So you’ve been thinking about it for a few weeks or days now. The idea has been lingering in your brain, and you can’t help but get excited every time you think about it. You’ve watched some videos or heard some music that just spoke to you, and you have finally come to the conclusion that you need to get a classical guitar.
Or maybe you’re on the other side of the fence. You’ve been a guitarist for a while now, but you only play the electric or acoustic guitar, and now you want to explore the world of classical guitar. Regardless of where you’re at, this page will definitely help you out. I’ll start this article by jumping straight into reviews on the best classical guitar at each price point, but if you want to learn more about them before reading reviews, we have put together an in-depth classical guitar information guide at the bottom of the page.
Name of Product | Image of Product | Description | Price Range | Full Review |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. Yamaha NTX700 (Best Under $500) | Strings: 6 Fret Count: 18 | $500 | Read Full Review Below | |
2. Cordoba C9 Parlor Small Body Classical Guitar (Best Under $1000) | Strings: 6 Fret Count: 19 | $900 | Read Full Review Below | |
3. Lucero LC100 Classical Guitar (Budget Pick) | Strings: 6 Fret Count: 18 | $150 | Read Full Review Below | |
4. Kremona Solea Artist Series (Editor's Choice) | Strings: 6 Fret Count: 19 | $1800 | Read Full Review Below | |
5. Cordoba C5 Nylon String Acoustic Guitar (Best Under $400) | Strings: 6 Fret Count: 19 | $350 | Read Full Review Below | |
6. Lyons Classroom Guitar (Best Under $100) | Strings: 6 Fret Count: 19 | $75 | Read Full Review Below | |
7. Yamaha NCX2000FM Electro-Classical Guitar | Strings: 6 Fret Count: 19 | $3000 | Read Full Review Below | |
8. Lucero LC100CE Acoustic-Electric Classical Guitar | Strings: 6 Fret Count: 18/12 | $220 | Read Full Review Below | |
9. Lucero LC150Sce | Strings: 6 Fret Count: 18 | $320 | Read Full Review Below | |
10. Cordoba C5-CE Nylon String Acoustic-Electric Guitar | Strings: 6 Fret Count: 19 | $460 | Read Full Review Below | |
11. Kremona Fiesta FC Classical Acoustic Guitar | Strings: 6 Fret Count: 19 | $900 | Read Full Review Below | |
12. Kremona Soloist S65C Classical Guitar | Strings: 6 Fret Count: 19 | $390 | Read Full Review Below | |
13. Alvarez Artist Series AC65CE | Strings: 6 Fret Count: 19 | $500 | Read Full Review Below | |
14. Alvarez Artist Series AC65HCE | Strings: 6 Fret Count: 19 | $430 | Read Full Review Below | |
15. Yamaha CGS Student Classical Guitar | Strings: 6 Fret Count: 18 | $130 | Read Full Review Below | |
16. Yamaha C40II Full Scale Classical Natural | Strings: 6 Fret Count: 18 | $150 | Read Full Review Below | |
17. Cordoba C3M, Nylon String Acoustic Guitar | Strings: 6 Fret Count: 19 | $250 | Read Full Review Below | |
18. Cordoba C1M Acoustic Nylon String Guitar | Strings: 6 Fret Count: 19 | $160 | Read Full Review Below | |
19. Yamaha CGS103AII 3/4-Scale Classical | Strings: 6 Fret Count: 18 | $140 | Read Full Review Below | |
20. Yamaha CG172SF Classical | Strings: 6 Fret Count: 18 | $380 | Read Full Review Below | |
21. Washburn Classical C64SCE Natural | Strings: 6 Fret Count: 19 | $360 | Read Full Review Below |
Here Are the Best Classical Guitars
1. Yamaha NTX700 Acoustic-Electric Classical Guitar (Best Under $500)
Estimated Price | $500 |
Strings | 6 |
String Type | Nylon |
Body Style | Classical Cutaway |
Top | Solid Spruce |
Back | Nato |
Sides | Nato |
Neck | Nato |
Fingerboard | Rosewood |
My Review: The Yamaha NTX line comes with a thinner body and narrow neck design and a body cutaway that makes it comfortable and easy to play. The solid spruce top, nato back, neck, and sides deliver balanced and warm sounds. The NTX700 has an incredible volume range and sports the signature A.R.E (Acoustic Resonance Enhancement) from Yamaha. The wood reforming technology that gives the wood a pristine acoustic property is known to give off sounds and tones that are rich and clear. It also utilizes Yamaha’s well-known ART (Acoustic Resonance Transducer) with a system 61 preamp featuring a 3 band EQ for excellent sound manipulation. Yes, this guitar has got quite the bells and whistles to effectively give you the exact sound you want.
Target Customer: Any guitar player who loves the high action play of an acoustic-electrical guitar. It’s great for beginners and experienced players alike. Players will be really excited with its over the top enhancements.
Bottom Line: The overall value here is remarkable. Even at a very affordable price, it delivers rich and crisp sounds, and when you buy an acoustic-electric guitar with this level of quality, you won’t need to worry about a replacement for quite some time.
2. Cordoba C9 Parlor Small Body Classical Guitar (Best Under $1000)
Estimated Price | $900 |
Strings | 6 |
String Type | Classical |
Body Style | Solid Canadian Cedar |
Top | Solid Mahogany |
Back | Solid Mahogany |
Sides | Solid Mahogany |
Neck | Rosewood |
Fingerboard | Rosewood |
My Review: The Cordoba C9 Parlour steps up the game to bridge the point between comfort and size while maintaining a high level of performance. For the players looking for a sleek feel and comfortable guitar to play, the Cordoba C9 Parlour does the trick. It has an all solid-wood construction featuring a Canadian cedar top, mahogany back and sides, 7/8 body size, and the Cordoba traditional fan bracing pattern. Its beauty is rivaled by its performance as the body is superbly designed for not just beauty but quality performance. The traditional bracing pattern for example provides the center of the soundboard more surface area to respond beautifully and vibrate to the tension of the strings. This gives the sounds more power projection and a well-balanced tone.
Target Customer: The Cordoba C9 Parlour is an all-round versatile musical instrument for all level players. Beginners or experienced. The price will set you back a bit as it’s not your regular type of guitar. For those who are not on a tight budget, I do recommend the Cordoba C9 Parlour but for those with tight budgets, there are still great options for you out there.
Bottom Line: Expert quality guaranteed from the Cordoba C9 Parlour. The price is suitable for its incredible performance and may be out of range for some people but for those who can afford it, you will surely not be disappointed when you purchase one. I love this guitar and in my opinion, it is the best classical guitar under 1000 dollars.
3. Lucero LC100 Classical Guitar (Budget Pick)
Estimated Price | $150 |
Strings | 6 |
Fret Count | 18 |
Body Style | Classical |
Top | Laminated Spruce |
Back | Mahogany |
Sides | Mahogany |
Neck | Mahogany |
Fingerboard | Select Hardwood |
My Review: Easy to handle and a beautiful instrument for a beginner, the Lucero LC100 Classical Guitar features a laminated spruce top with a mahogany back and sides. For those with a keen curiosity about classical guitars, I will say that this guitar will go the long way to quench that curiosity being a good entry level guitar with its learner design. Cheap and good quality are rare findings but it seems this guitar puts the two together perfectly offering that deep rich classical sound and a durable build while remaining balanced in weight and expense.
Target Customer: With its simple build and easy handling, the Lucero LC100 Classical Guitar is a learner’s guitar. If you are a beginner who is interested in venturing into the classical guitar space and is on a budget, this guitar is for you. It is cheap but good enough as a first guitar to get you into the classical game.
Bottom Line: It is not super great but it is good, especially when you think of it mainly as a guitar for beginners. For its price, It is the perfect beginner classical guitar for or for those simply looking for a cheap practice guitar. The Lucero LC100 does boast a solid construction that should give it a decent lifespan long enough to rise from a learner to an experienced player, ready for a guitar with a bit more spunk which will definitely come at a higher price of course.
Popular Related Article: Easiest Classical Guitar Songs for Beginners
4. Kremona Solea Artist Series (Editor’s Choice)
Estimated Price | $1800 |
Strings | 6 |
Fret Count | 19 |
Body Style | Flat Top with no Cutaway |
Top | Solid Western Cedar |
Back | Solid Cocobolo |
Sides | Solid Cocobolo |
Neck | Honduran Cedar |
Fingerboard | Indian Ebony |
My Review: Sporting a Honduras cedar neck, ebony fingerboard, and bridge, the Kremona Solea is an art piece as much as a music making master. Hosting a solid cedar top with cocobolo back and sides, the Solea delivers some amazing strong bass and impressive responsive zest in the treble. Playing it is an incredible joy and overall I have loved playing this guitar. It produces rich full sounds with powerful projection that will leave you in awe. The guitar is completed with an ultra-thin gloss finish and tips off its prowess with a carved ebony headstock overlay, bone saddle, and nut, fine rosewood with maple body binding and sleek black accents that top of the artistry. Designed by handcrafting artists in Bulgaria who have been churning out some of the world’s best guitars for over 80 years, The Kremona Solea Artist Series Nylon String Guitar shines in the essence of the music it produces. Performing the very thing it was built for. Mesmerizing music.
Target Customer: The Kremona Solea sets itself as the perfect guitar for performance play or a refreshing everyday play with the stars. If you are an artist or an avid guitar enthusiast who enjoys the play of the guitar as much as the beauty, the Kremona Solea’s sleek and elegant flashy style is sure to make a statement whilst performing.
Bottom Line: Easy to play, good handling with rich full sounds and beautiful well balanced tones, the Kremona Solea with its solid craftsmanship and select well-picked woods is sure to satisfy the hunger of those in search of an impeccably designed nylon string guitar and its superior sound quality.
5. Cordoba C5 Nylon String Acoustic Guitar (Best Under $400)
Estimated Price | $350 |
Strings | 6 |
String Type | Nylon |
Body Style | No Cutaway |
Top | Canadian Cedar |
Back | Mahogany |
Sides | Mahogany |
Neck | Mahogany |
Fingerboard | Rosewood |
My Review: The Cordoba holds a pristine reputation and I do say the Cordoba C5 is a name that delivers with its immaculate sounds. Showing off a handmade traditional design with a beautiful mahogany back and sides being crowned with a cedar top, this guitar is quite the sight delivering its beauty in excellent detail. The sounds it delivers from its classic Spanish body are a joy to listen to.
Target Customer: The Cordoba C5 is fashioned for the traditional classical lover or for those who simply want a new acoustic guitar. Beginners can manage the Cordoba C5 with its lightweight design and experienced players will appreciate the way its beauty and fresh tones show off the craftsmanship.
Bottom Line: This is a budget guitar and has no problem in delivering what it was built for. This is a well-made guitar and easily one of the best classical guitars for the money.
Related Article: Our Favorite Guitars Made in America
6. Lyons Classroom Guitar (Best Under $100)
Estimated Price | $75 |
Strings | 6 |
String Type | Nylon |
Fret Count | 19 |
Top | Laminated Spruce |
Finish | Simple Gloss |
My Review: The cheapest guitar on our list is the Lyons Classroom guitar. This is a simple entry guitar for students and not of super great quality but it is good for its purpose. Helping learners to become classical experienced guitarists. Its design is a clean aesthetic look that gives a clear surface appearance for learning and no distractions I should say. Other than that, it really isn’t much to write home about. It does produce decent sounds though not superbly great but will do the job as intended.
Target Customer: Entry level beginners to the classical guitar landscape. For its price, I will say it’s more of a testing phase guitar for those who are not really sure if the classical guitar landscape is their thing.
Bottom Line: Very cheap for a first guitar especially for kids who show some interest in classical guitars and is, therefore, a good recommendation on that basis. The Lyon Classroom Classical Guitar is to help usher in people who have an interest in the guitar musical space.
7. Yamaha NCX2000FM Electro-Classical Guitar
Estimated Price | $3000 |
Strings | 6 |
Fret Count | 19 |
Body Style | Classical |
Top | Solid Hokkaido Spruce A.R.E |
Back | Solid Flamed Maple |
Sides | Solid Flamed Maple |
Neck | African Mahogany |
Fingerboard | Rosewood and Ebony |
My Review: From the prestigious NCX line comes the NCX2000FM Electro-Classical Guitar in a lovely cutaway body and low string height which gives more flexible playability. This design allows the NCX2000FM to be a versatile guitar that can enable not only classical guitarists but other guitarists with numerous play styles ranging from Flamenco to Latin to Popular and various other forms. Boasting advanced Yamaha electronics that mold the sounds into perfection from the faintest whisper from the nylon tone strings. The top of the line feature-rich electronics system includes A.R.T(Acoustic Resonance Transducer) Pickup responsible for the impressive sound quality and feedback rejection. This produces a dynamic nylon string tone carefully balanced to the natural body sound enhanced by conventional contact pickup mounted underneath the saddle for free vibrations. Let us not forget the added bonus of the built-in 3 band EQ delivering powerful sound shaping.
Target Customer: If you are a beginner, I would not recommend it as the Yamaha NCX2000FM is not the ideal beginner guitar. It will work for a beginner’s purpose but will thrive more with a more experienced player. The price is also one thing to think about as this is not your average price guitar. For those with a budget saved for this particular instrument.
Bottom Line: This is a top of the line Yamaha product. Incorporated within its design and construction is all the best Yamaha has to offer from its superbly advanced electronics to the premium materials used. The result is an exquisite musical instrument that delivers handsomely on the promise of its engineering. Very pricey for some but considering all the contents that come with this delightful package, the price is definitely worth every penny.
Related Article: Our Favorite Mics for Recording Acoustic Guitars
8. Lucero LC100CE Acoustic-Electric Cutaway Classical Guitar
Estimated Price | $220 |
Strings | 6 |
Fret Count | 18/12 |
Body Style | Classical Cutaway |
Top | Laminated Spruce |
Back | Mahogany |
Finish | Natural Gloss |
Neck | Mahogany |
Fingerboard | Rosewood |
My Review: The Lucero LC100CE Acoustic-Electric Cutaway is a versatile performance guitar with its well-engineered built-in electronics system and a full fingerboard access by way of the cutaway, It holds up well in its class. It is beautiful to look at and even more so to play and sounds very good especially for a guitar with its price point which makes it a very affordable buy.
Target Customer: Good for experienced players and great for beginners. This guitar is a pleasurable fit for classical players not looking to break a budget. Its rich undiluted tones when plugged in also serves as a good fit for those interested in performing with it.
Bottom Line: This guitar is definitely a good recommendation for those looking for an inexpensive acoustic-electric. It has a good hardware build with a clean sweet finish, nice sound projection, and a simple great overall tone quality. The price point didn’t skip over the quality and that is a major plus.
9. Lucero LC150Sce Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Estimated Price | $320 |
Strings | 6 |
Fret count | 18 |
Body Style | Comfort Cutaway |
Top | Solid Spruce |
Back | Striped Sapele |
Sides | Striped Sapele |
Preamp | Fishman Clasica III Preamp |
Tuners | White Ivoroid Regal |
My Review: Combining some of the best designs and quality Lucero has to offer, the Lucero LC150Sce Spruce/Sapele Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Classical Guitar makes it a point to stand out. Its premium Fishman Clasica III preamp boasts 3 EQ bands and a fine built-in tuner. It produces elegant sounds and does not disappoint. I will say its packaging may need a little work and some may find the neck a bit big but these do not make a deal breaker compared to its fine craftsmanship, lightweight body, and easy handling.
Target Customer: Lucero has proved time and time again to provide beautifully made guitars for all levels of players but more for beginners than experienced players. The Lucero LC150Sce Spruce/Sapele Cutaway Acoustic-Electric Classical Guitar captures and delivers this concept. For beginners, it’s a very good buy, and students will love its low action and overall playability.
Bottom Line: This is a well-made guitar and a good value for the price. One can decide to get a more expensive option but this guitar does the job perfectly for less. Decent tones and a pleasure to play, the guitar is a good value steal.
Related Article: Guitar Neck Shapes Explained
10. Cordoba C5-CE Nylon String Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Estimated Price | $460 |
Strings | 6 |
String Type | Nylon |
Body Style | Single Cutaway |
Top | Solid Canadian Cedar |
Back | Mahogany |
Sides | Mahogany |
Neck | Mahogany |
Fingerboard | Rosewood |
My Review: The Cordoba C5-CE gives off a lively presence with its mahogany back and sides and a solid Canadian red cedar top. For beginners or experienced players, the Cordoba C5-CE is not just pleasurable to look at but handles well and plays well. The neck is made thin for easy access to the upper frets which is further enhanced by the cutaway design. I do like the built-in Fishman Isys+ pickup system which delivers nice plugged in tones and picks up the softest tone while playing.
Target Customer: The Cordoba C5-CE is a great buy for beginners or hobbyists. The price may be a bit much for most people but if you are not on a strict budget, the Cordoba C5-CE is a good value buy.
Bottom Line: Not super perfect but it is great and of super value. It’s a quality musical instrument that puts most of its related class to shame. This guitar is a good recommendation and will definitely treat you to fresh deep sounds.
11. Kremona Fiesta FC Classical Acoustic Guitar
Estimated Price | $900 |
Strings | 6 |
String Type | Nylon |
Body Style | No Cutaway |
Top | Red Cedar Solid Top |
Back | Solid Indian Rosewood |
Sides | Solid Indian Rosewood |
Neck | Honduras Cedar |
Fingerboard | Indian Rosewood |
My Review: Entirely handcrafted out of carefully selected solid tonewoods, the Kremona Fiesta FC is an impressive masterpiece. It has a solid red cedar top with Indian rosewood back and sides. A Honduras cedar neck adds to the allure of this magnificent guitar. The sounds of the Fiesta FC are rich and bold and resonate with you on an intimate level. Its solid body construction allows the guitar to grow in sound as it ages and boosts its overall loudness.
Target Customer: Crafted by Kremona’s most experienced luthiers, the Fiesta FC is a special guitar for players looking for a lively musical instrument. This is a top of the line guitar for those interested in some of the very best guitars out there to buy and will not disappoint in the slightest as its rich sleek sounds produce crystal clear music.
Bottom Line: With its impressive craftsmanship, the Kremona Fiesta FC is a guitar that excels at doing exactly what it’s built for. Producing the very best of sounds. This is not a budget-friendly guitar as its a wallet breaker but the price spells out the build quality and the perfection it can deliver.
Related Article: Explanation of the Types of Acoustic Guitars
12. Kremona Soloist S65C Classical Acoustic Guitar
Estimated Price | $400 |
Strings | 6 |
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My name is Chris and I’ve had a passion for music and guitars for as long as I can remember. I started this website with some of my friends who are musicians, music teachers, gear heads, and music enthusiasts so we could provide high-quality guitar and music-related content.
I’ve been playing guitar since I was 13 years old and am an avid collector. Amps, pedals, guitars, bass, drums, microphones, studio, and recording gear, I love it all.
I was born and raised in Western Pennsylvania. My background is in Electrical Engineering, earning a Bachelor’s degree from Youngstown State University. With my engineering experience, I’ve developed as a designer of guitar amplifiers and effects. A true passion of mine, I’ve designed, built, and repaired a wide range of guitar amps and electronics. Here at the Guitar Lobby, our aim is to share our passion for Music and gear with the rest of the music community.