Tanglewood TR2E Roadster Travel Folk Electro-Acoustic Guitar, Natural Satin

A pocket-sized Roadster that plugs straight in

The Tanglewood TR2E is a compact Travel Folk body with pickup and preamp built in, so you can take it from the sofa to the stage without swapping guitars. If you want a travel electro acoustic guitar that is easy to carry and ready to amplify, this is the one in the Roadster series to look at.

Small body, honest acoustic voice

The top is spruce, which gives a bright, clear attack and good response under your fingers. Mahogany back and sides add warmth underneath, so the sound stays balanced rather than thin. It works well for strumming, fingerstyle and backing a singer.

A smaller body also means less reach and less weight. That makes it a comfortable guitar for younger players, for long sessions on the sofa and for anyone who simply prefers a more compact instrument.

Plugging in with TEQ-MX

The Tanglewood TEQ-MX system gives you simple onboard controls for shaping your amplified tone. Connect it to an amp, a PA or a recording interface and you have a usable sound without extra gear. It makes this travel guitar equally handy for rehearsals, open mic nights and home recording.

Finish and feel

The Natural Satin finish lets the wood show and keeps the surface smooth under your hand. The fingerboard is Eboncore, a dark, hard-wearing material that gives the neck a polished look. It is part of the wider Tanglewood Roadster range, which aims to give you a solid build at a sensible price.

• Travel Folk body shape for easy carrying
• Spruce top with mahogany back and sides
• Tanglewood TEQ-MX electronics
• Eboncore fingerboard
• Natural Satin finish

If you play left-handed, look at the TR2ELH, which has the same specification reversed. If you do not need electronics, the TR2 costs less and keeps the same body and woods. For a guitar that goes in the car boot, on the train and into a gig, the TR2E covers all of it in one neat package, and it is a sensible pick as a second guitar that you can leave out and pick up whenever you have a spare ten minutes.