Though parlor-style guitars are sometimes defined by certain size specifications, the term is often simply used to describe a small or “sub-compact” body (usually smaller than a concert-size). Boasting a historical lineage that threads through the 19th and early 20th centuries, a parlor guitar was designed to be comfortable to hold and was traditionally played in people’s homes, hence the lack of need for a big-bodied instrument to project in larger performance halls (the dreadnought shape would later fulfill this role).
Taylor's 35th anniversary parlor model features a sloped-shoulder body design with Madagascar rosewood back and sides (milled thinner than Indian rosewood due to Madagascar’s denser properties), a Sitka spruce top with Adirondack CV bracing, a slotted peghead, ivoroid binding, an abalone rosette, a bone nut and saddle, and the ES pickup. The Sitka selected for the top is a special wide-grain selection, which adds warmth to the tone. The bridge design evolved from Taylor’s nylon-string bridge. The ends were shortened to better suit the smaller proportions of the parlor shape and feature scalloped contouring over a cylindrical profile — essentially a more refined version of a traditional “pyramid” style bridge used on other parlor guitars. The bridge was designed to have extra flexibility, says parlor guitar designer Larry Breedlove, which serves to enhance top movement and tone.