I have this image stuck in my mind, one that has not left my mind ever since I saw it as a child. It’s sometime in the afternoon, the sun has yet to set. The sunlight is flowing in from the window, hitting the back of my aunt Liz. She’s sitting, guitar in hand, alone in the room, unaware that I am watching her from the doorway. To me she looks like a strange creature with an extra limb. The dust is floating in the air behind her and she is playing a soft, sad tune on her guitar. I don’t remember how old I was when I saw it and I don’t think it matters much. I do think it is an important image since it partially serves as the reason I decided to learn the guitar. I do not remember what guitar she owned and in my quest to find out, I have started compiling lists. Even in the best classical guitars under 1000 category, I still can’t find the instrument I remember her playing.
It is a shame. One of the most important images in my life and all I can do is wonder, what was she playing? What guitar, what song?
What’s The Best Classical Guitar Under 1000
| Image | Guitar Model | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 | Godin Multiac Nylon Encore Acoustic Electric Classical Guitar |  (4.9 / 5) | Check on Amazon |
 | Cordoba C9 CD/MH Acoustic Nylon String Classical Guitar | (4.9 / 5) | Check on Amazon |
 | Kremona Flamenco Series Rosa Morena Nylon String Guitar |  (4.8 / 5) | Check on Amazon |
 | Yamaha SLG200N Nylon String Silent Guitar | (4.8 / 5) | Check on Amazon |
 | La Patrie Guitar, Collection QIT |  (4.7 / 5) | Check on Amazon |
Godin Multiac Nylon Encore Acoustic Electric Classical Guitar
The Godin Multiac Nylon Encore Acoustic Electric Guitar is unparalleled both in looks and sound. Godin brought the classical guitar into the world of the future with this exceptional instrument. The fact that it is a combination between the traditional nylon string classical guitar and the electric guitar aspects gives it the ability to create warm, mellow tones into loud and charged, vibrant music. The thing is, the price point of this guitar is just as unique as the guitar itself, bringing the nylon electric guitar down into the more affordable area. It has a solid cedar top, a two chambered silver leaf body, and a custom Godin Dual Source System. The loud and the refined can finally find a middle ground. This guitar is perfect both for the loudest concertos and the quietest of rooms and all those who are looking to play them.
Pros:
- Great electronics
- Comfortable
- Tonewood is high-quality
Cons:
- Expensive
- Might hum when plugged in
Cordoba C9 CD/MH Acoustic Nylon String Classical Guitar
Argentina and Spain each have a city that shares a name: Cordoba. In both cases it is a beautiful region with immense amounts of history. This guitar is a masterfully crafted ode written to the spirit of the city of Cordoba, a testament and dedication to it from the times of Rome up to the modern days of beauty. Which is why the guitar sounds like the spirit of Cordoba is singing the music itself. The warm overtones, low, mid or high, are as sweet to the ear as they are to the heart. The solid Canadian Cedar Top combined with the mahogany back and sides are the reason tones resonate so readily and sweetly through the guitar, spreading so easily to the body. The affordability of Cordoba C9 CD/MH veils the fact that this guitar is a step above intermediate and slightly above advanced. This incredible piece of music is one of the best additions to any guitar collections you could ask for.
Pros:
- Great tonewood
- Amazing sound
- Comfortable
Cons:
- There are some people that say that the top wood is too soft
- Might not be that affordable for beginners (but for a contra argument read the review)
Kremona Flamenco Series Rosa Morena
Flamenco is the music of the soul. It is a passionate and energetic genre of music and dance that infuses the spirit with happiness and the energy needed to expel the boiling emotions bottled inside. Which is why the genre requires a guitar that can take the punishment that comes with such energy while producing an exceptional sound that captivates the imagination of the listener. The Kremona Flamenco Series Rosa Morena Nylon String Guitar is one of the few such high quality guitars available for a price that is both reasonable and barely reflective of its effectivity as a stringed instrument. The top of the guitar is made of European Spruce, while the back and sides are made of Indian rosewood, giving the guitar it’s vibrant and warm sound. This is the perfect addition to the collection of any musician looking to upgrade their musical capabilities.
Pros:
- Great sound
- High quality tonewood
- Comfortable
Cons:
- Might be expensive for a beginner
- Action might be too high for some
Yamaha SLG200N Nylon String Silent Guitar
The Yamaha SLG200N Nylon String Silent Guitar is a ghost, a haunting presence in whatever context you put it in. Not because it is an incredibly beautiful sounding guitar, when connected to an amp, but because it lacks the body to make an acoustic sound. This does not mean that the guitar is not a valuable possession or that it will in any way underperform in the hands of any musician. The fact that it lacks a body gives it extreme value. The lightweight construction and the quick assembly/disassembly of the guitar means that the guitar is comfortable and easy to travel with, or carry. Fortunately Yamaha knows what they are doing and they made the guitar into a very special electric version. Its sound is highly customizable through a number of controls on the guitars, which allow the guitar to sound like a fully mic’d up acoustic guitar. The sound is very natural and clear, meaning that nobody will be able to tell the difference between the acoustic guitar and this one unless they look at the body.
Pros:
- Great to travel with
- Silent
- Affordable for what it offers
Cons:
- Despite being compact it is not that lightweight
- For traditional players this might be a hard one to get used to
La Patrie Guitar, Collection QIT
| Build Quality: | |
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| Sound: | |
| Value: |  |
| Average: | |
As we’ve already seen, classical guitars can be all sorts of things: weird, innovative and traditional. The last model we’ve included in this list belongs to the latter category, as we wanted to come back to something a bit more “classical”. Collection QIT is a handcrafted masterpiece from La Patrie. It’s an acoustic-electric model, which means it can be amplified using Godin Q1T electronics. It has dedicated controls for bass and treble, as well as a volume knob to perfectly craft your tone. In addition to the preamp, Q1T system also includes a saddle-transducer to emit the most balanced tone with rich projection. When it comes to the tonewoods, here we have solid rosewood back and sides and pressure tested solid cedar top. Typically, the fingerboard is made from rosewood and the neck is built with mahogany. Collection QIT is like a good wine – it ages well. It also becomes better the more you play and break it in. Just like every classical guitar from La Patrie, this one will surround your music with passion, affection and beautiful vibrations.
Pros:
- Phenomenal sound
- High-quality tonewoods and electronics
- Comfortable to play
Cons:
- Might need an initial setup
The haunting melody my aunt was playing might have been mellow and quiet, but the true beauty of the classical guitar lies in its ability to be versatile. It is true that the nylon string guitars warm sound goes incredibly well onto the slow and the mellow music, but it is also true that the guitar has unlimited potential in terms of uplifting, fast and vibrant sounds.
The assumption that the classical guitar is limited is a popular mistake made by thousands of unaware musicians. While one of the most popular uses for the guitar is to play classical guitar music or, in some cases, flamenco music, the guitar has a lot of potential across the spectrum of genres. The softer tones of the guitar serve as great accompaniment in jazz, while the more vibrant, energetic tunes of the classical guitar might serve to enhance popular music. Heck, the classical guitar even makes appearance in the rock and roll world.
A lot of people think that the classical guitar and compositions for the classical guitar are on the way to their end, pretending as if the instrument is slowly disappearing from the musical world. Thankfully, the instrument is as prevalent as it has ever been. It might have fallen out of favor with the younger population of the world, who might find electric guitars or steel string guitars promoted by metal or Ed Sheeran to be the pinnacle of musical, instrumental achievement. Still, professionals and communities of well versed musicians find the classical guitar to be one of the most useful instruments out there. Which is why the classical guitar market is still flourishing. There are classical guitars ranging from under 200 to up to 2000, and all of them have something unique to offer to the musician.
The instrument, because of its versatility, permeates our culture to the deepest levels. So much so that you will find popular country musicians using it at the same time as you will find youtube videos of people recreating video game music with it. You will see kids using fingerstyle techniques with ease as well as rock stars playing flamenco, you will hear iterations of popular songs on the instrument effortlessly. The nylon string guitar, plainly speaking, can find a place for itself with ease in the modern world.
It is also, kind of, my desperate hope that the classical guitar remains as a staple of the musical world. Just because the instrument offers something to the world that cannot be recreated without it.
Conclusion
It always struck me as strange that dust settles on memories of the past just as easily as it settles on old, unused things. The unfortunate thing is that recollections become dusty and withered no matter how many times you go back to them. It is stranger still how this cover of age makes the memories seem less real, make them feel like they are simply a part of your imagination. After so many years my aunt Liz playing the guitar on that beautiful summer afternoon has become more of an unreality than anything else. My inability to confirm the concreteness of this moment in time does not help. I cannot find the beautiful guitar she played, nor can I hear the tune she played, seemingly ever again. All I know is that it was a classical guitar. All I know is that the music was sad and slow. All I know is that one of the most beautiful things, one of the most plausibly imaginary memories I have, is connected to a classical guitar. Maybe your own memories are? Maybe you could create a similar haunting image in the mind of another young child? Whichever it is, I hope you find one of the best classical guitars under 1000 to useful in your quest.
Good Luck!
