret guitar, but I do miss the easier reach to higher frets on a 14 fret guitar.

SO, I highly recommend the Kala Parlor. Even if you don't need lighter tension, the portability is nice (and the included gig bag is of better quality than I would have expected), and the low cost make it a great travel guitar and for situations in which you might not want to take your higher priced guitars.

Love it!
by Doug Brock from KC MO on

Outstanding Value

If anyone had told me that I'd be purchasing a parlor guitar from a company I had never heard of I would have said pigs would fill the skies, but here I am. The Kala is my first full acoustic guitar in over a decade and my first parlor guitar ever. When I went shopping for a new acoustic guitar the last thing I was going to consider was a dreadnought. I'm 67 years old. I suffer back pain (If someone were to give me a Les Paul I'd sell it and get a Martin OM 28), and wanted something smaller bodied. Having said that, I didn't think I would go for a parlor but when I saw the Kala I was all in!

The largest drawing card for me for this guitar is the solid cedar top. The grain is very tight and the top should get darker over time. The finish is satin, which I prefer to the 'dipped in plastic' tone killer of other models. This is one of the most beautiful instruments I've ever owned. At first look you would think it 'blingless', but the instrument possesses a simple beauty (understated, classic) that is quite beguiling. Surrounding the top and the rosette is walnut herringbone trim, as well as walnut binding. The slotted peg head (my first) is mahogany and complements the satin cedar top beautifully. Taken together they give the Kala a kind of old world aesthetic. The back and sides are a mahogany laminate, also in satin, and you can visibly see the pores in the wood. The peg head has the company name Kala in some form of pearloid pearl / abalone. It all depends on how the light catches it. The ebony fingerboard and bridge and the bone nut and saddle all add to the aesthetics of the instrument. For its price point these are very nice appointments.
Because of the shorter scale length and the 12th fret neck join the action is tighter and you have to approach the Kala parlor differently than you would a normal scale guitar. It is a much more intimate instrument. If you're expecting the boom of a dreadnought this is definitely not the guitar you want. I don't fingerpick, but I do use a range of flatpicks. It is responsive, but you can't hit it too hard, as in strumming, or the sound will compress. It does possess an interesting dynamic range. But it's all in how you approach it. It responds to you as you respond to it (If that makes sense).

Essentially with this guitar you are getting a replica of an instrument from the 19th century. I think parlor guitars had their heyday in the 1870s through the 1890s, though they were around before the Civil War. Let that sink in for a minute. In that time period there was no radio, no recorded music. The only way you could hear music was to either make it yourself, hang with someone who played, or go to a live music venue. Families learned to play, and after dinner, they'd gather in the parlor and perform, for themselves and any guests present. With that said, the Kala parlor guitar is a relic of American music history.

The included gigbag is well padded and better than many I've had in the past. All in all, the Kala parlor is a very sweet guitar. If you're looking for an instrument that is easier to wield than a much larger guitar the Kala is made to order. For a shorter person or child it could be a godsend as a first instrument.
by Eric from New Orleans, LA. on
Music background: Hobbyist, been playing over 30 years.

Best value, half a year and still sounding great.

This is a good buy for anyone looking for a deal. The guitar is of good quality and plays well out of the box. I can feel the quality of holding and strumming the instrument. This is my go-to for playing live; it's just easy to move, and it sounds good. The guitar has a warm sound and is a good compliment for the tenor voice.
by Thomas Soto from El Paso, TX on

Pleasantly Surprised

Bought this for my 40 something daughter who's learning how to play and wanted the size/compactness of a parlor guitar. I'm not a fan of parlor guitars due to previous bad experiences with tone and projection, however I have to say this little Kala was a pleasant surprise. Great sound and projection. Came with good strings that complemented the guitar. Fit, finish, and set up was flawless. Kala is a solid player in the Ukulele world and seems to be bringing their experience to small guitars. Good value if you're looking for a go anywhere parlor guitar.
by Jim from Tennessee on
Music background: many years as a hobby and some performance

Wonderful guitar!!

I spent a lot of time searching for a small body guitar before purchasing this one and this guitar has exceeded my expectations. I wanted a small guitar for playing around campfires, patios, and higher risk gigs, etc... I was looking for a solid top for tone, laminate back and sides for a bit more durability, and it had to be gig worthy. I really wanted to try a slot-head, 12-fret guitar for that old timey vibe. Plus I wanted to stay under $! This guitar fit the bill perfectly and came with a very nice gig bag to boot. The quality, materials, finish, and set up are outstanding. It has a very sweet and pleasant voice well suited for the old time, bluegrass, and old country music I like to play. It records quite well and I used it for the first time today at a small nursing home gig with satisfying results. About 20-25 people in about a 300 sq. ft. room with low ceilings, carpet, and furniture. I used no sound reinforcement gear. No PA, mics, or amps. Just me, the guitar, and 20 people signing old hymns and country gospel songs. This guitar had plenty of volume and everyone could hear it just fine. As always, another great buying experience from Sweetwater! A big thanks to my sales engineer Zac Coleman for the assistance with making the decision and purchase!
by Kent McCluskie from Kansas City on
Music background: Long time gigging musician and hobbyist
See also: 6-String Guitars, Kala, Kala 6-string Acoustic Guitars
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