NK Forster Parlour King Tenor – Vintage charm, modern design

The Parlour King tenor guitar is a vintage-inspired instrument, built with care and attention to detail. It’s got the charm of an old parlour guitar, but with modern playability and sound.

This model features a traditional body shape—elegant, compact, and comfortable to play. It’s ideal for smaller spaces: perfect for home recording, quiet gigs, or even loud pub sessions where a full-size guitar might not cut through.

Don’t be fooled by its size though. With the right soundboard and materials, the Parlour King delivers a full, rich tone—warm, clear, and surprisingly powerful.

Like the larger Session King, the Parlour King can be tailored to suit your needs. You can choose the tonewoods, finish, and fittings to create something that feels uniquely yours.

Whether you’re an experienced player or simply someone drawn to the look and feel of classic instruments, the Parlour King is a proper little gem.

"The Parlour Tenor is gorgeous in every way. It has a beautiful tone and a huge range, from ringing trebles on top to an amazingly big low end for such a small body. The craftsmanship is a wonder to behold, the instrument is incredibly responsive, and it’s a joy to play. The Parlour Tenor - one of the best guitars of any kind I’ve ever played, and by far the best tenor. A real treasure. "

Taylor, New York, USA
"I'm extremely delighted with my parlour sized tenor guitar from Nigel. The workmanship and skill in making this instrument is no less than impeccable. The most unexpected surprise for me is the sheer power of sound that comes from such a wee instrument. The mahogany timber which I chose gives a warm and sweet sound. I just find immense joy noodling and performing on this beautiful instrument.”

Mel Tompkins, Victoria, Australia
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  • Material

    Soundboard - cedrela - a lightweight durable hardwood which has the appearance of a mahogany, yet a tone more like that of a thirty year old mahogany guitar.

    Many upgrades are available.

    Back and sides - mahogany, once again, many upgrades are possible.

    Neck - mahogany, Pacific maple, American maple or New Guinea rosewood.

    Fretboard - ebony or bog oak with rocklite binding.

    Bridge - rocklite ebano

  • Hardware

    Tuners -Chrome Gotoh 510

    Frets - Evo gold hand polished frets

    Nut and saddle - hand polished bone.

  • Dimensions

    body width: 330mm 13″
    body depth - 100mm 4.3″
    scale - 24.75″ or 22" or custom
    nut - 32mm or custom
    tuning - GDAE, GDAD, ADAD or similar