Yamaha C40//02 Full Size Acoustic Guitar with 3 Nylon and 3 Metal strings – Thin gloss finish – Natural

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Yamaha makes some of the best instruments in every class. We cover only the classical models and compare their feature sets. No flamenco or electric hybrids or the really top end concert variants. As you read about the various Yamaha models, do keep two things in mind for this to be useful to you. Adult beginners who want to start on the classical guitar – including those revisiting the guitar after a gap of some years – typically look for an affordable guitar that is not too basic. Both Yamaha and Cordoba offer a few choices and we can look at two of them in particular – the former’s popular CG142C or CG142S (cedar or spruce top) and the latter’s C3M (cedar or spruce top). The C40II is a variant of the much older C40, an evergreen favorite of classical guitar students and teachers Read more about our rating system, how we choose the gear we feature, and exactly how we test each product. Related buyer's guides

A full-size classical guitar that is value for money. For someone stepping up from a 3/4 model or entering the classical world for the first time from the acoustic side, this is a good quality introduction to a solid top As a ‘proper’ nylon strung beginner’s classical guitar, they don’t come much better than the Yamaha CG122MSH. While it may look like a regular cheapo guitar, the difference when it comes to tone, build quality and playability is night and day. The APX500 had overpowering high frequencies when plugged in. In my opinion, the APX600 is a step in the right direction.In the end, I would suggest you go with a classical guitar if you want to learn classical music and want to develop your classical technique from the get-go. Based on Segovia’s legendary Hauser 1937 model, a concert guitar that is handcrafted for player nuance and control We’ll cover a couple of models here for they are still within an intermediate guitarist’s grasp in terms of affordability. The coveted CG82 may not be reachable for all. Not even the GC42 perhaps. But a couple of models in the range – GC12 and GC22 – are worth investigating. GC12C/GC12S

For guitarists well on their way to becoming an intermediate player with a confident repertoire, this is Yamaha’s top of the line offering at the intermediate range. Beyond the CG192 we get into the company’s highest range: the Grand Concert (GC) Series. It is up to us to make that visual distinction between the intermediate CG range and the high-end GC range and remember which is which! The Yamaha C40 is a classic among full-size classical guitars. It’s made to be affordable for learners to enjoy. Itcosts less because it’s built from wood laminates and factory-made, not hand-crafted. While the sound it makes is very good, it’s not as powerful as a fully wooden handmade guitar can produce. Users who have played both the GC22 and the GC12 (one rung below) say they sound pretty much identical, sharing a rich, resonant quality. It may then come down to whether you love the looks of Mahogany or Rosewood more. If this guitar is to have any downsides, then it must be the out-of-the-box setup. You might get it with slightly high action when you receive it. A little bit can be lowered by yourself, but too high an action will warrant for a professional setup. That Hauser model is the one that Segovia played on for most of his career. It’s the sound of the classical guitar that many are accustomed to from listening to the maestro’s various recordings. There are premium tonewoods at work here to reach that perfect balance of brightness and warmth. The player has total control over tone, dynamics and expression.

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Like ‘regular’ acoustics, classical guitars come in various styles and cover a wide range of price points, from beginner classical guitars to hand-made artisan models and everything in between – but how much you choose to spend really boils down to what you want from your new guitar.