Tanglewood TRX5E Roadster X Dreadnought Electro-Acoustic Guitar

Big dreadnought volume, plugged in for £299

If you want the dreadnought in the Roadster X series, the TRX5E is it. If you want a loud, full-sounding electro acoustic for strumming, backing singers and playing with others, this is the shape most people picture first.

Body and tone

The dreadnought body is the largest in the range, which means more volume and a deeper low end. A spruce top keeps the highs crisp and defined, while ovangkol back and sides add warmth so the sound is full rather than sharp. It works for open chords and flatpicking, and fingerstyle players will find it clear too.

Plug-in ready

The Tanglewood TEQ MX preamp is built in, so you can take it to an open mic or rehearsal and use the EQ to tune the sound in the room. It records well too.

Feel and finish

The fingerboard is Eboncore, and the natural gloss finish keeps the wood grain visible.

Because the dreadnought is so common, you will find plenty of tutorial material and songbooks written with this shape in mind. It is an easy guitar to share with friends at a session, and its volume means you do not always need an amp when playing with others. When you do plug in, the preamp keeps the signal clean and easy to adjust.

• Dreadnought body for volume and low end
• Spruce top, ovangkol back and sides
• Eboncore fingerboard
• Tanglewood TEQ MX electronics

A dreadnought is bigger to hold than the orchestra folk TRX3E or the parlour TRX8E, so try those if comfort is a worry. If you want a cutaway on a similar spec, see the TRX4CE. For a dependable, loud all-rounder that is ready to amplify, the TRX5E is the straightforward choice, and it keeps the price low for a dreadnought with a pickup.