Tanglewood TM5CE Metropolitan Cutaway Dreadnought Electro Acoustic Guitar

Cutaway dreadnought with koa looks and stage-ready electronics

The Tanglewood TM5CE adds a cutaway to the Metropolitan series dreadnought. That makes it the one to choose if you play lead lines or like to reach the top of the neck. It is a dreadnought electro acoustic guitar for singer-songwriters and strummers who want to plug in.

What it is made from

The top is HPL spruce, and the back and sides are koa. HPL stands for high pressure laminate, a construction that stands up well to changes in temperature and humidity. That makes it a practical guitar for players who travel to gigs or keep a guitar in a room that is sometimes cold or dry. Koa adds a warm midrange and has an attractive grain, and the fingerboard is ebony.

Big shape, easy access

A dreadnought gives you a strong low end and plenty of projection. The cutaway removes part of the body next to the neck, so your fretting hand can get to the higher frets more comfortably. The natural satin finish has a smooth feel that suits long sessions.

Plugging in

The Tanglewood TEQ-G3 system handles amplification. It has controls on the guitar for shaping the sound, so you can adjust things on the fly in different venues.

• Cutaway Dreadnought body
• HPL spruce top, koa back and sides
• Ebony fingerboard
• Tanglewood TEQ-G3 electronics
• Natural satin finish

At £229 it is an affordable way into a cutaway electro. If you do not need the cutaway, the TM5E has the same specification in a standard dreadnought body for the same price. If you want a smaller shape, look at the orchestra models in the series. Either way, you get a guitar that is ready to gig straight from the box, with a distinctive koa look that stands out from the usual spruce and mahogany finishes. It makes a good partner for rhythm work, solos and singing, so one instrument can cover a whole set without a change.