There are a few older reviews that report minor aesthetic and fretwork issues, thankfully these are mostly from older reviews. It also gets a lot of thumbs up for its sustain. Market sentiment is mostly positive concerning tone, some even comparing its sound to more expensive classical guitars. The price of this guitar is still accessible for students, and this affordability combined with good specs makes it very appealing for experienced guitarists and teachers who recommend it as a great starting guitar or couch guitar. This particular model is a step-up model compared to the C3M which was previously featured in this guide. Its main draw is its solid cedar top, which works well with its slightly bigger body and smaller sound hole, which give it good projection and clarity. The C5 is one of Cordoba's top-selling nylon-string guitars, and rightly so given its impressive specs for the price and slightly modified classical body design. With Cordoba's reputation for quality nylon string guitars, the C1M is a good beginner classical guitar to consider. There are a few reports of tuning related issues, some recommend immediately changing the strings for better results. The finish and aesthetics of this guitar also gets commendations. There are also many who are satisfied with its build quality given its price. Owners describe this as a good beginner guitar, good enough sound for the ears of beginners and more importantly, good playability.
More importantly it offers Cordoba's renowned build quality at a more affordable price, in direct competition to popular beginner guitars. The same can be also said about its specs, with a 25.6" scale length and 2.04" nut width. It follows standard build for classical guitar, with laminate spruce top and mahogany for the back and sides. The C1M is Cordoba's entry-level classical guitar, meant for beginners. Whether you specifically want to learn Classical Guitar, or you simply want to learn guitar in general, you can't go far wrong with the world's most popular entry-level nylon string guitar: the Yamaha C40. There are also a few complaints regarding cosmetic blemishes and fretwork. Much like others in this price range, there are a few reports of string setup related issues like fret buzz and high-action. The Yamaha C40 that I used back when I was enrolled to classical guitar studies it is still playable after many years of use. Longevity is another common reason why the C40 remains as one of the most universally recommended beginner guitar. Even those who have more expensive instruments have a C40 in their collection, either as their first guitar or as a grab-and-go alternative. They are also often bought because of recommendations from teachers who for years have had good stories to tell about the instrument. The Yamaha C40 is the perennial beginner classical guitar, it continues to be highly rated by students and their parents for its good tone and comfortable playability.
It has the main characteristics of a classical guitar including the nut width, scale length, and string height.īy Jason Horton: I have a personal soft-spot for it because it was the Mk I version of the C40 that I initially learned to play guitar on and I'm pleased to see that the MkII version has been rated so highly by today's beginning guitarists, their teachers, and parents. The Yamaha C40 has been an extremely popular beginner / student guitar for decades. The Best Classical & Nylon String GuitarsĪt publication time this was the Highest Rated Nylon String Guitar Under $200. Some of these non-traditional nylon string guitars received high enough ratings to make it to this guide. But there are some manufacturers who release modified versions to better fit the nylon string guitar into other styles like flamenco, pop, Latin, RnB and others. It is still the go-to instrument for many guitar teachers and students, especially for those who are into classical music, hence their continued popularity. Here we feature the best of them, divided into three popular price ranges: sub $200, sub $500, and sub $1000, based on real market feedback, including the most recent reviews and ratings up to late June of 2021.Īll these years after it was developed and first used, the classical guitar still retains a very specific profile and set of specifications, which many manufacturers still adhere to. With a long history that goes back to the 19th century, nylon string guitars are still very much alive today, loved for their distinct tone and playability.