Tanglewood EME1 Enredo Madera Elegante 3/4 Size Classical Guitar

Compact size, with a step up in detail

Small hands and a growing player need a guitar that is easy to reach around. The Tanglewood EME1 is a 3/4 classical guitar that keeps the quality up while the size comes down. It makes a smart choice for a keen child, a teenager, or a grown player who simply likes a smaller body.

Why size matters

A guitar that is too big makes learning harder. Your arm stretches, your shoulder tires and the notes feel out of reach. A 3/4 body brings everything closer, so you can concentrate on playing well. Nylon strings are gentle on the fingertips too, which helps in the first months of practice.

Sound

The top is spruce, which gives a focused voice with clear notes along the fingerboard. The back and sides are mahogany, which brings a warm middle and a firm, controlled bottom end. The result sounds older than the compact body suggests, and it suits solo pieces well.

Detail and finish

An inlaid wood rosette around the soundhole sets the Elegante line apart from simpler student guitars. The natural satin finish keeps the look plain and tactile, and the grain of the wood shows through. The Techwood fingerboard completes a neat, comfortable neck.

Things to know

• 3/4 size body for an easier reach
• Spruce top, mahogany back and sides
• Inlaid wood rosette
• Acoustic only, with no pickup

Measure up before you buy. A 3/4 size suits younger players and anyone with a short reach. Taller players and adults who want the full scale should look at the EME2, which uses the same woods in a full size body. If you are weighing it against other nylon string guitar options in the range, the extra detailing here is what you are paying for. Delivery in the UK is free.