Tanglewood TC3E Crossroads Orchestra Electro Acoustic Guitar, All Mahogany

A warm, mellow orchestra guitar that plugs straight in

The Tanglewood TC3E is an all-mahogany orchestra guitar from the Crossroads range with a pickup and EQ built in. If you want a warm, mellow electro acoustic guitar that sits comfortably on your knee and goes straight into an amp, it is a strong place to start at £199.

Mahogany from top to back

Mahogany is used for the top, the back and the sides. That gives the TC3E a sound that leans towards the middle of the range: rounded, woody and smooth rather than bright and sparkly. Chords sound full without getting harsh, and single notes have a soft attack that suits singer-songwriters and fingerpickers. The orchestra body is mid-sized, so the low end stays tidy and bass and treble are evenly matched. It is a shape many players find easy to sit with for long sessions.

Plugging in with the TEQ MX

Tanglewood's TEQ MX EQ lets you take the guitar to an acoustic amp, a PA or an audio interface. You get onboard control of your amplified tone, so you can tame boom in a small room or add presence on a busy stage. For home recording it saves setting up a microphone every time you want to capture an idea.

• Orchestra/folk body that is comfortable seated or standing
• Eboncore fingerboard
• Whiskey Burst Satin finish that feels smooth under your arm
• Built-in TEQ MX EQ for gigs, rehearsals and recording

Crossroads looks

The Tanglewood Crossroads guitar range is known for its worn-in, vintage styling, and the TC3E follows suit. The satin burst lets the mahogany grain show through, and a satin coat tends to feel less sticky than gloss when your hands warm up.

Choose the TC3E if you want one guitar that works on the sofa and at an open mic night. If you prefer a bigger, louder body, look at the Crossroads dreadnoughts. If you play lead lines high up the neck, the TC4CE adds a cutaway and a super folk shape for the same price. Free UK delivery comes as standard.