Hola! Music HG-39GLS Classical Guitar: Full Review

Classical Guitar Hola! Music HG-39GLS Review

The Hola! Music HG-39GLS is a nylon-string classical guitar made by Hola! Music, a company known for producing quality yet affordable classical guitars. This guitar features a laminated spruce top with mahogany back and sides, giving it a balanced and warm tone. The HG-39GLS is a full-size guitar with a traditional fan bracing pattern inside, which provides good volume and sustain. It comes equipped with nylon strings and a 2-way truss rod for adjusting neck relief.

Overall, the HG-39GLS is designed to be an accessible classical guitar for new players, with its comfortable nylon string tension and playability right out of the box. While not a professional-grade instrument, it provides good value as a starter or practice classical guitar.

Appearance

The Hola! Music HG-39GLS classical guitar has a traditional and elegant look that is sure to complement any player. It features a shapely grand concert body with a polished spruce top that produces a bright, balanced tone. The back, sides and neck are made from mahogany, giving the guitar a rich, warm sound with plenty of bass and good projection.

The HG-39GLS comes in a natural gloss finish that accentuates the beautiful wood grain patterns. The rosette around the soundhole has an ornate floral motif, adding a delicate artistic touch. Chrome enclosed tuning machines keep the strings tensioned properly. Overall the guitar has a refined yet straightforward aesthetic.

The appearance of a classical guitar is an important factor for many players when choosing an instrument. The visual aesthetics can inspire the musician and also convey their artistic sensibilities. Many high-end classical guitars exhibit expert craftsmanship in their design and materials. However, beginner and intermediate players need not spend excessive amounts on cosmetic features. There are many attractive yet affordable classical guitar models available.

For example, the Ortega Guitars RCE131L has a flamed maple back and sides paired with a cedar top in a satin finish. This gives it an elegant look reminiscent of older classical guitars. The wooden binding and rosette are understated yet tasteful accents. And the slim neck with adjustable truss rod provides smooth playability. While not extravagant, this model offers both visual beauty and quality construction without breaking the bank.

Ultimately a classical guitar's appearance is a matter of personal taste. Those seeking a traditional classical aesthetic may prefer understated wooden instruments like the RCE131L. Players wanting a modern flair can choose models with cutaway bodies and colorful finishes. Beginners need not spend much for visual flare but can focus on sound quality and playability. With the many classical guitars available today, there's likely one with the right look for every player.

Build Quality

The Hola HG-39GLS classical guitar offers excellent build quality for the price. The guitar is constructed with laminated linden wood for the top, sides, and back. Linden wood is not as dense or resonant as solid spruce or cedar used on higher-end classical guitars, but it provides good tonal balance at this price point.

The neck is made from mahogany with a rosewood fingerboard and bridge. The 20-fret fingerboard has a 12" radius, making it comfortable for playing different styles. The machine heads are chrome sealed die cast tuners which do a decent job at holding tune. Overall the hardware is good for a beginner and intermediate level classical guitar in this price range.

The craftsmanship and finish on the HG-39GLS is quite impressive considering the affordable price. The matte finish is smooth and consistent, with no visible flaws. The neck joint and braces inside are cleanly cut and assembled. While not at a full hand-crafted luthier level, the attention to detail and manufacturing quality set this guitar apart from other budget classical options.

The materials, hardware, and construction of the Hola HG-39GLS come together to provide a reliable and well-made classical guitar that performs nicely for recreational players and students. While it may lack the lush tone and refinement of premium classical guitars, it offers great value in build quality and playability.

When comparing the build quality of the Hola HG-39GLS to other classical guitars in its price range, it's worth looking at the Ibanez PN15BS. This model from Ibanez offers a solid cedar top, mahogany back and sides, and rosewood fingerboard at a very affordable price point. The PN15BS features precise craftsmanship with high quality materials for the price. The cedar and mahogany body will resonate nicely and produce full classical guitar tones.

The hardware on the PN15BS is also a step above other budget classical guitars. It has an adjustable truss rod for neck relief, chrome die-cast tuners, and a rosewood bridge with compensated saddle. These features allow for proper setup and stability of tuning and intonation. The slim neck profile with 12th fret joint makes the PN15BS comfortable and easy to play. Overall the Ibanez offers an excellent value in materials, hardware, and workmanship. While it may lack some projection compared to premium classical guitars, the quality rivals models costing much more.

When comparing build qualities between the Hola HG-39GLS and Ibanez PN15BS, the Ibanez comes out slightly ahead. The solid wood construction will vibrate and resonate more freely than the laminated linden on the Hola model. The hardware is also more robust on the Ibanez, with precise and narrow tolerances. However, the Hola punches above its weight class with impressive craftsmanship and attention to detail at its low price point. While the Ibanez may have slightly better build quality, the Hola HG-39GLS is still an excellent value for recreational players looking for a dependable and nice sounding classical guitar.

Sound Quality

The Hola! HG-39GLS classical guitar produces a warm, rich tone thanks to its solid cedar top. Cedar is a popular tonewood choice for classical guitars as it emphasizes the warmth and resonance in the midrange frequencies. This gives the HG-39GLS a very melodic, singing voice.

The back and sides are made of mahogany, which adds depth and richness to the overall sound. Mahogany provides a rounded tone across the frequency range, complementing the cedar top nicely. Together, these tonewoods give the HG-39GLS excellent projection and sustain.

The warm overtones of cedar combined with the strong lower mids of mahogany make this an excellent guitar for playing lyrical classical pieces. It has enough power and sustain to perform in small-medium sized spaces, while retaining a sweet, balanced character. Players looking for an affordable classical guitar with professional sound should find the HG-39GLS delivers impressive value.

Playability

The Hola! HG-39GLS features a cedar top with mahogany back and sides, resulting in a lightweight and comfortable guitar to play. The neck is made from quality mahogany which provides stability and allows smooth transitions up and down the rosewood fretboard.

The guitar has a standard 25.6" scale length with a 1.69" nut width, making it accessible for players with smaller hands while still allowing for intricate fretting. The action on the HG-39GLS is set low for effortless fretting, yet has enough height to avoid buzzing. This can always be adjusted to suit personal preference.

The guitar comes strung with D'Addario Pro-Arte nylon strings. The strings have a warmer, mellower tone which brings out the guitar's classical voice. The nylon material also glides smoothly along the fretboard for comfortable and responsive playing. The strings hold their tune well, though players may still want to experiment with other string brands to find their ideal tone and feel.

Overall, the neck profile combined with the low action and smooth nylon strings makes the HG-39GLS a highly playable classical guitar suitable for beginners to advanced players. The comfortable ergonomics invite practice sessions without fatigue.

Hardware

The hardware on the Hola Music HG-39GLS classical guitar is quite good for the price.

Tuning Pegs

The tuning pegs are made of plastic with a metallic finish. They hold tune reasonably well, though you may need to tune periodically as the guitar breaks in. The pegs turn smoothly without much binding. Upgrading to higher quality tuning pegs could help with tuning stability long-term.

Bridge

The bridge is made of rosewood, which is typical for classical guitars in this price range. The material gives a smooth feel on the strings. The bridge height and position seem well set up out of the box.

Nut

The nut width of 52mm is standard for classical guitars. The nut material is plastic, which helps provide clean string slots. Lubricating the nut slots can help the strings glide more smoothly.

Saddle

The saddle is made of plastic with a curved top to provide the proper string height at the 12th fret. The string grooves are cleanly cut for accurate intonation. As with the nut, lubricating the saddle can help improve tone and playability over time.

Accessories

The HG-39GLS comes with several useful accessories for the beginning classical guitarist.

Gig Bag

It includes a lightweight nylon gig bag to protect the guitar when transporting it. The bag features backpack straps for easy carrying and has adequate padding to prevent damage. While not a high-end hard case, the included gig bag is sufficient for safe storage and travel.

Picks

No picks are included, as classical guitar is traditionally played with the fingers. However, the guitar could certainly be used with a pick for certain techniques or styles outside of classical.

Strings

The guitar comes strung with D'Addario Pro-Arte nylon classical guitar strings. These are a good quality string set for student instruments. However, the strings are factory installed and may need to be replaced soon after purchase depending on the guitar's production date.

Polishing Cloth

A basic polishing cloth is included. This can be used to wipe off fingerprints and keep the guitar body looking shiny. The cloth helps maintain the appearance, though more thorough cleaning and polishing may be needed over time.

Pros

• Smooth and mellow sound: Reviewers praise the warm, rich tones of this classical guitar, which sound just as good playing complex pieces as simple melodies. The cedar top produces a sweet, rounded sound.

• High build quality: Constructed with solid spruce and mahogany, this guitar features meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail. The materials are durable yet responsive.

• Great playability: The neck has a comfortable contour and low action that allows smooth, effortless playing. The wider nut also helps playability, especially for those with larger hands.

• Includes case and accessories: The guitar comes with a padded nylon case to protect it during transport and storage. Extra strings and a digital tuner provide added value.

Cons

• The tuners can be stiff and tricky to turn at first until broken in. It may take some time to get them operating smoothly.

• The included gig bag is very thin and offers minimal protection. You'll likely want to invest in a hard case for more secure transport and storage.

• The fretwork could be sharper and more polished. You may encounter some rough or sharp fret ends that can cause discomfort when playing.

• The factory strings are cheap and will need to be replaced. Make sure to factor in the additional cost of a proper set of classical guitar strings.

Conclusion

The Hola! Music HG-39GLS classical guitar provides beginner to intermediate players with a budget-friendly nylon-string instrument. This guitar features a spruce top with mahogany back and sides, rosewood fingerboard and bridge, and geared tuning machines.

The build quality is decent for the price point, though some compromises were made to keep costs down. The sound won't rival more expensive classical guitars, but has warm overtones and resonates nicely. Intonation and playability are also satisfactory if the guitar is properly set up.

Overall, the Hola! Music HG-39GLS is recommended for new classical guitarists or parents looking for a good starter instrument for a child. While not for advanced players, it provides good value and can help nurture an appreciation for nylon-string guitars. With proper care and maintenance, this guitar should provide years of enjoyment as skills progress.