Peavey CNS-1 Classical Guitar: Full Review

The Peavey CNS-1 is an affordable nylon-string classical guitar designed for beginner and intermediate players. Manufactured in China for Peavey Electronics, it features a traditional fan-braced spruce top with mahogany back and sides.

This review will provide an in-depth look at the construction, sound quality, playability, hardware, and overall value of the Peavey CNS-1 classical guitar. It aims to help readers determine if this budget-friendly model is the right choice for their needs as a developing classical guitarist. Key strengths and weaknesses of the CNS-1 will be highlighted to showcase where it excels and where it compromises to meet its accessible price point.

Construction and Materials

The Peavey CNS-1 is constructed from a solid Nato wood top, back and sides. Nato wood is known for its resonant tonal qualities and lightweight build. While not as premium as more expensive tonewoods like cedar or spruce, the Nato wood still provides good projection and balanced tone across the frequency range.

The build quality is quite good for a guitar in this price range. The joints are clean and sturdy, with no visible gaps or messy glue spots. The satin finish is smooth and consistent. Up close inspection shows attention was paid to smaller details like neatly cut binding and cleanly inlaid rosette around the soundhole. The neck is straight and the fret ends are smoothly finished. There are no sharp edges that would cause discomfort during playing.

Overall the materials and construction are impressive considering the affordable price tag. While it may lack some refinement in design and ornamentation, the CNS-1 delivers where it counts with a solid wood build and neat craftsmanship that punches above its class. This is a well-made beginner classical guitar that should provide years of enjoyment with proper care and maintenance.

Another excellent entry-level classical guitar to consider is the Yamaha FGC-TA BL. Like the Peavey CNS-1, it features a solid wood top, back and sides - in this case laminated Nato. The workmanship is very good with clean joints, smooth finishes and quality hardware. It produces a balanced, resonant tone with good projection and sustain. The neck has a comfortable slim profile that makes it easy to play for smaller hands. An attractive gloss finish gives it a more refined look than the satin Peavey. The Yamaha comes equipped with an adjustable truss rod for setup and intonation adjustments. At around the same price point, the Yamaha FGC-TA BL is another recommended classical guitar for new players looking for quality construction and sound on a budget.

Sound and Tone

The Peavey CNS-1 produces a warm, balanced tone that is pleasant to listen to. The combination of the solid cedar top and mahogany back and sides provides a nice resonance and sustain. Though not the loudest classical guitar, it has enough projection and volume for practicing and performing in small- to medium-sized venues. The tone stays clear even when strumming vigorously. Treble notes have brightness without being overly harsh or tinny. The bass notes are full without muddiness. Overall, the CNS-1 offers a very playable, lively tone across the tonal spectrum. While it may lack some complexity compared to more expensive classical guitars, the Peavey's sound punches above its price point. The comfortable playability makes it easy to produce good tone. Beginners and intermediate players will be very happy with the CNS-1's balanced, ringing voice.

The Monoprice 625882 is another budget-friendly classical guitar that delivers impressive sound and tone for the price. With a spruce top and mahogany back and sides, it shares some similarities with the Peavey CNS-1 in terms of tonewoods used. The Monoprice has a bright, clear voice when playing treble notes. The bass tones are also quite good for a low-cost guitar. It has decent volume and projection for practicing and playing in small settings. Overall, the Monoprice offers a balanced classical guitar tone across the registers. While it may lack some richness and complexity compared to high-end models, it certainly outperforms expectations for the affordable price point. The playability is quite good, making it easy to get the best tone out of the guitar. The Monoprice 625882 represents an excellent value for classical guitarists on a budget. While the Peavey CNS-1 may have a slight edge in terms of warmth and resonance, the Monoprice also delivers an impressive sound at a very wallet-friendly price. Beginners and intermediates seeking an affordable nylon-string classical guitar would do well to consider the pleasing tone offered by the Monoprice 625882.

Playability

The Peavey CNS-1 features a classical guitar neck shape with a 2" nut width, which provides comfortable room for fingerstyle playing. The action on this guitar is set fairly low from the factory, making it quite easy to fret notes and perform barre chords without excessive finger pressure.

The fretwork on the CNS-1 is very good for an entry-level classical guitar. The frets are nicely finished and smoothly polished, with no sharp edges to irritate fingers. There is minimal buzzing or dead spots across the fretboard. Intonation overall is accurate, enabling clear tone when playing up the neck.

The nylon strings have a nice slinky feel and balanced tension that facilitates intricate fingerpicking patterns. The wider neck does take some adjustment coming from steel-string acoustics, but allows for more thumb-over technique. Playability out of the box is a strong suit for this budget classical model.

Hardware

The Peavey CNS-1 has quality hardware that enables smooth and reliable tuning and playability.

Tuning Machines

The guitar features sealed die-cast tuning machines with Pearloid buttons. The tuning machines keep the guitar in tune well and make tuning easy and accurate due to their smooth turning action. The sealed design prevents contamination from dust and debris. The Pearloid buttons give the tuning machines an elegant look that matches the high-end appearance of the guitar.

Nut

The nut on the CNS-1 is made from bovine bone which provides smooth string glides from the tuning pegs to the fretboard. This results in great tuning stability, resonance and sustain. The bone nut is an upgrade from cheaper plastic alternatives.

Saddle

The CNS-1 utilizes a quality ABS saddle. The ABS material offers a smooth surface for the strings to rest on at the bridge resulting in great tone, sustain and intonation. The saddle is pre-notched for accurate string spacing.

Strings

The guitar comes strung with D'Addario Pro-Arté nylon treble strings and wound bass strings. These are high quality strings that produce excellent warm tone while still having good durability. The treble strings have excellent clarity and projection while the bass strings provide full low-end tone.

Electronics

The Peavey CNS-1 Classical Guitar is an acoustic nylon string guitar, so it does not have any electronic pickups or controls. This is typical for a beginner level classical guitar like this.

Since it is an entirely acoustic instrument, the CNS-1 does not have an output jack for plugging into an amplifier either. The sound is produced entirely by the vibration of the nylon strings transmitted through the bridge to the top wood of the guitar body.

Some more expensive classical guitar models aimed at professionals do have built-in pickups and preamp electronics, but this adds considerably to the cost. For a budget friendly beginner's classical guitar like the Peavey CNS-1, being completely acoustic helps keep the price accessible.

The lack of electronics means you can't amplify or modify the CNS-1's tone with effects. But it also avoids any potential issues with pickups, wiring, or jacks breaking. The all-acoustic design keeps things simple and focused entirely on the natural acoustic sound.

Comfort and Ergonomics

The Peavey CNS-1 features a comfortable and ergonomic design for classical guitar. The body shape and weight distribution make it easy to hold in playing position for extended periods.

At around 4 lbs, the CNS-1 has a lightweight build compared to many classical guitars. The slender neck and contoured body allow the instrument to balance nicely on the leg. Players should not experience fatigue even during long practice or performance sessions.

The smooth neck profile and low action facilitate comfortable hand positioning and fingering. The neck width at the nut measures 2 inches, which is a common width for classical guitars. This gives ample room for the fretting hand while remaining playable for those with smaller hands.

The CNS-1's body depth and brace pattern provide a nice resonance without being overly bulky. The waist is contoured for playing comfort in the seated classical position. The upper bout provides some curve for comfort while playing on the leg.

Overall, Peavey designed the CNS-1 for optimal ergonomics and comfort during classical guitar performance. The construction, weight, and body shape allow for extended playing time without discomfort.

Value for Money

The Peavey CNS-1 offers reasonable value for money given its construction quality and features. While not the cheapest classical guitar on the market, it is competitively priced.

At around $100, the CNS-1 sits in the low to mid-price range for a beginner classical guitar. There are certainly cheaper options available, like the Fender FA-100 for around $60. However, the CNS-1's all-wood construction and onboard electronics help justify its slightly higher cost.

Compared to other classical guitars with a similar wood construction and electronics in this price range, such as the Cordoba C5 for around $200, the CNS-1 is quite affordable. While the C5 may use higher quality woods, the CNS-1 gets you in the ballpark sonically for much less.

Considering its solid spruce top and included pickup system, the CNS-1 gives you good value for your money. It costs more than ultra-budget all-laminate guitars, but delivers better tone and versatility for just a bit more money. Overall, it hits a nice sweet spot for an entry-level classical guitar with amplified capabilities.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• All solid wood construction provides rich, full-bodied tone
• Well-balanced sound across all registers from bass to treble
• Clear and articulate notes when fingerpicking
• Comfortable neck profile for both chording and soloing
• Attractive high-gloss finish complements any decor
• Excellent value for a solid top classical guitar

Cons

• Factory strings may need upgrading for optimal tone
• Intonation may need minor tweaking out of the box
• Lack of cutaway limits high fret access
• Electronics prone to feedback at high volumes
• Not ideal for aggressive strumming due to delicate construction

Conclusion

The Peavey CNS-1 classical guitar provides an excellent starter instrument for new classical guitarists on a budget. Its spruce and mahogany construction produces a bright, balanced tone that projects well for its price range. While not as responsive or refined as more expensive models, the CNS-1 offers very good playability right out of the box, with an easy-to-play neck and smoothly finished frets.

The hardware is decent, although upgrading to better tuners may help keep it in tune. The built-in pickup and preamp provides a nice bonus for playing plugged in, although the electronics are basic. The CNS-1 is very lightweight and comfortable to play thanks to its contoured body and narrow neck. Overall, it punches above its price point, providing a quality entry-level classical guitar to learn and practice on.

For intermediate players or those looking to upgrade, the tone and hardware limitations may leave something to be desired. But as a budget-friendly first classical guitar, the Peavey CNS-1 hits all the right notes.