Best Nylon String Guitar – Top Picks in the $100 to $1000

This section explains some of the terminologies you will come across when you look at nylon string acoustic guitars and discuss them; this, along with a few tips, will help you determine which guitar characteristics will suit your playing style.

If you need clarification on the different parts of a guitar, then the check out our article on guitar parts diagram at the bottom will explain them to you.

The Different Types of Classical Guitars

Flamenco Guitars are generally built to have a more punchy sound and are intended to be played in a more percussive style, including tapping on the top soundboard; in fact, they usually have a protective plastic cover called a golpeador to facilitate this without damaging the finish. They have a smaller nut width, which means the strings are closer together than on a standard classical guitar, and a lower action (aka string height). They are often made with spruce tops and cypress or sycamore backs and sides to enhance volume from their thinner bodies. Their tonal characteristics are designed to cut through the sound of dancers loudly clapping and tapping their feet.

Classical Guitars usually have deeper bodies, wider nut widths, and higher action than flamenco-style guitars. They typically have thicker spruce or cedar tops and rosewood or mahogany backs and sides, which tend to give them a more rounded or mellow sound, roughly covering the frequency spectrum of an orchestra. They are primarily intended to be played solo or in tiny ensembles.

Spanish Guitars are a subset of classical guitars traditionally made in Spain with bracing, construction techniques, and tonal characteristics that, experts say, vary by region. If you are into traditional Latin and Spanish style music, then you should take this type of guitar into account.

Concert Guitars are high-end classical guitars made by luthiers, usually following centuries-old traditional methods and the use of expensive materials. A typical luthier may only produce 4 to 6 guitars per year or, in a more extensive operation, perhaps as many as 20. A lower-priced concert guitar usually costs between $2,000 and $3,000, with higher-end models going well into the 5-figure range.

Nylon String Guitars include all of the types of guitars above in addition to many modern hybrid guitars and crossover guitars. These instruments combine the characteristics of many different kinds of guitars, including steel-string acoustic and even electric guitars. Some come with pickups and electronics built-in. Due to this guide’s price range, most guitars here are considered Classical, Flamenco, or Hybrid guitars. Electric guitar players who want a ticket into the world of nylon string guitars will appreciate hybrid or crossover guitars.

Crossover Nylon String Guitars

Instead of being a distinct type like the ones listed above, this refers to nylon string guitars designed with specifications that make it easy to transition from steel-string guitars, and as such, many of the types above can be made with crossover characteristics. The main one is that they typically have smaller nut widths, so the strings are closer together than on a standard classical guitar. Traditional classical guitars also have flatter fingerboards (a larger fretboard radius) than regular acoustics, while crossover guitars can have curved fingerboards. Some crossover models also feature a cutaway to make it easier to reach the higher frets, particularly with acoustic-electric models. These pickup-equipped models can plug into an amp or a PA Mixing Console.

Tonewoods

Like other guitars, there are ongoing discussions and debates about which wood species produces superior tones or tones better suited to certain playing styles. Two main types of wood are used for the top or soundboard of nylon string acoustic guitars: Spruce is generally considered to produce a crisper tone with more definition, while Cedar is regarded as having warmer or darker tones.

However, many luthiers will tell you that the thickness of the wood, types of bracing, and other construction techniques can be just as important as the materials in determining the tone.

Everyone agrees that having a solid wood top instead of a cheaper laminated wood top will provide better projection (they’ll be louder) and lead to richer tones over time as the wood grains open up. The caveat is that on cheap guitars under about $200, a laminated top will have a more consistent tone between individual guitars of the same model than the variations in grain that come with cheap solid woods.

Similar discussions occur about the wood used on the rest of the guitar, but the top or soundboard dominates in tone.

Solid mahogany for the back and sides is a popular configuration, but it is priced much higher than the scope of this guide.

Scale Length

This is essentially the distance measured between the saddle and the nut, or more accurately, described as double the distance from the nut to the 12th fret plus some “compensation” added by the saddle’s position. A longer scale length requires higher tension in the strings, resulting in a brighter tone. Stewart MacDonald presents a more detailed explanation with examples quite well, and a good description of the implications of different scale lengths can be found on Martin Guitar.

Nut Width

This is the main thing determining the distance between the strings, although the width at the saddle plays a minor role too, with the strings usually being closer to each other at the nut than at the saddle. The nut width and action height are the things that most influence the ‘playability’ of a guitar, with smaller nut widths better suited to steel-string players transitioning to classical.

Action / String Height

Instruments with a low Guitar Action allow faster runs and easier use of advanced playing techniques. But this comes at the expense of introducing some fret buzz, a feature of flamenco-style playing. Beginners and those transitioning from steel-string acoustic to Electric Guitars generally find a lower action easier to play. For a more in-depth discussion on this topic, see this Delcamp Classical Guitar Forum thread.

Straight Acoustic or Acoustic-Electric?

Acoustic-Electric models come with pickups and other electronics installed. This usually includes a battery powered preamp with EQ. These additional components may have subtle effects on the tone or resonance of the guitar, but the most practical differences are that they cost more but can be amplified.

Can Steel Strings be Used on a Classical Guitar?

The short answer is no. A nylon-strung guitar is not built to handle the tension of steel strings. It can be done with some modifications, but you won’t get the most out of your steel string, so it’s not worth it. On the other hand, steel-string acoustic guitars can handle nylon strings easily, but adjustments to the nut and saddle will make it work. The identical downside applies: you won’t get the natural feel and sound of nylon strings when used this way. So for the best results, learn how to string a classical guitar with the proper strings.