PURE GEWA PS510198 Classical Guitar: Full Review

The Classical Guitar PURE GEWA PS510198 is a high-quality classical guitar from GEWA, a German company known for manufacturing musical instruments and accessories since 1922. GEWA offers a range of classical, acoustic, and electric guitars.

The PS510198 is part of GEWA's PURE line, which focuses on providing good quality entry-level and intermediate classical guitars. As an accessible option, the PS510198 offers solid spruce and mahogany construction in a full-size classical guitar for learners and developing players.

With its smooth playability, balanced tone, and quality hardware, the GEWA PS510198 is designed to support classical guitarists as they progress from beginner to intermediate levels. This GEWA model offers an attractive option for reasonably-priced, well-constructed classical guitars.

Construction

The GEWA Pure Classical Guitar PS510198 features a solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides. The spruce top is known for its bright, balanced tone that projects well. It's a common choice for classical guitar tops. Mahogany back and sides provide a warm, rounded tone to complement the spruce. Mahogany is a traditional wood pairing with spruce tops, ideal for classical guitars.

The use of solid woods, rather than laminates, results in better resonance and sustain. Solid spruce and mahogany construction gives the GEWA Pure a rich, complex tone. While more expensive than laminate models, the all-solid-wood design greatly enhances the sound quality and volume. The tonewoods produce clear trebles from the spruce, and deep, mellow bass notes from the mahogany.

When choosing a classical guitar, it's important to consider the construction and materials. Solid wood tops like spruce project sound loudly and cleanly. Mahogany back and sides add warmth and depth. Together, these tonewoods create a balanced, nuanced classical guitar tone. Laminates cannot match the resonance of solid woods. While cheaper, laminates produce a thinner, quieter sound. The GEWA Pure's solid spruce and mahogany build makes it an excellent choice for intermediate players seeking better quality than entry-level guitars. It provides professional-grade tone and volume perfect for practice, lessons, and performing.

Another high-quality classical guitar to consider is the Martin 11GBPCL. Like the GEWA Pure, it features solid tonewood construction with a spruce top. However, it uses rosewood for the back and sides instead of mahogany. Rosewood adds crispness and articulation to the warm spruce sound. This rosewood and spruce pairing creates excellent clarity and projection suited for the concert hall. The Martin 11GBPCL's all solid-wood body offers rich low end, sparkling highs, and excellent dynamic range. Together with Martin’s expert hand-voicing, it produces impressive volume and sustain. The 11GBPCL is an heirloom-quality classical guitar perfect for advanced players.

Both the GEWA Pure and Martin 11GBPCL exemplify the benefits of solid-wood construction. Their all-solid spruce and mahogany or rosewood designs provide professional-level tone. While the GEWA Pure offers an affordable option for intermediates, the Martin 11GBPCL is a premium classical guitar for advanced players. Choosing between them depends on your budget and skill level. Either way, their solid tonewood builds deliver excellent sound quality and volume perfect for classical guitarists.

Sound

The GEWA PS510198 classical guitar produces a bright and balanced tone that projects well. The solid cedar top provides clarity in the treble frequencies while the mahogany back and sides add warmth and resonance to the midrange and bass.

This combination of tonewoods creates an evenly balanced sound across the frequency spectrum. The notes ring out with sustain and separation. Even when strummed vigorously, the PS510198 maintains its harmonic balance and doesn't get overly bright or boomy.

The guitar projects sound effectively thanks to its traditional fan bracing. This bracing pattern allows the top to vibrate freely, resulting in good volume and carrying power. The player doesn't need to use heavy attack or over-exertion to make the guitar sing. It's responsive and resonant enough to fill a room when played at moderate dynamics.

Overall, the GEWA PS510198 produces a versatile classical guitar tone that's bright without being harsh, warm without being muddy. It's a balanced sound with pleasing projection suitable for various playing styles and environments. The guitar offers the clarity, nuance, and dynamic range expected from a quality classical instrument.

If you're looking for an affordable classical guitar with good sound projection and balance, check out the Pyle PEAG99.5. This full-size nylon string guitar has a spruce top and mahogany back and sides for a well-rounded tone. Its slim neck and low action make it comfortable for beginners to learn on. Reviewers praise the Pyle PEAG99.5 for its warm, resonant sound that belies its budget price. While it may not have the refinement of more expensive classical guitars, it provides great bang for the buck if you're just starting out with nylon strings.

The Pyle PEAG99.5 comes equipped with nylon strings for a mellow, classical tone. The strings are easier on the fingers than steel strings, so you can play for longer without pain or fatigue. The wider neck and higher action are designed to accommodate the nylon strings while still being quite playable. The tone from nylon strings is focused more on warmth and clarity than volume or projection. So this guitar is better suited to fingerstyle playing rather than aggressive strumming.

This classical guitar has a laminated spruce top with clean workmanship. The laminate isn't as resonant as a solid wood top, but helps keep costs down. There's a wooden bridge and synthetic bone nut and saddle. The chrome tuning machines keep the guitar in tune well. The body binding and rosette provide an ornate look resembling more expensive classical guitars.

At around 40 inches long, this is a full-size instrument. The body depth gives it a robust, well-balanced tone. The nylon strings have a mellow sound when played, rather than the bright attack of steel strings. Owners describe the tone as surprisingly good for the price. The lightweight build and comfortable neck make the Pyle PEAG99.5 great for new players and practicing.

The Pyle PEAG99.5 probably won't satisfy more advanced classical guitarists. But it provides an affordable way for beginners to explore nylon string sound. If you want to expand into classical music or appreciate the softer tone, this budget classical model is a great starting point. While not as premium sounding as the GEWA PS510198, the Pyle PEAG99.5 captures some of that balanced classical character at a fraction of the cost.

Playability

The Gewa PS510198 classical guitar has excellent playability that both beginners and experienced players will enjoy. The neck has a comfortable satin finish that lets your hand glide smoothly up and down the fretboard. The action is set up nicely right out of the box, with the strings a perfect height above the frets for easy pressing and clear notes without buzzing.

The slightly wider classical neck may take some getting used to if you're accustomed to steel-string acoustics, but most find it very natural, especially for fingerstyle playing. The width provides plenty of room for your fingers to get clean contact with the strings. The low action and light string tension make complex chords, hammer-ons, pull-offs, and quick runs a breeze to execute.

Overall, the playability provides an enjoyable playing experience where you can easily access the entire fretboard and focus on your technique and music without impediments. Both students learning classical guitar and experienced players will appreciate how effortless this guitar feels to play.

Hardware

The Gewa PS510198 classical guitar comes equipped with quality hardware to provide stability, playability, and aesthetics.

The guitar utilizes die-cast gold tuners, which provide precise and smooth tuning stability. The gold finish gives a touch of elegance that complements the instrument's overall look. Turning the tuners results in accurate and slip-free tuning adjustments.

The nut and saddle are both made of bone. The bone nut promotes accurate intonation, while the bone saddle enhances resonance and sustain. Bone is a preferred material due to its hardness and ability to transfer vibrations efficiently. The slots in the nut and saddle are cut to the proper string spacing and depth for optimal playability.

Overall, the hardware components on the Gewa PS510198 are high-quality and designed for reliable functionality, comfort, and an enhanced musical experience. The gold tuners, bone nut, and bone saddle offer players premium performance.

Finish

The Gewa Pure Classical Guitar features a high gloss polyurethane finish that gives the spruce top a smooth, lustrous appearance. This type of finish is durable and resistant to scratches and wear. At the same time, it allows the woodgrain to show through beautifully.

Polyurethane is a plastic resin that dries into a tough, protective coating on the guitar's surface. It is built up in layers, with each coat curing and hardening before the next is applied. Multiple thin layers are better than one thick application, as it allows the finish to flex slightly with the natural movement of the wood.

The gloss finish provides a "wet", brilliant look compared to a satin or matte finish. It makes the flame maple back and sides pop with iridescence. The smooth finish also facilitates faster, snag-free playing up and down the neck. An occasional polish will keep the glossy cover shining like new.

Overall, the polyurethane finish gives the Pure Classical Guitar a striking, professional-grade appearance suited to performance settings. It also protects the tonewoods from damage during transport and playing. The finish contributes to the guitar's resonant voice and playing comfort.

Strings

The GEWA PS510198 comes factory-fitted with D'Addario strings. This gives it a bright, warm sound right out of the box.

D'Addario is one of the most popular and trusted brands for classical guitar strings. Their Pro-Arte line provides excellent intonation and solid tuning stability. The nylon used for the treble strings has outstanding clarity and projection.

The factory-installed D'Addario strings are a major plus for this classical guitar. You don't need to worry about getting new strings or breaking the instrument in. It's ready to play with quality strings that bring out the guitar's natural resonance.

Many classical guitarists continue using D'Addario strings even after the factory strings wear out. Having them pre-installed is an added value you get with the GEWA PS510198. It's one less thing to think about as a new owner.

Accessories

The GEWA PS510198 classical guitar comes with a few handy accessories that make it even more convenient for players. It includes a lightweight gig bag that provides basic protection for the instrument when transporting it. The padded gig bag has backpack straps, making it easy to carry the guitar around. While it doesn't offer the sturdiness or plush interior of a hard case, the included gig bag is sufficient for safe short-distance travel with the instrument. Having this gig bag bundled with the guitar makes it simple to take your guitar anywhere without needing to purchase a separate case. The accessories add value and versatility to this already affordable classical guitar model.

Pros

The Classical Guitar PURE GEWA PS510198 excels in several key areas that make it an excellent choice for both beginner and intermediate players.

Quality Materials

The PS510198 is constructed from all solid wood, including solid cedar for the top, mahogany back and sides, and mahogany neck. These tonewoods are known for providing rich, warm acoustic resonance. The solid wood build makes the guitar lightweight yet durable.

Good Sound

The combination of cedar and mahogany produces a beautifully balanced tone across the tonal spectrum - warm low end, pronounced mid-range, and bright treble notes. The sound projects well, fills the room, and has excellent sustain.

Comfortable Playability

From the very first strum, the PS510198 feels natural and comfortable to play. The neck has a smooth satin finish that allows for speedy fingering up and down the fretboard. The action is set up low and buzz-free. The wider nut width provides room for fingering complex chords. Overall the guitar invites the player to keep playing for hours.

Cons

The GEWA PS510198 classical guitar has a few potential drawbacks to consider.

• Higher price tag: This guitar sits at the higher end of the price spectrum for a beginner or intermediate level classical guitar. The solid spruce top and Indian rosewood back and sides make it more costly than many starter instruments. This may put it out of reach for some just getting into classical guitar.

• Lacks electronics: The PS510198 does not come equipped with any kind of pickup or preamp system. This means you cannot amplify or record directly with this guitar. You'd need to mic it up to capture the sound. For players interested in plugging in for practice, jam sessions or live performance, the lack of electronics could be a limitation.