Tanglewood TSR2C MasterDesign Grand Auditorium Cutaway Electro-Acoustic Guitar

All-solid tonewoods in a MasterDesign cutaway

The Tanglewood TSR2C is the top of the range for players who want a serious instrument. It is a grand auditorium electro acoustic guitar from the MasterDesign series, designed by luthier Michael Sanden, with a cutaway and professional electronics.

Solid wood throughout

The top is solid Sitka spruce, chosen for its clarity and projection. The back and sides are solid Indian Rosewood, which adds depth, warmth and a rich spread of overtones. A solid wood acoustic guitar like this one tends to improve with age as the wood settles and opens up.

The grand auditorium shape balances volume with control. It is comfortable to hold, and it handles strumming and fingerpicking with equal ease. The cutaway gives you a clear path to the higher frets.

Spruce and Rosewood is a well-loved pairing. The spruce keeps notes crisp and defined, while the Rosewood fills in the bass and adds shimmer, so the guitar sounds full when you play softly and when you dig in hard. It is a combination that rewards good technique and shows up every nuance.

Fretboard and finish

The fingerboard is ebony with a zero fret. The zero fret sits right at the nut, so open strings sound like fretted notes, and the action stays even along the neck. The natural gloss finish shows off the grain and protects the wood.

Plugging in

A Fishman Presys Blend system is fitted. It gives you control over the amplified sound for the stage or the studio, so the natural tone of the guitar comes through when you connect to an amp or PA.

• Top: solid Sitka spruce
• Back and sides: solid Indian Rosewood
• Fingerboard: ebony with zero fret
• Electronics: Fishman Presys Blend
• Finish: natural gloss

If you are moving up from an entry-level guitar, or want a gigging instrument that you can keep for years, the TSR2C is worth a long look. Compare it with other MasterDesign guitars to find the body shape you like best.