Tanglewood TR412CE Roadster 12-String Super Folk Electro-Acoustic Guitar, Cutaway

Twelve strings, a cutaway and a pickup, all at £329

Twelve strings give a guitar a shimmer that six simply cannot match. The Tanglewood TR412CE puts that sound in a Super Folk body with a cutaway and electronics, so this 12 string electro acoustic guitar is ready for the stage as well as the sofa.

That 12-string chime

Each pair of strings adds natural chorus, which is lovely for open chords, arpeggios and layered backing parts. The spruce top keeps the sound clear and defined, so the doubled strings sparkle rather than blur. The back and sides are mahogany, which rounds out the tone and keeps the bottom end full. That matters on a 12 string, where the high octave strings can otherwise take over.

Cutaway and body

The Super Folk shape is comfortable and has good projection. A cutaway gives you easier reach to the higher frets, which helps with solos and melody lines. The Eboncore fingerboard is smooth and hard-wearing, and the Natural Satin finish gives a clean, plain look.

Amplified sound

The Tanglewood TEQ-MX system gives you simple onboard controls. Plug into an amp, PA or interface and the twelve-string character comes through without a lot of fiddling.

• 12 string Super Folk body
• Cutaway for upper fret access
• Spruce top, mahogany back and sides
• TEQ-MX electronics
• Natural Satin finish

Living with twelve strings

Expect a little longer to tune and a little more pressure needed on the fretting hand. Most players settle in within a few weeks. Once you do, the reward is a sound that makes simple songs feel big, and that is hard to get from any other guitar.

A 12 string needs a little more finger strength than a six, so bear that in mind if you are new to it. If you want to explore the Roadster range with six strings instead, the TR3E and TR8E both offer electronics at a lower price. For singer-songwriters and band players who want something richer, the TR412CE is a distinctive and affordable choice.