Tanglewood Jettstream

Given that this guitar only cost ??100 new in 2000, it's not exactly crammed with features. It sports 3 single coil passive pick-ups (which are fair trebbly), a five way selector, 1 volume and 2 tone knobs. It's got a regular strat style bridge and whammy bar, but I had to lock this in the end as any attempt to palm mute would inevitably end up sounding like My Bloody Valentine on a dodgy tape deck (even after that, I still find it difficult to palm mute with). This one was made in Indonesia and I'm not too sure about the woods that are used. Basically, it's what you would expect from a hundred quid axe.

This guitar just loves the trebble end of things and is profoundly twangy. However, a few years ago, me and a friend found a humbucker of unknown origins kicking about in his garage and we whacked this in the bridge position which gave it sufficient omph for the stuff we play (NOFX/Dillinger Four style punk). I play this through a Laney Linebacker 100R and although it does the job, it is still quite insanely trebbly.

This guitars stella point is the action which was wonderful from the start. The intonation wasn't great at the get-go, but after properly setting it up, it flys. It may not be to everybones tastes...the neck is extremely narrow and I only get away with it on account of having really long, thin fingers, but thanks to my freakish hands, I got along great with this guitar. The overall finish is pretty good, although all the screws rusted up pretty quick.

Relabiltiy wise, I've never had any serious problems with this guitar....it does eat strings quite quickly, but I do play with nines and I've never had the need to get it fixed. I have played in the past without a back up although these days I'm a little to cautious for that.

no idea...it's always been pretty solid.

I've been playing for around 10 years (yet strangely know very little about guitars) and I must confess to having a deep emotional attachment to this guitar. The body is cut in a wonderful shape (think a regular strat that Salvador Dali's been screwing around with) and the headstock is suitably quirky. While this is never going to be top flight machine, it served me really well as a beginners guitar and I don't think I'll ever get rid of it. In the end, I had to upgrade as the sound just wasn't chunky enough for the stuff we were playing and the palm muting thing was an issue (I now use a Gordon Smith GS-160 and a Gibson Sonex)but I would choose this over any other bargin basement strat type copy. I will warn you that I am a little irrational about this axe (first one bought new and all that) so I'd take my view with a pinch of salt...but I do rate it.

Not sure of year of manufacture, I bought it secondhand. It was made somewhere in the far east I'm sure I've seen a sticker on it somewhere, Vietnam I think. Don't know what is made of but its a nice weight about the same as my Pacifica 112 but better balanced on the strap. Its basically a strat with a more curvy, interesting shape, three a side tuners, Strat style bridge, 25 1/4 scale neck and a snazzy dark red spakle paint finish on the body and on the headstock, offset ablone dot markers, giving it a slightly 60's retro/surf vibe. Good quality Gotoh style tuners. White pickguard and black pickup covers. Neck is a bit chunkier than Pacificas and Squires but only very slightly but more on that later...

Sound is average. Not much resonance unplugged. The stock pickups a bit dull, lacking bite, treble and a bit gritty sounding. Output is a little low too so no good for metal. It hums a bit much even for single coils so maybe not the best sheilding. Same as most sub #200 guitars basically. If you were into a lo fi dirty/ grunge sound it might be right for you. Ok for a begineer but not the best. I play mostly indie/rock Franz Ferdinand, Supergrass that kind of thing and the pickups just don't cut it But read on...

Paint job is fantastic and stands out against the boring flat primary colours on most budget guitars. its all very neatly finished better than most budget guitars especially the frets and the dark ebony fretboard.

The best thing is how it actually plays. The neck is amazing. Its by far the fastest, smoothest playing guitar I've played under #300 and I paid #65 for it! Really easy to do good bends and I can play quick runs easily 10% faster than I can on my Pacifica! Its as good or better to play than a Mex Strat.

My plan is to replace the pickguard with a black one and replace the pickups with some excellent Kent Armtrongs. A chrome humbucker and two black single coils and some trick switching combinations.

Only played at home but I can't see any reason why it wouldn't be reliable. Paint seems thick and tough like it would stand a knock and the neck joint is solid. Good strap buttons. I wouldn't depend on the soldering in any budget guitar as they're all fairly poor so if I was gigging it I would rewire it like I have all my guitars, but thats just me.

Not had to deal with them

Basically if you're in the market for a Squire, Pacifica, Cort or similar guitar for less than #200. Hunt down one of these for less than #100 on Ebay, find some better quality pickups, Kent Armstrongs, Entwhistles or Wilkinsons for #50-60 and fit them in. I bought a calibrated set of 3 Kent Armstrong Strat pickups that would drop straight in for #30 on Ebay. You will end up with a guitar that is better and more interesting looking than all the rest, none of your freinds will have the same guitar, your playing will improve and you will have a guitar as good as any thing in the shops for #300 for less than half the price!

I would buy another one in a flash if it was lost or stolen, in fact I'm thinking of buying a second for spares or as back up.

Unsure of manufacture date, 22 fret neck, made in Vietnam, 3 single coils of crude design, I volume, 2 tone controls(as strat)
Body made of MDF (first I have seen) super strat style but with unique shaped scratchplate, neck maple with skunk stripe unique headstock style(far as I know). Rosewood fingerboard, unusual dot markings. Mine is high gloss red.
Standard strat syle floating trem bridge, standard strat style tuning problems unless springs are screwed to eliminate lift
Diecast average quality tuners (for this century) tuners (believe me there was some rubbish years ago)
Slim easy play neck
What else can you want

Sounds like glass hitting concrete, bright britpop, open chords, townsend, beatles, white stripes.
Used with Fender Champ, Line 6 spider 2 (not my favorite) and Behringer XVamp(great piece of kit)
For a strat style its quiet, mainly because despite it being a cheapie shielded cable is used throughout
for anything other than hard rock USE THIS

Bought used, set up nearly correct for me, I G cramped the pickups so the magnets, (rough cut) where level, take your time when doing this. Stoned the fret edges (not really necessary)and cycled the pickup selector a dozen times fast to deoxidise the contacts, sounds complicated sorry but the whole deal takes less than an hour.

I have to say there is nothing wrong with most modern guitars in terms of durability, this one will be here for years to come, the hardware is of standard quality, good heavy high gloss paint, plastics aged to cream nicely, decent sized strap buttons.

Never neaded any customer support

Been playing 35 years and still not great. ooooops. had loads of gear down the years, this was a great lucky dip guitar, hope I can find another. I will not be selling this. dont be put off by the MDF body, this is a cool original guitar you wont see around too many necks. BUY ONE IF YOU GET A CHANCE AND KEEP IT.

Looks more individual than usual boring Strat copies. Guitar much lighter than Fender, action high, not easy to tune. 3 single coil pickups standard Strat-copy fare. Locking up the tremolo improves tuning, just like for Strat. Philips screwdriver tightens tuners, and saddle and nut intonation makes this a 100% guitar. Finish is great.

Pickups sound superior to Squire, full of clean tone on middle setting. Bridge pickup bluesy or crunchy as required. Knockout sound for the price - 90% Strat for a quarter of the price.

Finish is great. Short scale neck makes this an immensely playable instrument, much scope for expression with vibrato of strings, light weight just lets you thrash around with it. Some components not as good quality as Fender, but they all do the job.

It's a compromise, not solid and heavy like a strat, but the strong character lets you get out a lot of high energy music through sheer playing power. You play it light and fast and loud.

No idea.

Chose thisa on a friend's recommendation that Tanglewoods are very playable for a good price, and he wasn't wrong. Rises well above the basement category of the Strat and Les Paul copies. Love the sound, and at this price I'm gonna find another and set it up just like this one, so I gotta spare if anything should happen to it. Don't fancy going back to heavy guitars.

To say the least this was a cheap guitar, it has a poor quality fretboard, heavy body, and "plastic" feel frets. It is finished in satin black and whit plastic regions, with shiny metal hardware. The headstock is poor, 3 up 3down config. 3 single coil pickups.

I play in 2bands, and have been playing for 2years now. It has an amazing tone despite having Sh*t features. What else can i say? um. good for drop-d. thats it. Slightly lackin g clarity and buzzes.

About as reliable as a toilet with cling-wrap over it,

Um, i think they are bankrupt (or should be). No warranty, customer support is fart worthy.

Not at all good.