Review: Tanglewood guitars

Subject: Review: Tanglewood guitars
From: GUEST,fossil in NZ
Date: 22 Jul 06 - 06:21 AM

...soo... nothing in DT, nothing in the threads, any opinions going? Nice axes, in my opinion, but then I just bought a S/H one over TradeMe, the local e-auction site, for a give-away price. Interested in any feedback from the wide world out there. Thanks in advance.

Subject: RE: Review: Tanglewood guitars
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 22 Jul 06 - 09:15 AM

the tanglewood Gibson 335 copies [UK product names:Chicago & Memphis]

were very well reviewed earlier this century..
[that'll be about 5 years ago then..]

considered better playing instruments than more expensive epiphones..

and not much worse than far more expensive Gibson origionals..

so i got one 2nd hand and am very pleased with it..

tanglewood also did an interesting 335 shaped resonator guitar with a neck P90
and some sort of piezo pickup inside the resonator..

i got one cheap [ex trade show demo]

but the spider is knackered and buzzes when played 'unplugged'

...so probably needs fixing one day..

Subject: RE: Review: Tanglewood guitars
From: Leadfingers
Date: 22 Jul 06 - 09:17 AM

When they first appeared on the UK market , I never saw one with corrct intonation ! However , they got their act together and I got my self one of the Earth Series a few years back ! New , it sounded OK but has improved all the time with more playing and I am quite happy with it . I get the impression that some of the Indonesian produced Tanglewoods are not as good as the original Korean stuff , though .

Subject: RE: Review: Tanglewood guitars
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 22 Jul 06 - 09:40 AM

Btw.. the only real disadvantage of good well made budget brand guitars like these..

is they have low resale or trade in value..


..even though guitars badged with 'superior' brand names
may very well be the inferior instruments..


[but its very lucky for perpetually skint buyers like me..!!!]

Subject: RE: Review: Tanglewood guitars
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 22 Jul 06 - 10:23 AM

I bought one after trying it in the shop through an amp. I didn't think to try it acoustically. it had faults that a luthier couldn't put right. snagging on the frets. Made out of beautiful materials, and a great transducer system.

theres probably some good ones out there. but I would advise - buyer beware. take someone smarter than me to go shopping with - shouldn't be too much of a problem, finding someone.

Subject: RE: Review: Tanglewood guitars
From: Girl Friday
Date: 22 Jul 06 - 02:14 PM

I noticed in a magazine that Tanglewood have a local phone number.That is 019595..... That covers Halstead, Knockholt and Biggin Hill. My dad used to live in Halstead and says there is a house (or could it be a busisness?) called Tanglewood in Otford Lane. Does anyone have any more info?

Subject: RE: Review: Tanglewood guitars
From: Bloke in the Corner
Date: 22 Jul 06 - 02:14 PM

Had a cutaway for five years, played acoustic and plugged in (Fishman pickups). It cost £360 and I asked why I should pay £160 more for a Yamaha (XP5?) of similar spec (Though a bit shallower) He said I shouldn't, the Tanglewood was better acoustically, and he was right. I've gigged with it, it has had plenty of unsympathetic treatment, but stays in tune beautifully and sounds really excellent when played by an expert- not me! I've had a couple of frets replaced and the next big job will be to shoot the fretboard, but I have no intention of selling it, it's a most reliable and rugged instrument. It was made in Korea. So there!

Subject: RE: Review: Tanglewood guitars
From: jonm
Date: 23 Jul 06 - 02:38 AM

The only issue I've found with Tanglewoods is the initial set-up. If you buy from a shop with a decent guitar technician, or you can meddle with that sort of thing yourself, then you'll get a very playable, decent quality instrument for not a lot of money. Obviously, buying second hand, you would expect someone else to have managed that already.

Mine is an easy player with a great tone, plugged or unplugged, for not a lot of money. Enjoy.