Tanglewood TC8 Crossroads Parlour Acoustic Guitar, All Mahogany Whiskey Burst

A compact parlour with a warm, focused voice

Small, light and warm sounding, the Tanglewood TC8 is a parlour guitar from the Crossroads range made with mahogany for the top, back and sides. At £129 it is great value if you want a compact instrument that is easy to pick up and play every day.

A body built for comfort

Parlour guitars have a narrow waist and a short, shallow body. That means less stretch over the top for your strumming arm and less bulk against your chest, which many players find more relaxed than a full-size acoustic. It is a good fit for smaller players, for practising on the sofa, and for travel when you do not want a big case. The smaller size also makes it easy to leave on a stand and grab whenever you have five minutes.

How mahogany sounds in a small box

Mahogany gives a softer, warmer voice than spruce, with a pronounced midrange. In a parlour body that produces a focused, slightly vintage tone. It will not boom like a dreadnought, but it speaks clearly and sits well behind a voice. Fingerpicking, blues and folk styles suit it, and light strumming sounds sweet and even.

• Parlour shape that is comfortable for long practice sessions
• Warm, mellow character from the mahogany
• Eboncore fingerboard
• Vintage-style satin burst finish

Crossroads character

The Tanglewood Crossroads guitar range is styled to look like an instrument that has been played for years, and the TC8 is no exception. Its Whiskey Burst Satin finish shades from dark edges to a lighter centre where the wood grain shows through. The satin coat is smooth to the touch rather than glossy.

The TC8 is purely acoustic, so there is no pickup. If you need volume for strumming in a group, the TC5 dreadnought costs the same and pushes out much more bass. If you want a small guitar for fingerstyle, songwriting at home or taking on holiday, the TC8 is the one to choose, with free UK delivery.