Top 5 Classical Guitars

Although this instrument was created over 200 years ago, today there are significant differences between models and brands of so-called classical guitars, both in terms of the woods used and the more or less traditional shapes. Whatever your desires and goals, here are our recommended models of the best classical guitars currently available.

A true best-seller from Yamaha, a manufacturer with extensive expertise in classical guitars, this C40 could be called a Swiss Army knife. With its spruce top, meranti back and sides—a wood similar to mahogany—this guitar delivers a very balanced sound, slightly mellow, allowing it to sound great for classical, Latin music, or to accompany songs. The volume is a bit light, making it ideal for not disturbing the neighbors. The nato neck is very comfortable. The rosewood fingerboard offers a very smooth feel. The tuners are chrome-plated. The finishes are impeccable, true to the pure tradition of classical models. Finally, it won the title of “Best String Instrument” at the 2011 Music Industry Awards in London, no less!

More modern in its look, the OC88 from Lâg is the result of true French design. The top is solid spruce while the neck, back, and sides are khaya, a wood similar to mahogany in its characteristics. The fingerboard is rosewood, an important point given the scarcity of this wood. And it shows: the playing comfort is definitely there! The nut is made of graphite, another key point for string tuning accuracy. The glossy finish is beautiful. The pattern surrounding the rosette is superb and adds a Celtic touch to the aesthetics. Finally, note that the brand logo is inlaid in maple on the headstock, wider than usual formats. More eccentric than traditional models, the OC88 remains perfect for playing classical music and claims the title of one of the best classical guitars of its generation.

Created in the 1960s, the Alhambra brand has extensive experience in making and designing classical guitars, and the 1C model is proof of that. Made in Spain, it features a cedar top, mahogany back, sides, and neck, and an Indian rosewood fingerboard. This is a choice of high-quality woods. The sound is very balanced: the basses are full and bright, and the trebles are present without being harsh. The guitar feels natural to hold, with the rosewood fingerboard providing true comfort under the fingers. The finishes are simply exemplary. In the pure tradition of classical models, this instrument has everything you need to interpret this repertoire. However, the 1C is less suited for other music styles (pop, Latin music…).

At first glance, it’s clear that this Ibanez GA35CTE-DVS is not aimed at lovers of Bach, Sor, or Brouwer: its cutaway shows it’s a guitar made for contemporary music, especially those that invite solos! The spruce top combined with a mahogany back and sides delivers a beautiful, round sound with present but not harsh trebles. Note that the body depth is shallower than standard classical models, allowing for greater playing comfort, although it slightly reduces the overall volume. The mahogany neck with its New Zealand pine fingerboard is also very comfortable. Finally, this model can be plugged in thanks to the Ibanez AEQ210T preamp (which includes a tuner, very handy), with bass and treble knobs allowing good frequency control to get the desired sound. Another useful feature: in addition to the jack output, there is an XLR output, useful for example in concerts where the mixing desk is a bit far from the stage.

For a very affordable budget, Eagletone offers with this Andorinha a very pleasant model to play, notably thanks to its mahogany neck and ebony fingerboards which also provide very good note sustain. The playability is easy and immediate. Its solid cedar top combined with a sapelli back delivers a round and velvety tone, although it lacks a bit of depth in the bass. The Open Pores finish, which limits the thickness of the varnish layer, helps preserve this sound signature. The tuners are nickel. Aesthetically, the grain patterns and its naturally caramel color make it an instrument of great elegance in its simplicity. Made in Portugal, the Andorinha is a study guitar with truly impeccable finishes.

How to Choose Your Classical Guitar Well

The Musical Purpose

To properly guide your search, it’s essential to know your musical goal: is playing the classical repertoire your only aim, or do you also want an instrument that sounds good for Latin or even pop music? These considerations help determine whether buying a classical guitar built in the purest tradition is the right choice or if it’s better to look at less rigid, more modern instruments, possibly equipped with a cutaway and a preamp. The choice is yours…

Choice of Woods

The woods chosen for the construction of a classical guitar greatly influence the resulting sound. First, it’s necessary to distinguish laminated wood from solid wood. Laminated wood, made by gluing thin sheets of wood, vibrates less and produces a much less complex and harmonious sound than solid wood. Then, there are different types of woods used in instruments, some more common than others. Cedar provides a warm and complex harmonic sound. Spruce generally gives a sharp and clear sound with crystalline tones, mids, and deep bass. Note that here we are talking about the soundboard wood; those used for the back and sides are much less important for the sound quality of a classical guitar.

String Tension

Although this does not directly affect the choice of classical guitar to buy, since it’s easy to change the strings and thus the tension, it’s important to consider this element which shapes the sound as much as the woods of your instrument. We have three main tensions to choose from: low tension, medium tension, and high tension. Generally, low tension strings are recommended for beginners to get used to finger pressure. Medium tension is advised for greater style versatility, while high tension, harder to play, is intended for classical musicians seeking a deep sound with great resonance.