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Washburn C5CE Classical Nylon String Acoustic-Electric Guitar - Natural Reviews

6-string Acoustic-electric Nylon-string Classical Guitar with Catalpa Back and Sides, Spruce Top, Mahogany Neck, and Engineered Wood Fingerboard - Natural

Get the mellow sound of nylon strings with the Washburn C5CE acoustic-electric classical guitar. The select spruce top and catalpa back and sides deliver warm tones with great projection. A comfortable mahogany neck and engineered wood fretboard offer an ideal shape, width, and string spacing for the classical player. The classical guitar is perfect for beginning students due to the ease of play and low-tension strings. Gold hardware and pearloid-buttoned tuners give the C5CE acoustic-electric classical guitar a touch of class. The C5CE sports a built-in preamp and pickup for those times when you need to plug in. This affordable instrument is great for students and more advanced players. From flamenco to jazz to classical, the Washburn C5CE acoustic-electric is ready to perform.

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$229.00

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Highest Rated Reviews

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Outstanding value and a great guitar

By Rick Ryan from Alabama on January 5, 2024 Music Background: 30 years in clubs, 14 years on The Grand Ole Opry

I'm a long-time, professional musician and this was my first time buying a nylon string guitar. Didn't really expect a whole lot but was pleasantly shocked at just how good this little guitar is. Intonation and action was spot on and the built in pickup/tuner sound really great thru a sound system. Can't believe how much easier this is on the fingers and it's just a lot of fun to play. Get it.

Surprised beyond expectations.

By David Kusko from SAN ANTONIO, TX on December 5, 2023 Music Background: singer/song writer/composer

This Guitar is really great. the sound is full and creamy with tons of sustain. It is easy to play. Staty in tune and has a tuner. The pickup provides clear crisp sounds with zero muddled tones and with the slightest touch it produces the note. Very surprised at the action, playability, sound, feel and weight of this guitar. Very much worth more than the current price point. If you want to play a great nylon stringed guitar, this is it!

Great little guitar

By Charles Trotter from South Carolina on July 26, 2023 Music Background: 58 year guitarist. Music major in college

Been wanting a classical to fill my array of guitars (7 guitars). Great guitar for the price. Definitely a happy customer.

Washburn C5CE

By Christine Gonzales from Wichita Falls, TX on June 28, 2023

very nice and well built guitar..
sound is very nice, too..
either plugged or unplugged, really good..

Washburn C5CE

By Christine Gonzales from Wichita Falls, TX on June 28, 2023

very nice and well built guitar..
sound is very nice, too..
either plugged or unplugged..

Flat!

By Joseph Scannell from Louisville, CO, CO on April 29, 2022

The only thing 'Flat' about this guitar is the neck! Very easy to play. great action. A beautiful guitar for a wonderful price.

Washburn C5CE

By quinton byford from SPRINGDALE, AR on April 22, 2022

Love Love Love my Washburn C5CE classical fits like a glove for my big hands

A lot of guitar for the $$$

By John from West Virginia on October 19, 2021 Music Background: Double bassist and guitarist, classical and jazz

I've owned quite a few nylon string guitars and this one is a fantastic value...i like the acoustic tone a lot, but the electric sound does need to be eq'd...but for the price thats a small matter

Awesome Classical Guitar

By galen mccarty on September 28, 2019

This guitar is awesome right out of the box. It has a truss rod so you can adjust the neck but I dindt have to the action was perfect. Great product!

Guitar purchase online

By Alan Goodman on June 23, 2019

Looking for guitar for grandson, starting out. Spoke with salesman at Sweetwater. Told him what I had seen from online catalogue in my price range that might serve a long time (assuming he kept practicing). Chose Washburn Classical C5CE with soft case. This instrument has capability for amplification (plug-in), which might be handy option if my grandson wants to blow out his father's apartment walls (you never know.) Very happy with purchase, assistance in choosing, and knowing Sweetwater has a reputation for standing behind the product.

Don’t be fooled by the price!!!

By Clay Wallace from Beaufort, SC on December 4, 2017

Way better guitar than the price would indicate. Plays great, sounds great, and the built in electronics are worth more than the price of admission. Highly recommending to all of my students.

Very Pleased

By Nando on November 26, 2017

Very happy with guitar. I upgraded the strings & it"s good to go.

Plays and sounds like a more expensive instrument

By Chris Hutchison from Houston Area on October 5, 2017 Music Background: Professional Musician

This instrument is well put together. The fit and finish is nice. The sound is like an instrument twice the price. I use this instrument around the house. I keep it out so I can grab it quickly when needed. I could not do this with a more expensive instrument.

My favorite guitar

By Dean Madonia from Kalamazoo, MI on November 18, 2016 Music Background: Professional songwriter, producer, performer since 1976

I bought this guitar a few years ago when my mom died as a sort of pit present to myself. She bought me my first guitar in 1975 - a Castilla classical (cheapo).
I have big hands so I always enjoy a wider neck and I had been wanting to get a cheapo classical for the studio for years. I wasn't expecting much at this price point (it was actuall on sale for $89.00). I figured if I did a few demos with it, it would pay for itself and I could use it in my house as a decoy guitar for potential burglers. I was stunned when I unpacked her and played... it was amazing. OK, Andres Segovia wouldn't go nuts over the thing, but at this price point, I was speechless. I wasn't sure if i only liked it out of some mis-place nostalgia, so I had my session guitar player friend come over and he loved it!

Guitars are unique beasts. Each one is different. You could get 100 out of the same factory form the same month and have extreme varience in quality. Maybe I just got lucky, but I love this one. It looks great - it has held up for 3 years of playing and looks brand new. Just broke my first string last week. I own Gibson, Fender, PRS, Aria, Alverez, Ibanez, Bill Lawrence... I play this Washburn more than all of them combined. AND it has a pickup and tuner built in!!!! (the pickup is s***, but what do you expect for under $200?

If you are a beginning classical student or if you need a classical for some solos on a project or for demos or if you just want a cheap guitar that doesn't suck, I cannot say enough good stuff about this guitar. I play it every day.

Perfection

By Sweetwater Customer on January 24, 2016

Even better than expected. It is a great guitar for my 11 year old as she gets started.

New to the guitar world!!

By Sweetwater Customer on September 24, 2015

Light weight, great sound

fantastic product

By Rene from Peoria AZ on January 5, 2015

Bought this for my granddaughter who has had a half year of guitar lessons in school. She is really happy with this and my son who has played for years was equally impressed with this instrument for the money. I will probably end up buying him one also.

Quick Tool for Inspiration

By Alfred from Baltimore, Md. on February 12, 2024 Music Background: Fifty Years of Performing, Composing and Writing

Like an Acoustic Notebook. Great for Ideas and Composing. Piezo is Adequate, But Not Great for Recording.
Well Made and Easy to Play. I am Pleased with My Purchase. Thank You Sweetwater Staff.

Very nice

By Sweetwater Customer on January 29, 2024 Music Background: Singer / Songwriter

Very nice guitar, nice balance , warm sound

Good quality at an affordable price point.

By Bill from MA on February 12, 2022 Music Background: gigging musician

For the money, this is a great value. I am a bass player who doubles on guitar, and I bought this to fill out my collection and have an inexpensive, but quality, nylon string guitar. It also plugs in, and the pickup sounds full and natural. I'd have no problem using the guitar on a gig for the occasional number (It's not a main instrument). I'm very happy. This is affordable quality for a part time nylon player. I'd also call this a very good quality student guitar. Washburn has been making affordable quality at the low priced end of their line for a very long time.

Great value

By Sweetwater Customer on January 22, 2022 Music Background: Long time drummer...new to guitar...

Love the tone on my new Washburn electric acoustic guitar. Really nice tone for the money.

Very Good Guitar for the Price Point!

By Paul Burke from BROWN CITY, MI on November 26, 2020

Looking for a wall hanger/grab & play classical, and after reading the reviews, I bough this guitar. Totally more than I expected. Fit and finish is great and sounds well above the price. I did notice that the site says it is strung with medium tension, they are (and per the Washburn site) strung with high/hard tension, once I put med tension strings on, I simply wanted to play this guitar all day.
I did read were some buyers receive ones with fret issues, mine was just about perfect, polished and no fret sprouts. The action does have room for adjustment (the truss rod is a bonus) but none was needed out of the box.

Of course hats off to the great customer service Sweetwater provides, Thanks Adam C!

Nice guitar

By Meredith Epperson on April 5, 2020

This guitar is the perfect size for my needs.
It's really beautiful and easy to play.
I highly recommend this guitar to everyone.

Lovely classical guitar

By Meredith Epperson from Youngstown, OH on March 24, 2020

Michael what great service your company gives.
With all that's going on in the world right now you sent this great guitar overnight without a problem.
Might I say the guitar is more than I expected, beautiful and sounds great to me the novice.

Wow!

By David Roberts from Hollywood, California on March 14, 2019

I received my Washburn C5CE, and, its beautiful! The tuner/pick up idea was inspired, as I intend to record more Sex Gang Children material with it this year. The guitar tuner and its placement (line of sight on the top side) is perfect and it keeps good tuning on new strings. Nice solid pearl, cut, machine heads I had heard Washburn acoustics buzz a little, so I don't feel left out. It growls. It arrived just when you said - 4 days. UPS demanded my name and signature; nice! I am a 'Sweetwater for life, man'. On Monday I have a classical guitar exam and will use it, Just one thing if you are going to buy, buy it for great steel sounding folk or rock ballads, not classical. Its about as far away from Albeniz as I am. Thanks Matt.
Go ahead and use this as a customer review if you want.

Dave Roberts
Sex Gang Children

Saludos

By José Alers on April 8, 2018 Music Background: Soy músico y tocó en la iglesia

tengo esta guitarra tiene buen
Sonido pero la electrónica la pantalla se fundió
Y el brillo del puente se está opacando puede
Que la umeda del ambiente esté afectando.
Pero me gusta es buena quitaría x el precio
Vale la recomiendo.

Classical guitar

By patrick masch from CA on November 23, 2016

Very nice instrument and exceptional for the price,

washburn C5CE

By Sweetwater Customer on April 6, 2016

Is ok, the 4 string was no good but i put a new one

I like it

By Tim from Northeast USA on September 17, 2020

I had a bit of buyer's remorse at first, for no definite reason except that I didn't love it right away.It's a nicely made guitar, sounds full and mellow, and nylon strings are a piece of cake to play. The headstock and tuners are a bit gaudy for my taste; the on-board electronic tuner is a little better than useless; one of the wound strings (D) began to unravel at the second fret by about the third time I played it; it took a lot of fiddling to get it in tune, but once I got it there it has needed only minor tweaking each time I play (daily). Aside from those quibbles it has really grown on me. Easy to play (can't remember the last time, previously that I had played nylon strings) and I quite like the sound — my other guitars and bass are all electric — even when plugged in. The pickup isn't fabulous but it's pretty good. Unplugged it sounds better than I'd expect at this price point. All in all, I think it's a very good value, and in the month I've owned it it has really grown on me. I like it.

Great acoustic sound harsh electric sound

By Michael Wayne from Upstate New York on April 14, 2020 Music Background: I'm a luthier and build custom electrics, I've written and recorded music since 1990. I have performed live hundreds of times in my life, both as a lead guitarist and as a bassist. I included a couple of pictures of the guitars I've built just as a refere

It's a great sounding acoustic,and well with the money, but the bridge / pickup provides a very,very treble-y tone. I had too turn the treble and midrange inn my Fender amp to zero just to get a decent tone. Unplugged, it sounds good, but falls short as an electric.
Looks are great, the craftsmanship seems great. Overall I'm very satisfied with the value of this guitar, and don't regret buying it.

washburn c5ce

By Trev on December 27, 2017

You won't find a better acoustic in this price range. The only reason I didn't give it a 5 was the frets are sharp enough too shred your hands. Would Segovia play this No but it is a great deal for the money sounds and feels great but the frets should have been filed.

Washburn c5ce

By James Shipe from Flintstone,Md. on December 11, 2014 Music Background: Beginner

I`m having a problem in keeping this guitar in tune. I only had this guitar for 3 days now and it seems I have to re-tune every hour. I`m just a beginner, so I`m not striking the strings hard. Just playing the scales and some cords. THE TUNER SEEMS ACCURATE, compared to my other electric tuners. Over all it`s a very nice (wide fret board) guitar for the money. The strings will have to be adjusted to the (neck) fret height. The lower bone is up to high. Doesn`t look seated well.

Excellent Value!

By Sam on November 8, 2016 Music Background: Amateur, played in classic rock cover band, and various small combos. Enjoy playing and listening to classical guitar.

Excellent guitar for the price. It's a good sounding guitar and solidly built. Acoustically it sounded very nice. However the pickup picks up a lot of fretting noise, and could use an eq to balance out the frequencies. That said I was running it through a 2000 Marshall Valvestate amp. Perhaps playing through an acoustic amp or eq pedal would improve the amplified sound. The action was somewhat high, but was easily fixed by lowering the bridge saddle and adjusting the truss rod, with the included wrench. Now it's a playing mahine! The tuner works great. It stays in tune, and has excellent intonation.

Buzz

By Sweetwater Customer from North Carolina on February 29, 2024 Music Background: Pro

This makes a buzz noise hitting the frets it's pretty but I don't play it, would not recommend it. Especially 4-2 strings sounds bad

Washburn C5CE - Natural

By Jacob from California on February 15, 2018 Music Background: 30 years experience

Pros: Very pretty, nice tone, holds a tune.
Cons: The tops of the frets are rough and some of the lower strings start buzzing between the fifth and seventh fret

...overall a good buy.

I will likely buy from Sweetwater again.

I was too rush

By Jose Caceres from Los Angeles, CA on September 30, 2018 Music Background: Aficionado

I was too rush to write when I received my guitar back. It still buzzes a lot, even after i sent it back and had to pay $50.00 for it to be re-hydrated. the original charge was $100.00, but when I declined to pay that amount, the person I spoke with gave me a reductcion. I feel nothing was done to the guitar, it still buzzes, it feels the same. It is beautiful, but it is frustrating to try to play it. I don't recommend this guitar.

Junk

By Cole from Indiana on December 25, 2019 Music Background: Guitar instructor

Tone is horrible. I’ve played and owned many nylon string guitars in my day but this is by far the worst. The frets are rough, unpolished and Untrimmed this thing is a cheese grater straight from the box. Not worth the $... price tag by any means. No strap pegs, good luck if you want to stand and play. Overall there are SO MANY knock off guitars floating on amazon for half this price that absolutely DESTROY the tone from this junker. Buyer beware.

terrible

By steve from Maine on March 10, 2016

won't stay in tune
hard to play
terrible guitar

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