Tanglewood TWCRP Crossroads Parlour Acoustic Guitar, Whiskey Burst Satin

A small, warm-sounding guitar for blues and fingerstyle

The Tanglewood TWCRP is a small-bodied parlour guitar for players who like an instrument that sits close and feels easy from the first strum. At £129 it is one of the most affordable ways into the tanglewood crossroads line, and it suits fingerpickers, blues fans and anyone short on space.

Why a parlour body

Parlour guitars are smaller than most acoustics you will see in a shop. The body is narrower and shallower, so your strumming arm rests at a relaxed angle and the guitar does not push into your ribs. That makes it a good choice for younger or smaller players, and for anyone who plays sitting on the sofa. The sound is focused rather than booming. Single notes come through clearly, which is why so many blues and fingerstyle players reach for this shape.

Mahogany from front to back

Tanglewood uses mahogany for the top, the back and the sides. Mahogany gives a warm, mellow voice with a soft top end, so chords sound rounded rather than bright. It is a forgiving tone for gentle accompaniment behind a voice, and it records nicely too. The fingerboard is Eboncore, a dark, hard-wearing material with the look of ebony.

Vintage looks

The Whiskey Burst Satin finish fades from a darker edge into a warmer centre, a classic sunburst style that suits the old-time shape. Satin feels smooth under your forearm and does not show fingerprints the way gloss does, and the grain of the mahogany stays visible through it.

• Compact parlour body, easy to hold for long sessions
• Mahogany top, back and sides for a warm, mellow tone
• Eboncore fingerboard
• Acoustic only, with no pickup to set up or power

If you want more volume and low end, look at the larger Crossroads dreadnoughts and Super Folk models. If you want something small that you will pick up every day, play blues licks on and take round to a friend's house, the TWCRP is an easy guitar to like. It also makes a thoughtful gift for a player who already owns a bigger acoustic and wants a second voice. We deliver it free anywhere in the UK.