Tanglewood TUN3 Union Series Orchestra Folk Solid Mahogany Top Acoustic Guitar

Solid mahogany warmth in a comfortable orchestra shape

The Tanglewood TUN3 is a solid top acoustic guitar with an orchestra folk body, aimed at players who want real wood warmth without paying a premium price. It sits in the Tanglewood Union series, and it is made to be played at home, at a session or in the studio.

A solid mahogany top

The top is solid mahogany, and the back and sides are mahogany too. Solid wood vibrates freely and tends to open up as the guitar is played over the years. Mahogany gives a woody, focused midrange with smooth highs, so chords sound full and single notes stay clear. It is a good match for singing, because it supports a voice without fighting it.

Shape and feel

The orchestra folk body is easy to hold sitting down or standing up. It is large enough to project well and small enough to stay comfortable, so you can practise for a long time without strain. Fingerstyle, strumming and recording all suit it.

Finish and fingerboard

The open pore natural satin finish is thin and lets the grain show. It feels dry and smooth, not glossy. The fingerboard is Eboncore.

Mahogany also tends to sound mellow rather than shrill, which many players prefer over long sessions. Chords blend into a pleasant, rounded sound, and the guitar sits well alongside a voice, a fiddle or a second guitar. It is a dependable pick for a first solid wood instrument, or as a step up from a laminate guitar.

• Solid mahogany top
• Mahogany back and sides
• Eboncore fingerboard
• Open pore natural satin finish
• No pickup, a pure acoustic

This one has no electronics. If you want to plug in, the TUN4CE offers a cutaway and a TEQ MX preamp for £399.00. For a dreadnought voice in the same wood, see the TUN5. The TUN3 costs £349.00 and comes with free UK delivery.