Product Review....Tanglewood TW73!
Two weeks ago, I found myself at the home of my dear friend, Eddie Schwartz in Nashville.
One of the first things Eddie did was to hand me a guitar and ask me what I thought of the instrument.
After playing for a few minutes, I asked if Taylor had changed their headstock. Eddie told me, "No....this is not a Taylor. It's a Tanglewood and....it's made in China."
I was amazed and asked immediately if he had done any work on the neck as it played beautifully. The finish, neck and assembly were flawless and the instrument played in perfect tune all the way up and down the neck. Once again, Eddie said no; that the instrument was stock off the shelf and sold retail for between $500 and $700.
It's rare that I find a guitar that I love; that plays like a fifty year old Martin. Small, yet sounds like a dreadnaught, this guitar is impossible to put down and seems to play itself. I spent several hours playing this "new" instrument and am now definitely going to find a way to get one of my own.
Below are the specs directly from the Tanglewood site.....
The instrument....Tanglewood TW73
SPECS:
Style: Parlour-sized guitar with slotted headstock Finish:
Satin Top:
Solid Canadian Cedar Back:
Solid African Mahogany Sides:
African Mahogany Neck:
Solid African Mahogany Fingerboard:
Rosewood Bridge:
Solid Indian Rosewood Machine Heads:
Grover Headstock:
Rosewood over Mahogany Binding:
Multiple Celluloid Strings: Elixir®
I have not played an instrument this fine in many a year that has professed to be "off the shelf" and I am not exactly crazy about items made in China but when objects of this calibre and care are being manufactured in the home of The Great Wall, all I can do is sit and play happily.
BluePower highly recommends this instrument for playability, tone and quality.
Go directly to the Tanglewood site!
BluePower friends....Let me know what you think after trying this instrument.
John Rhys-Eddins
BluePower.com
posted by John Rhys at 3/22/2006 09:38:00 AM
6 Comments:
I've tried to find these guitars in Dallas but I couldn't. I have also written (email) directly to Tanglewood but haven't heard anything back. Too bad. Your review intrigues me.
I bought one on eBay. Loved it so much I bought a second. Paid $650 for the first, $400 for the second. Sounds "bigger" than some of the dreadnaughts I own.
hey man, i bought one today,,i play delta blues,,fingerpicking lke skip james stuff and a lot of stuff slide like r.j.,this guitar is aaaaamaaazingggg,,,,500 euros in ireland,,cheers man,,
www.myspace.com/mremanuelepisu
A friend owns a guitar store in Ohio. He got several Tanglewoods in and I was drawn to the TW73 because of its' unique looks, it's size, the slotted headstock, and short scale neck. I played the darn thing every time I visited the store, and he ended up actually giving to me!
"Before you wear it out;" he said.
It's a terrific little axe, especially for finger picking and blues. It does NOT have the volume or bass of a dreadnaught, but that is not what it's for. If the fretboard were a little wider it would be just about perfect.
The main problem,according to my friend, is that the U.S. distributor, who is in Canada, cannot provide enough product. That's why these little jewels are so difficult to find.
I feel lucky to even have one.
I bought one on Ebay 6 months ago for (delicately used) for $450.00. It is an amazing little guitar. I installed an LR Baggs I Beam and the thing just sings plugged in as well. My duo partner loved it sooo much - I found another with factory installed electronics and had to get it -(also gently used) for $550.00. Find this gem! You will not regret it!!!
It is indeed a hard to find guitar anywhere outside the UK.
In the US the distribuitor is: http://www.musiquip.com/Master_H_resources.html
Although I contact them and they point me another contact representative and also a shop in Orlando, I couldn't get any ...
In Brazil de dist. is: http://www.madeinbrazil.com.br/
I couldn't get the Tangs anywhere ... but I'm still trying ...
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