Washburn R320SWRK

Though it may not enjoy quite the reputation of larger guitar manufacturers like Gibson or Fender, Washburn is nonetheless a maker of quality acoustic instruments, and it has been for some time. In particular, its Vintage Series of instruments offer reproductions of once-popular types of musical instruments for modern players. 

Washburn's truly unique-looking R320SWRK is a prime example of a vintage-styled parlor guitar--it's made of all solid wood, and its vintage-style construction and inlays make it a prime choice for any folk, country, or blues player looking to make a statement. 

Things To Consider Before Buying A Parlor Guitar

The parlor guitar was especially popular in the late 19th century & early 20th century--its small size made it perfect for playing in smaller entertainment rooms. Because the parlor guitar's body is small, you can't expect the same projection and sustain that you get from a larger dreadnought.

This relative lack of sustain makes them ideal for blues playing, but they're also a great addition to any folk musician's arsenal. When buying a parlor guitar, look for high-quality tonewoods and build quality--these will create the best tone you could ask for, and well-built guitars can last for decades.

Our Picks for Review

Before buying, it's always a good idea to delve into a given instrument's specs and decide whether it's ideal for you and the music you play. In this section, we'll look in depth at some of the features of this well-made guitar.

Overall Sound

This guitar has a surprisingly full sound for its small size. While it does have a pronounced midrange, the treble notes still sing. It doesn't have the bass presence of a larger guitar, but this is ideal for many styles of music. This video demo lets you hear the guitar played in a variety of styles, and it also offers a close-up look at the aesthetics.

Tonewoods

This guitar is made of all solid woods, which you don't often find on an instrument with this price point. The top is solid Sitka spruce--a classic when it comes to acoustic guitars. Sitka spruce is especially responsive, making it ideal for fingerstyle and blues.

You might expect most parlor guitars to be made with mahogany or a similar tonewood, since many "blues boxes" focus on the midrange. However, the solid rosewood back and sides of this guitar mean its tone is very well balanced. Rosewood has more low-end sound and more sparkling, nuanced highs than mahogany. And in a smaller-bodied instrument, it can produce sounds closer to that of a larger instrument.

Neck Shape And Construction

True to the older parlor guitars that this one is styled after, it has a V-shaped neck. This style is quite thick and somewhat angular. It's a great choice for those with larger hands since it takes up more of your hand on the backside of the neck. However, if you have smaller hands, it may make playing a little more difficult, especially as you move down the neck.

The neck itself is made of mahogany, which is especially strong and contributes to the guitar's warm tone. The fingerboard is made of ebony. Many players love ebony for its looks, but it has several functional qualities that make a difference when playing. Ebony helps the guitar sound clearer and crisper. The wood itself is tight-grained and fast-playing, making it easier to rapidly fret notes and chords alike.

Bracing

This guitar is made with quartersawn, scalloped X bracing. Quartersawn bracing is stiffer than flatsawn, which is a good thing for projection. Stiffer bracing is also usually stronger, which can help your guitar last for decades.

The fact that the bracing is scalloped is also important. Scalloped bracing removes some of the mass from the wood used in the guitar's bracing, which lets the soundboard vibrate more freely. This results in a more responsive sound that's ideal for dynamic playing styles.

Other Appointments

The aesthetics of a guitar aren't the most important part, but this instrument is unique due to its vintage looks. It has a finish that is often described as "relic'd," meaning it's made to look like a 100-year-old instrument that has been played but kept in good condition. The finish itself is deliberately distressed, but no so much that the guitar looks like it's in poor condition.

This guitar has an ebony bridge that truly stands out--it's carved in the style of many older guitars. Ebony is a beautiful wood that adds a lot to the guitar's aesthetics, but it does have some damping effect on the tone. This is sometimes a good thing--for blues and some other styles of music, you want some tone damping, as most blues boxes don't have a lot of sustain.

This guitar's inlays are also an important part of its look. Washburn calls the fretboard inlay a "Tree of Life" inlay. It has a distinctive, vintage look that you almost never see (and that is only often seen on guitars at higher price points). The patterned binding is a vintage white color that completes this parlor guitar's truly unique look.

Lastly, this guitar has a bone nut and saddle. Bone is a time-tested material that helps you transfer as much energy from the string to the soundboard. Often, mid-range and cheaper guitars come with cheaper plastic nuts and saddles. Though they are a small part of the guitar itself, bone saddles and nuts greatly improve sound quality, and they also add to tuning stability.

When choosing your parlor guitar, don't just rely on a single review (or worse, rely only on the manufacturer's description). It's a good idea to see what other guitarists have to say about the instrument. In this section, we've included a few reviews from buyers who have chosen the Washburn R320SWRK.

In some cases, reviews are written by people who have little playing experience, pick one guitar, and love it. However, this review of the Washburn R320SWRK is especially valuable because it's written by someone who is very picky about guitars and who has been consistently impressed with this one.

This detailed review covers some of the potential issues buyers may have with this guitar. While the tone is still impressive, this buyer observed a few cosmetic issues with the gloss and glue used. They also point out that the V-shaped neck can be a challenge to adapt to.

This useful review was written by someone who ended up not keeping this guitar. They point out that the inlay work is beautiful, but that, in their opinion, this guitar's tone was not up to par. They also point out that for some fingerstyle players, the bulkier V-shape neck makes playing down the neck more difficult.