Tanglewood TRS1E Rosewood Smart Mini Folk Travel Electro-Acoustic Guitar

Small body, solid wood voice, ready to plug in

Small guitars are often thin on tone. The Tanglewood TRS1E is a different idea: a mini folk travel guitar built with a solid cedar top and rosewood back and sides, plus electronics, so it can be a serious instrument that also travels well.

Why the size works

The mini folk body is easy to carry, easy to sit with and kind to smaller hands. It is also a good fit for a sofa guitar, a dressing room or a long train ride. If you have been looking for a travel electro acoustic guitar that still has a real voice, this is the sort of model to compare against.

Tonewoods

Cedar on top gives a warm, responsive sound that reacts well to a light touch. Rosewood back and sides add overtones and more projection than you might expect from a body this size. The result is clear and balanced, with a rounded feel that suits folk guitar styles, fingerpicking and gentle strumming.

Electronics and finish

Enya electronics are built in, so you can plug in for a small gig or a recording session without adding a pickup. The natural gloss finish shows the rosewood grain, and the Eboncore fingerboard keeps the feel smooth.

A smaller body also changes how you play. The guitar sits close, the scale of the instrument feels manageable, and long practice sessions are less tiring on the shoulder and arm. Younger players, smaller players and anyone with a busy lap will notice the difference. Folk guitar fans often choose this size for its focused, intimate sound.

• Mini folk body for easy carrying
• Solid cedar top
• Rosewood back and sides
• Eboncore fingerboard
• Enya electronics and natural gloss finish

It has no cutaway, which keeps the lines simple. If you want a similar sound in a bigger body, compare it with the TRS4CE or TRS5SE in the same series. For a compact guitar you will actually want to play every day, the TRS1E is easy to recommend at £549.