ROAD TEST Art & Lutherie Roadhouse Parlor Acoustic Guitar
By Hal Rodriguez
Art & Lutherie ’ s Roadhouse guitar is the Canadian company ’ s new parlor-sized acoustic , handcrafted in Quebec . This portable and highly playable instrument exudes a vintage vibe with its semi-gloss patina finish and features Fishman ’ s Sonitone electronics for modern recording and performing applications .
Specifications The Roadhouse has a solid spruce top , wild cherry back and sides , and a silver leaf maple neck with rosewood fingerboard . Although the parlor-sized body is smaller than the more common dreadnought acoustics , the neck dimensions are only slightly shorter , featuring a 1.72-in . nut width and a 24.84-in . scale . Coupled with its standard 16-in . fingerboard radius , this makes the Roadhouse easy to play without much adjustment if one is used to playing dreadnoughts . The guitar shipped with comfortably low action , but there was no apparent string buzzing along the fingerboard .
The guitar also features a Tusq nut and saddle from Graph Tech Guitar Labs and Fishman ’ s Sonitone preamp with discreet but easyto-reach volume and tone controls mounted in the soundhole . The model I reviewed came in an impressive Bourbon Burst finish , but other colours available include Faded Black and Tennessee Red .
Playability The Roadhouse ’ s beautiful vintage finish makes it easy to admire and inviting to pick up and play . The wood grain on the spruce top is especially attractive and accentuated by the cream coloured binding around the body . Other small details , such as how the tuning keys match the binding and have an ergonomic grip , create the feeling that you ’ re holding a well-crafted , higher-end guitar .
Musicians who are used to lugging around their dreadnoughts in heavy hardshell cases will find this parlor-sized instrument ’ s lightweight and smaller dimensions to be a welcome relief when transporting their electrics and other gear to a gig or session . The Roadhouse ’ s smaller body also puts the fingerboard closer to one ’ s chest , making it feel easier to reach for complex chords and improvisation across the neck . The neck-to-body joint does make it difficult to reach past the 12 th fret , but playing below that point is noticeably easier compared to a standard dreadnought .
Tone Compared to larger acoustics , the Roadhouse has less bass response but makes up for it with a focused midrange and top end that allows it to cut through . This guitar has a bold personality that makes it stand out when compared to the more common dreadnought style and would subsequently be great for double tracking and overdubbing to add a different type of acoustic guitar tone to one ’ s recordings . Although parlor guitars are traditionally favoured for punchy fingerstyle blues and slide , it would also be an ideal instrument for folk , indie pop , and rock musicians looking for a different look and sound . What ’ s more , its Fishman Sonitone electronics make it ready for use in modern settings and the smaller body would make feedback less likely when playing at louder volumes on stage .
Plugged in , the Fishman Sonitone preamp gives the Roadhouse plenty of output and brilliance . Chords are articulate and resonant and even with the tone control dialled down , there is still a pleasing amount of sparkle that invites you to dig into the strings .
Summary Art & Lutherie ’ s well-crafted Roadhouse would be a serious consideration for blues and fingerstyle acoustic guitarists looking for a vintage-style instrument , but those searching for something a little different and more portable than a dreadnought may also find it an attractive addition to their collection . For an instrument seemingly geared to a specific niche , the charming and ergonomic Roadhouse is a guitar you can easily grab to cover an impressive variety of applications , from campfire jams to songwriting or recording sessions to live gigs .
Hal Rodriguez is a published writer , musician , and freelance music transcriber who has done work for artists such as Oz Noy and Derryl Gabel .
22 • CANADIAN MUSICIAN