Yamaha CGX171CCA

I just picked this guitar up after looking around for a couple weeks. It has a solid cedar top, rosewood sides and back and a nato neck. Nato is an Asian mohogany. It has two sources for pickups; under the bridge and a mic. The electronics are quite flexible. Its definitely not lacking in features.

The sound is pretty good when compared to guitars in a similar price range. I also played a Taylor 32 ($1500), a few Seagulls, some Ibanez, Washburn and Takamine and a Rodriguez ACE ($1000) before finally settling on this. For sound, the Rodriguez was the richest in harmonic content. It sounded beautiful. The Taylor was well made but was unusable due to the buzzing on the B string. There wasn't any way around it. I think they set the action too low. The Yamaha was the third in line when comparing tone. None of the other brands sounded any better. They were all fairly similar. The Rodriguez was plagued with problems. Great sound, but horrible craftsmanship. There was visible glue on the inside, the sided of the fingerboard looked like someone hit it with a hammer 100 times. Action was so high that it was nearly impossible to play. Still, I loved the sound of the Rodriguez. When running them through an amp, the Yamaha was easily better. The combination of saddle pickup and mic was very good. The Rodriguez was unusable with an amp. Top two strings almost silent, bottom 4 very loud. I mostly play live, so this was a big thing for me. I'm not rating it too high because I have played great sounding classical guitars. This is not a "virtuoso" type instrument. Compared to others in the same price range, I'd give it a 9-10. But compared to hand made >$2k guitars, it sounds somewhat lifeless.

Flawless action fit and finish. I know the guitar is made in China, which I have little respect for, but this is so well made. I've inspected it closely and I can't find flaws in the build quality. I wish the tone were a bit richer, but the build quality is great. The action is perfect. Not so low it buzzes, but low enough to make it comfortable to play. I checked out every note on the neck. All were clear. I couldn't say that about most of my other choices in classical guitars.

Seems well enough made that I don't fear taking it on shows. It has a truss rod, which give a little more security that it can be adjusted if necessary. I really don't have experience with taking it on the road yet, so I give it a 9.

I have no idea how support will be if I ever need it.

I've been playing for 38 years professionally. I'm first a songwriter and arranger. Instruments are just tools to me. Up till now, I didn't have a nylon string guitar. I'm not going to be the next Segovia or Williams. I just need the sound of a nylon string guitar in some arrangements. I wanted one that would sound great live and pretty decent in the studio. This guitar won't win awards for being a world class classical guitar, but I don't think its meant to be. It seems they tailored it to people like me. That said, it does what it should. It's extremely well made and sounds pretty good for a guitar under $1000. Out of my options, this seemed the best choice.

I've had the Yamaha CGX171CCA for about a month and love the way it plays and sounds.The active electronics are a plus.

It has very rich overtones with or without amplification.The volume settings must be set correctly to avoid feedback.

The intonation seems perfect.Nice low action.

The guitar can easily withstand live playing

I believe there is a one year warranty.

I've been playing approximately 33yrs,with lapses of 10yrs or so,I put up a short finger style video at youtube.com THEJMILLSBAND after having it about a week.There was some buzzing,but not from the guitar,it was from the camcorder.The Yamaha CGX171CCA has got to be the best value
I've seen for any guitar acoustic or electric for quite some time.

Just got it a few days ago. All I can say is "W.O.W." I have been playing for over 40 years. I played classical guitars that sell for $10k USD +. Yamaha just seems to get it right, and price is awesome. I paid $699 brand new, no case, but I bought a good TKL case for my new baby

Delivers both straight and with the pickup. Caution - acoustic pickups are tricky - try to use a PA amp. A guitar amp may be too bright. Also, try it with an envelope filter or a phasr shifter for that total altered state.

Even Yamaha's $60 guitars are well made. I recently bought a spanish made standard classical for $1400, and it had glue marks on it. Kudo's to Yahama for the quality, fit and finish.

excellent - but it still is a delicate instrument, so treat it as such

don't know, because I have had no need to talk with either the merchan I purchased it from, of Yamahs.

Especially with the ebony fretboard, it blows away guitars costing $3000. Remember, and I know from experience, just because a guitar is expensive, does not mean it is an expensive guitar. Japan & Asia make some great guitars, but the classical world, which is snobby to say the least, won't touch them. Their loss and our gain

Finish: High gloss finish Size/Style: standard classical size body top & back. Not very deep, but not thinline.
Electronics: Active B-Band piezo + mic. Master volume + mic blend volume. 3 band EQ +/-. Notch slider filter. Routed headstock with gold classical tuners. Nut width approx 1 7/8".
Tonewoods: Cutaway solid Cedar top, Rosewood back & sides. Standard rosewood bridge. Ebony fretboard. Nato neck with 19 frets. Rosette soundhole & back joint.

My style is eklectic.
I had a 1st class classical 20 yrs ago but traded it for a Korg keyboard to compose with. It was confusing switching between the 2"
neck & my Ibanez RS-440's neck.
Being 1/2 Greek I cut my teeth on mediterranean music and after listening to Al DiMeola's last 2 albums I decided it was time to go
nylon.
I played it through a Digitech GNX4 to a Roland KC-350 keyboard amp.
You really need an acoustic or keyboard amp for this kind of sound.
RE noise: you have to limit the mic volumn through an amp unless you
can get out of range, otherwise it squeals like a piglett.
The sound has a wide dynamic range. You can get classical to flamenco to modern nylon sounds (ie. Al DiMeloa).
I like the sound. It sounds great acoustically and plugged in. Because of the semi-shallow body it isn't very loud but the rosewood really makes it fat. Plugged in is a little better.

It was setup fine. I may lower the action via neck adjustment a little. I usually overdo that. The nylon strings are very easy to
fret but too high action messes with the intonation some.
The fit and finish are perfect.

You should baby any guitar that is worth playing: this one is, even though the price is reasonable.

I've been playing since '66. I have way too many guitars & gear for
a , CURRENLY, non-giging musician.
I just got a Godin ACS-SA (nylon too!), so I'm really getting into
a latin/med sound and adding synth with the Godin.
I also have a Godin LGX-SA for rock sounds + synth.
I have 2 synth setups- GI-20+Emu P2K & GR-20.
If lost or stolen I'd try to find another.
I'm giving an overall 9 because I probably would have a hard time selling it due to it's brand name, but will probally keep it forever!
I just bought a Godin so I didn't want to pay a lot for another nylon. This guitar has a high value/ bang-for-the buck.