Tanglewood TR8E Roadster Parlour Electro-Acoustic Guitar, Natural Satin

Parlour charm for fingerstyle, blues and folk

Parlour guitars are small, intimate and full of character. The Tanglewood TR8E is a parlour guitar with electronics fitted, which means you get that close, expressive sound at home and a way to share it on stage. It suits fingerstyle players, blues fans and singer-songwriters.

A voice with focus

The spruce top gives clear, quick notes, while the mahogany body gives the sound a rounder, deeper base. The result is a focused midrange with good note separation. Pick lightly and it responds sweetly. Dig in and it still has enough projection to keep up with a vocal.

Comfort

The smaller Parlour body sits close to you and is easy on the arm. That makes long practice sessions less tiring and suits players who find larger guitars awkward. It is also simple to carry from room to room.

Plugging in

The Tanglewood TEQ-MX electronics give you easy controls for your amplified tone. Run it into a PA, an amp or a recording interface and it keeps the natural character of the guitar.

• Parlour body shape
• Spruce top, mahogany back and sides
• TEQ-MX electronics
• Eboncore fingerboard
• Natural Satin finish

Songwriting companion

Parlour guitars have long been favoured by writers because they are easy to pick up and invite quiet experimenting. The TR8E is happy sitting by the sofa, ready for a half-formed idea at any hour. When the song is finished, you can plug in and play it for others.

The Natural Satin finish keeps the guitar looking plain and lets the wood speak. Compare it with the TR3E, an Orchestra body at the same £299, if you would like a slightly larger and more balanced sound. If you prefer something smaller still, the Travel size TR2E costs £269. For a little guitar with plenty of personality, the TR8E is a lovely choice, and it is a particularly good pick for songwriting.