Tanglewood NS1ISH Northstar Double Cutaway Electric Guitar, Inca Silver Gloss

A bridge humbucker adds punch to inca silver

The Tanglewood NS1ISH takes the Northstar double cutaway and adds a change under the strings. This grey electric guitar keeps the inca silver gloss finish, but it pairs a humbucker at the bridge with single coils at the neck and middle for more bite.

What the humbucker changes

A humbucker at the bridge gives a thicker, punchier sound than a single coil, which helps with rock rhythm and lead lines. The neck and middle single coils still deliver sparkling cleans and useful midrange tones, so you keep the classic range as well.

Body and neck

The body is poplar with a double cutaway, light and balanced, with easy reach to the top frets. The maple neck has a Roseacer stripe and a caramel maple fingerboard, and the chrome die cast machine heads keep it in tune through longer sessions.

The finish

Inca silver gloss gives a clean, bright look that works with black hardware or a dark strap.

• Bridge humbucker with neck and middle single coils
• Poplar double cutaway body
• Roseacer striped maple neck
• Chrome die cast machine heads

Who it suits

This guitar suits players who started out on clean sounds and now want to push into heavier styles without buying a whole new instrument. The extra punch from the bridge pickup works well with an overdrive pedal or a driven amp channel, while the other two pickups keep your cleaner tones available. The body is comfortable seated or on a strap, and the layout is easy to learn. It is also a handy pick for gigging players who need to switch between styles in one set.

If you prefer three matching single coils, look at the NS1IS, which is the same colour. Otherwise the NS1ISH is the better pick for players who lean towards rock and heavier lead playing.