Tanglewood TUN5 Union Dreadnought Solid Mahogany Top Acoustic Guitar

Power and warmth from a solid mahogany dreadnought

A dreadnought is the shape most people picture when they think of an acoustic, and the Tanglewood TUN5 does the job with a solid wood top. As a dreadnought acoustic guitar from the Union series, it is made for players who like to strum hard, sing over the top and hear a real low end.

Mahogany all round

The top is solid mahogany, with mahogany back and sides. Mahogany has a woody, focused midrange and a smooth treble, so the guitar sounds warm rather than sharp. Notes sustain nicely and the sound stays balanced with a light touch or a hard strum. A solid top also tends to improve with regular playing.

Why choose the dreadnought body

The big body gives volume, bass and projection. It suits rhythm playing, backing a vocalist and writing songs. It can still handle fingerstyle, with a fuller, rounder voice than a small body gives you.

Finish and playing feel

The open pore natural satin finish is light and leaves the grain visible and tactile. The fingerboard is Eboncore. The TUN5 has no electronics, so it is a purely acoustic instrument for home, rehearsal and recording with a mic.

For a lot of players the dreadnought is the first guitar that feels like the real thing. Open chords ring out, a capo changes the key for a singer in seconds, and the body gives you a solid thump from the bass strings. With a solid top at this price, it is also a good guitar to grow with.

• Solid mahogany top
• Mahogany back and sides
• Eboncore fingerboard
• Open pore natural satin finish

Want to plug in? The TUN5CE adds a cutaway and a TEQ MX preamp for £399.00, and there is also a TUN5E variant in the same finish. If a smaller body appeals more, compare the TUN3. The TUN5 costs £349.00 with free UK delivery.