What is art if not the ability to produce something out of nothing? Especially if this something is created for the purpose of creation. The level of commitment and genius required for the creation of an item that is going to be the main tool for an artist for decades to come must be immense, just like the stress of having to get it just right. By this logic, the pressure of making a classical guitar must be something beyond imaginable. It is an instrument with a rich legacy and history.
Having had thousands of players throughout its existence, some of them more prolific and more famous than others. In the end all of them only had one person to thank for their success, other than themselves of course: the person who made their guitar. The more skilled this person was, the more attention to detail they paid, the more likely the guitar was to be of high quality. The handmade classical guitar did have one problem. The required attention to each and every aspect of the process of manufacturing of the instrument resulted in incredible amounts of time spent actually making it.
Patience, investment and skill were and are the primary components of the greatest classical guitars, which is why they cost as much as they do. The best classical guitars under 2000 are a part of this elite group of incredible guitars, a class I would categorize as something of a heavenly place, for any instrumentalist who appreciates a classical guitar. The superiority in sound, quality and comfort that these guitars offer is unmistakable. These are the guitars that define the guitar manufacturer who made it as a master. These are the artifacts that will remain for decades in families, only getting more valuable every day.
What’s The Best Classical Guitar Under 2000
| Image | Guitar Model | ||
|---|---|---|---|
 | Godin 031498 Grand Concert Duet Multiac Guitar |  (5 / 5) | Check on Amazon |
 | Prudencio Saez PS-28-C Classical Guitar |  (4.9 / 5) | Check on Amazon |
 | Cordoba F10 Acoustic Nylon String Flamenco Guitar | (4.9 / 5) | Check on Amazon |
 | Kremona Artist Series Romida Nylon String Guitar |  (4.8 / 5) | Check on Amazon |
 | Yamaha GC22 Handcrafted Classical Guitar Cedar | (4.8 / 5) | Check on Amazon |
Godin 031498 Grand Concert Duet Multiac Guitar
There is a misconception, that is quite fallible, that a classical guitar has no right being an electric one as well. Some people feel that it is a betrayal of values of the classical guitar to bring it to the world of electric and synthetic sound, where the pickups and the amps will never be able to recreate the sound of the true classical guitar. These people are wrong and if you are one of them, I hate to break it to you. I mean, take a look at this Godin 031498 Grand Concert Duet Multiac guitar. It has nylon strings and and a beautiful sound thanks to its mic modelling preamp. This guitar is powerful in its sound, bringing the tones and abilities of a classical guitar to a whole new level with its electric nature. It has a full length nut, which is why it qualifies for the grand concert name. The body and neck are Honduras mahogany, which results in a lightweight frame and comfortable play. This guitar was made for those who want to be loud in declaring the superiority of the classical guitar.
Pros:
- Professional electronics that give you full control
- Good quality tonewood
- Amazing amplified sound
Cons:
- Basic hardware
- Gig bag (I would expect a solid case for this price)
Prudencio Saez PS-28-C Classical Guitar
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Expensive classical guitars are like a piece of art – you can’t help appreciating the work that has been put in its production. You see those woods, details in the design or listen to the sound and you’re mesmerized by the craftsmanship, especially if it’s a handmade guitar. Such models are inspiring and intimidating at the same time, but if you trust your skills, they will definitely reveal their full potential. One such guitar is a PS-28-C made by Prudencio Saez. This Spanish-made beauty depicts the expertise of the luthier and showcases their passion, experience and devotion. There’s no way you won’t feel emotionally attached to this one, since all those things can be felt even after the very first moments. This wonderful guitar features solid back and sides, as well as a solid cedar top. The latter has a Torres-style fan bracing, which compliments its sound beautifully. The cedar neck is strengthened with carbon fiber, while African ebony fingerboard is really comfortable for your fingers. If you can afford this guitar, then you are a lucky man! PS-28-C by Prudencio Saez is the embodiment of our dreams in a classical instrument.
Pros:
- Great build quality
- Defined and balanced tone
- High-quality tonewoods
Cons:
- Expensive
Cordoba F10 Acoustic Nylon String Flamenco Guitar
Long hair and a beard is what you are going to accidentally grow when you start playing this guitar. Not because you will feel obliged to, it’s just once you start playing, you will end up going for a few weeks non stop, and by the time you snap out of it, you will have realized what you have become. A flamenco musician, as well as what you have been up to now. Cordoba F10 is the love of flamenco packed into wood and nylon strings. Unlike the previous two options on the list, this instrument does not offer the electronics option, because it does not need one. No high quality guitar really needs the electric option, it is simply there for the added benefit. This guitar on the other hand, remains true to classical sensibilities and is built as an acoustic guitar, exclusively. The solid European spruce top gives the guitar beautiful resonance throughout the tones, while the cypress back and sides provide the balancing of these tones. The guitar is incredibly comfortable to play and in the end, you will be thanking yourself when you groom your beard and hair and start looking and feeling like a true flamenco guitarrista.
Pros:
- Amazing Flamenco sound
- Comfortable
- Handmade
Cons:
- Pricey
- With some models you get frets that are a bit sharp but that can be fixed
Kremona Artist Series Romida
This might be the most affordable option on the list, but it is in no way inferior to the others on the list. Made somewhere in Bulgaria that has been making guitars for 90 years, Kremona Artist Series Romida has more knowledge of what makes a great guitar than you, or I, will ever understand. Then again, I also know things and this knowledge of things tells me that this is a very good classical guitar. The solid European spruce top brings out the best in the sound of this guitar, while the solid Indian rosewood back and sides reign in the tones and make them feel warm, without losing the integrity and vibrancy of the sound. The neck is smooth, the fretboard smoother, so that your fingers will start associating happiness with playing this guitar. The bone nut saddle further enhances the lower tones of the guitar. Overall this guitar is an exceptional example of craftsmanship that is affordable to the average person.
Pros:
- Great quality tonewood
- Amazing sound
- Great looks
Cons:
- Price is a bit high (for beginners)
- Volume is not that high
Yamaha GC22 Handcrafted Classical Guitar Cedar
Nothing boosts my confidence in a classical guitar than looking at it and seeing that it was actually hand crafted using traditional methods. It means that whoever was making the guitar poured a lot of effort and love into making the instrument. The love and care thus result in a guitar that is usually of high quality and the Yamaha GC22 Handcrafted Classical guitar is a great example when a guitar is handcrafted and loved. The guitar sounds amazing, with the solid cedar top resonating the full range of tones with beautiful emphasis, while the solid rosewood back and sides round out and balance the tones. This results in a beautiful sound that is easy to play thanks to how comfortable the guitar is. And thanks to the affordability when compared to the others on this list, it might just be the right choice for you.
Pros:
- Rich tonality
- Comfortable
- Comes with a nice case
Cons:
- Action might be too high
- Volume could be better
There is not a single guitar in the world which gets any better after the 2000 dollar price mark, especially in the world of classical guitars. In the ultra expensive world of guitars you are not paying for quality anymore. What you are paying for is the bragging rights, the name and the history of the guitar, maybe you even think that it is a smart investment and will bring you money in the future. Whatever it is, do not let yourself be deceived. There is a diminishing return to quality once price starts going astronomical. The best classical guitars you will have the opportunity of playing will be not worth as much as the best cars. They might cost you, but not as much as you would think. Why? Well, the secret lies in how classical guitars are made, and how much it costs a manufacturer to produce a guitar of the highest quality.
Making a Classical Guitar
The making of a classical guitar usually starts with the choice of material for the body and neck. The material picked usually depends on what the desired sound of the guitar is, as well as what the guitar is intended for. The usual choices of wood are spruce, cedar, redwood, cypress mahogany or rosewood. While all these materials bring something to the table and are used even in the cheapest guitars, the quality of the wood becomes defined by the type of wood it is. So there is a difference between Sitka spruce and Engelmann Spruce in terms of the quality of sound they reverberate. The same goes for rosewood – while East Indian rosewood is considered an exceptional material, Brazilian Rosewood trumps it in many aspects, producing a much warmer, fuller sound than its counterpart.
The materials picked for the top and back and sides of the guitar might end up being different. This allows for the balancing of sound. So that if the top is top quality spruce, the back and sides might be top quality mahogany, creating a well rounded sound. The material for the nut also has a certain, subtle, effect on the sound. The choice between wood, bone or synthetic material is not one too hard to make, but can have a decisive effect on the guitar.
The pick of material for the neck and the fretboard also has an affect on the guitars quality. This time around though, the comfort of playing is defined. The smoother the wood, the better the alignment, the easier to play and more valuable the guitar becomes. Which is why high quality guitars are so highly valued by accomplished artists. The ease of play does not mean that there is a magical way you will sound better simply by buying an expensive guitar. Only if you are aware of techniques required and the sounds you want to produce by them, will you have an easier time producing these sound on an expensive guitar. Otherwise, for a beginner especially, a cheap guitar will serve you just as well as an expensive one could. Especially if you have very little idea of what you are doing.
Finally, for some, tuning stability is just as important as the sound or comfort of the guitar. This is why some tuners will run you so expensive – it might seem like they keep the guitar in tune for years at a time.
The thing is, despite all of these important aspects seeming like they get improved with how expensive they get, there is a cap to how much the best material can cost. The best tone woods will run a manufacturer slightly above $1000. The best tuners will not be worth much more than $300, with anything above that being pointlessly expensive. Overall, the materials for a guitar don’t run as much as as you would assume. In the end, what you are paying for is the skill of the manufacturer, which, no matter how good he is, will never be worth 10 000. So don’t worry the price of the best classical guitars is under 2000.
Conclusion
As much as there is romance in the process of manufacturing a classical guitar, there is nothing comparable to the level of romance exuded by a classical guitar with superb sound. The warm tones and heart rending sounds such a guitar is capable of are exemplary of how easy it is to succumb to emotion simply through the right sonic stimulation. The notes of a classical guitar feel like droplets of warm rain in the summer. The only feeling that could potentially beat that, is the one you get playing the guitar. If you have been researching classical guitars for a while you might have read the story about my aunt playing her guitar in a room with sunlight coursing through the dust, as I watched her, unnoticed, and enjoyed the scene. I decided to recreate this scene that has been stuck in my mind on a loop. I grabbed my classical guitar and sat on a tall bar chair in the sunniest room in my house. I attempted to recreate the tune I heard her play so many years ago, but it turned out to be impossible. What I ended up playing instead was the broken version an old, sublime song that my music tutor tried to teach me when I was still a teen: Lagrima. I got lost in the music, in the movement of my hands. The notes spun into my head as my fingers coursed around the guitar, tireless and enjoying every single pluck of the strings. I felt like I did not belong to this world, I felt like I had dissolved into the music. Maybe I can recreate this to a better result with a better guitar. Until that day, I recommend that you try doing so with one of these best classical guitars under 2000. The feeling of release and relaxation in this exercise is unforgettable.
