A Left-Handed Cedar-Top Classic, Ready for Its Next Chapter
Left-handed classical players know the struggle: quality nylon-string guitars configured for southpaws are genuinely hard to find, and vintage examples even more so. This Yamaha CG151C checks both boxes. It's a discontinued model from Yamaha's well-regarded CG series — a line with deep roots in traditional Spanish luthiery — built around a solid American cedar top and Ovankol back and sides. Cedar tops respond with warmth and immediacy, making them a favorite for players who want a more intimate, singing character from the first note.
This vintage Yamaha CG151C is in VERY GOOD Condition and has small dings on binding and small ding on top small indent on back of neck, small marks on top of headstock.
Solid Cedar Top and Traditional Construction
The CG151C's solid American cedar top is the heart of this instrument. Cedar is prized in classical guitar making for its responsiveness at lighter playing dynamics — it opens up quickly without needing a long break-in period. The gloss finish is applied thinly as part of Yamaha's redesigned CG series approach, which also features slightly thinner sides and back to further improve sound projection and resonance.
The Ovankol back and sides — a tonewood related to rosewood in its tonal character — lend a focused, warm midrange to the overall voice. Paired with the cedar top, the result is a balanced, full-bodied sound that rewards fingerstyle technique and rewards nuance in playing dynamics.
Player-Friendly Neck and Fingerboard
Classical guitars live and die by their necks, and the CG151C delivers a comfortable playing experience. The neck is Nato — a stable, reliable tonewood used widely in mid-tier classical guitar necks — and Yamaha specifically redesigned the CG series with a slightly slimmer neck profile than traditional classical guitars to improve playability. For players coming from steel-string backgrounds exploring nylon strings, or students looking for a more ergonomic left-handed classical, this is a meaningful feature.
The fingerboard is ebony, a material associated with smooth playability and long-term durability. Combined with a rosewood bridge, the guitar's appointments reflect thoughtful material choices throughout. The scale length is 650mm (25.6") — standard full-size classical guitar scale — and the gold Yamaha YTM-06 tuning machines provide reliable, stable tuning.
A Left-Handed Find Worth Knowing About
Left-handed classical guitars at any price point are comparatively rare. Most manufacturers produce only a fraction of their catalog in left-handed configurations, and the CG151C was no exception — left-handed versions were never widely stocked. Finding a used example in playable condition is genuinely uncommon. For a left-handed player seeking a full-size classical with real tonewoods and Yamaha's build quality behind it, this guitar represents a hard-to-replicate opportunity at the used price.
This guitar is best suited for left-handed players at the intermediate level or advancing students who want an honest classical instrument without the new-guitar price tag.
Product Features:
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Top: Solid American Cedar — warm, responsive, opens up quickly at lighter dynamics
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Back & Sides: Ovankol — warm midrange character related to the rosewood family
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Neck: Nato with Yamaha's redesigned slimmer classical profile for improved playability
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Fingerboard: Ebony — smooth feel and long-term durability
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Bridge: Rosewood
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Scale Length: 650mm (25.6") — standard full-size classical
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Tuning Machines: Gold Yamaha YTM-06
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Finish: Gloss
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Handedness: Left-handed
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Body Style: Full-size classical (4/4)
Brand: Yamaha
Model: CG151C
SKU: U-CG151C|QNX310596
Condition: Used
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