There is no cutaway, but if you are transferring from an amplified electric guitar and want to learn some of your favourite band’s songs as a beginner, any Smells Like Teen Spirit perfectionists will appreciate the bigger sound The head is a smart shape and features the Aria logo. It is nice to see fret markers inlaid on the neck as well as the fingerboard to aid beginners, who often require reminders of where they are. The mahogany on the neck is surprisingly attractive, with a decent lustre making it almost a shame that it won’t be visible to an audience. But if you can reach the top end, the quality of the rosewood fretboard means you can hit clean notes and play chords well beyond 12. A full body means it is more difficult to make use of all 20 frets as anything past 14 will require a new hand position unless you boast spider-like fingers. There is no cutaway, but if you are transferring from an amplified electric guitar and want to learn some of your favourite band’s songs as a beginner, any Smells Like Teen Spirit perfectionists will appreciate the bigger sound. It is easy enough to get your playing arm around the body to strum comfortably. It resists wood decay, and over the years becomes richer in colour - with the added benefit of not adding much expense. The sapele back and sides are a good choice for an entry-level guitar that you want to last a long time. The auditorium size appeals to players who don’t have massive experience with acoustic guitars. It does the job on the immediate eye test.

You can’t expect a guitar of this price to feature much better wood, and a parent or guardian would hardly want to invest in something more aesthetically pleasing for more than the £169 this would set you back - especially if their keen teenage musician has shown little care for prized possessions in the past. On an entry-level guitar, we find a natural shade more attractive than sunburst designs, which can usually look quite cheap, but without the Tobacco or Cherry Sunburst options in hand to compare, it would be unfair to determine the quality of the sister 111s against the MTN. The mahogany on the neck is surprisingly attractive, with a decent lustre making it almost a shame that it won’t be visible to an audience

Aria acoustic guitar value