Best Yamaha Classical Guitars: Yamaha make a wide range of classical guitars as well, although their beginner to intermediate guitars happen to be more popular (with students as well as teachers). You will also find classical guitars with electronics. Take a look at the various series of Yamaha classical guitars and reviews of the best ones.
Introduction
Yamaha, a trusted name in the world of music gear, makes a wide of classical guitars, from entry-level instruments to lovingly hand-crafted works of art.
Yamaha C/CX and CG/CGX series classical guitars are the more popular ones as these series include several models geared towards beginners and intermediate level players. Beginners, young learners and experienced players alike appreciate the level of quality found in Yamaha Classical Guitars and they offer exceptional value for money.
Yamaha has been making classical guitars for decades and their master craftsmen ensure the guitars deliver top level sound quality, performance and playability.
You will find some good classical guitar bundles as well that include essentials such as gig bag, extra strings, electronic tuner, classical footrest, and more. Skip to the [easyazon_link identifier=”B002R02CTI” locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]best Yamaha Classical Guitar on Amazon[/easyazon_link].
Yamaha Classical Guitars: Comparison Chart
Covers mostly beginners and intermediate level guitars:
- [easyazon_link identifier=”B00F3T2WWM” locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]Yamaha CGS102A: 1/2-Size Classical Guitar[/easyazon_link]
- [easyazon_link identifier=”B00F3T34WY” locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]Yamaha CGS103A[/easyazon_link]: 3/4-Size Classical Guitar
- [easyazon_link identifier=”B00AC0OBYE” locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]Yamaha GL1 TBS Guitalele[/easyazon_link]: Sized like a baritone ukulele (17″ scale) but plays like a guitar
- [easyazon_link identifier=”B00F3T3AKA” locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]Yamaha CGS104A[/easyazon_link]: Full-Size Classical Guitar, 25-5/8″-scale neck with a 2.05″-wide nut, Spruce Top, Nato Bottom and sides
- [easyazon_link identifier=”B00F3UB11E” locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]Yamaha C40[/easyazon_link]: Classical Guitar, 25 9/16″ scale length, Spruce top; Mahogany back and sides
- [easyazon_link identifier=”B00C2DR4LG” locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]Yamaha CG122MCH[/easyazon_link]: Solid Cedar top classical guitar, 19 Frets / 25.6 inches Scale
- [easyazon_link identifier=”B00TEOSH5I” locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]Yamaha CGX122MCC[/easyazon_link]: Acoustic-Electric version of the above, with A.R.T. 2 way Pickup System
Yamaha Classical Guitars (Nylon String) for Beginners
Yamaha is a popular brand when it comes to instruments for beginners and intermediate level guitar players. The C series from Yamaha is one such series that has full-sized guitars with top build quality & sound. The Yamaha C40 is a classical guitar available at a price point that will appeal to most beginner learners.
For Beginners
- [easyazon_link identifier=”B00AC0OBYE” locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]Yamaha GL Series GL1 TBS Guitalele[/easyazon_link]: Mini 6-string nylon guitar, tuning is pitched up to “A” (or up to a 4th) at A/D/G/C/E/A.
- [easyazon_link identifier=”B005B6EZ36″ locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]Yamaha C40II Classical Guitar[/easyazon_link]: Designed for Beginners, with an Eye and Ear Toward Quality and Affordability
There are a couple of variants of the Yamaha C40, such as C40II, CGS104A; those two are basically the same as C40 but use different quality woods. The C40II for instance is built with Meranti (supposed to be more durable). But they are all placed more or less in the same price range.
Want better sound, you should consider something from the CG line such as the [easyazon_link identifier=”B003YFQHVY” locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]Yamaha CG182C[/easyazon_link]. The solid top makes a big difference to the sound produced.
Most guitar enthusiasts (of Spanish music) prefer a decent instrument for playing, but it also needs to be easy on the pockets. While most good-quality Flamenco guitars are priced above $1000, these Yamaha guitars are pretty amazing (considering the amount you pay), except for some compromises made in the cosmetic department.
Yamaha Classical Guitars for Advanced Players
For Advanced Players
You also get Yamaha acoustic electric classical guitars that come with a pickup system designed to offer the most natural, dynamic and expressive electro-acoustic sound.
- Yamaha NTX700 Acoustic-Electric Classical Guitar with Pickup:
Body Material Type: solid-wood. Solid Spruce Top. Nato Back and Sides. Nato Neck. Rosewood Fingerboard.
A.R.T. 2-way pickup system. Dual volume controls on the preamp.
Buy on Guitarcenter | [easyazon_link identifier=”B002R02CTI” locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]Buy on Amazon[/easyazon_link] - Yamaha NCX1200R Acoustic Electric Classical Guitar with pickup:
Body Material Type: solid-wood. Solid Sitka Spruce Top. Solid Rosewood Back and Sides. African Mahogany Neck. Ebony Fingerboard.
A.R.T. 2-way pickup system. Nice electronics, built-in tuner.
Buy on Guitarcenter | [easyazon_link identifier=”B003HZPC0S” locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]Buy on Amazon[/easyazon_link]
Also Read: Yamaha Silent Guitars
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Guitalele (Travel / Mini): Ukulele-style nylon string guitar, fun and stylish, perfect take-along guitar.
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Yamaha Classical Guitars: Reviews
Yamaha C40 Classical Guitar (Beginner)
Yamaha C40 is an affordable, full sized nylon-string classical guitar perfectly suited to beginners and young learners. It has sturdy build, glossy finish, features full 2″-wide nut, and produces resonant, well-layered, crisp tone. The top is made of spruce wood, back and side panels are made of meranti, neck is made of Nato, finger board and bridge is made of rosewood. [easyazon_link identifier=”B00F3UB11E” locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]See PRICE on Amazon[/easyazon_link].
The Yamaha C Series produces some great value-for-money classic guitars, and one of them is the Yamaha C40. Countless guitarists got their first guitar lesson on the Yamaha C40, a favourite with most beginners. The full-bodied classical guitar looks and sounds great, comes with a gig bag, tuner, and more.
- Sounds great, affordable classical guitar
- Spruce top provides bright and lively sound
- 2″-wide nut allows beginner players to develop proper classical guitar finger techniques
- Perfect guitar to upgrade if you currently own a 3/4-sized student model
- Pros: Affordable, Good Quality & Sound
- Cons: You may need to replace the strings
The guitar also comes with a preset high action (which you can adjust to your liking).
Who Is It For?
The spruce top produces a bright & lively tone, and it’s also available as a package that includes a digital tuner, padded gig bag, and a DVD.
Yamaha C40 Classical Guitar: Video Review
Here’s video review of this guitar:
Specs/key features:
- Full-size nylon-string classical guitar
- Meranti body wood, Spruce top and back, sides are made of Indonesian mahogany
- Rosewood fretboard, Nato neck, Dovetail neck joint
- Headstock is rigged with six chrome YTM-01 tuning machines
- Full 2″-wide nut (52 mm finger board width) allows you to develop proper classical guitar finger techniques
- 18 frets, 25.9 inch scale (650 mm). Body depth is 94100 mm.
- Chrome hardware
This guitar may not sound like a Martin, but offers a ton of value for the dollar. The price is about as low as you can get for any guitar. One real advantage of this guitar is the ease of picking. The strings are set much farther apart than on a standard guitar; the neck is much wider. Thus, you can pick much easier than on a standard folk guitar.
If you’re a beginner keen on learning classical guitar, the Yamaha-C40 is a suitable option as it’s been built with an eye towards quality as well as affordability.
Buying Links
- Buy on Guitar Center | Buy on zZounds | [easyazon_link identifier=”B0035B9D0O” locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″]Buy on Amazon[/easyazon_link]
Yamaha CG172SF Nylon String Flamenco Guitar
The Yamaha CG172SF is a cost effective nylon string, flamenco guitar that looks gorgeous and is great-sounding (crisp tone from its cypress body and European spruce top) for its price; its among one of the best deals going around in nylon-string guitars.
- PROS: Good sound, good looks, affordable
- CONS: Use of plastic at certain places
Who Is It For?
- Beginners who want to start on a good quality flamenco guitar
- Experienced players who want a second guitar for practice
- If you already own a guitar, you may use this one for your jamming sessions. It has got a bright jangly sound – whether you play classical or not.
The Yamaha CG172SF Flamenco Guitar looks beautiful with solid spruce top and cypress back & sides, that give the instrument so much of its lovely tone and the lovely looks.
The action all the way up the neck is surprisingly low (a must for the Flamenco player,) and with a new set of strings installed, there is no audible fret buzz at all. The guitar holds its tuning exceptionally well for extended periods of time – and the nato neck is highly playable and just plain comfortable.
The CG172SF produces the kind of warm and clear tone that you’d expect from a much more expensive guitar, and it does it consistently, only sounding better as it ages (assuming you take good care of your new guitar, and use a humidifier during the stressful seasons – particularly during the first few years).
The only downsides are admittedly minor ones (a guitar selling for this cheap has to skimp in some areas) and the obvious ones are the use of plastic at certain places.
Here’s video review of the CG172SF guitar:
Specs/ key features of Yamaha CG172SF:
- Cypress Back and Sides, Solid Engelmann Spruce Top
- Maple Neck, Nato neck wood, Dovetail neck joint, Low profile U neck shape
- Rosewood Fingerboard
- 25-9/16″ scale length
- 18 frets
- 2-1/16″ nut
- Rosewood fretboard, Rosewood bridge
- Gold tuners with pearloid pegs
- Gold hardware
Buying Options
- [easyazon_link identifier=”B004MDKTIY” locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]Buy on Amazon[/easyazon_link]
| Buy on GuitarCenter
Yamaha Classical Guitars: Buying Guide
Yamaha has consistently produced guitars that have sold in impressive numbers and also attracted a notable following of celebrity players and esteemed pros, and the same applies to its classical guitars. Whether you are a guitar enthusiast looking to join a band, or perhaps want an instrument that you can play for fun and even in front of friends and family, owning a good instrument is the first step. It is best if you can buy a new one, but if you don’t have the budget, you can always go in for a quality used guitar, such as these ones from Yamaha. Enhance your music performance with these Yamaha Classical Guitars.
When it comes to musical instruments, Musicians trust Yamaha, and their classical and nylon stringed guitars are no exception. You will find a wide range of Yamaha classical guitars designed for novice players and experienced professionals.
Beginning classical guitar players may consider the [easyazon_link keywords=”Yamaha CGS Student classical guitar” locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″]Yamaha CGS Student classical guitar[/easyazon_link] for learning the ins and outs/techniques of classical guitar playing. The [easyazon_link identifier=”B0130VYNGW” locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]Yamaha SLG200N[/easyazon_link] silent acoustic-electric guitar comes with nice electronics and allows you to practice with headphones.
A Nylon stringed classical guitar suits the young learner well as its easier on the fingers. Yamaha classical and nylon guitars have a warm tone, great projection, and is a great choice for classical guitar players of any skill level.
Yamaha Classical & Nylon Guitars: Various Models Series
Have you always felt that there are many model numbers of Yamaha Classical Guitars but not sure what thy represent, here’s an explanation of the various series.
- CG / CGX: CG series classical guitars are created using the experience and technology gained from decades of hand crafting fine classical guitars like GC series.
- C / CX: Quality and tone at an affodable price. C series is a perfect classical guitar for student or developing player.
- CS: Created specifically for young learners, the CS series offers added playing comfort with its 3/4 scale compact bodied design.
- Guitalele (Travel / Mini): Ukulele-style nylon string guitar, fun and stylish, perfect take-along guitar.
- NX series divided into NTX and NCX. NCX inherits several physical attributes of a traditional classical guitar with the exception of a cutaway and lower string height. NTX has a more contemporary design to make steel-string and electric guitarists feel more at home.
Where to Buy?
Learning to play the guitar takes a lot of practice. You need a good quality guitar set to help you master the art of playing the guitar. With these guitars, you will own the basic tools needed to learn and play the guitar.
You can buy these from your local music store, or buy it online (a better option because of the various deals available) for competitive prices.
The more expensive ones definitely have a better sound and finish, but the budget ones do serve the purpose if you are just starting out.
If possible, try playing the various guitars at a local store to get a feel of the sound and the build quality. Read online reviews and ask friends for recommendations, so that you’re better prepared to make the right choice when buying a Yamaha Classical Guitar.
Also Read:
- Classical Guitar vs Acoustic Guitar: Which is the best for beginners?
- Yamaha classical guitars history
KeytarHQ editorial team includes musicians who write and review products for pianists, keyboardists, guitarists & other musicians. KeytarHQ is the best online resource for information on keyboards, pianos, synths, keytars, guitars and music gear for musicians of all abilities, ages and interests.
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