Best Classical Guitars You Can Buy in 2024

10 Best Classical Guitars You Can Buy: a Guide to Making the Right Choice

Your classical guitar can be an extension of your personality and your home’s style. Choose a design that reflects your own personal style and aesthetic, and be sure to invest in quality pieces that will last you a long time.

Whether you're a beginner, an intermediate or an aspiring virtuoso, take a look at our favorite classical guitars that are currently available for purchase and choose the one that suits your playing style and your budget.

Our list features a diverse range of classical guitars that cover almost any musical genre, spanning from timeless classics to modern marvels.

What Should You Consider When Buying a Classical Guitar?

Finding the right classical guitar involves a mix of personal preference, play style, and budget. Some of the key features of a great classical guitar are high-quality electronics, neck profile that facilitates good playability, build quality and design.

High Quality Electronics

Electronics in classical guitars, primarily in the form of pickups and preamps, allow for the amplification of the instrument's sound without losing its natural tone and resonance. This amplification becomes vital for performances in larger venues or during recording sessions. Furthermore, it opens up the possibility of modifying the guitar's sound using effects pedals and equalizers, enabling a wider variety of tonal possibilities and facilitating the creation of unique sounds and styles.

Modern classical guitars also come with onboard preamps that offer tone shaping controls right at the guitarist's fingertips. This feature allows the player to adjust their sound on the fly, adapting to different songs, venues, or simply personal preference. Thus, the presence of electronics in classical guitars enriches the playing experience, offering enhanced sound control and adaptability.

Guitar Neck Profile

The shape of a guitar neck has a huge impact on playability and comfort, as well as sound. Your personal preference, playing style and hand size all play a role in choosing the right neck shape. Thinner, flatter neck profiles allow for easier and more comfortable fast playing. Modern classical guitars usually have a C neck profile - as these necks are slim, slightly curved and are very comfortable to play.

Guitar Build Quality and Design

Guitar build quality matters because it directly impacts the sound, playability, durability, resale value, and overall satisfaction of the instrument.

High-end classical guitars use premium tonewoods that provide great sound and tone. Spruce, especially Sitka spruce, is often used for the top of the guitar due to its strength and weight ratio, providing a dynamic range and clear articulation. Cedar tops yield a warm, rich tone. The back and sides are usually made from hardwoods like mahogany or rosewood. The neck often uses durable woods like mahogany or maple, while the fretboard typically employs rosewood or ebony.

While often overlooked, design plays an important role in choosing the right classical guitar. The more the instrument appeals to you, the more likely you will pick it up and play it. So investing in a well-built, good-looking guitar can provide a rewarding playing experience and contribute to your musical journey.

10 Best Classical Guitars You Can Buy

Ibanez TOD10N Tim Henson Signature Acoustic/Electric Nylon String Guitar

Ibanez TOD10N Tim Henson Signature Acoustic-Electric Guitar you can buy — Sam Ash

Tim Henson, co-founder of progressive math rock band Polyphia, is recognized for his unique, genre-defying guitar style. His signature model, the Ibanez TOD10N, encapsulates his innovative approach to music.

The body is made with sapele back and sides with a solid Sitka spruce top for a full-bodied and warm mid-range as well as shimmering high end. The TOD10N’s body is also significantly thinner and smaller than traditional nylon string acoustic guitars which, along with the superior upper fret access, makes it a great option for primarily electric players looking to branch out into nylon strings.

One unique feature of the guitar is its side sound port as opposed to a front-facing one, allowing the acoustic sound to travel directly towards you while playing.

The most apparent design aspect of the acoustic-electric guitar is the intricate “Tree of Death” fretboard inlay, which is where the guitar gets its name, and is a play on the iconic Ibanez “Tree of Life” inlay. The other main aesthetic appointment is the modified Ibanez FRH body style with a flat black finish. The FRH body is a T-style hollow-body shape and is built without a top-facing sound hole for less feedback.

In terms of electronics, the guitar has a build in Fishman Sonicore pickup as well as an Ibanez AEQ210TF preamp with an onboard tuner. The control layout includes separate volume, treble, and bass controls, as well as an on button for the tuner and a phase button as well. The tuner has an easy-to-read display as well as a low battery indicator light.

The Ibanez TOD10N takes everything Ibanez is good at and known for and combines it with the design appointments and modern specs needed for a Tim Henson signature.

Features & Technical Specifications

Neck: C Shape Nyatoh neck
Fingerboard: Walnut
Scale: 25.5"
Top: Solid Sitka Spruce top
Body: Sapele
Electronics: Fishman Sonicore pickup, Ibanez AEQ210TF preamp with Onboard tuner
Frets: 22
Solid Top: Yes
Cutaway: Yes
Tuner: Yes
Price range: $500 - $1000

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Yamaha CG182C Cedar Top Classical Acoustic Guitar

This beautiful classical guitar from Yamaha has classic features you'd find on expensive classical guitar models, yet it's available at a surprisingly affordable price.

The Yamaha CG182C's full-size classical body gives lots of bold tone balanced from lows to highs, with a slight emphasis on the mid-range for added punch. The Yamaha CG182C guitar has plenty of projection to fill a small room with the soft sound of a classical nylon-string guitar.

The classical guitar's top features solid American cedar, a wood that emits the sensitive tone frequently recommended for fingerstyle and light flatpicking. The nato neck, and rosewood back and sides, contribute to the instrument's tonal depth, accentuating the sound of the nylon strings. The rosewood bridge and 19-fret ebony fretboard add crisp sustain and clarity.

Finished in gloss and featuring a mosaic-design rosette, gold hardware, and white mother-of-pearl peg tuners, the Yamaha CG182C guitar captures the visual aesthetic of a classical guitar, all at an accessible price point.

Features & Technical Specifications

Neck: Nato neck
Fingerboard: Ebony
Scale: 25.6"
Top: Cedar top
Body: Rosewood
Electronics: None
Frets: 19
Solid Top: No
Cutaway: No
Tuner: No
Price range: $500 - $1000

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Cordoba GK Pro Negra Nylon-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar

The Cordoba GK Pro Negra is a nylon-string acoustic-electric guitar designed as the ultimate performance instrument for serious musicians. It features a solid European spruce top and solid Indian rosewood back and sides, complemented by a soft cutaway and a Fishman PreFix ProBlend pickup.

Constructed with a slightly thinner body depth, neck, and nut width than a traditional Spanish guitar, the GK Pro Negra is a stage-ready flamenco guitar. The neck is designed to have minimal to no relief, providing low action for comfortable play and swift performance.

The GK Pro Negra, with its comfortable body shape and classic combination of tonewoods, is an ideal instrument for exploring the unique sound nuances only achievable with nylon strings. Elegant touches such as a rosewood headstock veneer featuring Cordoba's arches icon, and a mother-of-pearl weave rosette, inspired by a 1920's Domingo Esteso guitar, add refined aesthetics.

As with every classical guitar in the Luthier series, the GK Pro Negra is built using the Spanish heel construction, wherein the top of the guitar is attached to the neck first, followed by the sides, and finally sealed with the back's installation. The neck also incorporates a two-way truss rod.

Additional features include a 19-fret ebony fingerboard, rosewood bridge, high gloss finish, and premium Savarez Cristal Corum strings. The GK Pro comes with Cordoba’s humidified hardshell case for protection and easy transport.

Features & Technical Specifications

Neck: Mahogany neck
Fingerboard: Ebony
Scale: 25.6"
Top: Solid Sitka Spruce top
Body: Rosewood
Electronics: Fishman Prefix ProBlend system
Frets: 19
Solid Top: Yes
Cutaway: Yes
Tuner: No
Price range: $1500 - $2000

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Cordoba Limited-Edition Stage Nylon String Acoustic/Electric Guitar

Winner of Best in Show during the 2022 NAMM Show, the Cordoba Stage is an great nylon string electric guitar.

The Corboda Stage combines a solid Spruce top with a figured flamed maple veneer for projection, volume, and a distinctive aesthetic flair.

A solid, fully chambered body provides reduced weight, enhanced resonance, and allows the top to resonate freely for natural acoustic tone and ease of movement while playing. Strategically placed Cordoba soundhole arches aid in the vibration of the guitar and natural nylon-string tone.

Cordoba's unique Fusion Neck with a comfortable 48mm nut width and fast 16" Fretboard Radius is slightly thinner than a traditional nylon string guitar and provides a playing experience closer to that of a steel string guitar. The deep cutaway grants easy access to higher frets, ideal for on-stage solos beyond the 10th fret.

At the heart of the acoustic-electric guitar is the revolutionary Fishman Stage Pickup System paired with a solid, fully chambered body for reduced weight and enhanced resonance, and a robust, tonal foundation. Equipped with easy to-access Volume, EQ, and Body Blend knobs the Stage Pickup System allows players to dial in their preferred acoustic tone. Co-developed with Fishman to produce Cordoba's authentic, acoustic nylon-string tone, the Stage is revolutionary in sound and feel.

Features & Technical Specifications

Neck: Mahogany neck
Fingerboard: Pau Ferro
Scale: 25.6"
Top: Solid Spruce top
Body: Mahogany
Electronics: Fishman Stage Pickup System
Frets: 22
Solid Top: Yes
Cutaway: Yes
Tuner: No
Price range: $500 - $1000

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Taylor Academy 12e-N Grand Concert Nylon-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Designed with the beginner guitarist in mind yet equally apt for seasoned players seeking a budget-friendly guitar, the Taylor Academy Series showcases Taylor's signature sleek necks, a comfortable armrest, good sound, and quality construction.

The Taylor A12-N comes with a Grand Concert body that's ideally suited for fingerstyle play. Constructed with a solid Lutz spruce top and layered sapele back & sides, this acoustic-electric classical guitar produces a warm and mellow sound.

This classical guitar also includes an ergonomic armrest, enhancing the comfort of your playing experience while contributing to its elegant appearance. The neck is crafted from maple and features a 17-fret West African Crelicam ebony fretboard.

The Taylor A12-N comes equipped with onboard ES-N electronics featuring Taylor Expression System 2 piezo design elements for great plugged-in sound. The preamp further enhances the guitar's versatility with a built-in digital chromatic tuner.

Features & Technical Specifications

Neck: Mahogany neck
Fingerboard: Ebony
Scale: 25.5"
Top: Lutz Spruce top
Body: Sapele
Electronics: Built-in ES-N pickup designed for nylon strings
Frets: 17
Solid Top: Yes
Cutaway: No
Tuner: Yes
Price range: $500 - $1000

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Yamaha C40II Nylon-String Acoustic Guitar

The Yamaha C40II is a remarkable full-sized nylon-string guitar, priced accessibly for all guitarists. Whether you're advancing from a 3/4-size model or seeking your first classical guitar, the C40II will surpass your expectations. Its full 2-inch nut enables you to employ genuine classical finger techniques, critical for cultivating correct playing habits.

With a genuine spruce top and meranti back and sides, accompanied by an 18-fret rosewood fingerboard and rosewood bridge, the Yamaha C40II delivers the warm and clear tone typically associated with far more expensive guitars.

With its affordable pricing and comprehensive features, the C40II stands as an excellent instrument for beginners or anyone else interested in adding a quality classical guitar to their collection.

Features & Technical Specifications

Neck: Nato neck
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Scale: 25.6"
Top: Spruce top
Body: Meranti
Electronics: None
Frets: 18
Solid Top: No
Cutaway: No
Tuner: No
Price range: $0 - $250

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Yamaha SLG200N Nylon String Silent Guitar

The Yamaha SLG200N Silent Acoustic-Electric Guitar is an ideal option for discreet practice. With the guitar's sound channeled through headphones, you can enjoy the authentic tones of an acoustic nylon-stringed instrument in tranquility.

This silent guitar from Yamaha boasts a lightweight mahogany body with a detachable upper frame for easy portability. The neck, also made from mahogany, features a rosewood fingerboard. The Silent Guitar produces only 1/10th of the sound volume acoustically, making the SLG200N an excellent choice for playing anywhere, anytime.

The SLG200N includes Yamaha's SRT Powered system, modeled after the tones of a high-end Yamaha acoustic guitar recorded using a meticulously selected microphone in a professional studio setting. This system authentically reproduces the sound of an acoustic guitar, including its natural sustain and decay, allowing guitarists to experience the true body resonance, tone, and ambiance of an acoustic instrument. The SRT Powered sound can be blended with the sound from the instrument's piezo pickups for increased creative flexibility. This feature eliminates the complex procedures involved in mic-ing up a guitar for recording at home or other venues. The system also provides four effects: Reverb1, Reverb2, Chorus, and Echo. An AUX IN function lets you play along with your favorite tracks.

Designed for easy transportation, the Yamaha SLG200N also offers mini-stereo inputs for connecting an MP3 or CD player. The silent acoustic-electric guitar interfaces seamlessly with acoustic-effects processors, PAs, and amps, making it a perfect fit for home use or practice.

Features & Technical Specifications

Neck: Mahogany neck
Fingerboard: Rosewood
Scale: 25.6"
Top: None
Body: Mahogany
Electronics: Yamaha SRT Powered system
Frets: 19
Solid Top: No
Cutaway: Yes
Tuner: Yes
Price range: $500 - $1000

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Carlo Robelli C-941N 4/4-Size Classical Acoustic Guitar

The Carlo Robelli C-941N Classical Acoustic Guitar makes an excellent choice for beginners and students seeking a full-size nylon-string classical acoustic that offers both superior tone and quality at an accessible price point.

The C-941N features a classical body shape and is constructed with Agathis back and sides, coupled with a linden top. This combination delivers a warm and mellow acoustic sound. Both the top and back are adorned with black binding, contributing to the guitar's classic aesthetic. The top is further enhanced by a yellow gloss finish and a traditional-style soundhole rosette for an elegant touch.

The 25.6" scale (650mm) neck, carved from Okume, features a comfortable "C" profile, while the black-colored maple fingerboard hosts 19 frets and an ivory plastic nut.

The Carlo Robelli C-941N is completed with a black-colored maple bridge and a set of chrome open-geared classical tuning machines.

Features & Technical Specifications

Neck: C Shape Okoume neck
Fingerboard: Maple
Scale: 25.6"
Top: Linden top
Body: Agathis
Electronics: None
Frets: 19
Solid Top: No
Cutaway: No
Tuner: No
Price range: $0 - $250

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Ibanez AEG50N Nylon-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Ibanez has recently revamped their AEG acoustic guitars series, introducing updated electronics and designs. The Ibanez AEG is a compact-bodied acoustic-electric guitar, renowned for its slim neck and easy playability.

The Ibanez AEG50N, a nylon-string acoustic-electric guitar, features a spruce top and sapele back and sides—a combination of tonewoods that produces a sweet, rounded tone with a notable bass presence. The 20-fret Nyatoh neck and walnut fingerboard guarantee excellent playability and response.

A significant upgrade of the AEG50N is the new Ibanez AEQ-TTS preamp. This compact and straightforward preamp comes with only two control knobs—volume and shape. The readily accessible tone control provides natural acoustic sound when set in the center position. It allows players to easily modify the tone, shifting from low, rich, and powerful tones to bright and crisp sounds using just one knob. An easy-to-read onboard tuner with an LCD is incorporated into the preamp.

Additionally, the Ibanez T-bar II Undersaddle pickup ensures a balanced signal by equalizing the volume across each string.

Features & Technical Specifications

Neck: C Shape Nyatoh neck
Fingerboard: Walnut
Scale: 25.5"
Top: Solid Sitka Spruce top
Body: Sapele
Electronics: Ibanez T-Bar II Undersaddle Pickup & Ibanez AEQ-TTS Preamp w/ Onboard Tuner
Frets: 20
Solid Top: Yes
Cutaway: Yes
Tuner: Yes
Price range: $250 - $500

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Godin Multiac Nylon SA Nylon-String Classical Acoustic-Electric Guitar

Godin Multiac Nylon SA Nylon-String Acoustic-Electric Guitar you can buy — Sam Ash

The Godin Multiac Nylon SA Nylon String Classical Acoustic-Electric Guitar combines cutting edge acoustic guitar design with state-of-the-art on-board electronics and synth access.

Boasting a traditional tonewood combination, the Godin Multiac Nylon SA Nylon String classical acoustic-electric guitar features a chambered mahogany body coupled with a solid spruce soundboard. This design delivers a pleasing tone and resonance while mitigating feedback. The 25 1/2"-scale mahogany neck, the 16"-radius Richlite fingerboard, and the 1 7/8" nut width offer a familiar feel for steel string players.

The Godin Multiac Nylon SA delivers exceptional amplified tone thanks to individual transducer saddles that sit beneath each string along with a customized RMC Pickup Company preamp system. The electronics generate a hexaphonic output through a 13-pin connector, enabling direct connectivity to Roland GR-series and Axon AX100 guitar synthesizers.

The Godin Multiac Nylon SA guitar has become a go-to instrument for guitarists across all genres who aim to integrate nylon-string guitar tones into their music.

Features & Technical Specifications