Tanglewood TWBU Union Series 4 String Ukulele Banjo, Tobacco Sunburst Gloss

Banjo ring with ukulele fingering

The Tanglewood TWBU is a four string ukulele banjo from the Union range. It gives you the bright, punchy ring of a banjo with the compact feel of a ukulele, so it suits uke players who want a new sound and banjo fans who want something small and easy to pick up. If you are looking at a banjo for the first time, this is a friendly place to start.

Build and sound

The resonator is maple and the neck is maple too. That gives the TWBU a crisp, lively tone with clear notes when you pick and a bold, jangly strum. The head is a Remo transparent one, a trusted name in drum and banjo heads, which helps the sound project and stay balanced from low to high.

The bridge is maple with an ebony tip. It sits on the head and passes the string vibration across cleanly, so each note speaks with good definition. The fingerboard is engineered wood.

Looks and finish

The TWBU comes in tobacco sunburst gloss. The dark edges fade to a warmer centre, which gives it a vintage look on a stand or on stage. The gloss coat shows off the maple grain.

Where it fits

This is a good match for folk tunes, sing-alongs and adding a different texture to modern arrangements. It is a small instrument, so it is easy to carry to a session or a gig, and four strings keep the chord shapes simple.

• Four string ukulele banjo format
• Maple resonator and neck
• Remo transparent head
• Tobacco sunburst gloss finish

If you like the idea of a banjo but want a bigger instrument, look at the full size Union models such as the TWB18M4, TWB18M5 and TWB18M6, all in natural gloss. If you want the ukulele tuning and size with a banjo voice, the TWBU is the one to pick. Part of the Tanglewood Union series, it is priced at £279.00 with free UK delivery.