What size is the Tanglewood TWT 20?

The TWT 20 is a baritone ukulele, which is the largest size in the standard ukulele family. This size provides a larger resonant chamber and a longer neck compared to soprano, concert, or tenor models.

What wood is used for the Tanglewood TWT 20?

The instrument is fully crafted from ebony. This choice of wood provides a dark, exotic aesthetic and contributes to a deep, dynamic tonal character.

How is the Tanglewood TWT 20 baritone tuned?

It is designed to be tuned D-G-B-E. These notes correspond to the four highest-pitched strings of a standard guitar, making it very easy for guitarists to transition to this instrument.

Is this ukulele suitable for beginners?

Yes, its larger size and familiar tuning make it an excellent choice for beginners, especially those coming from a guitar background. The baritone size offers more space on the fretboard for finger placement.

Can I use this instrument for travel?

The manufacturer highlights it as a perfect travel companion. While larger than a soprano ukulele, its compact size compared to a full-sized guitar makes it highly portable for practice on the go.

What is the sound character of the TWT 20?

It delivers a dynamic tone with excellent depth. The combination of the baritone body and ebony wood creates a warmer, more resonant sound than smaller ukulele models.

How does this compare to the Flight DUC325 Zebrawood?

The TWT 20 is a baritone ukulele with ebony construction, whereas the DUC325 is a concert-sized ukulele made from zebrawood. The Tanglewood will have a deeper, lower pitch, while the Flight model will be smaller and brighter.

Does the TWT 20 require different chord shapes than a standard ukulele?

Yes, because it uses baritone tuning (D-G-B-E), the chord shapes are different from the standard G-C-E-A tuning found on soprano or concert ukuleles. However, they are identical to the top four strings of a guitar.

What is the typical price for the Tanglewood TWT 20?

The typical price range for this model is approximately £145. This places it in the mid-range category for ukuleles, offering a balance of quality materials and affordability.

Is the finish of the TWT 20 natural or painted?

The TWT 20 features a natural finish. This is intended to showcase the 'stunning aesthetic' of the ebony wood grain rather than masking it with paint.

Why would a guitarist choose this over a soprano ukulele?

A guitarist might prefer the TWT 20 because its strings match the top four strings of a guitar's standard tuning. This allows them to use their existing knowledge of scales and chords without adjustment.

Is the Tanglewood TWT 20 larger than a concert ukulele?

Yes, the baritone TWT 20 is significantly larger than concert models like the Flight AUC33 or Ferndale UC-W. This results in a louder acoustic volume and a deeper tonal response.

Gear article

Tanglewood TWT 20 Tiare Baritone Ukulele

The Tanglewood TWT 20 Tiare is a baritone-sized ukulele constructed entirely from ebony, designed to offer a deep, dynamic tone. As the largest instrument in the ukulele family, it is engineered to bridge the gap between traditional ukuleles and classical guitars, making it a popular choice for travelling musicians.

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Overview

The Tanglewood TWT 20 is part of the Tiare series, a range of instruments inspired by the lush, tropical aesthetics of Polynesia. This specific model is a baritone ukulele, which stands as the largest standard size in the ukulele family. Its construction is defined by the use of ebony for the body, which provides both a distinctive dark wood grain aesthetic and a specific resonant character. The instrument is positioned as a high-value option for players seeking a deeper, more guitar-like experience than a soprano or concert ukulele can provide.

Construction and Design

The primary design feature of the TWT 20 is its all-ebony construction. Ebony is a dense hardwood that contributes to the instrument's structural integrity and visual appeal. The natural finish highlights the wood's unique grain patterns, ensuring each unit has a singular appearance. As a baritone model, it features a longer scale length and a larger body cavity than its smaller counterparts, which physically allows for greater projection and a lower frequency response.

Tuning and Playability

The TWT 20 is designed to bridge the gap between guitar and ukulele. It is typically tuned to D-G-B-E, which corresponds exactly to the top four strings of a standard-tuned classical or acoustic guitar. This tuning makes the instrument immediately accessible to guitarists, as the chord shapes and scale patterns for these four strings remain identical. The larger fret spacing compared to soprano models also makes it a 'delight to play' for musicians with larger hands or those who find compact ukulele fretboards restrictive.

Sound Profile

Utilising ebony for the entire body results in a 'beautiful dynamic tone' with significant depth. The baritone size naturally emphasises the lower-mid frequencies, producing a mellow, warm sound that lacks the bright 'plinkiness' often associated with smaller ukuleles. The manufacturer describes the instrument as having 'fantastic dynamics,' suggesting it responds well to varied picking strengths and styles, from gentle fingerstyle to aggressive strumming.

Target Audience and Comparisons

The Tanglewood TWT 20 is marketed as a 'perfect travel companion' for guitarists who need a portable instrument for practice on the go without relearning a new tuning system. Within the market, it competes with other decorative wood ukuleles such as the Flight DUC325 (Zebrawood) or the Ferndale UC-W (Walnut). While soprano models like the Flight TUS-65 focus on extreme portability and high-frequency projection, the TWT 20 targets those who prioritise a rich, guitar-adjacent sound profile.

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Frequently asked questions

What size is the Tanglewood TWT 20?: The TWT 20 is a baritone ukulele, which is the largest size in the standard ukulele family. This size provides a larger resonant chamber and a longer neck compared to soprano, concert, or tenor models.
What wood is used for the Tanglewood TWT 20?: The instrument is fully crafted from ebony. This choice of wood provides a dark, exotic aesthetic and contributes to a deep, dynamic tonal character.
How is the Tanglewood TWT 20 baritone tuned?: It is designed to be tuned D-G-B-E. These notes correspond to the four highest-pitched strings of a standard guitar, making it very easy for guitarists to transition to this instrument.
Is this ukulele suitable for beginners?: Yes, its larger size and familiar tuning make it an excellent choice for beginners, especially those coming from a guitar background. The baritone size offers more space on the fretboard for finger placement.
Can I use this instrument for travel?: The manufacturer highlights it as a perfect travel companion. While larger than a soprano ukulele, its compact size compared to a full-sized guitar makes it highly portable for practice on the go.
What is the sound character of the TWT 20?: It delivers a dynamic tone with excellent depth. The combination of the baritone body and ebony wood creates a warmer, more resonant sound than smaller ukulele models.
How does this compare to the Flight DUC325 Zebrawood?: The TWT 20 is a baritone ukulele with ebony construction, whereas the DUC325 is a concert-sized ukulele made from zebrawood. The Tanglewood will have a deeper, lower pitch, while the Flight model will be smaller and brighter.
Does the TWT 20 require different chord shapes than a standard ukulele?: Yes, because it uses baritone tuning (D-G-B-E), the chord shapes are different from the standard G-C-E-A tuning found on soprano or concert ukuleles. However, they are identical to the top four strings of a guitar.
What is the typical price for the Tanglewood TWT 20?: The typical price range for this model is approximately £145. This places it in the mid-range category for ukuleles, offering a balance of quality materials and affordability.
Is the finish of the TWT 20 natural or painted?: The TWT 20 features a natural finish. This is intended to showcase the 'stunning aesthetic' of the ebony wood grain rather than masking it with paint.
Why would a guitarist choose this over a soprano ukulele?: A guitarist might prefer the TWT 20 because its strings match the top four strings of a guitar's standard tuning. This allows them to use their existing knowledge of scales and chords without adjustment.
Is the Tanglewood TWT 20 larger than a concert ukulele?: Yes, the baritone TWT 20 is significantly larger than concert models like the Flight AUC33 or Ferndale UC-W. This results in a louder acoustic volume and a deeper tonal response.