Tanglewood TB2CE Blackbird Travel Cutaway Electro-Acoustic Guitar, Black

Small enough to carry, wired up for the stage

Small guitars usually mean compromises, but the Tanglewood TB2CE aims to keep the sound while cutting the size. It is a travel electro acoustic guitar in the Blackbird series, with a travel cutaway body, mahogany construction and onboard electronics, all in Smokestack Black Satin.

Travel size without a toy feel

The smaller body is easier to pack, easier to carry on a train and easier to hold on a sofa. It is still a proper guitar, with a mahogany top, back and sides that give a warm, focused tone and a clear midrange. It suits fingerpicking and light strumming well, and it is a good choice if a full-size body feels like too much.

Cutaway and neck

The cutaway makes the upper frets easy to reach, which helps on a small body where the neck joins close to the sound hole. The fingerboard is engineered wood, and the satin finish is smooth rather than tacky.

Finish and handling

The black satin finish looks smart and resists the scuffs that come with life on the road better than a high gloss would. The shorter body keeps the weight down, and the guitar fits neatly in smaller cases and gig bags. If you share a room with someone who wants peace, a smaller body also tends to be gentler in volume, which helps for late-evening practice.

Plug in anywhere

Tanglewood Premium Plus electronics let you shape the tone and play through an amp or PA. That makes the TB2CE handy for busking, open mics and small gigs where you travel light.

• Travel cutaway body
• Mahogany top, back and sides
• Premium Plus electronics
• Smokestack Black Satin finish

If you want a bigger body with the same electronics, compare it with the TB3E or the TB4CE. If you need the smaller size for hotel rooms, holidays or a lap guitar for songwriting, the TB2CE is the one to look at in the Blackbird range.