Yamaha Cg 100A Classical Guitar For Sale (2024 Update)

I bought this for my friend that wants to learn how to play the guitar. I chose this for him because it's a nylon string so it wouldn't hurt his fingers which I noticed that most beginners easily gets frustrated when the steel strings hurts their fingers and then stops learning how to play the guitar. The guitar is well made and it looks like that it will last a long time of course with proper care. It's very light weight and compact so it's easy to maintain and store this guitar and also good for traveling.Rome

This Yamaha classical guitar is sold as a 'student' guitar but it's also a great travel size instrument. It's affordable, stays in tune, intonates well and has a great full body sound even though its a 3/4 size guitar. The nylon strings are easier on the fingers than steel strings and are great for someone just starting out. This one arrived with smooth fret ends and played perfectly right out of the box. Yamaha is one of best quality guitar brands, this one proves it.bascorulesright

This was my first time trying out Musiciansfriend. I must say I wish l had I known about them sooner. I bought a guitar for my daughter's lessons. The guitar came well protected in the box. The shipping was super fast and it arrived on time. The color of the guitar is gorgeous – my daughter loves it. The price too was very good compared to other sites. I also bought a case separately and the foot stool which I am happy with. I will definitely be shopping here for all our instrument needs. To top it all off. I received a purchase follow up call from the team at Musicianfriends. It's important to make sure your customers are happy with their purchase or address any questions or concerns.Noma N

I was looking for a good beginner's guitar, and I wanted something with nylon strings. I did a pretty extensive search in order to find an instrument that was relatively inexpensive yet had some degree of quality. I read reviews on this particular model, and most seemed to be pleased. I was able to purchase one that, I'm guessing, had been returned, and I was very pleased with both the reduced price and the condition/quality of the guitar. The guitar itself has a very beautiful and mellow tone. It stays in tune, only requiring minor adjustments from time-to-time. I would not recommend this for young people or those adults with smaller hands, as the neck is somewhat wider than one might expect. All-in-all a very fine instrument for the price.Swewpa

This is the best beginner/student classical guitar there is bar none. It's full size and the intonation is spot on, the tuners (whilst basic) are fully functional and consistent. The bridge saddle has 3rd string compensation and is set to a low-ish action. Putting a new set of EJ45's opens up the sound considerably (don't play with the crappy strings that are on it). Great second or studio guitar for the experienced player. Stick it in a half decent case and you'll have a fantastic holiday guitar for around £150. The spruce soundboard already sounds good and will improve with age. Buy, play it – chuck it about. – it's very well made and robust. Finish is shiny and cleans with a wipe. Buy it today.Warwick M.

We purchased two of these for my pre-teens, who have been studying guitar in school. Both loved the instruments, which match the model they use in school. Nice, clean, warm sound, and clearly well-made instruments.Amy Beee

I purchased this guitar (the cedar version) and have played it for a few years. The action is very smooth from the factory, and the sound is very good for the price point — balanced and mellow, with crisp overtones, allowing one to play expressively. I have compared it with many guitars off the rack, some even costing twice as much (several cordoba models), as well as a friend's spruce topped classical guitar that was slightly more expensive (~$400), and we both agreed this was better. Surprisingly my guitar was both louder and had a more balanced tone despite its top being cedar, a wood which is generally can be quieter than spruce. I'd recommend this to anyone who's looking to buy a first classical guitar new. Unless you spend quite a bit more money or buy a used instrument, I doubt you'll really find a more usable instrument. It makes a perfect instrument to start on (and probably maximizes your bang for buck), and also gives you a good base should you ever want to upgrade (in which it makes sense to skip some of the models of guitars above it and pay the price for a true premium instrument). In my experience yamaha is very consistent and really shines at making guitars in the entry level price range; their quality control is impressive out of the box, whereas some other brands seem to have a broader mix of good and bad units. This model also doesn't make some of the compromises of the guitars in the price range below it, which from my experience just aren't as loud or crisp due to their laminate tops. Lastly, I like the matte finish of this instrument and it looks better in person than in pictures. This is one of the only matte classical guitars I've seen, which makes it somewhat unique. Rather than being overly glossy and perhaps trying to look more expensive than it sounds, like some of the other guitars in this price range, it has its own charm in looking attractive and more modest; other people I know have complimented its finish as well.Louis

Just an outstanding guitar. Tone is just as good as higher priced versions, and the action has been lowered from previous versions. BUT-I would strongly suggest getting the CG122MCH/Red Cedar Top in Matte Finish. It sounded better than the gloss versions, and WAY better than any of the spruce tops of this series! Also, you can spend more for different types of laminate sides, but I wouldn't. This is the best new guitar I have bought for the price, and a nice change from steel string acoustics. I bonded with this guitar from the start and just found music pouring out of it immediately. May upgrade to bone nut and saddle, but the tone already floors me. I checked out several other classical guitars, and this one was better than some $500 models. I liked it more than the popular Cordoba C5, but again, make sure to get a new one in Red Cedar and a Matte finish.Kasey

Im a nylon fingerstyle player, but not essentially a classical player, although I can play some classical pieces albeit badly. At first impression this is a good intermediate classical guitar. With 52mm nut width, at 12th fret neck join and 19 frets in total. So a standard classical Guitar. In fact it is basically a CG 162 with copied tonewood amp technology built in. That's where the criticism of price comes in. You are basically paying 500 pounds for a three hundred pound Guitar. But that was okay for me as I figured that if I bought the CG 162 and then bought the additional tonewood amp the cost would exceed the 500 price point. So I opted for the CGTA instead saved 50 quid and everything is integrated and less fiddly than fitting in a tonewood amp. This Guitar is perfect for me, and just what I wanted. It makes me play more and gives me my ambient tone without the hassle of turning on and plugging into my amp and useing pedals. It will never replace my very expensive Taylor nylon string guitar. Or my pedal board and acoustic amp. But I practice on this every time I walk past it. I dont have any problems switching from a 48mm nut width of a hybrid nylon to the 52mm nut width of a classical guitar. But bear this in mind as you may not like the flatter wider finger board of the standard classical Guitar. The instant ambient sound inspires me to keep playing it over my other guitars as we humans are lazy and choose the road with least resistance and picking up this and pressing a button is far easier than getting out my pedal board and amp. But I would never perform with this. I even take it out in my garden and get a sound I would never have dreamed of getting before. I can take it room to room and still have my ambient tone on tap at the press of a button So yes overpriced for what it is..but .. perfect for me and just what I was looking for.Kerry T.

My daughter plays classical guitar in chamber group and needed amplification to be heard along violins and other loud strings. She also didn't want a cutaway. I went down to mid-town Guitar Center, we tried two, and are happy with the purchase. This was a perfect price point. The next amplified classical acoustic without cutaway was over 1k USD. Also great sound without any amp or onboard preamp. Bright solid sound.Kian T

Let me tell y'all what it is! Lol. I am really into this classical nylon guitar; it is the best nylon guitar I've had in years. Over 20 years ago, I had bought a nylon guitar in Mexico. It was totaled, eventually. But, I've been meaning to get a classic Spanish nylon ever since. This particular model was a gift from my beautiful soon-to-be-wifey! She hit the nail on the head with this axe (she too is a musician). This model, I am really interested in pima, finger style and Huapango, and other Latin variations. My fingers have missed this kind of a fretboard; since I am used to my electric guitars (Ibanez, PRS, Epi.) A most excellent purchase, I strongly recommend it. I love the wood on it. Lol. December 2020.T.A.

This guitar is the replacement for the CG171S that I have. Mine is sitka spruce, while this is european. Prior to owning this guitar I had a couple of Taylor nylon stringed guitars, but when I got this I was pleasantly surprised at the tonal quality and projection. Taylor nylons pale in comparison, and though the nut width is wider, the neck profile is thinner which makes it very comfortable. The only thing that could be better is if it had a solid back & sides, but the solid top is the most important.kats

This was a birthday present for my wife and this did not disappoint. She was very happy and loves playing it. Spunds excellentReviewed by guitarguitar custome

Delivery was amazing! So fast and well packaged. Very happy with the overall quality of my guitar. My one "con" is that the factory nylon strings go out of tune each time I play it. New to classical guitars, so I'm not certain if that is normal? The strings definitely feel more loose than what I've been used to, but I expected this.Kane

Im a nylon fingerstyle player, but not essentially a classical player, although I can play some classical pieces albeit badly. At first impression this is a good intermediate classical guitar. With 52mm nut width, at 12th fret neck join and 19 frets in total. So a standard classical Guitar. In fact it is basically a CG 162 with copied tonewood amp technology built in. That's where the criticism of price comes in. You are basically paying 500 pounds for a three hundred pound Guitar. But that was okay for me as I figured that if I bought the CG 162 and then bought the additional tonewood amp the cost would exceed the 500 price point. So I opted for the CGTA instead saved 50 quid and everything is integrated and less fiddly than fitting in a tonewood amp. This Guitar is perfect for me, and just what I wanted. It makes me play more and gives me my ambient tone without the hassle of turning on and plugging into my amp and useing pedals. It will never replace my very expensive Taylor nylon string guitar. Or my pedal board and acoustic amp. But I practice on this every time I walk past it. I dont have any problems switching from a 48mm nut width of a hybrid nylon to the 52mm nut width of a classical guitar. But bear this in mind as you may not like the flatter wider finger board of the standard classical Guitar. The instant ambient sound inspires me to keep playing it over my other guitars as we humans are lazy and choose the road with least resistance and picking up this and pressing a button is far easier than getting out my pedal board and amp. But I would never perform with this. I even take it out in my garden and get a sound I would never have dreamed of getting before. I can take it room to room and still have my ambient tone on tap at the press of a button So yes overpriced for what it is..but .. perfect for me and just what I was looking for.Kerry T.

My daughter plays classical guitar in chamber group and needed amplification to be heard along violins and other loud strings. She also didn't want a cutaway. I went down to mid-town Guitar Center, we tried two, and are happy with the purchase. This was a perfect price point. The next amplified classical acoustic without cutaway was over 1k USD. Also great sound without any amp or onboard preamp. Bright solid sound.Kian T

Let me tell y'all what it is! Lol. I am really into this classical nylon guitar; it is the best nylon guitar I've had in years. Over 20 years ago, I had bought a nylon guitar in Mexico. It was totaled, eventually. But, I've been meaning to get a classic Spanish nylon ever since. This particular model was a gift from my beautiful soon-to-be-wifey! She hit the nail on the head with this axe (she too is a musician). This model, I am really interested in pima, finger style and Huapango, and other Latin variations. My fingers have missed this kind of a fretboard; since I am used to my electric guitars (Ibanez, PRS, Epi.) A most excellent purchase, I strongly recommend it. I love the wood on it. Lol. December 2020.T.A.

Im a nylon fingerstyle player, but not essentially a classical player, although I can play some classical pieces albeit badly. At first impression this is a good intermediate classical guitar. With 52mm nut width, at 12th fret neck join and 19 frets in total. So a standard classical Guitar. In fact it is basically a CG 162 with copied tonewood amp technology built in. That's where the criticism of price comes in. You are basically paying 500 pounds for a three hundred pound Guitar. But that was okay for me as I figured that if I bought the CG 162 and then bought the additional tonewood amp the cost would exceed the 500 price point. So I opted for the CGTA instead saved 50 quid and everything is integrated and less fiddly than fitting in a tonewood amp. This Guitar is perfect for me, and just what I wanted. It makes me play more and gives me my ambient tone without the hassle of turning on and plugging into my amp and useing pedals. It will never replace my very expensive Taylor nylon string guitar. Or my pedal board and acoustic amp. But I practice on this every time I walk past it. I dont have any problems switching from a 48mm nut width of a hybrid nylon to the 52mm nut width of a classical guitar. But bear this in mind as you may not like the flatter wider finger board of the standard classical Guitar. The instant ambient sound inspires me to keep playing it over my other guitars as we humans are lazy and choose the road with least resistance and picking up this and pressing a button is far easier than getting out my pedal board and amp. But I would never perform with this. I even take it out in my garden and get a sound I would never have dreamed of getting before. I can take it room to room and still have my ambient tone on tap at the press of a button So yes overpriced for what it is..but .. perfect for me and just what I was looking for.Kerry T.

My daughter plays classical guitar in chamber group and needed amplification to be heard along violins and other loud strings. She also didn't want a cutaway. I went down to mid-town Guitar Center, we tried two, and are happy with the purchase. This was a perfect price point. The next amplified classical acoustic without cutaway was over 1k USD. Also great sound without any amp or onboard preamp. Bright solid sound.Kian T

Let me tell y'all what it is! Lol. I am really into this classical nylon guitar; it is the best nylon guitar I've had in years. Over 20 years ago, I had bought a nylon guitar in Mexico. It was totaled, eventually. But, I've been meaning to get a classic Spanish nylon ever since. This particular model was a gift from my beautiful soon-to-be-wifey! She hit the nail on the head with this axe (she too is a musician). This model, I am really interested in pima, finger style and Huapango, and other Latin variations. My fingers have missed this kind of a fretboard; since I am used to my electric guitars (Ibanez, PRS, Epi.) A most excellent purchase, I strongly recommend it. I love the wood on it. Lol. December 2020.T.A.

I've had this for two months now and I'm very very happy with it. There's no reason to pretend that this is a $1000 instrument, but for ~$150 it's a very pleasant beginner instrument. Frets are edges are nicely seated so that you never feel them when playing; instrument stays in tune. Black finish adds a nice touch. Would recommend for anyone curious about classical guitar on a tight budget.Brennan V

I bought this guitar years ago while living in LA and loved it. Great warm tone and nice resonance throughout the body. It just feels good to play. I gave it to a friend when I moved across the country to NYC. I couldn't justify moving with 3 guitars, 2 ukuleles, an accordion, & more. Something had to go, and since this guitar is cheap, this was the one. Here I am buying it again 6 years later and it's just as nice as I remember. I love that it's a more sunny yellow than most other guitars as well. Just all around a good guitar. I debated ordering nicer strings along with it but decided not too. After playing, I'm happy with the sound of the factory strings.Claire

I have always played steel string guitars. I have always wanted a classical but didn't want to dive deep into my wallet. My wife picked this up for me one year for Christmas. I play it everyday, great little guitar for the money.Ian Richardson

I bought this guitar to check out a budget friendly offering from Yamaha. I have to say I was not disappointed! Excellent tone and volume, the top really resonates. The guitar was really well setup right out of the box. It needed about 3/4 of a clockwise truss rod adjustment, no prob. Other than that it didn't need any fret dressing whatsoever. That's really impressive for a Chinese guitar. Heck even one of my Mexican Martins needed fret dressing out of the box! Also intonation was spot on and this also is important in your guitar. Very impressed with this guitar, intermediate/advanced feel but priced at a beginner budget. You won't regret picking one up, I assure you!Big Bone Murphy

There is a point of quality when an instrument reaches when it stops being seen as "better or worse" but rather just a different flavor. This Yamaha has reached that point. You can play it alongside a guitar costing 5x more and it stands up well. Yamaha is also one of those rare companies with a long history of top quality across all kinds of products, and guitars are an area Yamaha knows well. This is just a beautiful guitar through and throughout. You can get beautiful uncompromisingly great studio recordings with this guitar. Hitting the low strings hard with strumming gives a nice deep and rich tone. Also, the hardware / tuners are nice.Scott

I've owned many acoustics over the years, MANY, and this Yamaha is one of the best sounding I've ever owned. Went to GC just to check out a few lower end acoustics to pick up for jamming on, and tried almost every one in the room. Picked this one up last just before I was ready to leave, and immediately was blown away by the sound and playability, brought a couple friends to listen and tell me which one they thought sounded the best, and hands down this won over all of them. It has the tone and warmth of a Martin D34, which I have owned a few, and it plays like a dream. The neck is so sliky smooth, easy to fly up and down with no effort. It has amazing sustain and beautiful tone, I fell in love with it and just couldn't put it down. I didn't expect a guitar of this price range to sound as good as it does, got it home and I couldn't put it down. Played for 4 hours straight, and even after trying to put it down to go to bed at 1am I found myself playing a for a few more minutes before I could actually go to sleep. Love this Yamaha more than any guitar I've bought in the last decade. The best thing about it is, It gave me the desire to pick up playing guitar again, after hardly touching any of my other guitars for almost a year it's the one I want to play more than all of them. Great guitar, wouldn't hesitate to buy another in a different color, if you want something that you won't be able to put down this baby has the sound and feel your looking for.Johnny D

I am a professional musician/songwriter (also a Berklee grad-1981). While guitar is not the principal instrument I was trained on (piano/keyboard are my primary), I have been playing guitar on and off since I was a teen back in the 1970s. However, over the last couple of years I've been putting a lot more dedicated practice time on improving my guitar skills for both for songwriting and solo guitar playing. I've been particularly focused mastering the layout of the guitar fretboard so I can put all my harmonic knowledge to work on the instrument, something I wish I did many years ago, but better late than never! I purchased this guitar because I wanted an instrument that was reasonable, easy to play, and enjoyable to listen to. I tried guitars in a variety of price ranges and was surprised at how much more I liked the F335 than guitars 2-3xs more costly. Although this guitar has a laminate rather than solid spruce top, it has a clear yet warm sound that I find really pleasing sonically. The fretboard is also very comfortable and easy to play which adds to the enjoyment of making music with it. I was so impressed with this instrument that I recently also purchased a Yamaha FS800 to use more for fingerstyle playing while using the F335 for flat picking. Those are a nice combination of instruments that cover all my guitar playing needs at this time. Regardless of what level you are playing I highly recommend this (and the FS800) for anyone looking for a very reasonable option that you can use for playing and songwriting.Scott F.

First of all, I own 2 Yamaha Guitars, the F335 being the first one I have owned. For an entry-level dred, you could not ask for a better quality, easy to play right out of the box, althought I would recommend a set-up with any instrument right out of the box with the addition of a bone saddle. Did this with this one and it brought its already rich tone to another level. I only give it 4 stars because I have owned a number of high-end instruments. If you are a brand new player, or one who is in the market just to have a dred to beat around with, look no further. This is the one for you.Chris

I purchased this guitar while it was on sale so can't really complain. There are several QC issues I would expect better from Yamaha even in a cheap imported product. Fit and overall build seems solid but there are odd finish issues that make no sense. At the neck joint there seems to be the remains of a tape line from the body to the neck all around the joint. This neck feels quite thin and comfortable but again, the finish is inconsistent. Just before the headstock, the finish goes from semi-gloss to mat in a very visible way that can also be felt in the hand. As I said in the beginning, cheap guitar, cheap price, hard to complain.Robert

I wanted a smaller acoustic electric thats a little better than a starter guitar, something I could enjoy as my skills grow, and keep for years; something I can play by the campfire on weekend trips and not worry about having to pamper it. I read many, many reviews and listened to experts on YouTube play and compare. I bought this Ibanez and have been really pleased. All the reviews were on target and there were no surprises. The factory strings arent terrific but deliver a decent sound; there is no manual or even a gig case that comes with the guitar, but I found the perfect sized used hard case on Letgo for $20 and a used starter amp as well. I am all set up for under $360. Dont spend good $ on new cases and accessories. There is a huge local market to tap into through Letgo and OfferUp. I didnt want to buy the guitar used since Im still a beginner and wanted to play right away and be able to return if not satisfied. I think I made a good choice. The sound is good, better than expected for a thin instrument on the non-amplified setting, and think it will only improve with usage and better strings, which is what many experts say. Amplified, the sound is crisp, clear and delivers as promised. Its a lovely guitar; the dark finish is deep and beautiful, not atall a factory look like the ubiquitous blonde Yamaha starter guitar of my youth. I am not crazy about the gold-look hardware, which I think cheapens the otherwise excellent quality of the build… but that can be upgraded to chrome if I still dislike it next year. (Ill make it a goal reward for myself when I reach my next skill level). Otherwise, the look and feel of my guitar is outstanding, and Im playing regularly (which is, after all, the mark of a successful guitar purchase, no?)caroly-98

I noticed, while shopping for this guitar, that there are a number of very similar models out there. Most were more expensive, with different woods and very subtle differences. But, what kept me coming back to the Ibanez was the sound plugged in. Nothing else, regardless of cost, sounded as realistic as this does. I wanted a guitar that sounded "classical" amplified. and this did just that. Throw in the excellent fit and finish, this thing is beautiful, and you have a winner all the way around.D.Munson

Light weight guitar that sounds pretty darn good with an amp. It boasts a rich beautiful color in the light with really nice detail. Pretty decent sound for a streamline guitar. Your not going to get a deep sound but this a great piece to travel and practice with. Having a built in tuner is awesome! Also has bass and treble controls. I hooked it up to my home stereo through the stereo's amp and it really sounded sweet. I would highly recommend this guitar for anyone at this great price!TRACY

This was my upgrade from a Lucero 150se and what a difference it made. In terms of playability there's no comparison, the Cordoba is superior in every way. Start with the tuners/nut which are perfectly smooth allowing you to make small adjustments even on steel strings. Playing the Cordoba is simply easier and there were things I could not do well on the Lucero due to the thickness of the wood neck. Mind you I'm not talking about the nut width which is 50mm on both, I'm talking the actual thickness of the wood neck itself below the fret board. The slimmer profile of the Cordoba meant reaching certain chords easier, changing chords faster, and giving my hands the ability to put pressure when needed. The factory strings on the Cordoba appear to be superior as well although I would still upgrade them if you can afford it; the steel strings on the Lucero wore out at about 85hrs. No fret noise of any kind on the Cordoba (so long as you play the chord right) whereas on the Lucero I would get buzzing on frets 5 & 6 from both 5th and 4th strings with anything other than light strumming, even with perfect finger placement. The sound of the Cordoba is more sharp, crisp, and clear than the Lucero. My only con is that the shallower body does create a slightly more "twangy" sound than I'm used to but its a negligible difference I quickly settled with in exchange for the other qualities. You get what you pay for. This is a very solid guitar for the price. I would recommend nothing less for serious beginners.Joe T

I mostly play rock/popular music gigs but wanted a classical nylon guitar for that particular sound on home recording projects. I researched intermediate level guitars and thought I'd found what I wanted when I chanced on a review of the Cordoba C7 and decided to spend a little more and go with that. I haven't been disappointed. The build quality and tone have been worth that little extra. It would have been nice if a gig bag was included to give it some protection but it wasn't a deal breaker.David

I had a misconception regarding this brand. The only Cordoba's I noticed in stock at the store were inexpensive ukuleles. So when I began the search for a proper classical guitar, Cordoba was nowhere on my list. I ordered a used european built guitar by a reputable brand. It arrived with a bad up-bow in the neck. That's when I learned that traditional classical guitars have no truss rod. (Just my opinion, but wood isn't what it used to be, and you aren't going to get an instrument built with old growth timber under several thousand dollars.) So began my search for a "traditional classical guitar", but with a truss rod. That google search led straight to Cordoba. (All their models have truss rods.) I ordered a C7 (built in China) and a 45CO (built in Spain) to see what this brand was about. It would be a battle royale for build and sound quality. The loser is… my bank account, because I'd like to keep both. The two have a different build and likewise a different feel and sound. (see Cordoba's website for details.) Fit and finish is impeccable on both guitars. The C7 projects more, while the 45CO has perhaps a slightly more refined tone. My past experience has been that nylon string guitars are difficult to play, have poor intonation and need to be tuned more than played. None of that is the case with these two. My steel string acoustic and electrics are collecting dust while I obsess over this genre of guitar. My conclusion is… classical guitars are awesome, and Cordoba should definitely be on your test drive list. What I received are well priced instruments that are not only well made but intoxicatingly fun to play.JRH

I have played guitars in this price range and have never been impressed until this guitar came out. I played it because I know Yamaha will not put their name on just anything. Wow was I amazed! My first guitar, which brand shall go unmentioned, was priced around $330-350. No way did it even come close to the warmth of the low strings or the snappy nylon sound of the high strings like this one does. My guitar also did not come with a bag or any sort of instructional items. Such a great buy! I am hands on reviewer, Sam Ash #41Wingman

I have several guitars of diffent styles but was lacking a nylon acoustic. I wanted to study some classical and flamenco music. I didn't want to make a huge purchase on something I wasn't going to get extremely invested in, so my guitar teacher recommended the Yamaha C40 Gigmaker. It is perfect! It's been several months now and still plays and sounds great. An amazing value for the dollar. So every now and again when I get the itch, it's there and ready for me. Whether this is for a beginner, a student or someone like me who just wants to add a nylon to the arsenal, there's no need to look further than this.Douglas

Fantastic for anyone younger showing interest in guitar. This Yamaha pack has everything for the beginning classical guitarist. Tuner and DVD are sure to get you on your way. Fantastic product at a great price that only Yamaha can offer. Does include Gig Bag, providing immediate protection from the elements. Great for beginners, but also anyone needing a spare classical at home. Included tuner makes sure you're always ready to play. This is a real hands on review from Christian @ Sam As.h ColumbusThe Riffer

This was a birthday present for my wife and this did not disappoint. She was very happy and loves playing it. Spunds excellentReviewed by guitarguitar custome

I upgraded from a Yamaha CG162 to this guitar a couple of months ago. The price difference is significant but worth it. With the extra money you are getting a very high quality guitar that plays well, and sounds amazing. The first thing I noticed was how much lighter the GC12 is, and how finely it's put together. The second thing I noticed was how much richer and fuller the sound is. The guitar body vibrates and hums. It's a really big step up in quality. All solid wood at this price is really nice too. The ebony fretboard is really smooth and deep black with no marks or imperfections of any kind. I passed on the spruce top and ordered the cedar based on the reviews here. The cedar is very full sounding, and projects nicely. Very happy I bought this guitar.Tony

This is the guitar for when you're ready to leave all those beginner guitars behind. The guitar is clear and crisp and snaps in the trebles, and has a beautiful tight low end. Quality tuners and built extremely well. I have three pieces of advice if you buy this guitar: 1. Get an arched back hardshell case. The case that comes with the guitar is really nice and lightweight, but I just don't trust all of these zippered polyfoam cases on the market right now. 2. Replace the factory strings with high tension strings. D'Addario 46s are great. 3. Get the cedar top version. You could shell out about twice as much for the GC32, and never have to buy another guitar again, if you have the money. But the GC12C is a really nice guitar on it's own.Green Leaf

Yamaha's equivilant to the Cordoba C9, both with solid mahogany back and sides and solid spruce or cedar top. I've played both. The Yamaha is a much better instrument all around, and sounds and plays like a dream. VERY refined tone. Cordoba likes to put heavy truss rods in their guitars, for some unknown reason. It makes the guitar heavy and awkward, and you will never ever adjust it. The cedar is much nicer than the spruce, by the way. This guitar is NOT bass heavy, or "favor the lower registers" as some reviewers have said. That's a general statement for cedar/mahogany, and does not apply to the GC12 cedar. This guitar sparkles in the trebles, and has a tight, refined tone in the bass. Put on high tension strings and lower the action, which is too high from the factory, as on most guitars. If you can't afford a 5,000 – 10,000 guitar, but want a very high quality factory made instrument, go for this. Another reviewer is right in that the rosewood models (GC22 and up) are not worth the extra money, in my opinion.Arlene

I've owned this Takamine TC135SC Classical 24-Fret Cutaway guitar for six months now and I decided to let patential buyers get an opinion on it. All I have to say about this guitar is GOOD things. I was surprized at the guitars weight at first for the Preamp is heavy duty carrying 4 AA batteries. Since that very first impression everytime I pick up this guitar the warth builds and I am amazed each time I hit an open position E maj chord how balanced and smooth yet bright and warm this guitar is. I can get lost playing for hours up and down the 24 frets and wouldnt think of trading in or ever upgrading this to something different. I play mostly Flamenco with a lot of attack. If you want to have a subtle Classical guitar I wouldnt suggest this for a lot of sound is sacrificed by the preamp and cutaway even though I feel that the over all tone and volume is fantastic. CheersConner-dOoDL

I have a Taylor 814CE V Class and am hard to please with the sound quality of acoustic guitars. The Taylor has been my standard. I wanted a nylon string acoustic with a nut width close to my Taylor steel string.The Takamine TC135SC seemed to fit the bill. I v continue to be very please with the sound, play-ability and beautiful craftsmanship of the Takamine. Don't hesitate to buy one.Tom

This guitar is the replacement for the CG171S that I have. Mine is sitka spruce, while this is european. Prior to owning this guitar I had a couple of Taylor nylon stringed guitars, but when I got this I was pleasantly surprised at the tonal quality and projection. Taylor nylons pale in comparison, and though the nut width is wider, the neck profile is thinner which makes it very comfortable. The only thing that could be better is if it had a solid back & sides, but the solid top is the most important.kats

This is an excellent classical guitar. I bought it, because I wondered if Yamaha GC42C would be as large an improvement over my GC31C as the latter was over my old CG180SA. I was not disappointed! However, it's a judgment call whether the price tag is worth it, since the more affordable GC31C in my opinion would satisfy the demands of even the most demanding guitar student. The American cedar top on the 42 model has a wood grain visibly finer than that on the 31 model. This contributes to the slightly better (by 1 to 2 sec.) note sustain and slightly darker, deeper and richer tone of the 42 model compared to the 31 model. The difference, though, is clearly perceptible only if you play one of the models right after the other. The workmanship and finish are impeccable. The guitar sounds great even in rooms with poor acoustic. In addition to the guitars, I have owned various Baroque woodwind and Clavinova instruments by Yamaha for over 30 years. If you're a serious/advanced classical guitar student and trust the company as I do, consider acquiring her majesty GC82 ($10 000) in spruce or cedar. Otherwise, buy GC42 (I lucked out with a barely used one at $3200). If you are "serious but not THAT serious", purchase Yamaha GC31 ($1500). You won't be disappointed regardless of your choice. On the negative side, the GC42 and GC31 series guitars come with handsome, but only semi-hard, cases and sport quite decent, but not the greatest, standard Yamaha tuning machines. Upgrading both can become pricey. All in all, the GC42 is certain to make you practice longer and with greater joy, for the guitar is quite a beauty.amx521

This truly is a concert level guitar at a great price. Volume is an important factor in determining if a guitar is "Concert level" and this guitar has plenty. It can be played very softly or powered through while maintaining clarity. It also has long sustain and rich overtones. The finish is a very thin layer of polyester. If I had been told it was polyester, I would not have known. The workmanship is impeccable. Having owned individual luthier made guitars, I can honestly say that this is just a good, if not extremely close. Having played the gc82c and gc42c side by side, I can say that the gc42c comes very, very close to the gc82c. The average person will not be able to tell the difference. I highly recommend this guitar to anyone that wants a concert level instrument at a lower price.JE

I practice classical guitar an average of 3 hours a day, and this has proven to be a very reliable instrument. I got it a couple of weeks ago and seems like the spruce top is beginning to gain a little more openness in sound a volume. I played on a Spanish cedar top before, and cedar will deliver the same tone from the beginning. Happy with my purchase so far. I did get the 2 year warranty. I live in El Paso so I'm keeping two humidifiers in the case and one in the guitar.Angel