Takamine GC5-NAT Classical Guitar: Full Review

Founded in 1959, Takamine is a Japanese guitar company known for their high-quality acoustic and classical guitars. Based in Nakatsugawa, Japan, Takamine has a long history of craftsmanship and innovation when it comes to nylon-string classical guitars.

With almost 60 years of experience building classical guitars, Takamine has cemented themselves as a reputable brand amongst musicians and continues to push the boundaries of classical guitar construction and sound. Their attention to detail and emphasis on meticulous hand-craftsmanship has earned Takamine a stellar reputation worldwide.

When purchasing a Takamine classical guitar like the GC5-NAT model, players can expect excellent build quality, resonant tonewoods, and an unparalleled musical experience perfect for any level or playing style. As an established classical guitar manufacturer, Takamine offers players exceptional value by combining traditional designs with modern innovations.

Overview

The Takamine GC5-NAT is a nylon-string classical guitar with a traditional fan-braced design. This full-size model features a flamed maple back and sides paired with a solid cedar top to produce a warm, resonant sound suited for classical repertoire.

At 48 inches long with a 2.75 inch nut width, the GC5-NAT has the dimensions of a standard classical guitar. It has a traditional concert shape with a rounded shoulder for comfort. The gloss natural finish highlights the wood grain patterns of the all-solid tonewood construction.

Takamine crafted this guitar in their factory in Japan, combining their expertise as one of the world's top acoustic instrument manufacturers with the needs of classical players. The combination of cedar and maple aims to provide balanced tone across the frequency spectrum.

With its traditional design and quality tonewoods, the GC5-NAT is a great choice for classical guitarists looking for an affordable handmade instrument. The solid cedar and maple construction allows it to produce a rich, nuanced sound. The comfortable body shape and playability make it suitable for new players as well.

Takamine has been crafting guitars since 1962, bringing decades of experience to designing their classical models. Their expertise is evident in details like the dovetail neck joint, bone nut and saddle, and fan bracing pattern. At its price point, the GC5-NAT competes well with other entry-level handmade classical guitars.

Players looking for an alternative in a similar price range may want to consider the Ortega Guitars R131SN-L. This model also features solid cedar and maple, aiming for a balanced classical tone. The fan bracing and traditional body dimensions match the playability of the Takamine.

Ortega is a German brand with a long history of crafting classical guitars, so they also bring substantial experience to their entry-level models. Their quality control and construction methods aim for consistency in tone and playability. The R131SN-L comes in a range of finishes from traditional brown to deep blue burst.

Both Takamine and Ortega offer handmade classical guitars with solid wood construction at affordable prices. Players looking for quality and reliability from an established brand are likely to be happy with either option. Trying them in person to compare tone and feel may help decide between these two worthy instruments.

For those seeking an introductory classical guitar, the GC5-NAT or R131SN-L offer suitable traditional designs. Their all-solid wood construction provides the rich, nuanced tone expected from a classical guitar. With quality craftsmanship and playability, they make it easy for any player to get started on the classical repertoire.

Construction

The Takamine GC5-NAT features a solid spruce top which provides a rich, complex tone that improves with age as the wood matures. Solid wood tops are preferred over laminates by most players for their acoustic properties. The bracing pattern utilizes Takamine's non-scalloped "X" type bracing, which provides stability and enhances the vibration of the top. This allows the top to resonate freely, producing full and balanced tones.

The fretboard is made of rosewood, which is a dense, hardwood that helps produce clear, articulate tones. Rosewood is valued for its smooth feel and durability as a fretting surface. The GC5-NAT has a rosewood bridge which securely transfers string vibrations to the soundboard. Rosewood is again chosen for its density and acoustic properties that complement the guitar's design. The material ensures accurate intonation and tuning stability.

When shopping for a classical guitar, it's important to consider the materials and construction quality. Solid wood tops are generally better than laminates, and rosewood is a popular fretboard and bridge material. Bracing patterns also affect the guitar's tone and resonance. Higher end models like the WINZZ AF168CE-41-GSB-V use all solid woods and scalloped bracing for optimal sound projection and dynamics.

The back and sides of the GC5-NAT are made of mahogany, which provides a balanced tone across the tonal spectrum. Mahogany is known for its warm, rich sound and is an excellent complement to a spruce top. The mahogany neck enhances the warm tones and offers a comfortable, smooth feel. Overall, the GC5-NAT uses traditional tonewoods that produce a balanced, nuanced classical guitar voice.

In addition to materials, construction techniques like binding and purfling affect the aesthetics and structural integrity. Binding is a strip of plastic or other material that binds the edges where the top meets the sides. It provides decoration and also reinforces the seam. Purfling is a thin decorative strip inlaid around the top, back, and sometimes sides of the guitar body. It also strengthens joints but mainly serves a decorative purpose.

The GC5-NAT features body, neck, and headstock binding for an elegant look and sturdy construction. The rosette around the soundhole includes concentric rings of plastic binding as decorative purfling. Little accents like these enhance the visual appeal of the Takamine classical model.

Playability is also an important consideration for any guitar. The GC5-NAT has a 25.6" scale length and 1.65" nut width, typical dimensions for a classical guitar. The cedar neck has a comfortable profile, and the rosewood fretboard facilitates smooth playability across the fingerboard. The width provides ample room for classical fingering while still being manageable for smaller hands.

This Takamine nylon string guitar incorporates traditional design elements and quality materials to produce a rich, balanced classical tone. From the solid spruce and mahogany woods to the comfortable neck profile, it's built for accessibility, looks, and sound. While it's priced affordably for an all-solid instrument, those seeking even better construction can explore options like the WINZZ AF168CE-41-GSB-V with its solid Canadian cedar top and Indian rosewood back and sides.

Sound & Tone

The Takamine GC5-NAT classical guitar is known for its warm, balanced tone that projects beautifully. The solid cedar top provides a full, rich bass response while also delivering clear, bright treble notes.

The cedar top is light and responsive, allowing the GC5-NAT to produce a wide dynamic range. Even when played softly, the tones retain their clarity and character. When strummed more forcefully, the guitar has impressive volume and projection thanks to its resonant cedar construction.

Reviewers consistently praise the GC5-NAT for its well-balanced sound across the tonal spectrum. The bass notes have a pleasing fullness without becoming boomy or overpowering. Meanwhile the treble strings ring out with crisp, shimmering high notes. The guitar's voicing makes the midrange tones sound natural and uncolored.

From lush classical passages to fiery flamenco rhythms, the GC5-NAT handles it all with a rich, warm sound. The smooth playability and responsive strings help bring out the guitar's naturally beautiful voice. Whether practicing at home or performing on stage, the Takamine GC5-NAT rewards the player with a wonderful playing experience.

Playability

The playability of the Takamine GC5-NAT classical guitar is excellent overall. The action height is set low and comfortable right out of the box, making it easy to fret notes and chords even for beginners. The fretwork quality is very good, with smooth and rounded fret ends that don't cause any irritation to the player's hands.

The neck has a traditional classical C-shape that fits nicely in the hand. It has a satin finish which allows for smooth, fast movement up and down the neck. The width at the nut is 52mm, which is a comfortable width for most hands to wrap around. The slightly wider neck does help produce a fuller, richer classical tone.

The GC5-NAT offers effortless playability right away without need for a professional setup. The low action and quality fretwork allow beginners to play comfortably, while the comfortable neck shape and width cater well to intermediate and advanced classical players.

Hardware

The GC5-NAT comes equipped with Takamine's own chrome enclosed tuning machines. These perform well at holding the strings in tune but some guitarists may prefer upgrading to higher end tuning pegs for even better tuning stability.

The nut and saddle on the GC5-NAT are made from a synthetic bone material called NuBone. This provides a good balance of durability and minimal string friction. Some players feel that a traditional bone nut and saddle can provide slightly smoother tone and tuning stability. However, the NuBone materials used on the GC5-NAT offer very good quality for the price point.

Overall the hardware components Takamine chose allow this guitar to be playable and reliable while keeping costs reasonable for an entry level classical guitar. Upgrading some components could yield incremental improvements but most players will be satisfied with the out of the box performance.

Pros

• The Takamine GC5-NAT Classical guitar features quality solid Nato construction. Nato is a popular wood choice for classical guitars due to its balanced tone and affordability. The solid Nato back and sides help produce a full, balanced sound.

• The Nato construction delivers a balanced tone, with good low-end and articulate mid-range and treble tones. The warm sound projects well, making it suitable for both solo practice and ensemble playing. This is an excellent nylon-string guitar for the money.

• The balanced tone and solid construction make the GC5-NAT a good value classical guitar. While not as ornate or complex in tone as more expensive models, it outperforms expectations for its price range. Beginners will appreciate the quality materials and playability at an accessible price point.

Cons

The main downsides of the Takamine GC5-NAT revolve around its traditional nylon-string design.

No cutaway

• As a classical guitar, the GC5-NAT does not have a cutaway design. This can make it harder to access the higher frets, especially compared to steel-string acoustic-electrics. The lack of a cutaway limits your upper fret access.

Basic electronics

• The GC5-NAT's electronics are relatively basic, with just a single-coil undersaddle piezo pickup and simple tone and volume controls. There's no onboard tuner, EQ controls, or other features. The electronics get the job done for plugging in, but don't offer much versatility.

Alternatives to the Takamine GC5-NAT

The Takamine GC5-NAT is a great entry-level classical guitar, but it's not the only option. Here are some alternatives to consider in a similar price range:

Yamaha C40

The Yamaha C40 has been a popular beginner classical guitar for decades. It has a spruce top with meranti back and sides. The tonewoods produce a balanced sound across the tonal spectrum. The nato neck and rosewood fingerboard offer smooth playability. Hardware includes gold Yamaha tuners and a rosewood bridge. The C40 delivers quality construction and reliable performance. An affordable workhorse of a classical guitar.

Cordoba C5

Cordoba is known for excellent classical guitars at reasonable prices. The C5 has a Canadian cedar top with mahogany back and sides. This all-mahogany body produces a focused mid-range tone. The mahogany neck has a rosewood fretboard for comfortable playability. Gold tuners and an ebony bridge round out the hardware. Great attention to detail for the price. The C5 would suit both beginners and seasoned players.

La Patrie Etude

The La Patrie Etude is handmade in Quebec, Canada. It has a solid cedar top with laminated wild cherry back and sides - a unique wood choice for a classical guitar. This all-laminate construction makes it durable and affordable. The mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard offer smooth playability. Chrome hardware includes La Patrie tuners and a compensated nut. The Etude has a light, focused tone and excellent construction. A great value classical guitar.

Summary

The Takamine GC5-NAT classical guitar offers a great value for novice to intermediate players looking for a quality nylon-string classical guitar without breaking the bank. This guitar is very playable right out of the box, with a comfortable slim neck, very low action, and a solid cedar top that provides excellent warm tone.

Some key pros are the excellent playability, great sound for the price, and attractive appearance with flamed maple back and sides. The light bracing helps make this an easy guitar to play. Some cons are the lack of electronics, and the bass tones may lack some richness compared to more expensive models. However the tone is still very good overall.

For beginners or students looking to buy their first classical guitar, the Takamine GC5-NAT is highly recommended. The approachable price, paired with the quality construction and great sound, make this a great choice. More advanced players may want to consider something with richer bass tones, but this Takamine classical guitar should satisfy the needs of most novice to intermediate level players.