Best Cedar Classical Guitars of 2025

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Cedar Classical Guitars are known for their exceptional sound quality and beautiful craftsmanship. These guitars are handcrafted using only the finest materials, including solid cedar tops, rosewood backs and sides, and ebony fingerboards. The attention to detail in the construction of these instruments is evident in their rich, warm tones and easy playability. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned professional, Cedar Classical Guitars offer a superior playing experience that is sure to impress. With a range of styles and sizes to choose from, there is a Cedar Classical Guitar to suit every player's needs and preferences.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 10 Cedar Classical Guitars
Yamaha CG122MCH Classical Guitar
The Yamaha CG122MCH Classical Guitar features a solid cedar top, a 3-ply neck construction to improve durability against neck warp, low string action, a rosewood fingerboard and bridge with 19 frets and a 25.6 inches scale, and a natural matte finish. This guitar is perfect for beginners and intermediate players who want a high-quality instrument that is easy to play and produces a great sound. The low string action makes it comfortable to play, and the solid cedar top produces a warm and rich tone that will make your music sound great.
Cordoba 6 C5-CE CD Classical Acoustic Nylon String Guitar
The Cordoba C5-CE Guitar is the perfect entry-level instrument for aspiring classical guitarists and those seeking the warm sound of nylon strings. This flagship model from Cordoba features a solid Cedar top and mahogany back and sides, delivering a clear and powerful tone with beautiful sustain. The soft cutaway design allows for easy access to the upper register, and the Fishman Presys II preamp amplifies your sound for stage and studio performances. With its lightweight construction and beginner-friendly nylon strings, this guitar offers comfortable playability for beginners. Handmade in the traditional Spanish style, the C5-CE stands out with its carved headstock, hand-inlaid wood rosette, Pau Ferro binding, Savarez strings, and glossy PU finish. Experience the unique spirit and versatility of this exceptional entry-level guitar.
Yamaha NCX1C NT Classical Guitar
The Yamaha NCX1C Classical Guitar combines modern aesthetics with a classic feel. Its cedar top delivers a warm, rich sound that enhances your playing experience. The nato back and sides add durability and resonance, ensuring it withstands regular use. With a traditional neck profile, this guitar provides a comfortable grip, making it easier for you to play for extended periods. Additionally, the advanced preamp and pickup system, complete with an onboard tuner, allows you to easily amplify your sound and stay in tune, perfect for performances or practice sessions.
Yamaha CG142C Classical Guitar
The Yamaha CG142C Classical Guitar features a solid cedar top, nato back and sides, a nato neck, and a rosewood fingerboard. These materials produce a warm and clear tone, and provide a comfortable playing experience. The guitar is suitable for classical and nylon-string music lovers.
Ovation Applause Balladeer AB24CII-CED Classical Guitar
The Ovation Applause Balladeer AB24CII-CED Classical Guitar is a 2017 model with a spruce top, Ovation Lyrachord Mid-Depth Cutaway, and Ovangkol Fingerboard. It features an Applause by Ovation CE304T with three band EQ and built-in tuner, and an Ovation Under the Saddle Piezo Pickup. The guitar is recommended to be paired with the Ovation 8158-0 hard-shell case or 8358-0 Zero gravity Guitar case.
Yamaha CG162C
The Yamaha CG162C Cedar Top Classical Guitar is a high-quality instrument designed for classical and nylon-string guitar enthusiasts. With its solid American cedar top, this guitar delivers warm and rich tones, making it perfect for both beginners and advanced players. The ovankol back and sides contribute to the guitar's balanced sound and resonance. The nato neck offers excellent playability and comfort, allowing you to effortlessly navigate the fretboard. The rosewood fingerboard and bridge add a touch of elegance and durability to the guitar. Whether you're performing on stage or practicing at home, the Yamaha CG162C Cedar Top Classical Guitar guarantees a pleasurable playing experience.
Yamaha CG182C Classical Guitar
The Yamaha CG182C Classical Guitar boasts a solid American cedar top, rosewood back and sides, nato neck, ebony fingerboard, and rosewood bridge. The guitar is ideal for classical and nylon-string guitar enthusiasts. The solid cedar top offers a rich, warm tone that improves with age. The rosewood back and sides provide a beautiful look and contribute to balanced, clear sound. The ebony fingerboard and nato neck allow for comfortable playing, while the rosewood bridge ensures excellent intonation.
Vangoa Classical Guitar
The Vangoa 39" Classical Set is the perfect entry-level guitar for beginner adults. It comes with everything you need to start your music journey right away, including a full-size classical guitar, tuner, strap, capo, cleaning cloth, manual, pick set, spare strings, accessory pouch, and pedal. The premium cedar top and sapele side and back woods produce a bright and clear sound, while the soft nylon strings and smooth fretboard provide a comfortable playing experience. The C-shaped neck and guitar tuner make tuning more accurate and convenient. With its elegant design and vintage engraved headstock, this classical guitar is not only a great instrument but also a beautiful piece of art. Whether you're soloing, teaching, performing, or practicing at home, the Vangoa 39" Classical Set is the ideal choice for you.
Cordoba C9 CD/MH Acoustic Nylon String Classical Guitar
The Cordoba C9 CD/MH Acoustic Nylon String Classical Guitar is a great choice for classical guitar students and serious amateurs. It features a solid Canadian cedar top and solid mahogany back and sides, a hand inlaid Mother-of-Pearl "Esteso" Rosette, and a rosewood fingerboard and Indian rosewood bridge. It also includes a Cordoba Polyfoam case and truss rod wrench 0.1 inch Allen Key. Customers praise its excellent sound quality, beautiful aesthetics, and easy playability. The only downside is that it lacks balance and low end, but for the price, it's a great guitar.
Cordoba Luthier C10 Lefty Acoustic Guitar
The Cordoba Luthier C10 Lefty Acoustic Guitar is handmade in a small boutique workshop and perfect for serious classical guitarists or anyone looking to upgrade to a concert-level instrument at an affordable price. It features an all-solid Spanish design with Canadian cedar top and Indian rosewood back and sides that provide a fat low-end, crisp treble response, and complex overtones. The guitar includes traditional Spanish fan bracing and Spanish heel construction, a C-shape neck, and modern features such as a two-way truss rod for long-term neck stability. Other features include a rosewood fingerboard and bridge, red purfling, high gloss finish, pearloid rosette, Savarez Cristal Corum strings, and a lightweight polyfoam case.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is cedar or spruce better for classical guitar?
Spruce guitars typically have a quite direct sound with a bell-like tone. They seem to be more clear, balanced and sometimes have more sustain. Cedar however, makes the guitar sound darker, warmer and generally fuller.
2. Is cedar a good guitar wood?
Cedar is the most popular top tonewood for classical guitars and is an excellent choice for steel-string acoustics as well. A variety of cedars can be seen in acoustic guitar tops and necks, though it's uncommon to see it used as a back and sides material and certainly as a fretboard material.
3. Is cedar good for guitar top?
Cedar, however, because it is less stiff - provides more sparkle and more nuance when played more softly. So essentially, cedar top acoustic guitars are the most ideal guitars for the person who plays fingerstyle, or plays with a pick using softer attacks on the strings.
During our cedar classical guitar research, we found 48 cedar classical guitar products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 7,382 customer reviews through our big data system to write the cedar classical guitars list. We found that most customers choose cedar classical guitars with an average price of $302.56.
The cedar classical guitars are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of cedar classical guitars, including YAMAHA, Cordoba, Ovation, Vangoa. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 385 consumers with an average rating of 4.7.

Nicole Kim has been a music teacher and a private piano instructor for six years now. She is a very talented musician who plays piano to a high standard and won several awards in international piano competitions. Lately, she has been sharing her music expertise online, giving incredible tips on how to select the right musical instruments.