Hohner Essential Series Parlor Acoustic Guitar
The smaller body and wider neck make this the perfect guitar for blues and folk guitarists. It features Grover tuners and D'Addario strings.
Overall User Ratings (based on 4 ratings)
Submitted April 5, 2024 by JAMES F in Auburn, CA
"Just a great, well made guitar"
I've had this guitar for about 10 years. I was looking for a parlor sized guitar that had a more standard shape. I played this at a small music store in Concord Ca. I loved the neck, the action, the sound. I bought it on the spot without really knowing much about it. I have been playing for 50 years. I know about guitars. I knew this was a and is a great little guitar. The woods are solid, which was a signature of the essential roots line at the time. It has a nice matte finish and for those 10 years it has remained my favorite acoustic. The neck is just wide enough for my fat fingerpicking fingers. The sound is big for a small guitar. IU've played out with it and with a dean markly sound hole pickup it sings..i just wanted to give it some internet props.. I know Hohner stopped making guitars.. If you find one, id buy it. I like the sound and feel better than my BABY Taylor.
Sound
FULL AND WARM
Features
Solid woods
Ease of Use
Easy
Quality
Very well made
Value
yes
The Wow Factor
pretty and sized right
Musical Background:
50 years
Musical Style:
blues, rock, soul, country
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Submitted October 29, 2010 by a customer from gmail.com
"Hohner Parlor Secrets"
The rest of my life....or until it (they) fall apart.
Sound
These guitars (I own two HW40's) have all the essentials necessary to play well...but better than many! Playability/sustain/comfort/fretting/tuning all come out very well from a shallow Parlor-sized body. These guitars cost between 5-10% of my other guitars...but get played the most? (see 'johnboyhayes1' at You Tube for out of the box simple recordings.) I need a third model. This is the only guitar I dare recommend via post-order.
Features
No accesories except neck-wrench. Fitted with light DÁddario strings. I prefer other strings. The one in my videos is using Elixers.
Ease of Use
Easy, very playable. Slightly wider neck makes string-spacing better for finger-pickers.
Quality
Very slight cosmetic blemishes;these guitars are plain-jane's but within a week of hard playing you 'feel' her beauty.
Value
This guitar is worth more than her selling price. Hohner have finally got their acoustic guitars right. Very cheap, very plain but very playable.
Manufacturer Support
Hohner Germany are excellent friendly people; they also speak English...at least my contact writes excellent emails!
The Wow Factor
The US models are fitted as standard with the earvana intonation nut-bridge-insert. The European models do not have this but are much cheaper than US models. Both my Hohner Parlors (same guitar)are European but intonation is still good in standard tuning and okay in open tunings. For much open tuning playing, buy newer models with earvana.
Musical Background:
active recording artist
Musical Style:
song writer
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Submitted October 30, 2010 by a customer from gmail.com
"Hohner HW40P Essential Secrets"
I won't ever sell my two HW40P's. I need a third for other tunings.
Sound
Although I lowered the action slightly, this product actually plays well out of the box. Good frets, string-spacing, tuners and body work.
Features
The guitar is called "essential" and means just that; it offers all you need but no extras. It is not 'pretty' but rather a 'plain jane' ...very open sound unlike many prettier guitars.
Ease of Use
Nice sustain; the lack of laquering and ornate work probably helps deliver a nice even tone. Not much bass from such a shallow body. Buy one of the other models for bigger bass sounds.
Quality
One of the two I purchased has very slight micro-stain-marks on the front, almost invisible. If you want beauty, there are many other contenders!
Value
Hohner will live to regret allowing such heavy discounting on such a decent product.
Manufacturer Support
The German headquarters is very friendly and speak English very well. The US division may need to work on its customer-contact in my 'one-off' experience.
The Wow Factor
This guitar isn't ugly but those who want beauty should look elsewhere. However, within weeks it feels like a favorite pair of tatty shoes you love to wear.
Musical Background:
songwriter
Musical Style:
own
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