Tanglewood Acoustic Guitars

Find the right acoustic guitar

An acoustic guitar is the simplest way to start playing, because you can pick it up and play without any extra kit. This page brings together every Tanglewood acoustic guitar we sell, 158 models in all, priced from £129 to £1,999. Many are also available as an electro acoustic guitar, so you can plug in for a gig or a rehearsal.

A good acoustic guitar for beginners

If you want the best acoustic guitar for beginners, start with the entry level ranges. The Tanglewood Crossroads and Strada guitars begin at £129, and the Crossroads TC models such as the TC3 Orchestra and TC8 Parlour sit at the same price. They make a sensible starter acoustic guitar because the bodies are comfortable and the cost is low. Adding a pickup brings you to £199 with the TC3E and TWCROE.

Woods and body shapes

The cheaper guitars use laminate tops, usually mahogany or spruce. Step up and you find solid tops, which tend to sound fuller and open up as the guitar is played. The Winterleaf range from £449 offers solid mahogany, cedar and spruce tops on Super Folk cutaway bodies. At the top end, the Heritage TW1000HSR dreadnought costs £1,349 and has a solid spruce top.

• Dreadnought guitars for a big, strong sound
• Folk and orchestra guitars for balanced, easy playing
• Parlour guitars for a small, warm tone
• Small and travel guitars for taking on the road

How to choose

Think about size first. A smaller body is easier for younger players and for sitting on the sofa, while a larger one gives more volume. Next decide if you need electronics. A model with a pickup costs a little more but lets you connect to an amp, which matters if you plan to play with others or perform. A plain acoustic is simpler and cheaper, and perfectly good for learning at home. Then think about the sound you like. Spruce tops sound bright and clear, mahogany sounds warmer and more focused, and cedar sits somewhere softer and rounder. Trying to picture how you will play helps narrow the field quickly, because a strummer and a fingerpicker often prefer different guitars. Left-handed players should also check our left-handed guitars page. Finally set a budget. Under £300 you will find plenty of good acoustic guitars for learning, around £449 to £800 gets you solid tops, and above £1,000 you reach the premium Sundance Reserve and Heritage models.

If you are weighing up an acoustic guitar and electric guitar, our electric guitars are worth a look too. Every order ships with free UK delivery.