Tanglewood TWT8E Tiare Koa Electro Acoustic Concert Ukulele

The koa TWT8 with electronics for the stage

The Tanglewood TWT8E takes the koa concert ukulele and adds a pickup. You get a koa top, back and sides, plus TEQ-TUT electronics, so it is ready for gigs, open mics and recording as well as the front room. It is the electro acoustic ukulele to choose if you want koa rather than a plainer wood.

Plugged in

The TEQ-TUT system has a tuner built in. Connect to an amp or PA and it passes on the sound of the koa body well. You can concentrate on playing rather than fighting the signal. At home it works just like the standard TWT8.

Koa tone

Koa gives bright, sparkling highs with a sweet midrange, and that mix holds up when amplified. The concert body adds depth and volume, and the back is arched. Strum hard or pick softly and it stays balanced.

Build and finish

The mahogany neck is slim, with an Eboncore fingerboard. Chrome die-cast tuners keep tuning reliable. The satin finish shows off the koa grain and a maple and mahogany rosette completes the look.

Who it suits

The TWT8E is for the player who splits time between the lounge and the stage. Singers who accompany themselves will like the clarity. Recording at home is simple too, since the pickup gives you a direct signal. If you never plug in, the acoustic TWT8 saves you money.

• Koa top, arched back and sides
• TEQ-TUT electronics with tuner
• Concert size
• Natural satin finish

It costs £70 more than the acoustic TWT8, which is the price of the electronics. If ovangkol suits you better, the TWT12E offers the same pickup at the same £199. Choose the TWT8E if you gig and love the sound of koa.