Tanglewood Quomaster Custom

Tanglewood Quomaster Custom : Price: Stg.130 Telecaster copy, satin coated maple fretboard and bolt-on neck,chrome hardware, green translucent finish, strings through bridge, one round string tree for 1st and 2nd strings, three way pick up selector and white frosted scratch plate.
Don't know what the pick ups are and I don't know about the body wood, but the guitar is lighter than the standard Tele.

It plays rock and blues beatifully, I'm not a country player but I'm sure it can handle itself well in that department too. I must say I had trouble with the pick ups after about three gigs and had to replace them due to an uncontrolable humming problem. I up graded to Fender Vintage Noisless and (after sanding the markings off the headstock)people were asking about the make of the guitar. I play it through a Hughes & Kettner Attax 100,using the clean channel and it really sounds great. But it really had some musicians' heads turning when i got the chance to play it through a Fender bass man, which alas, I can't afford. The bridge pick up has a nice cutting treble which, you get hooked on and when you put up the volume it distorts just nicely. Of course if you put the volume down to about 4 and control the amp volume you get a much purer sound. The neck pick up is typically mellow and good for blues. I give it 9 because I had to replace the pick ups

I initially tried out this guitar because I was looking for a guitar I could open-tune for slide. Even when it was still un-plugged it resonated well. The set up was perfect for me and what is of great importance is the fact that it takes a lot of beating to get out of tune.
The guitar was new and I got it for that price probably because it was green. In fact if I had to change anything, first on the list would be the colour. However I dare not. Even the fact that it strings through the bridge bugs me but I don't want to tamper or take any chances with the tone. One other little flaw is the fact that the 6th string is slightly misaligned, but this is only noticeable on really close inspection, not effecting tuning or the sound. Finally, I changed the volume and tone knobs which were made of plastic looking like chrome, and a few other cosmetic changes. I give it 9 because I mean a GREEN guitar gimme a break !

I gigged with the guitar for two years, when I was still with a band and to this day I'm still getting satisfaction from this instrument. Its had a few knocks and scratches but its still ok. When you dont have the luxury of a readily available guitar technician you tend to take more care of your gear i.e. the guitar or any other guitar could probably wouldn't last in the wrong hands. And I always think you need a back up.

Never dealt with them.

This guitar is so good for the price! What's even more satifying is when other people think you are playing a good Telecaster. In fact the feel of the neck on this Tanglewood is better than your average Tele neck, its sleeker, faster and just more comfortable. I took to it straight away. However its greatest blessing is that it dosn't go out of tune. The reliability of the pick ups could vary from one of these guitars to another. Shame about the colour though. I've jokingly tricked a few people into thinking its my 'Cutom Shop Tele'. If I lost this guitar I would seriously order or look for another one

It's a Tele copy, basically features the same as a real tele, only copied! mine is identical to the one owned by the first reviewer, DK, but mine has had some finish adjustments (I sanded the transparent green finish off, now it's unfinished natural poplar). It's very lightweight, which is good for transport, good construction, all the features you really need if you're buying a telecaster - you don't buy them coz they're fancy, you buy them coz they sound fantastic! I give it a 10 for simplicity.

First off, i play a lot of different styles of music, but mainly blues rock, hard rock, old school and modern metal and punk. My other guitars are a Marlin Slammer strat copy (currently in pieces) and a Tanglewood Baron (Les Paul Custom Copy). I run these through a Boss V-Wah (not brilliant, but does the job) and a Russian Big Muff Pi (get one!!!!) into a peavey bandit 1x12. Sounds absolutely fantastic through this setup, perfect for everything. kick in a little bit of the amp drive and reverb, this thing sounds like proper old school blues. crank the muff in and things just get silly. this guitar is full of tone, i prefer the sound of this over some of the fender tele's i've played over the years. The true test of tone, however, was running it through my friends '65 Super Reverb 4x10. Fender all valve, valve rectifier. this guitar through that amp sounds the sh*t!!! the guitar will feedback when you want it to, sounds absolutely amazing. i can't stress how good these guitars are for the money. 10 for good sound at low price

Mine was second hand from my local cash converters, so can't comment on the factory set-up really, but the set-up when i got it was fine. Since refinishing the guitar i've been over it and adjusted the action and intonation so that it's spot on for the stuff i play. the neck is super thin too, can get good speed on this axe. the finish on the guitar was gorgeous, i sometimes wish i hadn't sanded it down. if i see another one with the same finish, i'll buy it. transparent green stain, creamworthy.... i give it an 8 for needing the set-up done

hahaha - i never gig without a backup guitar, done it before, bad idea when you break a string and end up borrowing a guitar from your support band. however, this guitar is solid. dont let the weight fool you. i've dropped it countless times, just dents the body slightly (battle scars, i don't mind). The top strap button has fallen out twice tho, probably coz the wood's quite soft. the first time it came out, i drilled a new hole next to the old one. held up for bout 12 months, then happened again, so drilled another hole. no problems with this one yet... 7 for the strap pins - bloody annoying when the come out on stage.

never had to deal with tanglewood. i'm told their customer support is pretty good going tho, plus there's a guitar shop down the road that is the areas main tanglewood dealership (only thing they are good for, besides strings and picks!!!)

I've been playing for about 4 years now. the quomaster was the second guitar i ever bought. i love this thing and will never part with it. My dad's getting me a gibson SG for my 21st this year, and i still intend to use the quomaster over the sg for most of my recording work, coz it's got such a clean sound. sometimes it's almost as if the thing produces it's own chorus and reverb. i named it sparkle :-) Overall, she's a perfect 10. If someone stole her, i'd hunt them down and beat them to death with my other tanglewood, coz it's a mahogany LP Custom, and that can do damage...

Standard Tele setup. Two single coil pickups, maple neck, gold hardware.
Passive electronics, ceramic pickups.
The body is Sen Ash and very heavy. Not too good for a twang machine really.
Bridge has six saddles. Strings through bridge.
All hardware is cheap tat coated in gold.

Sound was frankly dissapointing for country but remember this guitar is supposed to be like Francis Rossi's Tele which is for rock.
Used through Marshall AVT 150 with sovtek valve setup.
Changed the pickups for SHED TRANS AM TELE SET which are handwound pickups. They liberated the guitar which now rocks so good that I can't part with it!

Set up was rubbish.
Fit and finish was pretty good but it doesn't feel solid for such a solid guitar. It feels fragile as if the neck may just snap off at any moment. Wierd really.
Hardware is truely appaling. Real soft metal on the bridge which strangly, doesn't sit flush on the body.

I've already said it feels fragile yet itstands up to the hammering it gets at my gigs. I have used it on gigs without a backup and will continue to do so. It is really reliable now that I've sorted some of the issues.

Tanglewood are easy to deal with. They care about what you think of their products.

People think this guitar is going to sound shit. Put good pickups on it and watch the jaws drop. For #150 it's as good as you can expect.
If you really want a good Tele, save up for the real thing. Meanwhile, this is fine.
If I lost this guitar, I would buy the real thing but I'm glad I have it at the moment and wouldn't want to lose it.

Marked simply as a Tanglewood Quomaster 52, this is a superior Tele copy in natural finish. The body is poplar and the fretboard maple. 2 standard Tele pickups (no idea who made them and may replace at a later date), standard 3-way switch plus Tele volume and control knobs. I was looking for a natural Tele as my first electric after having played acoustic for years. The Quomaster marking slightly put me off, but on picking it up and playing for a while I was really impressed. The action is excellent and the tone is classic Tele. I've been playing it for 18 months now, it's gigged a few times, and hasn't let me down. I replaced the tuners with standard Tele Klusons as the originals slipped a little. Features are basic, but they all work and work well.

Sounds good, though the neck pickup is a tad dull. I play essentially rhythm and put through an old Morley compressor the sustain is incredible. It can cut through anything our bass player puts out, especially when playing through an old Vox AC30. This sounds as good and as varied as a Tele can. I have no complaints.

Bought new in a small music shop. Setup was fine. The body is natural though highly polished. No nicks and it's sturdy as hell. The action is very good. In the shop this had a better action and response than any other (more expensive) guitar I tried.

Very dependable and solid, despite being light. Hasn't let me down so far.

Never dealt with them and hopefully won't have to.

This was a real find. At less than half the price of a Maxican Tele it's certainly as good, if not better. I really don't think many of these were made, but if you spot one snap it up. As a reliable workhorse guitar I think it really stands out.

Telecaster style guitar, it?s difficult to find any information on the web regarding woods etc, but I would guess by the weight the body is popular and by the finish I should say it was solid , neck is Maple as is the fingerboard the fret wire is medium to fat, single string tree on the 1st & 2nd strings for behind the nut bending, hardware is silver although I did hear from one source that the hardware on the custom should be gold? mine has the custom logo on the head stock but silver hardware. The strings pass though the metal blotted plate rather than though the body and there are 6 saddles for intonation, 3 way pickup switch and usual Tele tone pots which are plastic but look like chrome. Pick up?s are standard Tele type Chunky pickup at the bridge with three screw adjustment and jazzer?s lipstick at the bridge? you need to remove the scratch plate to adjust the neck pickup but this is no hassle. The body has a dark green translucent finish and white mother of peal effect scratch plate

It was the looks that attracted me to this guitar, to be honest when I got closer the Quomaster legend put me off I was looking for a guitar primarily for country as my Strat just doesn?t have that twang!. I grabbed a Squire Affinity Tele and an American Tele off the wall for comparison. The Quomaster is a very light guitar and that and the fact that the strings do not pass though the body worried me a little as I felt it wouldn?t sustain very well, although it sound fine acoustically. I played the guitars though a POD Pro/ Marshall Power Amp with a 4 x 12? speaker cab on a variety of clean and dirty settings. First thing that blew me a way was how good this guitar sounded for rock blues, this guitars sounded awesome? anyway getting back to the clean settings no problem with the Steve Copper type sounds or funky rhythm settings, but what I was really looking for was that country twang so on dialling in the old Black Panel Twin setting on the POD with a little compression and reverb away we go?. And boy did the Quomaster deliver no problem at all with those Brent Mason style licks, the bridge has all the twang you could want, the neck pickup is a little lacklustre but fine for the more soulful side of jazz and cool blues. On a comparison note The Squire Affinity Tele didn?t come close in any way playability or sound so forget that one, the American Tele was heavier in feel and felt more solid and a little bulky after playing the Quomaster, I had a couple of friend with me to help out as I?m new to country and they are both American Tele fans?. They both felt the Quomaster sounded better it had all the twang of the Fender but a little more warmth ie not quite as tinny sounding, for myself I felt the Fender sounded just as I?d say there was little in it for the clean sounds, but for the rock blues setting I loved the Quomaster. I guess it?s personal taste but I?d say the Quomaster certainly gives the American Fender Tele a run for it?s money?.. and obviously I bought the Quomaster.

The Action was superb, the neck has a D profile with a flat satin finished fingerboard great for string bends and lightening fast, everything was just about perfect but as this guitars was second hand (used) I?ve no idea how it came out of the box? if I was really picky I could mention that scratch plate doesn?t butt agait the neck perfectly there is a gap of about 1 to 2mm on the high E string side? but that is being very picky for a guitar in this price range. The only things I might consider changing is the neck pickup and putting in a 4/5 way pickup switch.

This guitar is light but Durable, everything feels solid enough.

hard to say but I can?t find any reference to Tanglewood on the web, check with your dealer for support. I?ve given this section a high mark so not to detract from the overall score.

I?ve been playing guitar for about 20 years and my style is basically blues/rock, I?ve owned a whole host of guitars including an American Strat Plus, Fender Telecaster as well as a Gibson SG and many others?.
I love this guitar it was love at first site!, on closer inspection I was put off by the Tanglewood name?i.e. cheapo guitars and the Quomaster Logo, but on playing this beauty these labels no longer mattered, I used to own an early 70?s Blond Fender Telecaster and this guitar out performs it in every way, It is very hard to fault this guitar as it does everything you?d expect and more? it may be a one off I don?t know but what ever should you stumble upon one check it out! (I believe they only cost about #200 new).