Yamaha CGX102 Classical - Natural Reviews

Magnificent model for the price!!!
Superb sound and tone!!!

First, I will say this is my first classical guitar. That being said, I have owned a Taylor acoustic and an alverez, my dad left me and my brother probably the most rare Yamaha acoustic known to man, which only 500 were made (fg 500, circa 1960's) Which we still have to this day. I recently bought the A5 Yamaha acoustic a month ago and I absolutely love it!!! It freakin sings! Also I currently own 3 hand made electrics (2 Veritas and one Novo) which range in price from $4500-$6000. So, that stated, I know good guitar sound. I almost ordered an $800 Kremona classical guitar but wasn't sure if I'd even like the sound and feel of a classical guitar, so I thought a...Yamaha would be a safe bet. I just received this today and I must say I cant put it down. I bought this one because it has electric hookup. Tuning is a little pain-staking but I'm chalking that up to the brand new strings. Acoustically, this guitar sounds great and hooking it up through an amp (with a hint of reverb) and BAM, its magical. As always Sweetwater shipped this to me super fast (2 days) and were great to work with. If you are looking for a beginner or less expensive classical guitar this is your guitar. I haven't played a Kremona but I doubt it could be much better than this.

I don't think Yamaha makes a bad product. I am a keyboard player of 49 years and a steel 6 string guitarist of 39 years. I have been frustrated with the thin necks and narrow nut (string spacing) of steel string guitars. So I bought this guitar which has the widest nut and neck in the business. This is my first venture into classical guitars, I have always loved the sound of steel and wood, but I am beginning to also love this new nylon/wood tone. And this guitar has a very smooth even tone, and I don't have to be light fingered on the "B" and high "E" strings anymore, you have to "hit em to get em". I am also a recording engineer and have a very critical ear for tone, this "cheap" guitar has a very beautiful tone, projected well and listen-able as the performer. The trouble with guitars is the audience hears a better tone than the performer, the player is not at a good listening angle to the guitar when playing it. But this guitar sounds good to the performer. This is a great guitar for me to expand my skills into the classical domain. As a fingerstyle and flatpicker, I fingerstyle off the fleshy tips of fingers, not using the nail. This guitar sound mellow under this style. Flat picking this guitar for solo riffs also sounds very nice. You can't go wrong with this guitar for your first classical or, like me, a seasoned performer with a new style of guitar.

Very surprised great sound great action well built and beautiful guitar wasn't what I thought I get for the price ,and sweetwater staff was very helpful

This is the model that I learned to play guitar on 30 years ago(sans electronics) and I've always wanted to get one for nostalgia's sake. I figured the guitar being on the cheap side it was going to be clunky and sound flat...things usually seem better in your memory. I was pleasantly surprised how nice it plays and sounds. The electronics are simple and the even unplugged it sounds pretty bright. The strings are pretty stable, cheaper classicals tend to be really sloppy and hard to get chords to sound right. I would definitely recommend this as a first guitar or if you're just classical curious and want a deft starter.

Yamaha has been reliable in the past. This guitar is consistent with that. I've found no flaws in the finish. The action, neck, & frets feel the way I expect from a classical guitar. I rate the tone & volume when played acoustic at the upper level for guitars in this price point. I don't really care for the preamp tone simultaneously increasing both the bass & treble. That creates a booming effect for me not easily controlled at the mixer. The pickup does provide adequate volume without any undue tendency for feedback. Overall this guitar is fun to play &, while relatively inexpensive, provides the ability for live performance or recording. As always, Sweetwater's attention to customer service & shipping is the best in the business.

This guitar is disappointing, all the parts seem sound enough - good woods used and the mic isn't bad. It will not hold tune for very long and worst of all there is no truss rod, so once the neck starts bowing (and it will) - that's it, you would have to pay a luthier more than the guitar cost to try and steam it level again. I bought it on clearance and was buying it more for nostalgia than a working instrument and I would definitely recommend spending a few dollars more if you're seriously looking for something that will last.