Tanglewood NSP1CF Northstar Pro Double Cutaway Humbucker Electric Guitar, Charcoal Frost

Two humbuckers in a cool Charcoal Frost finish

The Tanglewood NSP1CF is a double cutaway electric guitar with a dark, frosted grey finish and two humbucker pickups. It is aimed at players who want a heavier, thicker sound and a look that is a little more low-key. In the Northstar Pro series it costs £199.

Looks and finish

Metallic Charcoal Frost Gloss is a smoky grey with a metallic sparkle. It looks subtle in the room and picks up the light on stage. Chrome hardware gives it a neat contrast against the dark body.

Humbuckers and tone

The two ceramic humbuckers give you plenty of output and a firm low end. They suit rock, punk and heavier styles, and they stay quiet with gain turned up. Back off the volume knob and they still produce a tidy, rounded clean sound. If your music leans toward high gain, the NSP1CF is built for it.

Body, neck and fingerboard

The body is poplar, a light wood with a balanced tone. The double cutaway shape opens up the upper frets from both sides of the neck. The neck is torrefied maple with a Roseacer stripe, so it is roasted for stability, and the rosewood fingerboard feels smooth and a bit warm. Chrome die cast machine heads look after the tuning.

It is a good fit for players moving up from a starter guitar who want a step in quality without a big spend. The shape is comfortable, the controls are easy to understand, and the finish hides fingerprints better than a bright gloss. Practise on it at home, then take it to a rehearsal room without worrying about it.

• Double cutaway body in poplar
• Ceramic, 2 x humbucker pickups
• Torrefied maple neck, rosewood fingerboard
• Metallic Charcoal Frost Gloss finish

The same guitar is also made in Morello Cherry as the NSP1MC and in Metallic Sienna Copper as the NSP1SC, both at £199. Pick the NSP1CF if you want a dark, understated look. Delivery is free in the UK.