Yamaha CGS102A Classical Guitar: Full Review

The Yamaha CGS102A is an affordable and playable half-size classical guitar designed for beginner guitarists and younger students. At just 3/4 the full size, the CGS102A features a smaller body and shorter scale length that is easier to handle for small hands. Despite the compact size, Yamaha did not compromise on tone and playability. The CGS102A produces a rich classical guitar sound and the slim neck and low action allows for comfortable fingering. While not as projecting or resonant as a professional full-size instrument, the CGS102A provides an authentic nylon-string playing experience for new players as they build skills and technique. An excellent choice for children starting lessons or as a travel guitar, the Yamaha CGS102A hits a sweet spot of quality and value in a half-size classical model.

Physical Attributes

The Yamaha CGS102A is a 3/4 size classical guitar, making it ideal for younger players or smaller-framed adults. Despite the smaller size, it retains the traditional hourglass silhouette and proportions of a full-size classical guitar.

The CGS102A has a spruce top, meranti back and sides, and rosewood fingerboard and bridge. The use of solid spruce for the top contributes to the instrument's clear, balanced tone and good projection. The meranti back and sides offer stability and resonance.

At just 36 5/8" in total length, this guitar is easy to handle. It weighs only 5 lbs, meaning young students can play it comfortably without tiring. The reduced scale length of 22 3/4" makes playing and fingering easier for smaller hands.

The high gloss polyurethane finish gives the CGS102A an attractive polished look. Multiple binding lines on the body and fretboard enhance the classical guitar aesthetics. Despite the smaller size, this guitar retains a professional appearance.

While the Yamaha CGS102A is an excellent starter classical guitar for children, some adult players may want a full-size instrument with better tonewoods and electronics. The Washburn C64SCE-A is a great choice in this case. It has a solid cedar top and ovangkol back and sides for rich sound. The cutaway body provides easy upper fret access. An onboard preamp with tuner makes plugging into an amp or PA system simple. At 44.5" long and weighing just 6.3 lbs, the C64SCE-A is comfortable for most adults to play while still delivering pro-level features and tone.

Between its smaller size and quality appointments like solid spruce top and rosewood fretboard, the Yamaha CGS102A is clearly designed for beginning students. It gives them a real classical guitar experience in a package tailored to their needs. As players grow and progress, they may eventually want to upgrade to a full-size instrument like the Washburn C64SCE-A. While giving up nothing in traditional aesthetics, this guitar has the benefit of solid tonewoods, electronics, and refined playability features. Either model can serve classical guitarists well at different stages of their musical journey.

Sound Quality

The Yamaha CGS102A half-size classical guitar produces a warm, rich tone with impressive projection and sustain for a smaller-bodied instrument. Despite its compact size, the all-laminate spruce and meranti back and sides generate a balanced sound across the frequency spectrum.

The spruce top lends brightness and clarity to the CGS102A's voice, allowing melodies and individual notes to shine with good articulation. Meanwhile, the meranti back and sides impart a subtle warmth and sweetness, preventing the tone from becoming overly brittle or thin. This combination provides a pleasing tonal character suitable for both practice and performance.

Due to its smaller body dimensions, one might expect the CGS102A's sound projection to be lacking. However, Yamaha's experienced luthiers have voiced the guitar to compensate, allowing it to fill a room well when played dynamically. The notes ring out with sustain and do not get lost. Overall, the CGS102A punches above its weight class tonally.

The Yamaha CGS102A classical guitar delivers an impressive sound quality for a half-size instrument. Its all-laminate spruce and meranti construction produces a balanced, warm, and articulate tone. The guitar projects well and sustains notes with clarity. While many small-bodied guitars sound weak and thin, the CGS102A defies expectations with its robust voice.

Another excellent half-size classical guitar to consider is the Grote GTL-101. Like the Yamaha CGS102A, the Grote GTL-101 produces a surprisingly bold and nuanced sound despite its compact size. It features a solid cedar top paired with mahogany back and sides for an organic, resonant voice. The GTL-101 projects sound effectively while delivering rich lows, sparkling highs, and good note separation. Its tone lends itself well to various playing styles and genres. While it may lack some of the premium Yamaha refinements, the Grote GTL-101 punches above its weight at a very affordable price point.

When evaluating small-bodied classical guitars, sound quality is a top concern. While they may not match the volume and power of a full-size instrument, compelling options like the Yamaha CGS102A and Grote GTL-101 prove that half-size acoustics can still deliver impressively balanced, nuanced tones. Their quality materials and construction allow them to produce sound beyond their modest proportions. For developing players or travel needs, these pint-sized classical guitars pack an unexpected sonic punch.

Playability

The Yamaha CGS102A half-size classical guitar is designed specifically for younger players or smaller-stature guitarists. The neck has a narrower width of about 1 1/2 inches at the nut, making it easier for small hands to fret notes and chord shapes. The string height from the fretboard is also set lower, usually around 5/64 inches on the treble side and 4/64 inches on the bass side. This reduced string height allows for easier pressing down of the strings without excessive finger strength.

The nato neck has a soft C profile that is comfortable to hold and features a rosewood fretboard with 19 frets. The frets are finished smoothly and evenly, which prevents sharp edges from causing discomfort. The spacing between frets is narrowed to accommodate smaller fingers. Overall, the playability of the CGS102A is tailored for beginner or young players with its easy fretting, low action, and comfortable neck profile.

Hardware

The Yamaha CGS102A half-size classical guitar comes equipped with quality hardware to provide stability, playability, and great intonation.

Tuning Machines

The guitar features sealed, die-cast tuning machines with pearloid buttons. The tuning machines keep the guitar in tune well and are smooth and stable for tuning. They are mounted in a classic configuration on a rounded headstock.

Nut

The nut on the CGS102A is made of urea and meticulously cut for proper string spacing and height. This promotes accurate intonation up the fretboard. The urea material helps transfer vibrations efficiently from the strings to the wood of the neck and body.

Saddle

The saddle is made of quality bone and cut precisely for proper string height and intonation. The bone material adds brightness and clarity to the guitar's tone. The saddle's dimensions and position provide excellent intonation across all strings and fret positions.

Electronics

The Yamaha CGS102A features high-quality passive electronics that provide a balanced, warm tone. This half-size classical guitar utilizes piezo pickups that accurately capture the nuances and dynamics of the instrument. The piezo pickups are placed under the saddle to detect string vibrations.

There is no onboard preamp or EQ controls. This allows the guitar's natural acoustic sound to shine through without any colored electronic modification. The passive design results in a transparent, organic tone.

The lack of controls contributes to the guitar's simple, minimalist aesthetic. Without any knobs or buttons, the appearance is focused entirely on the traditional classical form. This is perfect for purist players who want an authentic nylon-string sound without electronic embellishments.

The passive electronics give the Yamaha CGS102A versatility. It can be plugged directly into an amplifier or PA system for amplified performances. Many users also enjoy the natural amplified tone for recording direct without any effects. The piezo pickup provides excellent amplified classical guitar sound across various applications.

Craftsmanship

The Yamaha CGS102A features high-quality craftsmanship that is characteristic of Yamaha classical guitars. From head to toe, this instrument is carefully constructed from premium materials using attentive luthier techniques.

The solid spruce top has been precisely carved and braced to deliver a lush, resonant tone. The sapele back and sides are built thin yet sturdy to enable the top to vibrate freely. The neck is crafted from premium nato wood with a comfortably rounded profile, finished in a smooth satin for effortless playability.

The detailing throughout is precise and elegant. The rosette provides an ornate flourish around the soundhole, complementing the simple wooden inlay peghead design. The fret edges are smoothly rolled for a seamless feel as you run your fingers up and down the neck. Despite the affordable price point, no corners have been cut in terms of quality craftsmanship.

Overall, the CGS102A is a finely crafted guitar that exceeds expectations for its class. While it may not have the handmade artisanal touches of a high-end luthier instrument, Yamaha's expertise and strict quality control shines through in the precision build and attention to detail. For aspiring classical guitarists, it's an excellent choice that delivers impressive playability and sound in an accessibly-priced package.

Value for Money

The Yamaha CGS102A Half-Size Classical Guitar offers an excellent value for its price point. As an entry-level nylon string guitar aimed at younger players and smaller body sizes, it is very affordably priced at around $100 USD.

Despite the low cost, the CGS102A does not feel cheap or toy-like. It has a solid spruce top and quality hardware and electronics. The size is ideal for children ages 8-10 to start learning classical guitar. The tonewoods produce a pleasant sound that belies the guitar's price tag.

For parents looking to buy a child's first classical guitar, the CGS102A hits a sweet spot of playability, sound quality, and cost. While not as finely crafted as more expensive models, it provides good value as a practice and beginner instrument. The all-laminate construction also makes it durable and able to withstand the rough handling of new players.

At this price point, the Yamaha CGS102A is an excellent entry-level guitar. It gives aspirational young musicians an affordable way to start lessons and practice their classical technique. While it may eventually be outgrown, it offers solid performance for the money.

Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Classic nylon-string sound at an affordable price
• Solid spruce top provides good projection
• Mahogany back and sides offer warm, balanced tone
• Smaller body size great for beginners and younger players
• Quality hardware including chrome tuners and rosewood bridge
• Includes gig bag for protection and portability

Cons:

• Laminated wood construction, not all solid wood
• Limited dynamic range compared to more expensive models
• May present tuning issues for very heavy strumming/picking
• Smaller body generates quieter volume than full-size guitars
• Electronics can add buzzing; better suited for acoustic-only play
• High action can make fretting difficult for students with small hands

Conclusion

The Yamaha CGS102A is an excellent beginner's classical guitar that punches above its weight. Despite the smaller size, it produces a surprisingly full tone and offers great playability right out of the box. The spruce top and meranti back and sides give it a balanced sound across the registers, making it versatile for all styles of classical and fingerstyle playing.

The hardware is high quality, staying in tune well even during longer practice sessions. The slim neck and low action facilitate quick, comfortable playing. While the electronics are basic, they get the job done for basic practicing and recording. The guitar feels solidly built and should last years with proper care.

Overall, the Yamaha CGS102A is a fantastic value classical guitar for the price. The quality craftsmanship and lovely sound belie its budget-friendly cost, making it one of the best starter classical guitars on the market. For beginners looking to learn classical technique or seasoned players seeking an affordable secondary guitar for travel or practice, the CGS102A is easy to recommend. It punches far above its weight class, offering rich tone and easy playability that will carry you through the early stages of your classical guitar journey.