Irvin SP Signature Parlor - Boswell Lost Tunnel Redwood & Claro Walnut #ISP092566

There are guitars that impress on paper, and then there are guitars that feel like they’ve lived a story before they ever reach your hands. The Irvin SP Signature Parlor in Boswell Lost Tunnel Redwood and burled Claro Walnut belongs firmly in the latter camp.

Wayne Irvin Johnson has never approached lutherie as mere construction. His work reflects a lifetime of musical sensitivity, drawing from deep roots in American acoustic tradition while refusing to be boxed in by it. His instruments carry a quiet individuality, shaped by an ear-first philosophy and a willingness to let each set of wood dictate its own direction. The result is a voice that feels personal rather than manufactured, intimate rather than overbuilt.

At the heart of this instrument is the Boswell Lost Tunnel Redwood top, one of the most compelling and scarce tonewoods available today. Salvaged from old-growth timbers hidden for decades, this redwood carries both age and history in its grain. It offers a responsiveness that borders on effortless, with a warmth and immediacy that rewards even the lightest touch. For a 12 fret parlor, it is an inspired choice, delivering a full, blooming low end while maintaining clarity and sweetness across the trebles. It is not just rare, it is musically alive in a way that newer materials struggle to replicate.

Paired with highly figured burled Claro Walnut back and sides, the tonal palette deepens further. The walnut brings a focused, articulate response with a hint of dryness that balances the lushness of the redwood. Visually, it is striking without feeling ornamental for its own sake, with complex figuring that shifts under light and gives the instrument a sense of motion even at rest.

The 5 piece laminated neck, crafted from mahogany, curly maple, and padauk, adds both structural integrity and subtle tonal complexity. It feels solid and stable in hand, with a profile that invites long sessions without fatigue. The ebony appointments throughout, from bindings to fingerboard, bridge, and headstock veneer, give the instrument a cohesive, refined edge, while the burled Claro walnut backstrap and burled maple and paua rosette add carefully judged moments of artistry.

This is a player’s parlor, not just a collector’s piece. The upper bout sound port brings the experience closer to the player, creating a more immersive connection with the instrument’s voice. The short 24.9 inch scale, 1 3/4 inch nut width, and 2 1/4 inch bridge spacing make it comfortable and expressive, equally at home with fingerstyle nuance or a more assertive attack.

Despite its compact footprint, with a 9 7/8 inch upper bout, 13 7/8 inch lower bout, and a body depth that tapers from 3 1/4 inches at the heel to 4 1/4 inches at the tail, it carries surprising authority. At just 4 pounds 1 ounce, it is remarkably resonant, translating energy into sound with very little effort.

Finished with Gotoh 510 black chrome tuning machines, ebony bridge pins with brass rings and paua dots, and housed in a Cross Rock Ultralite case, every detail reinforces the sense that this is a thoughtfully realized instrument from start to finish.

This is not a guitar built to imitate something else. It is a reflection of Wayne Irvin Johnson’s voice as a builder, shaped by rare materials, careful decisions, and a clear understanding of what makes an instrument feel alive in the hands of a player.

Other specifications include:

• 12 Fret Parlor
• Boswell Lost tunnel Redwood
• Highly Figured Burled Claro Walnut Back & Sides
• 5 Piece Laminated Neck - Mahogany, Curly Maple & Padauk
• Ebony Bindings
• Ebony Fingerboard & Bridge
• Ebony Headstock Veneer
• Burled Claro Walnut Backstrap
• Burled Maple & Paua Rosette
• Upper Bout Sound Port
• Ebony Bridge Pins with Brass Rings & Paua Dots
• Bone Nut & Saddle
• Gotoh 510 Black Chrome Tuning Machines
• Cross Rock Ultralite Case
• 9 7/8" Upper Bout Width
• 13 7/8" Lower Bout Width
• 8 1/2" Waist
• 3 1/4" Depth at Heel
• 4 1/4" Depth at Tail
• 19 1/2" Body Length
• 24.9" Scale Length
• 1 3/4" Nut Width
• 2 1/4" Bridge spacing
• 4 lb 1 oz
• #ISP092566

For more information about the Irvin Guitars SP, please contact us.

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