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I am building a black walnut B&S parlor guitar and would appreciate your (expert) opinions for a top wood. Considering WRC, Sitka and Engelman. It will be used for light solo strumming, fingerpicking and accompanying my singing at the nursing home.

Of the three mentioned I would go with WRC or a lightweight piece of Engelman. Engelmann has a lot of variability, but the stuff the dealers like to market (paper white, fine grained) can make a nice top for a smaller bodied guitar. WRC often seems to emphasize the bass notes - not a bad thing for a parlor guitar where they can be lacking.
Sitka can also work, or even mahogany for that matter. Martin built many "parlor" guitars with Adirondack spruce tops. For something a little different, you could use American Sassafras (not blackheart) - I did and am happy with the results.

I have made a couple of very nice sounding OO sized guitars with Black Walnut back and sides and a Redwood top. I warn that redwood (and cedar) has the ability to come apart internally and shed the bridge and the wood fibers to which it was glued. I had to retop a redwood when one of the braces came loose with part of the top attached. For that reason, I only used extra light gauge strings on those guitars. But, the sound and playability make it worthwhile. Whatever of those tops you use, it will make a nice guitar. And, if you’re using a Black Walnut neck, look forward to the joy of carving that.

never was a fan of anything but spruce on steel strings cedar and redwood tend to crack

carpathian and red are my favorites

if you are doing cedar pick a good piece
Lutz spruce is also great on small guitars

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Adi

Here’s one I’m building now…Eastern walnut



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And another one ,this one’s Claro Walnut.




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If I had any sense, I'd spend the rest of my life building redwood/walnut guitars Redwood for the sound, walnut because it's such a pleasure to carve and plane and bend.

But variety is so much more exciting. Any of those top woods will sound good in its own way.

Completely agree and in the trade the brand "Cordoba" means bridge reglue in Spanish mostly because of their use of WRC tops that won't hold bridges even on low tension, wussy-ass classical guitars (Incoming............ )

If it were me Victor and it was a parlor with a smaller acoustic amplifier (box size) I would go after strong fundamental notes and that means red, carpathian, Adi and Sitka.

Repaired a Martin O-18 yesterday and wanted it when it was done, nice little slouch on the couch guitar it was.

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Ann Arbor Guitars