Tanglewood TRU3AK Reunion Pro Orchestra Solid Top Acoustic Guitar in Koa

Koa good looks on a purely acoustic orchestra body

Koa is the star of the Tanglewood TRU3AK. This solid top acoustic guitar from the Reunion Pro range uses a spruce soundboard with a figured koa veneer, plus koa back and sides, in an orchestra body. It suits players who want an unplugged guitar that sounds sweet and looks special.

Why koa

Koa has a golden, flamed grain that catches the light, and here it covers the whole guitar, front, back and sides, under a natural satin finish. Tonally it brings a strong midrange and a long, singing sustain. Notes bloom after you play them, which flatters melodies and fingerpicked arrangements.

Spruce underneath

Beneath the koa veneer is a solid spruce top. That is the part doing most of the work, giving the guitar its clarity and its quick response to your touch. The pairing works well: spruce supplies sparkle and definition, koa adds warmth in the middle, and the two together give a balanced voice for strumming or picking.

• No electronics, a purely acoustic instrument
• Orchestra body that is comfortable seated or standing
• Eboncore fingerboard
• Natural satin finish over koa

The orchestra body

The orchestra or folk shape is a sensible middle size. It projects well enough for a singalong yet stays comfortable on your knee for long evenings of practice. There's no cutaway, keeping the traditional outline, and no pickup, so nothing interrupts the clean lines of the koa.

If you'll never plug in and you love the look of koa, the TRU3AK is an easy choice in the Tanglewood Reunion Pro family. Need to play through a PA? The TRU4CEAW adds a cutaway and Tanglewood Premium Plus electronics with black walnut instead of koa. The TRU3AK is £329 with free UK delivery.