Tanglewood Rosewood Reserve TRSF CE review
By MNJ
| Posted in Guitar
The Tanglewood TRSF CE is part of the Rosewood Reserve series of very affordable acoustics and electro-acoustics that was introduced by Tanglewood a couple of years ago. Since then the series has impressed both dealers and players with the build quality and tone.
As the name suggests, the rosewood backs and sides on these guitars are the features that attract most of the attention on first inspection. The timber used is obviously of a quality not usually found on guitars in the Rosewood Reserve series price range. It’s a deep rich red/brown colour and on the review guitar was very attractively grained – an appearance enhanced by the high gloss finish.
The TRSF CE is a cutaway electro, designated ‘Super-Folk’ by Tanglewood, with a solid spruce top, a two piece back and a satin finish mahogany neck. The body is bound with a maple strip front and back and the front has a herringbone inlay. Although the Tanglewood website lists the machine heads as ‘Kluson type chrome’, they are in fact gold open-back vintage style. Fingerboard inlays are abalone dots and it’s 43mm wide at the (bone) nut. Electrics on the TRSF CE comprise a B-Band T35 system with a side-mounted pre-amp with volume, treble, middle and bass controls. There is also a tuner with a mute button. The jack socket and battery are located on the lower bout of the guitar and share the same moulded housing.
The Tanglewood Rosewood Reserve TRSF CE is a compact, manageable electro, well-suited to the smaller person who may be finding a full-size guitar unwieldy. Acoustically, as with all guitars in a similar price range, it has its limitations. For fingerpicking, picking lightly, or what I’d call ‘controlled strumming’, it’s fine. However, if you’re at all heavy handed or use any sort of percussive style, this guitar and most like it will not take the punishment and you should look elswhere for a big ‘ole dreadnought with medium strings on which to exercise your frustrations.
Plugged in however, the Rosewood Reserve really happens. I’m fast becoming a fan of the B-Band electronics (this has the T35 system fitted) as they deliver a clarity and volume on an acoustic that places them well above the competition. There is no nasty ‘piezo’ treble fizz at all and the whole response is constant and balanced. Even at volume, there is minimal feedback and no tendency for any of the bottom strings to start feeding back out of control.
The TRSF CE presents a very easy and enjoyable playing experience, the intonation is accurate and the onboard tuner is very steady and easy to read. The build quality and craftsmanship are a tiny bit compromised by a very minor finish issue but this may be peculiar to my review sample and is not really even a fault, just a manufacturing procedure. That aside, once again Tanglewood has delivered a decent instrument at a very decent price and if you fit the description of anybody I’ve mentioned above, the Tanglewood TRSF CE may be the guitar you’ve been seeking.
Tags: cutaway electro acoustic, rosewood reserve, Tanglewood