Tanglewood TWX5CEK Winterleaf Exotic Dreadnought Cutaway Electro-Acoustic Guitar

A koa dreadnought with a cutaway for the top end of the neck

Big body, bright koa and a cutaway: that is the Tanglewood TWX5CEK in short. It is the dreadnought electro acoustic guitar for players who want the volume and bass of the big shape, plus a clear route to the higher frets.

Big shape, bright wood

The dreadnought body moves plenty of air, so strummed chords sound full and deep. The back and sides are koa, and a koa veneer covers the top in autumn burst gloss. Koa tends to add clarity and a lively top end, which stops a large body from sounding muddy.

Solid mahogany top

The top is solid mahogany, which gives a warm, even tone with good sustain. It is a different feel from a spruce top, and it suits players who like a rounded, woody voice. Among solid wood acoustic guitars at this price, a mahogany and koa pairing is not common.

Cutaway and electronics

The cutaway makes solos and fingerstyle further up the neck much easier. The fingerboard is Eboncore. Tanglewood Premium Plus electronics give you volume, tone and phase controls, plus a built-in tuner.

Dreadnoughts with cutaways are popular with players who strum hard but still like to take a solo. You keep the weight of the large body and lose nothing in comfort when you reach for the higher notes. The koa finish also makes this one of the more distinctive guitars in the range.

• Dreadnought cutaway body
• Solid mahogany top with koa veneer
• Koa back and sides
• Premium Plus electronics with phase and tuner

If you want the same wood in a smaller body, compare it with the super folk TWX4CEK. For a loud, bright dreadnought with a cutaway and a standout finish, the TWX5CEK is £549.