As a professional guitarist with over 21 years of teaching and performance experience, I've played hundreds of. After playing and teaching so much, I began recommending what I know the 4 best classical guitars, with great playability and consistently good sound about which my students have always given excellent feedback. Here are my 4 favorite beginner to intermediate classical guitars for 2025: (*Please consider buying with the affiliate links below to support my free education blog and YouTube channel.)
Best Top-Tier Intermediate Classical Guitar Córdoba C12 SP ($2,149)
REVIEW
Out of the box, the Córdoba C12 really impressed me. It’s super comfortable, has a great tone, great volume, and great sustain. I prefer the model here with the solid spruce top and rosewood sides/back. The cedar-top version is nice but a bit too warm sounding for my taste. If you’re at a high-intermediate level or starting to perform, this guitar is an excellent choice. It comes with a hard case and Córdoba’s excellent warranty.
Note: The next step, beyond this price point, would be a luthier-made, concert guitar ranging from $2,500-$20,000 like the ones I play.
Best Mid-level Intermediate Classical Guitar Córdoba C10 SP ($1,299)
REVIEW
The Córdoba C10 SP is a close runner-up to it’s big sister, the C12 SP above. It’s also made with a solid spruce top and rosewood sides/back. Like the C12, it’s also super comfortable and has a good tone and volume, although the tone is not quite a lush as it is on the C12.
The Córdoba C10 SP is a great choice for high-level, intermediate guitarists who want to take their classical guitar sound to the next level but don’t want to break the bank to do so. This one also comes with a hard case and Córdoba’s excellent warranty.
Best Mid-High Level Beginner Classical GuitarCórdoba C7 SP ($589)
REVIEW
If you’re a serious beginner who’s ready to move up, the Córdoba C7 is a great choice. Like the other two above, this one comes with either a spruce or cedar top — I prefer spruce — and rosewood sides/back. The C7 has a rosewood fretboard instead of ebony which makes it much more affordable.
This guitar meets the criterion for good playability, tone, and volume for classical guitar pieces although it’s not quite as rich and loud as the other 2 guitars above. This one also comes with Córdoba’s excellent warranty but you’ll have to get your own case.
Check more of my recommended silent and travel classical guitars!
Best Starter Classical Guitar Yamaha CG122MSH Classical Guitar ($249)
REVIEW
This is the guitar I recommend the most for all of my classical guitar beginners. For a starter guitar, it’s really impressive! Super comfortable, good tone, and decent volume.
There are cheaper options out there, but I wouldn’t recommend them. Like always, comfort, good tone, and good volume are non-negotiable qualities that this Yamaha definitely meets.
*You’ll have to get your own case for this one.
Check more of my recommended silent and travel classical guitars!
I know how discouraging slow progress can be, but you don’t have to go through that. My SPANISH GUITAR MASTERY COACHING PROGRAM is a personally guided program to help you learn how experts practice so you can breakthrough, plateaus and frustration and finally play beautifully.
The Links above are affiliate links. Although I have personally tried and recommend all of the items above, I also earn a very small commission from each of them. Commissions support my free YouTube channel and free educational blog. Please consider buying with the links above. Thank you for your support!
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