For many guitarists, the word classical guitar conjures up images of a low-cost, entry-level instrument with a higher playing action than a suspension bridge and little tone variety. It may come as a surprise, though, that the nylon-string scene is just as diversified as the steel-string one, with nylon models available from all of the big acoustic brands, and costs for the top classical guitars reaching similarly eye-watering levels.
The last thing you want to do while shopping for a classical guitar (also known as Spanish guitars or nylon string guitars) is purchase a “lemon” that underperforms. You want a classic that sounds amazing and will last you for years. Although high-end nylon-string guitars cater to a few distinct musical genres, especially classical and flamenco, their overall appeal crosses across in some areas. In this tutorial, we’ll go over what differentiates the various varieties of classical guitars, as well as make some recommendations for the greatest classical guitars available today.
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Godin Multiac Nylon Encore Acoustic Electric Classical Guitar
- Solid Cedar Top
- Two-Chambered Silver Leaf Body
- Custom Godin Dual Source System
Godin’s MultiAc Encore has a highly distinctive and special design. It has a slimline grand concert body form that makes it easy to grip and play. The Godin guitar‘s warmth and tone clarity are enhanced by the combination of a solid cedar top and silver leaf maple back and sides. The EPM Dual Source electronics onboard provide clear, steady, and clean amplified tones that will not let you down. For professional gigging artists searching for a studio or stage nylon string hybrid, this is a fantastic feature.
The fretboard is silky smooth, and everything is the perfect size and height. It has a very clear, pure, and beautiful sound. An amplifier is required for the best sound quality. The guitar is light and does a great job of transferring dynamics. You can buy an easy to play nylon string guitar that is made for performing and gigging that comes with a protective case and a reasonable price. It’s something you should consider adding to your instrument collection.
Cordoba C9 Parlor Small Body Classical Acoustic Nylon String Guitar/h3>
Cordoba C9 Parlor Small Body Classical Acoustic... - Solid Canadian cedar top with solid mahogany back and sides
- Lightweight, 7/8 size classical guitar
- Hand inlaid Mother-of-Pearl "Esteso" Rosette
- Solid Canadian cedar top with solid mahogany back and sides
- Lightweight, 7/8 size classical guitar
- Hand inlaid Mother-of-Pearl "Esteso" Rosette
Cordoba C9 Parlor is a parlor in Cordoba, Spain. This classical guitar is a smaller, sweeter version of the steel string acoustic. It’s great for players who want the feel, comfort, and ease of playability of a smaller instrument with the beautiful, warm tone that solid wood construction gives.
The top of the C9 Parlor is made of Canadian cedar, with solid mahogany back and sides. The C9 Parlor has a 7/8 body size, which is ideal for smaller players or performers who prefer a smaller instrument. Not only that, but the guitar also has a 50mm nut width and the fan bracing pattern featured on most Cordoba guitars.
The C9 Parlor is made with Spanish heel construction, which means the top of the guitar is joined to the neck, just like every other guitar in the Cordoba Luthier range. The sides are next, followed by the back, which completes the guitar’s body. This method allows the entire instrument to vibrate as a single unit.
The mother-of-pearl weave rosette, quality rosewood fingerboard and bridge, and a high gloss finish are all notable aesthetic accents. The C9 Parlor also comes with Cordoba’s lightweight polyfoam case. This is one of the best classical guitar.
Taylor Academy 12e-N Grand Concert Nylon Acoustic Guitar Natural
- Body Body type: Grand Concert/OO Cutaway: No Top wood: Solid Lutz Spruce...
- "Over the past four-plus decades thereaTMs a resounding theme from Taylor...
- As a company thataTMs passionate about exposing more players to the...
The Taylor Academy 12e-N is an entry-level guitar that satisfies the needs of both beginners and intermediate players. It’s a hybrid, capable of producing a crisp and warm classical guitar tone. The upper-midrange has a lot of movement.The Grand Concert design is ideal for performing artists because the guitar is compact. The surface is very smooth, and the bevelled armrest allows us to play the guitar for hours.
The truss rod of this “crossover” nylon-string guitar may be adjusted, and the fingerboard radius is slightly inclined. The guitar’s thinner neck makes it incredibly easy to play, making it ideal for folks with little hands or who find it difficult to play regular classical guitars. It comes with a soft case that may be used for travel and storage while the guitar is not in use.
The guitar has a wonderful tone thanks to its sturdy wood top. A percussive technique produces a flamenco tone, while lowering the intensity produces superb sounds for bossanova tunes. There are no flaws in this instrument that we can discover. You get a fantastic hybrid with an easy-to-play neck and a lovely bevelled armrest for a reasonable price. The sound is clean and warm, suitable for both beginning and advanced players.
Yamaha C40II Classical Guitar
- Spruce top
- Meranti back & sides
- Rosewood fingerboard & bridge
The Yamaha C-Series offers cost-effective, budget-friendly options for beginners and young learners without losing quality of a ebony fingerboard. The degree of craftsmanship is still superb, and the attention to detail is still commendable. The C40II is one of Yamaha’s most affordable full-size classical guitars, but the construction quality and tone are actually quite good. It’s a fantastic option for newcomers.
The traditional classical guitar is specifically developed for beginners and young learners, with a scale and small body that ensures maximum comfort when playing. The guitar is manufactured cleanly and precisely at such a cheap price range for a bone nut and saddle. There are no extra features on this guitar, such as a high-quality solid top wood or built-in electronics. When you consider how much you spend for it, it’s reasonable.
The CS40II is compact, easy to use and explore with, and has a fantastic feel and sound. It does a decent job of upholding Yamaha’s reputation for high-quality products that outperform their price tags. You’ll get a well-made guitar with a warm, crisp sound from nylon strings that will accompany you on your musical journey for years.
Martin Guitar 000C12-16E Nylon with Gig Bag
- PROFESSIONAL SOUND: Martin’s 000C12-16E Nylon classic acoustic-electric...
- SUPERIOR APPEARANCE: The Martin 000C12-16E Nylon acoustic-electric guitar...
- PREMIUM HANDMADE GUITARS: Handmade from the highest-quality wood,...
Martin’s premium crossover guitar is designed for serious guitarists. It has a premium price tag, but the build quality and sound quality are also exceptional. It has a body shape of a 000 auditorium, and the body depth is simple enough for any player to try with.
This indian rosewood instrument has a well-crafted build quality and a mellow, distinctive, natural tone thanks to the combination of solid Sitka spruce on the top and solid mahogany neck on the back and sides. The neck is a little larger than on acoustic guitars, and the cutaway joins the body at the 16th fret, making it easy to reach the higher frets.
The Fishman Matrix VT Enhance NT1 pickup and preamp are installed on the guitar, allowing the guitar voice to be transmitted naturally and elegantly. This function is also beneficial to individuals in search of a performing guitar.
This Martin is a significant investment at a premium price, but you receive a professional quality tone and superb build quality. The combination of a glossy top and a satin-smooth back, sides, and neck will make you want to pick up the guitar and play all the time. The guitar comes with a flimsy case, but at this price, we’d expect a sturdy case.
Yamaha NTX1 NT Acoustic-electric nylon-string guitar
- Modern looks and comfortable feel
- Designed for electric and steel-string players
- Advanced preamp and pickup system with onboard tuner
The Yamaha NTX1 is an economical option for guitarists looking for a very comfortable nylon string guitar. By combining mature plugged-in classical tones with precision comfort and playability, the Yamaha NTX1 range was built in part to smooth the uncomfortable transition between electronic and nylon string instruments. It has a contemporary neck shape for comfort and playability to address this.
The Yamaha NTX1 is made of high-quality solid tonewoods, including Sitka spruce for the top and nato wood for the back (a mahogany alternative). It has a modified NX bracing system that helps to improve the instrument’s low-end resonance. Additionally, this bracing mechanism enhances the volume and projection of sound by bringing out more of the natural character of the selected tonewoods.
The NTX1’s electronics include an under-saddle pickup powered by an innovative Yamaha preamp system, as well as an inbuilt 3-band EQ for customizing your tone. An onboard tuner, a slimmed-down 1-7/8′′ nut spacing, and slim nato wood back and sides round out the NTX1’s features.
This instrument is a terrific option for musicians who desire comfort at an inexpensive price, as well as the quality and reliability that Yamaha is recognized for.
Cordoba C7 Classical Acoustic Nylon String Guitar Iberia Series
- Traditional fan bracing
- Rosewood back and sides
- Full size
Gigging performers demand a particular amount of quality and dependability from their guitars, and the Cordoba C7-CE is a cheap, high-quality instrument that would be ideal. The onboard Fishman electronics, which combine an under-saddle piezo with an internal microphone, provide for fine control over your amplified tone, and the C7-CE features some excellent tone woods that elevate the guitar acoustically and aesthetically. The Cordoba C7-CE is a really attractive product for the price, and one that we’re delighted to recommend.
Carlo Robelli CR941N Full Size Classical Acoustic Guitar
- Full-size nylon-string classical guitar with a linden top and agathis back...
- Okoume neck with comfortable "C" profile and 25.6" scale
- Chrome open-geared classical tuners
The Carlo Robelli C-941N is a full-size classical guitar available at a low price (a 3/4-size variant is also available). As a result, there isn’t much to expect in terms of specifications, but it earned enough positive feedback to earn a spot on our recommended list.
This guitar’s top is composed of laminate Linden wood, often known as basswood, which is commonly used in electric guitar bodies. Agathis wood is used for the back and sides, which is a less expensive alternative to mahogany. Instead of rosewood, the bridge and fingerboard of this guitar are made of black maple. Finally, the top, back, and fretboard are all bound in single-ply black.
Its greatest strength is its value for money, which is understandable given that you get a full-size body classical guitar for a relatively low price. The majority of evaluations are from novices who find the C-941N to be simple to play and recommend it as a suitable first guitar. For those with a limited budget, the Carlo Robelli C-941N is a decent beginner guitar.
Cordoba GK Studio Negra Cutaway Flamenco Acoustic-Electric Nylon String Guitar
- Made for the stage
- Rosewood back and sides
- Full size
The Cordoba GK Studio Negra is a flamenco-inspired nylon-string guitar with a gentle cutaway and Fishman Presys Blend electronics built in. It’s essentially a flamenco-style acoustic-electric guitar with a thinner nut, shorter scale length, and lower action, all of which add to the instrument’s suitability for flamenco techniques.
It has luxury features such as a solid European spruce top supported by Spanish style fan bracing coupled with rosewood back and sides, which distinguishes it from the conventional studio version.
While this guitar is supposed to be developed for classical and flamenco guitars it has been used by numerous guitarists in a variety of styles, including jazz, blues, folk, pop, and even classical. Its sound is well-liked, whether it’s unplugged or plugged in. “Just about anything performed fingerstyle on this guitar sounds polished and exquisite,” according to American Songwriter critic Jake Kelly. There are also a lot of positive comments about the build quality of the best classical guitars. The Cordoba GK Studio Negra is a flamenco-inspired acoustic-electric nylon string guitar that may also be used for other types of music.
Kremona Soloist S65C
- Solid western cedar top
- Sapele back and sides
- Dovetail neck joint
Dimitar Georgiev, a gunsmith-turned-luthier after an apprenticeship in Markneukirchen, Germany, developed Kremona in 1924. Handcrafted guitars like these aren’t typically linked with cheap, and can cost upwards of $1000. Despite the fact that the Soloist S65C is handcrafted in Bulgaria by Kremona, it is nevertheless reasonably priced for students.
Owners of the Kremona Soloist S65C are pleased with the lively and open tone they received for their money. Some people even prefer it to more expensive instruments in their collection. It’s praised by seasoned players as a wonderful starting point for developing tone and feel preferences.
If you’re just getting started or need a backup guitar, the Soloist S65C is an excellent choice. It’s also an excellent place to start learning about construction, tone, and feel before going on to more expensive instruments.