La Patrie Motif

The La Patrie Motif Classical (nylon string) parlor guitar is made by La Si Do, and is the nylon string version of their Seagull Grand Parlor acoustic. My version of the La Patrie Motif substitutes 100% Canadian wood for the tropical rain forest wood used in Motifs, and is sold as the Art & Lutherie Ami Classical Cedar acoustic. It was made in 1999 in La Patrie, Quebec, Canada, with a solid cedar top, lightened for use with nylon strings. The neck is maple, bolted (with totally concealed bolts) to a body of laminated wood made of three plies of solid cherry. The body and neck are stained a warm tone of burgundy, and there is ivory toned binding around the top and bottom of the body. The rosette has a simple white design. The fingerboard and classical style bridge are walnut. The headstock is slotted for nylon strings. The saddle is a thick cut of a bone-like material that is angled for better intonation. The body is the very small Seagull parlor size (about the same size as the Martin 0-size) but the neck is a full size classical style neck with the long 655mm (25.6 inch) scale. The fingerboard is flat and is about 1 13/16 inch wide at the nut, and widens to 2 1/4 inches wide at the 12th fret. This tapered fingerboard is narrower than a traditional classical fingerboard,which is usually 2 1/4 wide from top to bottom. The neck has medium depth at the first fret and gets deeper toward the 8th fret. This tapered neck makes playing from the first to the fourth fret easier than with most classical guitars. Although the neck is much thicker than on a Seagull Grand, I find it equally confortable to play. The body is finished with a very thin satin gloss lacquer that is almost invisible. A thin lacquer allows the maximum vibration from the solid cedar soundboard, but needs delicate handling compared with a guitar finished with six ounces of plastic spray. (I saw one estimate that a third of the weight of the soundboard on a poly finished guitar is the plastic finish!) The tuners are gold-toned, three per mount open tuners in the classical style. My features score is in comparison only with other classical guitars.

This parlor classical has a very soft, sweet tone when using only fingertips, but is brighter and lounder, and has some bite using a pick. Nylon strings have short sustain, making individual notes very distinct. There is no deep, deep bass, and the higher treble is very soft, so the midrange dominates chords. The solid Cedar top yields a unique coloration that is a bit more complex than a spruce soundboard (sort of a "spicy" quality). This is a guitar for an audience of one. It can not match the volume and bass of a much larger, full size classical guitar. Yet, playing softly late, late at night, it seems just about right for what Frank called the "wee, small hours". For those folks who need the bigger voice of a full sized classical guitar, the La Patrie Etude, with a solid cedar soundboard, sells for around $300.

La Si Do put this guitar together with great attention to detail. The workmanship is as goog as on some $1,000 guitars. The materials are simple, and light, but the finished guitar seems as solid as a light, parlor size, classical can hope to be. I could not find any flaw on this guitar. The action was set up in classical style, which means the strings will appear high from the fifth fret to the 12th fret for electric guitar buffs. The very light tension of nylon strings makes chording easy with higher string settings.

Is there a musical instrument more delicate than a light, parlor sized classical guitar? Classical guitars have a very thin soundboard and light bracing. Ami's finish is very thin and will scratch easily, and the Cedar soundboard can be dented by a hard stare. (Cedar is much softer than Spruce.) However, the folks at La Si Do built a guitar that will last, if it is given the great respect that delicate musical instruments deserve.

I have two La Si Do guitars. When I needed information (and a new saddle) I contacted www.lasido.com and got helpful responses. They have a well earned reputation for standing behind their guitars.

I was disappointed, at first, with the sound of this guitar. I was unfamilar with the sound of nylon strings, and I was surprised by how small the voice of this guitar is compared with much larger full size guitars. In Mariachi bands, the small bodied nylon string guitar is called the "Requinto", which means the "quiet" guitar. As my ears adjust to the small, soft voice of this "quiet" guitar, I hear the voice that a very small classical guitar ought to have. The small size body rests lightly on my knee. A small guitar just feels so right in your lap and hands. I enjoy the sound of larger steel string acoustics, but when my fingers start yelling about steel wires cutting into flesh, soft nylon is a nice vacation for my fingers and my ears. The Motif and Ami Classical guitars sound like expensive guitars, yet sell at affordable prices. I enjoy playing a guitar made of North American wood, made by the North American craftspeople of the La Si Do guitar family.

Nylon stringed, parlor sized acoustic. Solid cedar top with laminated mahogany sides and back. Guitar was built in La Patrie, Canada by the same manufacturers of Seagull and Godin. The guitar is very well built for the price($300.00 incl. plush hardshell case). The satin finish of the guitar is consistent on body and neck. The factory set up was excellent. For the money an excellent buy!

I play a lot of fingerstyle on this guitar, particullarly, slack key. It produces a warm, loud sound....sounds bigger than its physical size. Havent miked the guitar or recorded with it yet.

The fit and finish of the woods is excellent. All parts of the guitar are top notch.

I see no reason for this guitar to not stand up over time. The tuners may be slightly cheepish but...they can be replaced if needed.

Overall rating....8. I would have no difficulties in recommending this guitar.

This Parlor nylon string acoustic was made in 1999 in La Patrie, Canada (near Quebec). Purchased in Portland, OR, where the salesman told me the town of La Patrie exists just to make acoustic guitars, and this is a fine example.
I paid $299 for a new instrument, solid top (can't remember which wood) and solid mahogonay back and sides, Satin finish. Purchased hard parlor case separately.
An inexpensive instrument, all the money went into the basics, and it's a totally great value.

I play classical, and this is a well balanced guitar with great sustain (probably because of the small body?) Because it's mahogany, it's a somewhat bright, present sound - not mellow, but very pleasant.

Very impressed with configuration. The woods are so well cut, looking at the two piece back you can hardly see the seam. Everything about the guitar seems like it should have cost alot more than it did. No flaws at all.

It's new, but appears to be solidly made. I'll let you know in 20 years.

Have not called for support.

I have several guitars, and play mostly classical. This guitar was purchased as a travel instrument, since it's small and inexpensive. Overall, I prefer the sound of Rosewood guitars, but don't want to own 15 rosewood guitars, so I bought mahogany for variety. I compared it to all the other classical guitars in the shop, and chose this one because it was small and inexpensive. It was only after hours of playing did I really appreciate the quality.