Tanglewood Electric Guitar article
Common Tanglewood Electric Guitar Mistakes to Avoid
Most problems beginners have with a Tanglewood electric are avoidable. These are the ones that come up most often and how to sidestep them.
Players who pick up a Tanglewood electric guitar for the first time — particularly beginners or those stepping up from acoustics — often run into the same problems. Most of them are avoidable with a bit of advance knowledge.
Mistake 1: Not Getting the Guitar Set Up
The most common mistake with any budget electric, including the Crossroads and Evolution III series, is assuming it plays well straight out of the box. Some do; many don't. Action that's too high makes chording physically demanding and leaves new players thinking the instrument is harder to play than it should be. A professional setup (typically £30–£50 at a guitar shop) adjusts the action, nut and intonation, and the improvement in playability is immediate. Never evaluate an unset guitar as representative of what it can feel like.
Mistake 2: Buying the Wrong Body Style for Your Music
A Tanglewood electric guitar comes in several body configurations, and choosing the wrong one for your preferred music creates a tone mismatch that's difficult to fix without changing pickups. A Crossroads Tele-style with two single-coils is not the right instrument for heavy rock; an Evolution III HH in an LP-style body is not ideal for jazz. Spend time researching which pickups and body shapes suit the music you want to play before committing to a specific model.
Mistake 3: Pairing It with an Inadequate Amp
The amp contributes at least as much to your tone as the guitar itself. A good Tanglewood electric guitar through a poor amp produces a poor result; the same guitar through a decent amp sounds significantly better. Beginners often focus all their budget on the guitar and pair it with the cheapest amp available. If budget is tight, divide it more evenly — a £200 guitar and a £100 amp typically sounds better than a £280 guitar and a £20 amp.
Mistake 4: Neglecting the Tuning Machines
Entry-level Tanglewood models use basic tuning machines that may feel imprecise and slip slightly under string tension. Players sometimes blame their playing when the guitar goes sharp or flat — the real cause is tuning stability. Stretch new strings properly when fitting them (tune to pitch, pull gently upward on each string, retune, repeat three to four times), and consider upgrading the tuning machines on any Crossroads model you intend to gig with.
Mistake 5: Expecting the Tone to Sound Like a Record Without Pedals
Guitar sounds on recordings almost always involve signal processing — overdrive, reverb, compression, delay. A clean Tanglewood electric guitar played through a clean amp sounds very different from the overdriven, effected tones that drew you to electric guitar in the first place. This is not a shortcoming of the instrument; it's how the instrument works. A few pedals (even an affordable overdrive and a small reverb) transform the available sound. Start with one and add gradually.
Mistake 6: Storing It in Direct Sunlight or Near a Heat Source
Electric guitars are made largely of wood, and temperature extremes damage them. Leaving an instrument leaning against a radiator or in front of a window in direct sunlight causes the finish to check, the glue to soften and the neck to warp. Store the guitar in a case or stand, away from direct heat, and ideally at a consistent room temperature.
For a full picture of what's available in the range before buying, the guide to Tanglewood electric guitars covers all four series.
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