Free UK delivery Expert advice from real players 14-day returns no fuss Secure checkout card or Apple Pay
Free UK deliveryThe full Tanglewood range, all in one place

Banjos and Mandolins

Nine Tanglewood banjos and mandolins from £189 to £449, all from the Union range. Pick a mandolin for bright, chiming tone or a banjo for a punchy, driving sound.

9 products

Tanglewood Banjos and Mandolins

If you are looking for a mandolin or a banjo, this page brings the two together. Both instruments are made in the Tanglewood Union range, and prices run from £189 up to £449. They suit players who want a folk, bluegrass or country sound without starting from scratch on cost.

What is a mandolin?

A mandolin is a small, eight-string instrument tuned in pairs, played with a pick. It has a sweet, ringing tone that cuts through a group of acoustic players. The Tanglewood TWMTWR Mandolin is the entry point at £189 and has a linden top. Step up to the TWMTBKPE at £229, which is also linden-topped and adds electro-acoustic electronics so you can plug in on stage. The TWMFVSE at £349 has a spruce top and electronics too. You can see them all together on our mandolins page.

What is a banjo?

A banjo has a round body covered with a skin head, which gives that bright, snappy attack people link with bluegrass, folk and old-time music. Our banjo instrument choices come from the Union banjos range. The Tanglewood TWBU Banjo costs £279, and the TUB4 Banjo costs £299. Browse the full line-up on the banjos page.

How to choose

  • Sound: a mandolin is sweet and chiming, while a banjo is louder and sharper.
  • Playing live: choose one of the electro-acoustic mandolins if you want to connect to an amp or PA.
  • Budget: mandolins start at £189 and banjos at £279, so you can begin on either with a modest outlay.
  • Playing style: a clawhammer banjo style or a tenor banjo tuning needs different set-up choices, so check the model page before you buy.

Already play guitar? Many people add a mandolin as a second instrument because the fingerboard is compact and the tuning is easy to learn. If you prefer a strummed sound, our ukuleles are another small and friendly option.

Keep a spare set of strings and a tuner handy, as both instruments sound best when tuned often. Every model here ships with free UK delivery, so you can pick the instrument you like and know the price you see is the price you pay.