Picking the best cheap classical guitar under $200 that plays great and is well-built is tough. Most budget classical guitars are great for beginners who want to learn how to play an inexpensive nylon string guitar.
Although classicals have slightly wider fretboards than standard steel-stringed acoustic guitars, they nylon strings are way easier to push down and don’t hurt your fingers as much. This is ideal for kids and beginners who aren’t used to making big chords across the fretboard.
Let’s check out the most popular, top-rated cheap classical guitars that won’t break your $200 classical guitar budget!
Click Below to Compare the Top 8 Best Budget Classical Guitars in 2020
Contents
Here is a list of the best affordable classical guitars that are great to learn on and improve your guitar playing skills.
- Yamaha C40II
- Washburn C5CE
- Ibanez GA3
- Yamaha CGS103 3/4
- Cordoba CP100
- Hola! Music HG-36GLS 3/4
- Fender Squier SA-150N
Yamaha C40II
Specs, features, and benefits
The Yamaha C40II is one of the biggest best-sellers when it comes to affordable Classical guitars. It is a full-size classical guitar, perfect for newcomers in the guitar world. The body of the guitar is made out of a Spruce top, and Meranti back and sides.
The neck is made out of Nato wood, and it sports a rosewood fingerboard with eighteen frets. The bridge is also made out of rosewood, while the two-Inch nut is made out of plastic. The tuners on the Yamaha C40II are of classical style and do their job perfectly.
This guitar is great for beginners, but it is also great for experienced guitar players who like to have a classical guitar set in the corner for occasional strums.
Pros and Highlights
- Affordable – The Yamaha C40II is a wallet-friendly guitar.
It won’t hurt your bank account at all! - Great for beginners – The Yamaha C40II is great for beginners because it will make them stretch their fingers and learn how to play a full-blown guitar, which will make it easier for them when they outgrow it and go for a better one.
- Yamaha quality – Don’t let the price of this guitar fool you – if you don’t break it on purpose, it will last you a lifetime. The tuning machines do their job perfectly, it has a nice sound, and it is comfortable enough!
Cons and Potential Flaws
- No cons!
Bottom line
For those just starting, and especially for those who want to make a step in the world of Classical guitar playing – the Yamaha C40II is a great starting point. It has a nice sound, and it is of decent quality. Oh, it is very affordable too!
Washburn C5CE
Specs, features, and benefits
The Washburn C5CE is a nylon-string “Spanish” guitar with a single-cutaway and a built-in piezo/preamp system. The body of the guitar is made out of a laminated Spruce top, and laminated Catalpa back and sides. It has a Quarter Sawn Sitka Spruce bracing.
The neck is made out of mahogany, and it sports a fingerboard made out of Engineered wood with nineteen frets. The single-cutaway body of the guitar allows the player to easy-access the highest frets on the neck. The bridge on the guitar is also made out of Engineered wood, while the nut is a Graphtech Nubone one. The guitar has a built-in piezo pick-up, and an EVT preamp with a Volume control knob, and a built-in tuner, which makes this guitar perfect for small acoustic gigs.
Pros and Highlights
- Cutaway body – Allows you to play higher notes without hassle.
- Great sound – Although its body is made out of laminated woods, the Washburn C5CE sounds fantastic – rich, and warm.
- Built-in preamp – Just plug-in, tweak the EQ on the PA a little, and you are good to go. A great feature for those of you who are doing small acoustic gigs.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- The preamp is not the best one on the market – Well, of course, you can’t expect to be the best on the market for this price, right? However, with a little tweaking on the EQ controls of the PA, you can make it sound just right.
Bottom line
If you are on a tight budget, but you want to buy a nylon-string with a built-in piezo, you should check out the Washburn C5CE. The guitar is very comfortable, sounds nice (especially when un-plugged), and it is very affordable. Great for beginners and intermediate players.
Ibanez GA3
Specs, features, and benefits
The Ibanez GA3 is a full-size nylon-string guitar that comes for a very affordable price. The body of the guitar is made out of the Spruce top, and Catalpa back and sides. The neck, however, is made out of Mahogany, and it sports a BK Hardwood fretboard. It has a BK Colored Maple Bridge, Ivorex II Nut and Saddle, and classical-style tuning machines.
The guitar is finished in high-gloss. It has a very low action, which means it is very easy to play. Also, this guitar has a truss rod in the neck, which means it will make it harder for the neck to curve. The Ibanez GA3 is perfect for newcomers in the classical guitar world. It has a nice sound and playability. The guitar sounds rich, warm and resonant.
Pros and Highlights
- Cheap! – The Ibanez GA3 is a very affordable guitar. Even the ones on a tight budget can probably afford it.
- It is an Ibanez! – This means it is of decent quality. Ibanez is one of the best guitar companies in the world!
- Great sound, playability – Actually a lot of the owners are fascinated by the sound and the playability of this guitar! It also has a truss rod!
Cons and Potential Flaws
- No cons – For the price, it is an awesome guitar!
Bottom line
If you are on a tight budget, but you got to have a classical guitar, you should try out the Ibanez GA3 guitar. It is a full-size classical guitar of decent quality, with resonant sound, and very affordable price.
Yamaha CGS103 3/4
Specs, features, and benefits
If your little boy/girl wants to play guitar, you probably will need to buy a guitar that won’t be too big for his/her arms. You need to go for a 3/4 guitar. This is where Yamaha comes to help. The Yamaha CGS103 3/4 guitar is perfect for beginners, especially for the youngsters that still have small arms and hands.
The body of the guitar is made out of a Spruce top, while the back and sides are made out of Nato wood. The neck is also made out of Nato wood, while the fingerboard is made out of Rosewood. It has eighteen frets. The bridge on the guitar is also made out of Rosewood. The nut is 1.9″ wide. The tuning machines are classical style ones, and they do their job without you having to go to the gym.
The Yamaha CGS103 3/4 is a very affordable guitar, which makes it even more desirable.
Pros and Highlights
- 3/4 guitar – This means that the guitar is of smaller size. This is perfect for the youngster who wants to start playing the guitar.
- Great quality – The Yamaha company is well known for the quality of their instruments.
- Affordable – The CGS103 3/4 costs very little!
Cons and Potential Flaws
- No cons!
Bottom line
The Yamaha CGS103 3/4 is a perfect guitar for your little one. It is of smaller size, it is affordable, it has a nice sound, and it is of decent quality. Great little axe!
Cordoba CP100
Specs, features, and benefits
The Cordoba CP100 package is something great for beginners. The package consists of a classical nylon-string guitar, guitar bag, a tuner, guitar picks, and guitar lessons book. The top of the body of the guitar is made out of Spruce, while the back, the neck, and the body sides are made out of Nato wood. The fingerboard on the CP100 guitar is made out of Rosewood, and it has nineteen frets.
The bridge on the CP100 is also made out of Rosewood, while the nut and the saddle are made out of Composite material. The tuning machines have pearl buttons and are of classical-style.
The Cordoba CP100 is a full-blown classical guitar that looks very nice and sounds beautiful. Perfect for beginners who want to enter the classical/Spanish guitar world.
Pros and Highlights
- Everything you need – In the Cordoba CP100 package you will get everything you need to start playing the guitar, including a tuner, guitar picks, guitar lessons, and a gig bag.
- Won’t break the bank – The Cordoba CP100 is a wallet-friendly guitar!
- Amazing sound for the price – The guitar is sounding pretty good, having in mind its price, of course.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- No cons!
Bottom line
If you are about to purchase your first guitar ever, check out the Cordoba CP100 package. You will get everything you need to start playing at a very affordable price. The guitar is pretty neat too!
Hola! Music HG-36GLS 3/4
Specs, features, and benefits
Although Hola! Music is a new brand on the market, the HG-36GLS 3/4 guitar is a great instrument for the money. Oh my god, it is so cheap!
The body of HG-36GLS is made out of a Spruce top, and laminated Mahogany neck, back, and sides. The fingerboard is made out of rosewood, and it has sixteen frets. The bridge is also made out of rosewood, while the nut and the saddle are made out of plastic.
The tuning machines are classical style stock ones, but they do their job. The Hola! Music HG-36GLS 3/4 also has a truss-rod, so you don’t have to worry about your neck getting a curve over time – you can adjust it. Also, the guitar comes with a gig bag included in the price.
Pros and Highlights
- Small size – Since this guitar is a 3/4 one, it is more beginner and kid-friendly.
- Great sound – The guitar sounds pretty good, and with just a simple act of changing the strings, it will sound way better than most of the guitars in its price range!
- Cheap – This guitar is so cheap, even the players on a tight budget can afford to buy it!
Cons and Potential Flaws
Sharp fret ends – You might get a sharp fret ends on your Hola! Music guitar. This is a common problem with affordable guitars, and although it is an easy-fix, we suggest trying before buying to avoid the hassle later.
Bottom line
The Hola! Music HG-36GLS 3/4 guitar is a good instrument for the price. It has a smaller body, it has a nice tone, and it looks great. However, you might get a guitar with sharp fret ends, or a little curve on the neck – and these are both easily fixable.
Fender Squier SA-150N
Specs, features, and benefits
The Squier SA-150N is a full-sized budget-friendly nylon-string beginner guitar. The top of the body on the guitar is made out of Lindenwood, while the back and the sides are made out of laminated Mahogany. It has a scalloped X-bracing.
The neck is slimmer than usual on a classical guitar, and it also made out of Mahogany wood. It sports a stained maple fretboard with eighteen frets. The hardware on the guitar consists of a rosewood bridge, a plastic saddle and nut, and six open-gear classical-style guitar tuners. The Squier SA-150N is usually coming in a glossy black finish.
Pros and Highlights
- Slimmer neck – Beginners and advanced guitar players both like slimmer neck profile!
- Cheap – The Squier SA-150N is a very affordable guitar! It won’t break the bank and it won’t hurt your wallet!
- Clear sound – Great for the price!
Cons and Potential Flaws
- There are better guitars – With saving up a little more money on the side, you can get a better guitar. It is not a mistake if you buy this axe as a first guitar, but the chances are big that you will outgrow it in a short time – if you practice of course.
Bottom line
If you are on a tight budget, try out the Squier SA-150N guitar. It is great for beginners. It is an affordable and clear sounding classical guitar. However, for a few dollars more, you can get a much better guitar. It is up to you to decide, and if you buy the SA-150N as a first guitar, you won’t make a mistake. Just be sure to practice.
What We Recommend and Why
If you are looking for an affordable full-size classical guitar, we recommend the Yamaha C40II guitar. It has a nice neck, and it is a good sounding guitar. It is affordable guitar, but it will last you a lifetime, if you don’t break it on purpose. Even more experienced guitar players will love to have this guitar in their living room, and play it from time to time.