Picking out the best classical guitar under $500 that is built from real tonewoods and is easy to play can be hard. Not all classical guitars in the $500 price range use real tonewoods in their construction, so you kind of have to know what you are looking for.
Typically, classical guitars are made from woods like mahogany, spruce, and cedar. All of these are warm sounding woods that work well with the nylon strings of the guitar. The fretboards are typically made out of two different types of wood: rosewood and ebony. Don’t worry about the details though. We’ll help you choose which wood combination will be best for you and your playing style.
Let’s review the top-rated nylon string guitars under $500, so you can compare their specs and benefits to see which one is right for you.
Compare the Top Classical Guitars Below $500 in 2020
Contents
- 1 Compare the Top Classical Guitars Below $500 in 2020
- 1.1 Cordoba C5-CET Thinline Acoustic-Electric Classical Guitar
- 1.2 Kremona Soloist S65C Classical Guitar
- 1.3 Yamaha CGX122MSC Classical Acoustic-Electric Guitar
- 1.4 Alvarez AC65HCE Acoustic-Electric Guitar
- 1.5 Cordoba C7 Classical Acoustic Guitar
- 1.6 Breedlove Pursuit Nylon String Guitar
- 1.7 Cordoba F7 Acoustic Nylon-String Flamenco Guitar
- 2 What We Recommend and Why
Here’s a list of the best $500 classical guitars that will improve your tone and playing.
- Cordoba C5-CET
- Kremona Soloist S65C
- Yamaha CGX122MSC
- Alvarez AC65HCE
- Cordoba C7
- Breedlove Pursuit
- Cordoba F7
Cordoba C5-CET Thinline Acoustic-Electric Classical Guitar
Specs, features, and benefits
When Cordoba designs its guitars, it follows the traditional methods employed by the revered Spanish luthiers and then incorporates modern innovations, delivering guitars that offer the best of both worlds. Interestingly, the brand maintains this quality for all levels of guitars.
Looking at the C5-CET Thinline which can be regarded as an entry level guitar, you can see the brand’s commitment to maintaining good quality at all times. Its thin body with the soft cutaway design features a solid Canadian cedar top with sides and back made of mahogany laminates. This body is very comfortable to hold thanks to its thin depth. This body sports a lovely black gloss finish.
Like the body, the neck which is made of mahogany has a thin depth which makes this guitar great for those switching from the electric guitar. It also features a rosewood fretboard which holds 18 frets.
The electronics section features the popular Isys+ pickup/preamp system from Fishman. For controls, it comes with a 2-band EQ, a phase switch, a master volume and a digital tuner for increased convenience.
This guitar offers a soft and warm tone, which will get better with time while the Fishman system provides amplification without compromising on tonal quality.
Pros and Highlights
- Tone – Warm.
- Playability – Comfortable and easy to play.
- Electronics – Good quality.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Case – Does not come with one.
Bottom Line
This guitar is ideal for anyone switching from the electric guitar. Its thin body and neck makes the switch more comfortable.
Kremona Soloist S65C Classical Guitar
Specs, features, and benefits
As far as acoustic guitar design and manufacturing goes, Kremona is a top brand. While not as well-known as some other brands, this Bulgaria based brand has been designing and manufacturing guitars for over a century and have been doing a darn good job of it.
A look at the S65C Soloist will confirm the quality that this brand delivers. This guitar is part of Kremona’s Sofia Series, which are all fully handmade.
This is a full-sized guitar with the traditional classical shape and no cutaways. Its top is made of solid western cedar while the back and sides are made of sapele. On all of these is a lovely natural finish.
The neck is D shaped and is made of mahogany with a rosewood fretboard holding 19 frets. It is also joined to the body via a dovetail joint.
To ensure the guitar performs excellently, the brand uses good quality hardware. The tuning machines and rosewood bridge ensure the guitar stays in tune and has a nice intonation.
Though this guitar looks great, it offers much more than that. Its tone is rich and full, something you won’t expect from a guitar at this price point.
Pros and Highlights
- Tone – Full and rich.
- Build – Handmade.
- Case – Padded gig bag.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Material – Back and sides are made of laminates
Bottom Line
This is a great classical guitar for anyone who does not have a huge budget but still wants something well-made. You can proudly take this on stage.
Yamaha CGX122MSC Classical Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Specs, features, and benefits
Yamaha as a brand has its hands in lots of pies, many of which have to do with musical instruments or music technology.
The CGX122MSC is one of the brand’s contributions to the world of acoustic guitars. This is an acoustic-electric classical guitar with a body style many will find familiar. It however includes a single cutaway that makes access to the higher frets a lot easier.
The top of this body is made of solid Engelmann spruce while the sides and back are made of nato. The neck, which is also made of nato, has a rosewood fretboard that holds 19 frets. This neck sports a satin finish which makes playing it a pleasure. It also has a wide nut width which allows for adequate spacing between the strings.
In the electronics section, you will find an A.R.T. two-way pickup system and a System 61 preamp. These two combine to offer top quality amplification that does not mess with the guitar’s natural tone. Controlling the pickups and preamp is easy with the 3-band EQ and controls knobs for each pickup. The on-board tuner is also an added bonus.
This guitar offers a well-balanced tone with plenty of warmth and resonance.
Pros and Highlights
- Tone – Warm and well-balanced.
- Playability – Easy to play.
- Electronics – Top quality.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Finish – May have a few flaws.
Bottom Line
This is one guitar that falls within the price range that beginners can afford while also offering performance qualities that professionals will appreciate.
Alvarez AC65HCE Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Specs, features, and benefits
Alvarez is a guitar manufacturer better known for its acoustic guitars. As part of its acoustic-electric offerings, it presents the AC65HCE.
This is an acoustic guitar that combines the best of acoustic nylon string guitars with their steel string counterparts. It is regarded as a hybrid acoustic guitar.
First, it features a traditional classical body design but with the addition of a single cutaway. The top is made of solid western red cedar while the back and sides are made of mahogany.
The neck is also made of mahogany and features a slightly narrower nut which makes playing a lot easier while not constricting string space. The fretboard on the other hand is made of rosewood.
You will also find that the brand used genuine bone for both nut and saddle while the bridge is made from rosewood.
A peek at the electronics section will show LR Baggs’ Element pickup and StagePro EQ. This system coupled with the included control options make it a lot easier to tweak the sound to your taste. As an added bonus, you also have an easy to use digital tuner built-in.
This guitar offers a tone that comprises warmth, clarity and precision while also projecting nicely.
Pros and Highlights
- Tone – Warm and precise.
- Build – Well-built.
- Playability – It plays well.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Setup – May be required for some players.
Bottom Line
As a hybrid classical guitar, this guitar offers more tonal options than your traditional classical guitar. It’s a guitar worth checking out.
Cordoba C7 Classical Acoustic Guitar
Specs, features, and benefits
Cordoba is a brand that represents the best of traditional Spanish guitar making. When it comes to acoustic guitars, very few brands can compete with it.
The C7 is a guitar designed by the brand for beginners and intermediate players. With the quality this guitar offers, it can stand up to some professional use.
The simple fact that it is a product with the Cordoba stamp means that we already expect great craftsmanship. The top is made from solid European spruce while the sides and back are made from Indian rosewood.
The neck is made of mahogany with a rosewood fretboard. Rosewood (Indian) is also used for the binding that adds to the overall beauty of the guitar.
For hardware, the brand continues in its traditional theme, using rosewood for the bridge and bone for the saddle. These and other hardware used help give this guitar its solidity and character.
What you then get is a guitar that delivers an expressive tone that has the warmth you will expect from a classical guitar as well as some aggression that adds some tonal spice to the mix.
Pros and Highlights
- Tone – Warm with subtle aggression.
- Build – Lovely and well-made.
- Playability – Outstanding.
Cons and Potential Flaws
There’s really nothing to complain about for the price.
Bottom Line
If you are a beginner or an intermediate player who needs a truly traditional classical guitar that offers great value for less than $500, then consider this. You will be glad you did.
Breedlove Pursuit Nylon String Guitar
Specs, features, and benefits
Breedlove is a brand known for its focus on the design and manufacture of different kinds of acoustic string instruments. To ensure that it maintains the same level of quality across all its instruments, each one is handmade.
The Pursuit Nylon is a nylon string guitar designed for players who have moved beyond the beginner level. Let’s dive in to see what this guitar offers.
It all begins with the traditional concert body design. It however adds a single cutaway. The top is made of solid cedar while the sides and back are made of mahogany laminates.
The neck is made of mahogany with a fretboard made from East Indian rosewood. With a 1.75” nut width and a neck that plays really smoothly thanks to the smooth satin finish, it offers impressive playability.
The electronics that come with this guitar include a Fishman ISYS+ preamp system which makes amplification easy and efficient, a digital tuner that makes staying in tune a breeze and a USB output that makes connection to an external recording device or computer stress free.
For tone, you can expect a warm and smooth tone from this baby.
Pros and Highlights
- Tone – Smooth and warm.
- Playability – It plays well.
- Electronics – Offers versatility.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Materials – Back and sides are made of laminates
Bottom Line
This is not a traditional classical guitar but it offers some great value. It has a lovely tone and is also great for anyone who plans on doing some guitar recordings.
Cordoba F7 Acoustic Nylon-String Flamenco Guitar
Specs, features, and benefits
Since our focus in this review is classical guitars, it is not surprising that we are looking at yet another guitar from Cordoba. While also a budget guitar like the two Cordoba guitars we reviewed, the F7 is of a higher quality.
It features a top made from solid European spruce with back and sides made from cypress. These are finished in gloss polyurethane that really gives the guitar a superbly attractive look.
The neck is made of mahogany while the fretboard that plays host to the guitar’s 19 frets is made of Pau Ferro.
For hardware, Cordoba uses authentic bone for the nut and saddle while the bridge is made of Pau Ferro. The tuning machines are also of good quality. The tuners are gold plated with black knobs and these add great visual appeal to the already lovely look of the guitar.
This is a really lovely and well-made classical guitar. It delivers a well-defined tone through which the warmth of the solid spruce top shines through.
Pros and Highlights
- Tone – It has a warm and well-defined tone.
- Build – As you will expect from a Cordoba, it is well-built.
- Playability – It plays easily.
Cons and Potential Flaws
For a flamenco sound, you may want to replace the strings with flamenco ones.
Bottom Line
This is a solidly built classical guitar that will suit any beginner or intermediate player that wants a good quality instrument. With this, you will not have need for an upgrade for a long time.
What We Recommend and Why
We’ve once again come to the end of another wonderful sojourn through the world of classical guitars. That means it is time for us to name our top pick of the day. After carefully reviewing the seven guitars on this list, we chose the Cordoba C7 Classical Acoustic Guitar as out Top Classical Guitar Under $500 because for us, it offered the best all-round value of the lot.