GEWA VG500126 Classical Guitar: Full Review

The GEWA VG500126 is classical guitar designed for students and beginners by GEWA Music, a reputable German musical instrument maker. This nylon-string guitar features a traditional fan-braced spruce top with mahogany back and sides for warm, balanced tone. The VG500126 aims to offer good playability and sound in an affordable package, making it a great choice for new classical guitarists. Its comfortable neck, quality hardware and lightweight construction add up to a student instrument that excels. While not a professional-grade classical, the VG500126 punches above its weight given the very reasonable price point. Overall, this is a high quality beginner classical guitar from GEWA.

Construction

The GEWA Student Classical Guitar VG500126 features a solid spruce top with a gloss finish and mahogany back and sides. The top wood is nicely grained and the construction seems very solid overall.

The workmanship on this model appears to be good, especially considering the affordable price point. The joints where the neck meets the body are clean and seamless. The bridge and fretboard are also precisely fitted to the body.

Some visible glue seeps on the side bindings detract slightly from the look, but don't affect playability. The gloss finish is smooth and evenly applied. The tuners turn smoothly as well.

Overall, the materials used seem decent for a beginner's classical guitar in this range. While not the highest end, the construction quality is suitable for a student learning to play.

When comparing the construction of the GEWA Student Classical Guitar to other models in a similar price range, such as the Cordoba C1M 02685, there are some key differences. The Cordoba uses all solid wood construction with a solid Canadian cedar top, mahogany back and sides, and mahogany neck, while the GEWA has a spruce top with mahogany back and sides. This gives the Cordoba a slightly richer, warmer sound.

The Cordoba also features a two-way truss rod for added stability and adjustable action, compared to the GEWA's non-adjustable neck. The binding and rosette on the Cordoba are more ornate as well. The satin finish on the Cordoba gives it a more natural look and feel versus the GEWA's gloss finish.

In terms of craftsmanship, both models appear to be well made for their price points. The Cordoba may have a slight edge, but the GEWA construction is certainly decent. The tuners, bridge, fretwork, and joints on both models are clean and seem sturdy.

The tonewoods and construction details like truss rods and finish types impact the tone and playability. While the GEWA Student Classical Guitar is a good quality beginner instrument, the Cordoba offers some upgrades in materials and features that affect the sound and feel. However, the GEWA remains a solid option for new classical guitarists on a tight budget.

Sound

The GEWA VG500126 classical guitar produces a rich, warm, and balanced tone perfect for the student guitarist. The combination of solid spruce top wood and mahogany back and sides provides excellent resonance and sustain.

The spruce top is a popular choice for classical guitars as it offers brightness and clarity. It responds well to playing dynamics, allowing the guitar to project with good volume. The mahogany back and sides add depth and warmth to the overall sound. Mahogany is known for its balanced tone across the frequency range.

Together, these premium tonewoods allow the guitar to sing with a full-bodied and harmonious voice. Notes ring out with good sustain. The guitar offers plenty of dynamic range to explore from soft, delicate passages to more aggressive strumming. Students will appreciate the resonant and inspiring voice of this quality classical guitar.

Overall, the GEWA VG500126 delivers a nuanced and balanced sound - neither too bright nor too bassy. The woods provide excellent resonance for rich tones. Budding classical guitarists will find this guitar a joy to play and listen to during practice and performance.

The GEWA VG500126 is an excellent choice for beginner and intermediate players looking for a well-made classical guitar with great sound. However, more advanced players may want to consider other options like the Fender 0970710121. This model from the famous Fender brand offers pro-level features and premium tonewoods for discerning guitarists.

The Fender 0970710121 classical guitar has a solid European spruce top, Indian rosewood back and sides, and a mahogany neck. This tonewood combination produces full low-end, sparkling highs, and excellent note separation. The guitar projects beautifully with volume to spare. Notes sing out with sustain when playing legato passages.

The craftsmanship is top-notch, with carefully cut braces and precision build quality. It features a comfortable neck profile and low action for easy playability. The abalone rosette and body purfling add an elegant visual flair.

Many professional classical guitarists prefer Fender models thanks to their unmatched resonance and dynamic range. The 0970710121 is capable of a wide tonal palette, from delicate pianissimo to aggressive fortissimo. It records exceptionally well in the studio.

The Fender offers plenty of tonal nuance beyond a beginner instrument. Guitarists can shape notes with sensitive playing dynamics. The bass tones are rich but not muddy. Trebles have a crystalline clarity without harsh overtones. It's a very responsive and inspiring instrument.

While more expensive than the GEWA, the Fender 0970710121 is worth the investment for serious classical guitarists. It will keep up with even the most demanding technical repertoire while rewarding the player with world-class Fender tone. This hand-crafted classical guitar will likely be a lifelong musical companion.

Playability

The playability of the GEWA VG500126 classical guitar is one of its standout features. This guitar has a comfortable neck that is easy to play, even for beginners. The neck is made of mahogany with a rosewood fingerboard. The neck has a standard classical guitar width of 52mm at the nut. This provides ample room for the player's fingers while still being comfortable and playable.

The rosewood fingerboard is beautifully crafted with no sharp edges. It has 18 frets with dot inlays on the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th, and 17th frets. The fretwork is excellent, with the frets nicely rounded and smoothly finished. This allows for comfortable playing up and down the neck.

The GEWA VG500126 has a quality bone nut and saddle. The string action, both at the nut and saddle, is set low but still provides good string resonance without buzzing. This makes the guitar very easy to play, ideal for beginners learning chord shapes and for advanced players who want to play complex pieces comfortably.

The bridge is made of rosewood and is a standard tie-block style with precise intonation. The bridge performs well and complements the excellent playability provided by the neck, fingerboard, and low action. Overall, the playability of the GEWA VG500126 is one of its best attributes, making it a joy to play.

Hardware

The GEWA VG500126 student classical guitar comes equipped with high-quality hardware to provide stability, playability, and great sound.

The tuning machines are open-geared chrome enclosed units that do a decent job at holding the strings in tune. They have pearloid buttons for smooth tuning adjustments. While not as premium as sealed geared tuners, these tuning pegs get the job done and are a nice upgrade over cheaper plastic tuners.

The nut and saddle are both made of quality ABS plastic. The nut slots are pre-cut for accurate string spacing and height. The saddle has a compensated design to help improve intonation. While bone or graphite nuts and saddles can sometimes be better, the plastic components on this model are quite serviceable for a beginner guitar in this price range.

Overall, the hardware components on the GEWA VG500126 are thoughtfully chosen to offer good functionality without driving up the cost. The tuners, nut and saddle all contribute to making this an easy to play and tuneful entry-level classical guitar.

Electronics

The GEWA VG500126 features quality electronics to provide excellent sound and playability. It comes equipped with passive under-saddle piezo pickups that accurately capture the nuances and dynamics of the instrument.

The guitar has volume and tone control knobs that allow you to shape and refine your tone. The volume knob controls the overall output level, while the tone knob lets you dial in the right amount of treble and bass response. Both knobs are high quality and smooth in operation.

For connectivity, there is a 1/4" output jack that allows you to easily plug into an amplifier or PA system. The output jack is securely mounted on the side of the lower bout for convenience. Overall, the electronics setup on the GEWA VG500126 is well-designed and delivers great amplified performance.

Finish

The most important element of a guitar's appearance is the finish. The GEWA VG500126 features high-quality lacquer on the top, back, and sides. The lacquer gives the guitar an attractive glossy look. It comes in a natural wood color, allowing the beauty of the wood grain to show through. The lacquer finish not only looks great, but also helps protect the wood against damage. It creates a durable barrier against scratches, chips, and fingerprints. Many lacquered guitars require careful handling to avoid chipping the finish, but the multiple layers of lacquer on the VG500126 make it quite resilient. The glossy finish can be wiped down easily if needed. Those who prefer the look of a shiny guitar will be pleased with the VG500126's attractive gloss lacquer.

Accessories

The GEWA VG500126 classical guitar comes with a few useful accessories to help you get started playing right away.

Case

It includes a lightweight nylon gig bag to protect the guitar when transporting or storing it. The bag features backpack straps for easy carrying. It's not a hard case, so provides basic protection from bumps and scratches but not much more.

Strings

This guitar comes strung with GEWA Savarez Cristal Corum high tension 500CJ strings. These are quality nylon strings with a bright, projecting tone. The strings are new so you won't need to change them right away, but they will need to be replaced every few months with regular playing.

Picks

While you may play classical guitar with your fingers, the guitar also comes with a single Celluloid pick in case you want to try playing with a pick. The pick is 1.5mm thick and provides a bright attack and articulation.

Pros and Cons

• Pros - Far below retail $300 price tag for ~$100 price range - Darker, warmer tones than spruce tops
  - Cutaway provides access to upper frets - Lightweight makes playing comfortable - Electronics allow plugging into an amp - Low action facilitates fretting and playing - Geared tuners keep guitar in tune - Compensated saddle improves intonation - High-gloss finish is attractive

• Cons
  - Laminate sides and back don't resonate like solid wood - Narrower neck may be uncomfortable for some - Limited dynamic range compared to all solid wood - No included case for protection - Electronics may induce feedback at high volumes - Intonation still not perfect with compensated saddle - Fretwork may need some smoothing and polishing - Machine heads feel cheap and may slip - Action may be too low for some players

Verdict

For any student or new classical guitarist looking for their first real instrument, the GEWA VG500126 is an excellent choice that balances quality and affordability.

The spruce and mahogany construction produces a warm, balanced tone perfect for the classical repertoire. While not as loud as more expensive models, the sound projects nicely for practice, lessons, and small recitals. The playability is also quite good right out of the box, with comfortable string action and spacing.

The hardware, electronics, and finish are all decent for the price point. The chrome tuners stay in tune well, the Fishman pickup captures the guitar's acoustic tone cleanly, and the matte finish gives off a nice satin look and feel. It even comes with a few useful accessories like strings and a gig bag.

Overall, the GEWA VG500126 punches above its weight class. The quality control is reliable, so issues like high action or fret buzz are unlikely. As long as you don't need an extremely loud concert-hall level classical, this model has everything a beginner needs to start their classical guitar journey. Highly recommended for students and novice players.