Tanglewood TWT33 Tiare 5 String Pacific Walnut Tenor Ukulele

Five strings and a doubled G for extra depth

If you like the ukulele but want something that sounds bigger, the five-string TWT33 is a gentle way to step beyond four strings. It is a tenor uke with a doubled G string. It keeps the bright, familiar re-entrant tuning, then adds fullness with the extra string.

What the fifth string does

The doubled G blends sparkle with a lower note, so chords sound rounder and melodies gain body. It works for strumming, fingerpicking and songwriting. The extra string does not change the feel by much, so a player used to a standard tenor can settle in quickly. Aquila Nylgut strings keep the touch smooth, and they give steady tuning once they have bedded in.

Pacific walnut

The top, sides and arched back are all Pacific walnut. This wood gives bright, clean notes with a rounded middle, and the arched back helps projection and sustain. The natural satin finish shows the grain, so each uke looks slightly different from the next one on the shelf.

Who it suits

Songwriters will enjoy the extra low note under familiar chord shapes. Players who strum along to vocals get a fuller backing without learning a new tuning. If you play fingerstyle, the doubled G gives bass notes a bit more weight. It is also a good second ukulele if you already own a standard four-string tenor.

Hardware and neck

A maple and mahogany rosette sits around the soundhole. Chrome die-cast tuners help the extra string stay in tune. The slim mahogany neck carries an Eboncore fingerboard on a tenor scale, with space for fuller chord shapes.

• Five strings with a doubled G
• Pacific walnut top, sides and arched back
• Acoustic only, no electronics
• Natural satin finish at £169.00

Compare it with the eight-string mahogany TWT31 if you want more shimmer, or the cutaway TWT15E if you want a walnut tenor with a pickup. For a distinct voice without too big a leap, the TWT33 is easy to like.