I have never been financially blessed one. Economic crisis was my friend from my musical journey. Even I had to sell my favourite classical guitar for my mom’s treatment.
Those days were a nightmare for me. But I overcame somehow, and planned to restart life. Starting from the scratch was critical, but not hard.
So, I decided to work as a classical guitarist in a bar. That decision was kind of a risk for me. Because I did know; what is the best classical guitar for the money?
There was even no one to suggest it to me. Then I began to research and within 4 days I could secure 40% extra! How?
In this article, you will know the answer through the best classical guitar reviews.
In a hurry? Here are our top picks..
Classical songs are the heart of music and so the classical guitar too. The top guitars are listed in the below chart and get the best classical tone played by them.
[amazon table=”3971″]5 best classical guitars reviews
Let me start this area with a question. Why has nobody told you about these guitars? Tell me, who wants to reveal their secret sauce? That is the reason behind!
But I dont want to be like the 80%. Let me be honest for your hard-earned cash. So, read the review and secure your cash
Why are these unique?
Scroll down for the answer. Here I will review each guitar along with positive and negative sides. So, stick with me.
1. Yamaha C40II Classical Guitar
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Yamaha guitars are the reflection of emotion -I believe it at least. Their guitars are well crafted, and C40II is one of them. It has all essentials for a beginner. Let me explain about the guitar in depth.
Head:
The head of C40 has made from nato. It is a strong wood to keep the tune in line. Since the nylon string stretches enough, this wood can handle the pressure.
Nato wood is also a substantial part of Mahogany. So,it can support the tuner pegs to endure the nylon stretch.
Neck:
Unlike the head part, Yamaha used rosewood for fretboard and maple for the neck. These woods are best for producing warm sound. It is not like that wood quality is enough for sound.
Bindings and fret are also play an important role. For Yamaha C40II, these two combinations worked well. However, Frets could be better.
Body:
No doubt. The body part is amazing. It is made from ebonized rosewood. That is why the guitar represents a perfect Spanish flamenco sound. I strummed and played the notes to check the tone. It was a tremendous experience.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Long-lasting
- Budget-friendly.
Cons
- String binding could be better.
What problems does this guitar solve?
This classical guitar has soft strings; soft strings are good for beginners’ fingers. It hurts less. Plus, one can use it for studio recording; a budget-friendly guitar for studio sessions.
2. Yamaha C40 Classical Guitar
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Don’t get confused with C40II and C40. Both guitars are different in contrast of sound. In fact, C40II sounds better. Why? You will get the answer after reading the C40 review. Here is the thing:
Head:
The C40 has spruce top. Spruce wood is best for smooth sound, not bright. Aside from the wood, the tuner pegs are well crafted to stay in tune. It can also handle the nylon string stretch.
Neck:
Since tuner pegs handle pressure, the neck part works as an assistant. In this C40 case, the neck works great for its materials. The rosewood fingerboard and quality nylon strings made a great tone vibration.
Meranti side and rib has even spiced up that sound better. Every chord and notes are decent from one to last frets.Yet, meranti wood is not bright. But this wood suitable for a low budget guitar.
Body:
Writing about low budgets reminds me to explain about sound. So, here it is: Rosewood and Mahogany sound good in combined. These woods are expensive. If all the guitars were made from a single wood, it would be tough to afford for newbies.
So, the guitar maker decided to work on Tonewood. This wood is low cost and sounds excellent. It is made from a different wood mixture. The C40 has a touch of diffrent tonewood. That is why this is inexpensive guitar.
Pros
- Affordable.
- It comes with accessories.
- Fretboards are smooth.
Cons
- Clip tuner is not good.
What problems does this guitar solve?
It will solve the extra hassles. Since it comes with a clip tuner, gig bag, extra strings and instruction manual, a newcomer can stay relaxed from an additional cost.
3. Cordoba Classical Guitar Six Strings
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This one is different from earlier two guitars for its dark tone. The dark tone has better character than sparkle. This means the Cordoba C9 series has an authentic Spanish guitar sound.
Why am I saying this? Take a look below:
Head:
The headstock is made of cedarwood. That is why it has a moderate sound. Why? For a dreamy tone! Earlier I said: cedar is best for a dark tone. So, the brass tuner and cedar made a great combination for that sound.
Neck:
Yes, it’s all about sound when it comes for a classical guitar. Cordoba marked their sound signature in the neck. They used rosewood and stainless steel fret in the fingerboard.
As a result, this guitar produces a soft and warm sound.
Body:
Every guitar maker emphasizes this part. Even the Cordoba followed the rule. But the truth is: I am a bit frustrated with this guitar body. They used Indian wood in the bridge.
This wood could be replaced with Mahogany like the back and sidebar. However, it still sounds good, but not sexy for me.
Pros
- Dark sound.
- Rosewood fretboard
- Quality Nylon strings
Cons
- The bridge could be made from Mahogany.
What problems does this guitar solve?
A well-constructed sound is a prior thing for any guitar. This guitar will provide a better sound in the studio and concert. So, if you are planning for a concert based classical guitar, go for this. Nice sound.
4. Cordoba Guitars C9 Parlor
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What makes Cordoba C9-parlor better than Cordoba classical six strings? The sound! It has a sweet and warm tone. Trust me; there is no other difference among them. I played C9 Parlor more than the Six Strings. It is excellent for the price. Here is why?
Head:
Like the Cordoba six strings, it has a cedar top. The top is surrounded with brass tuner pegs. Brass tuner tend to endure more pressure than stainless steel. So, frequent tuning is not essential.
Neck:
The rosewood fingerboard with nickel frets is good for a sweet tone. I applied three different types of playing styles with this guitar. It sound decent. One can even play flamenco to modern acoustic cover with this tone.
Body:
Indian rosewood and Mahogany are combined in this part. That is the reason behind the quality sound. Look, a single wood can make one way sound, which is not as good as you expect.
But a mixed wood sound creates intensity, intimacy with feel and comfort. Cordoba fulfill that needs with it.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Small guitar.
- Sweet and warm sound
- Built quality.
Cons
- Not that much loud.
What problems does this guitar solve?
This guitar solves two-way problems. One: it’s a travel guitar. You can take it for a short or long drive. Second: a perfect guitar to play in clubs or other places. In a word, perfect practice and travel guitar.
5. Yamaha CGS102A Classical Guitar
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This classical guitar is made for the kids. Since their fingers are soft and need extra care, this guitar ensures that. The musical subsidiary “Yamaha” believes: if the kids learn musical instrument at their early age, their brain muscle will be improved.
This is clinically proven. So, what’s inside this kid-friendly guitar? Let’s see.
Head:
The top is covered with spruce wood along with brass tuner pegs. This means wrenching the pegs will be easy to tune. As the strings are nylon, the headstock can handle the stretching pressure.
Neck:
It has two wood combinations: nato and rosewood. The fingerboard is rosewood and the neck is nato wood. This collaboration represents a real Spanish feel.
What’s more, I played different scales and chords with this. Perfect intonation in each fret. Even I did not need to use a truss rod.
Body:
CGS has a glossy finish body which is made from rosewood and Meranti. This combination is essential for a creamy tone. Why? Guitar sound produces vibration. If this can be spiced up with the wood quality, every note sounds like a charming bird.
Pros
- Perfect for a kid.
- Well-constructed.
- It comes with accessories.
Cons
- The guitar could be better.
What problems does this guitar solve?
Number one: if you are searching for a budget guitar, this one will solve the problem. Next, this is a perfect guitar to travel.
Classical guitar buying guide:
Now let’s move on to the next section- a classical guitar buying guide. Here I will write about the buying factors. These factors are considered during my investment. If you want secure money, take a tour of my buying guide.
Select the budget first:
I considered this as my first factor. So, my suggestion will be the same for you. There is a question: what is the perfect price range for a classical guitar?
$150 to $180 is good enough.
If you cannot afford the price, don’t look at the classical guitar that sound rude. I know there are a lot of guitars under $100. Now the question: Do these guitars sound good? No.
Why? The materials play a vital role here. Their quality will determine whether it seems good or bad. So, if it’s hard right now, wait for a while. Reserve some money. It’s a lifetime investment; don’t put your dream into risk.
Guitar materials:
When your price range is set, move for the next step. Here you will check the materials. This includes – wood, strings, soundboard and frets. How to know the quality of the materials? If you are playing for more than one year, you can understand after playing five to ten minutes.
What if you are a beginner?
Here are some checklists
- Frets: Brass frets are best for classical guitar
- Strings: soft nylon strings
- Soundboard: Rosewood. Mahogany, Meranti is better for money.
- Wood: choose nato wood for the neck. Rosewood for the fingerboard.
Follow these checklists. I am sure it will work.
Guitar Sound:
Next factor is guitar sound. It’s a major thing. Don’t overlook this! Remember, a quality sound can take your composition far from than your thought. So, how do you decide the sound?
It depends on the experience. If you are a regular guitar player, it will be easy for you. but, if you are newbie, it is tough to determine the guitar sound. In this case, I will recommend you to take your expert friend.
Maybe it will cost $3 Starbucks. In the end you can secure the money. Still, if you are in doubt on sound, go to Youtube. A moderate solution is waiting for you.
Accessories:
Some classical guitars come with accessories. This is an optional factor. But I will recommend you to evaluate all the accessories. For example, guitar case, clip tuners, strings and picks. Most of the time, manufacturers don’t provide quality accessories. Don’t hurt. It’s a marketing plan. So, it’s wise to not prioritize over accessories.
FAQ:
I will answer some frequently asked questions here. Then, a guide on caring for the classical guitar. Let’s start with FAQ first.
Q: What is a nylon string?
A: Nylon strings are the life of the classical guitar. These strings are made from linear polyamides. It is not only used for guitar but also used for dental floss and tennis string.
Q: Steel Strings vs. Nylon Strings Which One Works Best?
A: It’s a common question to all beginner guitar players. Let me answer this. Remember, Nylon strings and Steel strings are not competitors. These are different. Nylon strings are used for classical and folk genres.
While steel strings are used for country, acoustic rock. And acoustic pop. This is evident that both strings work best in their field. It depends on the musical genre.
Q: What is the difference between acoustic and classical guitar?
A: The difference between acoustic and classical guitar is sound. An acoustic guitar sounds louder than a classical guitar. If I break the answer through a question, Why? Then here is the deal.
The raw materials are different from each other. For example, a classical guitar has enough fret space while an acoustic guitar has a narrow space. Like this, there are a lot of differences between classical and acoustic guitars in terms of sound.
Q: How to tune a classical guitar nylon string?
A: Tuning a nylon string is not rocket science. You can do it by using a clip tuner. Apart from clip tuners, there are a lot of guitar tuning apps. These are accurate. Google even offers an online guitar tuner. So, don’t bother. Nowadays tuning is easy.
Q: Which nylon strings are the best?
A: D Addario, Augustine and Fender are the best nylon strings.
Bonus Tip:
I have shared all the essential information on buying a classical guitar. The reviews, buying guide and FAQ will assist you to get the best classical guitars for the money. Now, let me share a bonus section..
Classical guitar care and maintenance:
Caring a classical guitar is essential to ensure durability. For that, one has to follow some strict rules. Here are the rules for maintaining the classical guitar.
Temperature:
People, most of the time, overlook this. But here is the truth. When the weather changes, the guitar starts to change its nature. For example, the string loses the tune. Or, the guitar body sounds odd.
So, how to avoid the situations? Using a good Hardcase can save the guitar from spoil. It secures the temperature. Inside the Hardcase, a guitar experiences 40 to 50% humidity. This is the ideal guitar storing temperature.
Guitar cleaning:
I have observed a lot of people use oil to clean guitar strings. Never do this. It will reduce the fingerboard quality. It’s better to change the strings every three months.
Another important information is: use a soft cloth to clean the guitar body. Don’t use any oil. If it’s urgent, use guitar cleaning products. These are cheap and work great to sustain durability.
Transportation:
It’s normal to travel with a guitar. Using Hardcase or foam case is a good idea to secure the guitar from an unwanted accident.
Final words:
I know many of your friends talk about the guitar. So, why did I say: nobody told you? Look, people don’t have that time to explain in depth. I have that time to say to you in detail because this is my bread and butter. I hope that makes sense. Let me know how this article helped you. Take care.