Waterloo WL-14 -XTR Sunburst 14-Fret Parlour Acoustic Guitar

This is an absolutely stunning Waterloo WL-14-XTR Parlour acoustic guitar in Sunburst finish. Waterloo Guitars are made by Collings, luthier of some of the most sought after & high end instruments on the market. Waterloo is something of a side project for Bill Collings, aimed at producing depression era guitars in the same way they were originally made, stripping the building process down to the bare essentials. The result is incredible build quality and an instrument which sounds fantastic, at a price-point which is much more attainable than a typical Collings.

Made in Austin, Texas in 2015, this guitar of course features an all-solid set-neck construction comprising a Spruce top, Mahogany back & sides, Mahogany neck, 19 fret Indian Rosewood fingerboard & Ebony bridge. A Bone saddle & nut are installed, along with a set of ‘Golden Age Restoration’ three-on-a-plate tuning machines. Styling is kept fairly sparse, with simple dot inlays, front & sound hole binding as well as a Tigerstripe Celluloid pickguard. This particular model carries the ‘XTR’ designation, meaning that it features ‘X’ bracing rather than ladder bracing.

The Mahogany neck plays well. The ‘Prominent ‘V’ Shape’ profile certainly lives up to its name, however it is certainly not unwieldy or cumbersome - it feels highly ergonomic, encouraging proper thumb positioning as you traverse the fingerboard. The finish to the rear of the neck is quite thin, meaning you can feel the texture of the Mahogany under the thumb as you play. The Rosewood of the fingerboard is supremely pleasant under the fingers, providing a playing surface which is both durable and practical. The smooth lines of the parlour body are very comfortable in the arms, working brilliantly as a sofa guitar for those late night practice sessions.

The acoustic voice of the Waterloo WL-14-XTR is very finely balanced, producing what seems to be an entirely even output across the frequency range. The low end is warm and smooth without being too soft. The mids are bright and open, whilst the top end is clear and precise without sounding brittle. Whilst the parlour body clearly can’t produce as much volume as other larger guitars, there is plenty of volume on offer, as well as ample dynamic range. The level of care and attention dedicated to this instrument during it’s manufacture is clear to see- the entire instrument resonates beautifully and produces a rich, beautiful tone. A stunning instrument.