Larrivee Parlour PO1(2006)

I bought this pre-owned on Ebay a few years ago and picked it up at Thruxton airport’s pilots canteen just outside Andover from the owner who flew it in from Oxford in a single seater plane for the ‘hand over’.

Made famous on You Tube by Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield (circled around the globe 70000 times) It is not a Travel Guitar but old time 00 styled with bags of volume and projection that belies its size with strong mids and a quick attack.

With a solid sitka Spruce top, Mahogany back and sides, Ebony Fingerboard and Bridge and Ivaroid fretboard binding. Low smooth action and easy to play with Medium gauge Phosphor Bronze D’addario strings because of it’s short 24inch scale, 1.11/16 inch nut width, 13inch lower bout and 4inch body depth.

This remains my favourite ‘get go’ acoustic guitar for Fingerpicking Ragtime and Blues. In small venues like Pubs I use a K&K Twin Spot pick up, LBaggs Para Acoustic DI preamp and AER 60 Compact amp on its own or plugged into the house PA.