Last month we made our way down to Anaheim, CA for the 2013 Winter NAMM show - North America's largest musical instrument show. We showed off a number of NEW Tanglewood models, including exciting guitars in our very affordable Evolution range, and a new collection of all-mahogany guitars from our Premier Series. Check our Facebook page for some pics, and watch some videos below:
Authorized Tanglewood dealers in North America have begun to receive the NEW Tanglewood T6 acoustic amp.
The T6 is a 60W, twin-channel compact acoustic amplifier with a single 8" speaker plus tweeter. It features true digital reference effects including 3 Reverbs (Hall, Plate, Chorus) and Delay, and inputs and outputs for every professional application (Channel 1: ¼” input; Channel 2: combined ¼” + XLR input; plus AUX IN, MP3 IN, Tuner Out, Effects Send/Return, DI Out, Line Out, Phones Out, and Footswitch connection).
The T6’s two channels are perfectly suited to handle guitar and vocals, making it a great choice for singer/ songwriters and gigging guitarists. A direct line out makes the T6 an ideal on-stage companion for acoustic guitars, and a recessed 35 mm speaker pole socket lets you mount the amplifier on a speaker stand (not included). A padded gig bag is included.
If you've never been to a bluegrass music festival, doing so just might be worth adding to your "bucket list". Even if you're not (yet) an absolute connoisseur of Bill Monroe, Doc Watson, Earl Scruggs, and all the flatpickers, clawhammerers, and mandolin slingers who have followed them , it's impossible not to appreciate the camaraderie and overall musical spirit of these festivals. And if you go, you'll probably pick up a few bluegrass tunes pretty quickly...
Grey Fox, held annually in Oak Hill, NY, is a great example. From the wide range of incredible acts headlining the Main stage, to the coziness of the Creekside stage, to the late night musical parties at the Dance tent – not to mentionthe hundreds of impromptu jam sessions occurring all over the “Picker’s Paradise” campground - this festival is a true celebration of bluegrass and music in general.
We were on hand from July 19-22 for our 3rd consecutive year as a sponsor, and you can bet we’ll be back for years to come. See more pictures on our Facebook page here.
The North American musical instruments industry's biggest summer event is on this weekend in Nashville, TN and Tanglewood is there. We have a number of exciting guitars on display at Summer NAMM - which you'll begin to see this fall at authorized Tanglewood dealers! From our all-Koa TVC-KOA-LTD (shown, with John from Musiquip), to the brand new TW28-SVAB dreadnought in Vintage Amber Burst, and more... there's plenty of exiting new stuff around the corner from Tanglewood!
Many acoustic guitar players know that the winter - with its cold, dry weather - is a particularly challenging season for their instruments. But the summer season presents its own challenges too!
Along with not sticking your guitar in the sand on a hot beach (even though it makes for a great summer picture!), there are a few basic considerations that will help ensure your guitar lasts for plenty of summers (and winters) to come.
Heat - One mistake made all to often by musicians on the go is leaving their guitar in the trunk of a car. Heat can easily climb above 120° F (50° C), which can loosen the glue joints and cause other damage. If you're playing outdoors at festivals/campgrounds, etc, don't let your guitar be exposed directly to the hot sun for prolonged periods of time... find that precious axe some shade once in a while! A good rule of thumb: don't leave your guitar for an extended period anywhere where you wouldn't want to be!
Humidity - While the dryness of winter can suck the humidity out of your guitar and cause wood parts to shrink/crack, the opposite can be true in the hot summer months, especially in very humid regions. An over-humidified guitar may start to exhbit a swelling/ballooning of the body, and high action. If you live in a warm, humid region (i.e. 60% relative humidity and above), be sure not to leave your guitar in confined spaces where humidity/heat can build up. If you in a very warm and amp environment, consider dehumidifying your guitar with a desiccant, such as silica packets that can be left inside the case.
BUT don't be fooled - summer doesn't autocmatically mean the end of dryness! If your guitar is kept regularly in an air-conditioned space, you'll probably want to keep humidifying your guitar throuigh the summer (with a basic soundhole humidifier). An air conditioner in the summer can dry the air as much as a heater in winter!
Cleaning - Vacation is a great time to take along that acoustic guitar to play around the campfire, on the beach, or at a hostel, etc.(especially if it's a Tanglewood Roadster Travel Size guitar!) But playing outdoors - plus the usual sweat and grime that builds up when it's warm - can lead to dirty guitars. Get in the habit of wiping down the body and the strings regularly. On satin (oil) finish guitars, a clean cotton rag is best - slightly moist with water is fine if you want. Guitar polish can be used on gloss-finish instruments. Clean the neck/frets when you change strings. And keep those hands clean - wash up before you play!
So there you have some basic tips for keeping your acoustic guitar comfortable, even as the mercury rises. Keep these in mind, plus a healthy dose of common sense, and happy playing!
Getting a proper set-up can do wonders for the playability - and sound - of your guitar. If you've never had a proper set-up, do so... and you'll feel like you're getting to know your guitar again for the first time!
We recommend a set-up once every year or 2, especially in regions where the weather changes significantly from season to season (since acoustic guitars, like anything made of wood, expand and contract in reaction to humidity changes.)
Taking your guitar to your local Tanglewood dealer or repair shop is always a preferred option - nothing beats having your guitar looked at by professional luthiers/repair people! But you can also learn a few tricks to perform a DIY set-up at home, in between trips to the shop. Check out this article from Acoustic Guitar: www.acguitar.com/article/default.aspx?articleid=22188
If you play with a guitar strap, do you use a strap button at the neck, or headstock ties?
If you're looking to install a strap button at the neck, you have a number of different placement options. Check out this article from Stewart MacDonald that looks at the pros & cons of a few favourite spots.
Our electric guitars have been avauilable in the UK for some years now, but in 2012 they make their debut in North America! We have a range of models that have recently begun to ship to dealers in the USA and Canada. Check out this video from the 2012 NAMM show, which gives you a peek at a few different models:
We had a great week in Anaheim at the NAMM Show 2012. This is the musical instrument industry's premier trade event, and were there in full force once again.
We unveiled plenty of NEW products that will be hiiting North American shores this year - including Electric Guitars, the Overwater by Tanglewood electric bass range, a trio of Classical Guitars, and the T6 acoustic amp.
To kick off the New Year as well as the 2012 NAMM Show, Tanglewood Guitars Company UK is extremely excited to launch its brand new North American website: www.tanglewoodguitars.com.
A sister site to the brand’s UK website (www.tanglewoodguitars.co.uk), the new site features products, dealer listings, news, and other resources that are specific to Tanglewood’s operations in the U.S.
Developed and managed by Musiquip (Tanglewood’s U.S. distributor), the new site incorporates a fully customizable browsing tool that allows users to dive deeper than ever into the company’s ever-expanding product catalog.
Here’s an overview of some of the new site’s notable features:
NEW Product Search Function: Browse through the entire collection of Tanglewood instruments or perform a custom search with the left-hand navigation menu which allows you to filter by series, body type, and various features.
NEW Guitar Comparison Tool: Perform a side-by-side comparison of several different guitars at once.
ENHANCED Product Pages: Get up close and personal with our guitars via the magnifying tool and instantly share product information via popular social networks.
IMPROVED Dealer Locator: Users can easily find the closest Tanglewood dealers within a 50 mile radius by entering their state or zip code. NEW Image and Resources Bank: An easy-to-use “one-stop shop” for all of our product images. Simply right-click to save the image of your choice.
Remaining true to its roots, Tanglewood has made sure to retain its popular Community as part of its revamped web presence. The new website will remain the home of this free online network of Tanglewood players and fans, where users can post music, share photos, participate in forum discussions with one another, and interact with Tanglewood representatives.
“We recognize the importance of a multi-faceted web presence in making key resources available to both our dealers and their customers,” says Erik Lind, Tanglewood Product Manager at Musiquip. “The new website reflects the same quality, attention-to-detail, and expertise that goes into our guitars. As more and more players across the U.S. discover these instruments, we’re thrilled to offer them a customized Tanglewood experience.”
If you experience any problems using the new website or if you have any suggestions, please don't hesitate to contact us at info@musiquip.com.
We've just introduced our Evolution Exotic Series of acoustic guitars to North America.
This Series is an extension of our beloved Evolution Series, and encompasses a range of favorite Tanglewood body styles which have been given an exotic twist through the incorporation of luxurious tonewoods.
Flamed Maple, Bubinga, and Koa are used throughout the series, which is comprised of dreadnoughts, jumbos, super-folk, orchestra, and auditorium body styles, as well as an all-Bubinga acoustic bass. Several models feature Fishman Isys electronics.
Ask your Tanglewood dealer about Evolution Exotic today!!
Are you a fan of smaller-bodied guitars? Don't miss this Youtube video in which Tim from Play Music magazine runs through a triad of our favourite parlor models. Tim demos instruments from our Premier, Rosewood Reserve, and Sundance series. The three models presented in the video (with their suggested retail price in the USA) are:
Our newest featured dealer is Action Musique, in Sept-Îles, Quebec, Canada. They also have the honour of being the subject of our first bilingual Feartured Dealer entry!
Merci à Christian et à toute l'équipe d'Action Musique!
It's time for a Tanglewood Facebook Contest! Post a pic on our wall of you and your Tanglewood guitar (or a friend's... or visit a Tanglewood dealer and snap a pic...), and you could WIN a NEW Tanglewood TMS-AV solid top mandolin!
We'll randomly pick 1 Grand Prize winner... and we'll also send a Tanglewood TCT-1 clip-on tuner to 3 lucky runners-up!
Winners will be selected on Friday, February 18. Head over to our North American Facebook Page to check it out!
The team from Tanglewood / Musiquip (Tanglewood's American distributor) recently spent a week basking in the California sun, attending the 2011 NAMM Show - North America's biggest musical instrument trade show.
Check out some pics from the show on Tanglewood's USA Facebook page!: www.facebook.com/tanglewoodguitarsUSA (including pics of some NEW instruments introduced at the show!)
Blogger Jes Selane, of the Selane Guitar Store, recently caught up with Hollywood-based producer Warren Huart (James Blunt, The Fray, Mandy Perkins, Korn...).
Here's what Warren had to say about his Heritage Series TW70-H:
"My Tanglewood acoustic has incredible tone and consistency. Every notes rings true. The Tanglewood has the best intonation of any acoustic I’ve ever owned before, and it has a crystal clear clarity that sits beautifully in any track, no matter how dense. Never too boomy... I don’t have to apply any EQ to get exactly the tone I require. It’s also a dream to play - so well set-up straight from the manufacturer. I’m extremely impressed!"
Our good friends and Tanglewood artists The Laws just good back from a jam-packed week at the NERFA (NorthEast Regional Folk Allicance) Conference in New York State.
They stayed busy with over a half dozen shows in 3 days... plus a day showing off Tanglewood Guitars at the Exhibitors Hall.
We're bringing two of our successful entry-level Guitar Packs to the North American market. (We offer a slate of guitar packs in the UK - but these will be the first Tanglewood guitar packs offered in the USA and Canada.)
The TW8-WC is a laminate dreadnought guitar in a Natural Gloss finish with select Spruce top and Mahogany back and sides, and includes an attractive hard shell case in vintage tan color.
The TW8-ST-PACK is a solid-top dreadnought guitar in Natural Satin finish with Solid Spruce top and Mahogany back and sides. The guitar comes in an eye-catching graphic box, and includes a gig bag, strap, picks, and eMedia educational CD-ROM (in four languages).
Both guitars feature a Mahogany neck, Rosewood fingerboard and bridge, ABS binding and compensated saddle, die-cast chrome machine heads, and a full 25 ½” scale length.
Watch for them at a dealer near you... they make a great Christmas gift for the novice player!
Well, we're getting to that time of year again... that special time when your acoustic guitar can play as smooth as butter one week, and then sound like a buzzsaw the next.
You can thank humidity... or rather, a lack thereof.
And while pages and pages of information/tips/warnings/etc. on the subject exist in cyberspace, I'm still all-too-often surprised by the general lack of awareness about the need to keep acoustic guitars properly humidified in colder-weather seasons. So let the humidity crusade continue...
While some (mostly Southern) parts of the USA are largely immune from the winter humidity issues, most of North America sees humidity levels in the winter months dip below levels that are considered "comfortable" for acoustic guitars. And that means that owners of said acoustic guitars need to take action - or risk a series of "dry-guitar" symptoms, including humps, dips, buzz, cracks, splits and a host of other nightmares.
There are many detailed articles online about why and how low humidity affects guitars (high humidity does too... but we're focused on winter problems. Excess humidity is a whole different story!). Heck, i even posted a blog right here, last year, on the same subject: http://tanglewoodguitars.com/community/blog.php#bid2. So I won't get into the nitty-gritty... but take my word for it: cold weather = dry weather = low realtive humidity = bad for acoustic guitars.
The good news is that the preventative steps required to be taken to dodge these potentially drastic climatological issues are quite simple:
Purchase a guitar humidifier. (We use Oasis humidifiers here at Tanglewood headquarters... but there are plenty of options out there).
Use aforementioned guitar humidifier
Not trying to be facetious here... but as a manufacturer of acoustic guitars, we come across far too many sad situations where a non-humidified instruments meet their demise simply as a result of a non-educated owner. Yes, a guitar looks nice sitting on a stand in your furnace-heated living room... but it is secretly dying a slow, dry death.
And so readers, from St. John's to Salt Lake City, from Camrose to Colorado Springs, since you are now humidity-savvy players, a call to action... This winter, help save the acoustic guitar population. Spread the humidity gospel to your un-enlightened guitar-playing friends... and use a guitar humidfier!
Tanglewood banjos, mandolins and ukuleles have just landed in North America!
If you're a resident of the USA or Canada, ask you local authorized Tanglewood dealer about them today.
The models to be offered in North America are:
BANJOS TB18-44-String Tenor Banjo w/ Mahogany Resonator TB18-55-String G Banjo w/ Mahogany Resonator TB18-DLX-G5-String G Banjo w/ Brass Tone Ring & Mahogany Resonator TBDLX-PRO5-String Pro G Banjo w/ Brass Tone Ring & Maple Resonator
Check out Trailer Choir's video for 'Rollin' Through the Sunshine'... featuring lead-singer Butter playing his road-worn, duct-tape emblazoned (and very dependable) TW145-SC:
Trailer Choir is a country music trio out of Nashville, TN. The phrases, “high energy,” “good time” and “party hard” don’t do this group justice. If you’re not having fun at a Trailer Choir show, check your pulse to see if you’re still alive.
Back from the Summer NAMM show in beautifully sunny (and HOT!) Nashville, TN.
What a great town... less than 2 months after devastating (and deadly) flash floods, the city is bouncing back and the good ol' Nashville vibe was alive and well (and gearing up for yesterday's Nashville Rising benefit show for flood relief).
We had a chance to show off some NEW Tanglewood gear, including Banjos, Mandolins and Ukuleles that will be available in North America later this year (already available in Europe). Also on display was a nice selection of Rosewood Reserve models, which have just started shipping in North America in the last month or 2.
We also caught Tanglewood artist Lewis Copeland rocking a couple Tanglewood guitars in front of a few hundred people at The Stage, on Broadway Saturday night.
Check out this string of videos of Canada's JP Cormier on stage at the London Music Club (London, ON), tearing it up on a Tanglewood MasterDesign TSR-2:
Tanglewood Guitars is thrilled to welcome Canadian bluegrass / folk / celtic singer-songwriter and all around guitar legend JP Cormier to our roster of artists.
The Juno-nominated and East Coast Music Award-winning artist (and veteran of the Grand Ole Opry stage) stopped by our Montreal distribution facility this week and added a MasterDesign TSR-2 and Heritage Series TW1000-H-SR to his arsenal. (JP already owns a TW45-DLX-B and a TW73.)
Watch for one of his electrifying performances in a town near you! We'll also be announcing some special clinic dates in the coming weeks.
thanks to Steve Hanjos over at JV music for mentioning Tanglewood in this story in the local paper. Always great to see independent dealers like JV getting some love from the local press!
I saw (and played) this guitar last year at a Hockey Tournament in Toronto for musicians/artists (how oh-so-Canadian of me)... very cool to see that it's getting some love in the mainstream U.S. guitar media.
as a proud Canadian myself, the idea behind this axe is captivating... and the fact that Jowi Taylor, its builder, managed to collect all of these pieces is amazing.
this guitar is built from a collection of 63 pieces of Canadian history and heritage... including pieces of famous ice hockey sticks, parts of the Parliament buildings, former Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau's canoe paddle, Native artifacts, and a piece of the oldest rock in the world, just to name a few.
if you're lucky enough to be at (or near) and event where Jowi is showing this guitar, do yourself a favour and go have a strum. even if you're not officially Canadian, I promise it'll make you want to watch some ice hockey and hug a Mountie...
Recently reformed Wolfmother are set to release their new album, 'Cosmic Egg' on October 26th 2009.
Original band member & founder Andrew Stockdale, along with new drummer Dave Atkins, guitarist Aiden Nemeth & keyboard/bass guitarist Ian Peres make up the Australian rock band which was formed in Erskineville, in Sydney, Australia. They have previously released two EP's and one album. The new album 'Cosmic Egg' will be their first album as the newly reformed band.
Stockdale recently visited a local music retailer in Brisbane and walked away with a brand new Tanglewood Sundance TW73 VS.
Play acoustic guitar in a band? This could be cool...
Have you guys heard about the new JamHub?
It's essentially a line of affordable mixers that let bands rehearse "silently"... well, at least "silent" in terms of the instruments that can easily overpower acoustic guitar & vocals during rehearsals (i.e. electric guitar & bass).
It lets bandmates plug themselves in and set the level of their own headphone signal, which carries a mix of the signals from all connected musicians.
So not only can your electric band can rehearse in places and at times when noise would normally prevent you from doing so... but now you as the acoustic guitarist can turn yourself up in the mix and actually hear those chords.
Very cool concept from the folks at BreezSong. Read more here:
Gayla Drake Paul over at Premier Guitar got her hands on a MasterDesign TSR-2. Here's a link to the review (appearing in Premier Guitar's October issue):
Lots of debate recently, especially among us in the musical instrument industry, about the potential (or lack thereof) for guitar-based video games to turn people on to real instruments...
Open-ended question: As a member of the Tanglewood Community and a "real" guitarist, are you interested by the Rock Band & Guitar Hero video game franchises? Are these games a stepping stone for future players... or do they deter people from learning to play authentic instruments?
here's a short video brought to you by the kind folks over at Premier Guitar Magazine, as they check out the new Tanglewood MasterDesign Series at the recent 2009 Summer NAMM show in Nashville:
a few weeks back we posted Dave Carroll's 1st video in the "United Breaks Guitars" trilogy, about one man's true-story struggle to get some love from a major airline after they broke his guitar... it has gotten over 5 million views on Youtube!
From time to time in this blog, I'm going to feature one of our authorized Tanglewood Guitar dealers. These are the guys that believe in our brand... so much so that they've made the choice to fill hooks in their stores with Tanglewood Guitars. With so many acoustic guitar brands out there, and especially in these tougher economic times, that means a lot to a company like ours.
With that said, here's our Inaugural Featured Dealer:
What Tanglewood says about Crossroads: We've been dealing with Vince and the gang at Crossroads for just over a year now. One of the best shops in the D.C. metro area, with great service and friendly people. They recently took hold of a Plek Pro machine, meaning not only can you purchase your Tanglewood guitar at Crossroads, but you can now have it (or any other guitar) go through the most precise set-up/ fret dress you'll ever see.
What the Dealer Says: "We are the new guitar shop in the Northern Virginia area! Visit us in our intimate showroom and play anything we've got. You will appreciate The Crossroads Guitar Shop's commitment to providing the best product value and friendly customer service.
"Not just the same ol' selection you find every where else!" We offer a beautiful selection of new and used, acoustic and electric, guitars and amps. We have entry, mid and high end guitars for you to choose from. We offer guitar setups and repairs, too!
We have the "State of the Art," PLEK PRO, computer controlled, fret dressing machine. There are only 30 of these fantastic machines in the world and we are one of 10 located in a stand alone retail shop and available to the general public. Check www.plek.com for more info about this exciting new technology.
Just a quick note to mention that each Community Member profile page now has its own unique URL. This makes it even easier to share your Community Profile Page with friends, fans, family, etc.
The format of your URL is: http://tanglewoodguitars.com/community/members/username.
(Your unique URL is shown below your name on your Profile Page).
don't forget to head on over to the "Contests & Promotions" part of the Community (if you haven't already) and enter the contest to win a new TW45-DLX-B Tanglewood acoustic-electric guitar. every member of the Community is eligible to enter!
OK, so we may be plugging a competitor's guitar brand... but I couldn't not share this...
Dave Carroll is a musician from Halifax, Canada who took a flight on United Airlines from Halifax to Nebraska for a 2008 show with his band Sons of Maxwell. He arrived in one piece... his guitar did not.
After getting the run-around from the airline for almost a year, he came away empty-handed and guitar-less... and decided to tell the world (or at least the guitar-playing, air-traveling world) all about his experience - in song.
so 810 people on hand yesterday at a matinee performance of "Rock of Ages" (a Tony-award winning musical), including the audience, cast and crew, broke the Guinness World Record for "Largest Air Guitar Ensemble":
but i still think 1623 people jamming on real, tangible guitars (including a few Tanglewoods, no doubt) to Neil Young's "Helpless" last month in downtown Toronto, Canada is still cooler - even if it did fall 179 people short of its own record. Click HERE to read more
we came across this video one of Canada's best songstresses (and Juno-award winner) Serena Ryder, singing the gorgeous "Dark As The Black" on one of Canada's greatest radio shows: Q, on CBC Radio.
Oh, and she's playing a Tanglewood TW73 parlour guitar.
Chris Vinnicombe over at musicradar.com writes about some of the do's and don'ts of "gig etiquette"... a good quick refresher worth reading before your next show:
Ahhh, spring time... the sun is shining, the birds are chirping, the guitars are healing...
Huh?
Yup... it's a good time of year to be an acoustic guitar repair person. The inevitable line-up of cracked solid-wood guitars that appears at so many acoustic guitar warranty centers in March and April (particularly in colder, drier climates - hello Canada and Northern States) is just as much a sign of the passing of another harsh winter as are the pot holes on our roads and our chapped lips.
But why? Do months of being cooped up inside lead to an abundance of normally serene acoustic musicians to unleash their inner Pete Townsend and smash their instruments in celebration of approaching summer?
I doubt it. It's all about humidity.
Humidity. Hard to think of another single word that unifies the long list of otherwise fiercely competitive acoustic guitar companies as much this one. But as we end another winter season, it's clear that the manufacturer-lead mission to educate guitar owners about the importance of humidiying solid-wood guitars - call it the "humidity crusade" - is still very much an ongoing challenge.
As there are already countless articles availble online describing in great detail the concept of relative humidity, and why (and how) low humidity in particular negatively affects a guitar, I'll try to sum it up in one long, comma-spliced sentence: A low relative humidity level (which occurs especially during winter), means the air is more dry, which causes the solid woods of a guitar to lose moisture and shrink, leading to all kinds of messy situations like cracking and warping of the body, sharp fret ends, lacquer cracks, fret buzz, etc, etc.
But why is such a simple yet crucial element of acoustic guitar care all too often overlooked?
Most manufacturers will admit it probably comes down to consumer education. Many guitar owners simply aren't aware of the benefits of keeping their guitar properly humidifed... or more importantly, the consequences of not. I've heard many a new guitar owner surprised to learn that the extra money they spent to obtain an all solid-wood guitar did not necessarily mean they were purchasing a more durable instrument. That's the payoff, of course... Solid-wood guitars are sonically and tonally superior to laminate wood instruments - but they also require a higher degree of care than their lesser-expensive counterparts.
On the other hand, with solid-wood guitars increasingly affordable, the price paid for on a mid-range solid-wood guitar might not always be enough drive the purchaser to fully research proper care techniques.
As a manufacturer, getting past the consumer awareness issue is by far our biggest challenge. Once a guitar owner is aware of the importance of proper humidification (whether they've learned the easy way or the hard way ), keeping their guitar humidified does not require a lot of money or effort. There are plenty of different options available. The simplest is to store the guitar in its case when not in use, and to use a soundhole humidifier. A small cigar hygrometer inside your case will tell you if you're doing your job (at room temperature , the relative humidity level inside the case should be kept between 40% - 55%).
It's commonly said that if you're comfortable in your environment, your guitar will be too... that's OK in general, but some of us may have adapted our own selves to feel quite content even in drier winter conditions - while our guitars have not. In more challenging climates, better to be safe than sound. Humidifier + hygrometer = happy guitar.
(I write this from the perspective of someone who lives in a colder, drier climate - where the greater risk is of low humidity levels. Of course, too much humidity can also wreak havoc on solid-wood instruments... so if you're reading this from a wet climate (where regular RH levels are 60% and up), reducing your guitar's humidity exposure becomes the task. Silica packets, or other moisture absorbing materials, are the way to go.)
So June will see the first Tanglewood MasterDesign guitars ship to North American dealers.
These are some special instruments. We asked the extremely talented and widely-respected Michael Sanden to become involved in designing a new series of guitars.
For over 30 years in the picturesque rural town of Tommarp, Sweden, Michael and his small team have been building the fine acoustics that have helped him solidify his reputation as one of the most creatively innovative luthiers of his generation.
That said, there is only one Michael... due to the inevitable cost of ownership of a guitar hand built by Michael, and the small capacity of his Swedish workshop, we recognized that Sanden Guitars would always remain an aspirational purchase for a privileged few.
So we asked Michael to consider a collaboration with Tanglewood Guitars that would allow us to bring his elegant designs and innovative craftsmanship to a larger market. And to our delight, Michael was thrilled to come aboard.
People may wonder why Tanglewood chose to develop such high-end guitars. Truth is, if we had felt that these new instruments would just be versions of our existing guitars with more "bling", we wouldn't have gone through with it. It was going to take more than fancier inlays and rarer tonewoods. The guitars were going to have to have their own unique cosmetic style and character, an unparalled sound and most importantly they would have to be a robust, reliable roadworthy musical tool.
And so behold... MasterDesign.
While a hand-built, custom guitar built by a master luthier will always have that little extra "something", it's not for everyone... or at least not for everyone's budget. If it's a production guitar that you're after, you'll be blown away by MasterDesign. These instruments are in a league of their own.
Last month we made our way down to Anaheim, CA for the 2013 Winter NAMM show - North America's largest musical instrument show. We showed off a number of NEW Tanglewood models, including exciting guitars in our very affordable Evolution range, and a new collection of all-mahogany guitars from our Premier Series. Check our 
The T6 is a 60W, twin-channel compact acoustic amplifier with a single 8" speaker plus tweeter. It features true digital reference effects including 3 Reverbs (Hall, Plate, Chorus) and Delay, and inputs and outputs for every professional application (Channel 1: ¼” input; Channel 2: combined ¼” + XLR input; plus AUX IN, MP3 IN, Tuner Out, Effects Send/Return, DI Out, Line Out, Phones Out, and Footswitch connection).
The North American musical instruments industry's biggest summer event is on this weekend in Nashville, TN and Tanglewood is there. We have a number of exciting guitars on display at Summer NAMM - which you'll begin to see this fall at authorized Tanglewood dealers! From our all-Koa TVC-KOA-LTD (shown, with John from Musiquip), to the brand new TW28-SVAB dreadnought in Vintage Amber Burst, and more... there's plenty of exiting new stuff around the corner from Tanglewood!
Taking your guitar to your local Tanglewood dealer or repair shop is always a preferred option - nothing beats having your guitar looked at by professional luthiers/repair people! But you can also learn a few tricks to perform a DIY set-up at home, in between trips to the shop. Check out this article from Acoustic Guitar: 
If you're looking to install a strap button at the neck, you have a number of different placement options. Check out 
e unveiled plenty of NEW products that will be hiiting North American shores this year - including Electric Guitars, the Overwater by Tanglewood electric bass range, a trio of Classical Guitars, and the T6 acoustic amp.
Jason Borisoff and Scott Nygaard over at Acoustic Guitar review the TRD-VS-E sloped-shoulder dreadnought, from our Rosewood Reserve series. 
Our newest featured dealer is Action Musique, in Sept-Îles, Quebec, Canada. They also have the honour of being the subject of our first bilingual Feartured Dealer entry!
The team from Tanglewood / Musiquip (Tanglewood's American distributor) recently spent a week basking in the California sun, attending the 2011 NAMM Show - North America's biggest musical instrument trade show.
Here's what Warren had to say about his 
Our good friends and Tanglewood artists 
Just in time for the Holiday Season!...
Tanglewood banjos, mandolins and ukuleles have just landed in North America!
Back from the Summer NAMM show in beautifully sunny (and HOT!) Nashville, TN.
We had a chance to show off some NEW Tanglewood gear, including Banjos, Mandolins and Ukuleles that will be available in North America later this year (already available in Europe). Also on display was a nice selection of Rosewood Reserve models, which have just started shipping in North America in the last month or 2. 
was on hand at the Dallas International Guitar Show this past weekend.
Our friend Dan over at 
Check out this string of videos of Canada's JP Cormier on stage at the London Music Club (London, ON), tearing it up on a Tanglewood MasterDesign TSR-2:
The Juno-nominated and East Coast Music Award-winning artist (and veteran of the Grand Ole Opry stage) stopped by our Montreal distribution facility this week and added a MasterDesign 
Check out some photos of the Tanglewood team from North America at the 2010 NAMM trade show in Anaheim, CA: 
thanks to Steve Hanjos over at 
Tanglewood Guitars feature artist 
From all of us here at Tanglewood Guitars to the members of the Community, happy holidays and all the best in 2010!
Great story from the Montreal Gazette newspaper about a young local artist who's making it big via Youtube... and doing it all on a Tanglewood guitar!
first it was Wayne and Garth... now the Muppets do their thing with the classic Queen song (and video). 
check this article out: 
if you're lucky enough to be at (or near) and event where Jowi is showing this guitar, do yourself a favour and go have a strum. even if you're not 
Check it out... the TSF-CE-BK Super Folk acoustic-electric model from our Evolution Series. 
Have you guys heard about the new JamHub?
Lots of debate recently, especially among us in the musical instrument industry, about the potential (or lack thereof) for guitar-based video games to turn people on to real instruments... 
a few weeks back we posted Dave Carroll's 1st video in the "United Breaks Guitars" trilogy, about one man's true-story struggle to get some love from a major airline after they broke his guitar... it has gotten over 5 million views on Youtube!
Guitar legend Les Paul passed away today at the age of 94.
Dave Carroll is a musician from Halifax, Canada who took a flight on United Airlines from Halifax to Nebraska for a 2008 show with his band Sons of Maxwell. He arrived in one piece... his guitar did not. 
so 810 people on hand yesterday at a matinee performance of "Rock of Ages" (a Tony-award winning musical), including the audience, cast and crew, broke the Guinness World Record for "Largest Air Guitar Ensemble": 
but i still think 1623 people jamming on real, tangible guitars (including a few Tanglewoods, no doubt) to Neil Young's "Helpless" last month in downtown Toronto, Canada is still cooler - even if it did fall 179 people short of its own record. Click 
we came across this video one of Canada's best songstresses (and Juno-award winner) Serena Ryder, singing the gorgeous "Dark As The Black" on one of Canada's greatest radio shows: 
Chris Vinnicombe over at musicradar.com writes about some of the do's and don'ts of "gig etiquette"... a good quick refresher worth reading before your next show:
As a manufacturer, getting past the consumer awareness issue is by far our biggest challenge. Once a guitar owner is aware of the importance of proper humidification (whether they've learned the easy way or the hard way ), keeping their guitar humidified does not require a lot of money or effort. There are plenty of different options available. The simplest is to store the guitar in its case when not in use, and to use a soundhole humidifier. A small cigar hygrometer inside your case will tell you if you're doing your job (at room temperature , the relative humidity level inside the case should be kept between 40% - 55%). 
People may wonder why Tanglewood chose to develop such high-end guitars. Truth is, if we had felt that these new instruments would just be versions of our existing guitars with more "bling", we wouldn't have gone through with it. It was going to take more than fancier inlays and rarer tonewoods. The guitars were going to have to have their own unique cosmetic style and character, an unparalled sound and most importantly they would have to be a robust, reliable roadworthy musical tool.