Yamaha GC12 Classical Guitar: Full Review

The Yamaha GC12 is an entry-level classical guitar that delivers quality sound and playability at an affordable price point. As part of Yamaha's GC series, the GC12C model features a spruce top with mahogany back and sides in a concert body shape. This beginner nylon-string guitar offers clear, balanced tone and comfortable action that's suited for new players and students. While not as ornate as premium classical guitars, the GC12 provides solid construction with reliable hardware to withstand constant practice and beginner handling. Overall, the Yamaha GC12C offers novice classical guitarists an ideal first instrument to start lessons and develop technical skills without breaking the bank.

Construction

The Yamaha GC12 features a solid spruce top, nato back and sides, and rosewood fretboard and bridge, delivering a robust and balanced tone.

The solid spruce top is a staple of classical guitar construction, prized for its resonant and complex tone. Spruce is a softwood that produces a sweet, nuanced sound across the tonal spectrum, with excellent dynamics and projection. The GC12's solid spruce top provides a rich, harmonically complex voice.

The back and sides are made of nato, also known as eastern mahogany. Nato is tonally similar to mahogany, providing a balanced sound with clear midrange, warm bass, and bright treble notes. The nato construction gives the GC12 a well-rounded tonal character.

The fretboard and bridge are rosewood, which is known for its dense, oily feel that minimizes friction and allows intricate playability. Rosewood also enhances the GC12's tone with its complex overtones, sustain, and harmonic richness. The all-wood construction creates an organic, resonant instrument.

Sound Quality

The Yamaha GC12 classical guitar has a warm, balanced tone that's pleasing to the ear. The treble notes have impressive clarity and definition, while the bass notes are rich and full-bodied.

The solid spruce top contributes to the GC12's dynamic range and sweet, singing tone. Spruce is a traditional wood choice for classical guitars due to its responsive and resonant properties. The mahogany back and sides also add warmth and depth to the overall sound.

The guitar projects well, allowing melodies to shine through clearly even when playing complex pieces. Notes decay gracefully across all registers of the fingerboard. The tone remains balanced across different playing styles too, from delicate fingerpicking to strumming chords.

Overall, the Yamaha GC12 delivers a nuanced, refined classical guitar tone. The woods and construction allow the instrument to produce a satisfying sound at an accessible price point.

Playability

The Yamaha GC12 classical guitar features a comfortable neck and low string action that is very responsive to playing dynamics. The neck has a traditional c-shape that fits nicely in the hand. Yamaha has set the action at the 12th fret to 2.5mm, which is considered medium-low and allows for easy pressing of the strings without buzzing. This makes it very playable right out of the box without needing a setup.

The GC12 is effortless to play whether gently fingerpicking or aggressively strumming. Notes speak clearly and the guitar is dynamic, able to produce both quiet, delicate tones and loud, ringing notes depending on the force used. The playability makes this classical guitar enjoyable for beginners yet also satisfying for more advanced players.

Hardware

The Yamaha GC12 has quality hardware that contributes to its full, rich tone. The guitar features chrome enclosed gear tuning machines that are precise and hold tune well. The nut and saddle are made from synthetic bone, which helps transfer vibrations efficiently from the strings to the body for optimal resonance and sustain.

The chrome tuners are lightweight and finely geared for smooth tuning adjustments. They have an enclosed design that keeps out dirt and debris. The tuners are mounted on a rosewood headplate that matches the fingerboard for a seamless look.

The nut and saddle are crafted from synthetic bone, which has similar tonal characteristics as natural bone but with more longevity and less maintenance. The bone nut and saddle provide a clean transfer of string vibrations through the guitar for excellent notes definition and clarity. The materials help the GC12 sing with bright, vibrant tones across all registers from bass to treble.

The hardware components on the Yamaha GC12 are high-quality and tailored for classical guitar, giving players a responsive and resonant instrument. From the sealed chrome tuners to the synthetic bone nut and saddle, the hardware helps the GC12 deliver exceptional playability and rich, full-bodied tone.

Electronics

The Yamaha GC12 is an acoustic classical guitar, so it does not have any electronics built in. This is typical for classical guitars, as they are designed to be played acoustically without amplification.

Some key things to note about the electronics (or lack thereof) on the GC12:

• It is an entirely acoustic instrument without any pickups or preamps.

• There is no built-in tuner, equalization, or other tone shaping options that come with electronics.

• The sound projection and volume is produced solely by the construction and design of the guitar itself.

• The guitarist will need to mic the guitar if they want to amplify or record the GC12. An external pickup can also be added, but there is no pre-installed option.

• Purists often prefer no electronics in order to get the true unadulterated acoustic tone of the guitar.

The lack of electronics keeps the GC12 focused on pure acoustic classical guitar sound. This is standard for the genre, where natural wood resonance is paramount. Electronics can be added, but the guitar does not come pre-loaded with any.

Aesthetics

The Yamaha GC12 has the traditional fan-braced classical guitar shape with its signature asymmetric hourglass figure. It features a beautiful solid Engelmann spruce top with attractive straight wood grain. The back and sides are made of rosewood which gives it an elegant look. The guitar has abalone and wooden rosette inlays around the soundhole that provide decorative flair. Overall, the aesthetics stay true to the Spanish-style roots of the classical guitar, with the spruce and rosewood combination creating a pleasing visual appearance. The fine craftsmanship is evident throughout the body, neck and headstock shape. The gloss polyurethane finish enhances the natural beauty of the tonewoods. While it doesn't have as ornate of inlays as some premium classical guitars, the GC12 still has an attractive and traditional aesthetic.

Price: Cost-Effective Classical Beauty

The Yamaha GC12 represents an affordable entry point into the world of classical guitar, with a price tag typically under $200. This makes it very accessible for beginner and intermediate players who want good tone without a premium price.

The all-laminate construction helps keep costs down, though Yamaha doesn't skimp on quality. You get their proven craftsmanship and attention to detail. Considering the rich sound, playability and aesthetics, the GC12 offers excellent value for money.

It's the ideal classical guitar for students on a budget, or as a respectable backup instrument. While more expensive models use solid wood and finer appointments, the GC12 gets you surprisingly close in tone and feel for the price.

This is not the cheapest beginner classical guitar on the market, but it outclasses most budget models. The extra investment yields rewards in the long run. With Yamaha's reputation behind it, the GC12 is a cost-effective way to explore nylon-string guitar.

Alternatives

The Yamaha GC12 provides great value at its price point, but there are some other classical and nylon-string guitars to consider as well:

Cordoba C5

The Cordoba C5 is another entry-level nylon-string in a similar price range as the GC12. It features a solid Canadian cedar top with mahogany back and sides for a balanced, warm tone. The neck has a 52mm nut width, making it very playable and accessible for beginners. The aesthetics are simple but elegant. Overall, the C5 is an excellent beginner's classical guitar that's comparable to the Yamaha.

La Patrie Etude

The La Patrie Etude steps things up a notch, with its solid cedar top and laminated wild cherry back and sides. It produces a bold, projecting tone expected of a classical guitar. The fingerboard is wider than most guitars, requiring a slight adjustment for beginners. The Etude's excellent playability, tonewoods and hand-finished construction provide better quality than typical starter guitars. It costs a bit more than the Yamaha but is worth considering.

Takamine C132

The Takamine C132 is a nylon-string guitar with a similar size and feel to a classical guitar. It features a solid cedar top with rosewood back and sides. The tone is well-balanced and articulated. While not a true classical, the C132 is an excellent choice for playing various styles, from classical to folk. It's comparable to the Yamaha GC12 but with a slightly different design and sound.

Summary

The Yamaha GC12C is an excellent entry-level classical guitar that punches above its weight. It offers great value for money with its solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides construction that delivers warm, balanced tone.

While it may lack some projection and dynamic range compared to more expensive models, the GC12C's playability, intonation and comfortable neck make it easy and enjoyable to play. The hardware is decent quality and the hand-applied finish gives it an attractive appearance resembling more premium classical guitars.

Overall, the Yamaha GC12C is a fantastic choice as a first nylon-string or for intermediate players not wanting to spend thousands. It provides very respectable sound and playability that will support progression through the beginner and intermediate levels. For those seeking an affordable classical guitar with professional appointments, the GC12C is hard to beat.