Gearank

The Yamaha CG102 is another classical guitar meant for beginner students, featuring laminate spruce for the top, and Nato/Meranti (an affordable alternative to mahogany) for the back and sides.

It follows full-size classical guitar specifications, with a 2.05" nut width and 25.56" scale length, built to meet the strict quality demands of Yamaha while using alternative materials to make this instrument more accessible.

Features

• Top: Spruce
• Body: Nato/Meranti
• Finish: Gloss
• Bridge: Rosewood Bridge
• Neck: Nato Neck
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Scale Length: 25.56"
• Nut Width: 2.05"

Pros

First-time guitar owners have mostly good things to say about the Yamaha CG102, from its comfortable playability to its tone and overall build quality. There are even some who compare it favorably over more expensive options. Some experienced guitarists also chimed in with their approval, stating that this is a great affordable grab and go guitar.

Cons

Some recommend replacing the stock nylon strings for tone improvement. String setup and action issues also come up a few times, mostly from more experienced players who can notice.

Overall

Hard to go wrong with this affordable classical guitar, given its high ratings, especially when considering that it tops other equally well-reputed classical guitars from Yamaha's stable of student-friendly instruments.

This was on our recommended list for Classical / Nylon String Guitars Under $200 but was removed due to the price increasing to over $200.