A Solid-Top Classical at a Price That Makes Sense
Most guitars at this price point make you choose between a solid top and actually being able to afford the thing. Yamaha's CG122MCH skips that compromise. It puts a solid Western red cedar top front and center, pairs it with a nato back and sides, and wraps it all in a matte finish that looks and feels like it belongs on a more expensive instrument.
The CG series has roots that go back decades — Yamaha originally brought in Spanish master luthiers to help shape their classical guitar program, and that tradition of careful construction still shows up in how these guitars are put together. The CG122MCH is the entry point to that legacy, and it earns its place there.
Whether you're just starting out on nylon strings, picking up classical technique after years on steel string, or need a reliable instrument for a student, this guitar delivers a lot of what matters most: a responsive top, a comfortable neck, and a setup that actually plays well out of the box.
Cedar Up Top — and That's the Right Call
The solid Western red cedar top is what sets the CG122MCH apart from the spruce-top CG122MSH in the same series. Cedar is a softer wood that responds quickly even at lower playing volumes — it opens up and projects without needing to be driven hard. Players often find cedar-top guitars feel more immediately alive compared to spruce, which can need more time to break in.
The CG series also introduced a redesigned bracing pattern specifically built to improve response and resonance, along with a thinner bridge plate engineered to transfer string vibration more efficiently to the top. These aren't just spec-sheet details — they're the reason this guitar sounds noticeably fuller than a lot of its competition at this price.
The Neck, Fingerboard, and Playability Details
The nato neck uses a 3-ply laminate construction — a deliberate choice that improves long-term stability and resistance to warping compared to a single-piece neck. The flat rosewood fingerboard sits at a traditional 52mm (2-1/16") nut width, which is standard classical spacing and gives your fingers the room they need for proper fingerstyle technique. Scale length is 650mm (25-9/16"), the full classical standard.
Yamaha set up the CG122MCH with a lowered string action, so it plays comfortably without the high-action frustration that sometimes plagues entry-level classical guitars. The rosewood bridge and matte neck finish round out a setup that's genuinely easy to play from the first time you pick it up.
The Matte Finish: More Than Just a Look
The all-matte finish on the CG122MCH is the only one in the CG series — every other model uses a gloss coat. Matte finishes are thinner and interfere less with the top's natural vibration, which is part of why this guitar tends to sound as open as it does for the price. The back-of-neck matte finish also means your fretting hand moves freely without the sticky-gloss drag that can slow you down.
Visually, the natural brown cedar top against the darker nato back and sides gives the guitar a clean, traditional classical look — understated and elegant without trying too hard.
Product Features:
- Top: Solid Western red cedar — responds quickly, warm and clear tone
- Back & Sides: Nato — stable, consistent tonewood
- Body Shape: Yamaha CG shape (full-size classical)
- Scale Length: 650mm (25-9/16") — standard classical full scale
- Nut Width: 52mm (2-1/16") — traditional classical finger spacing
- Neck: Nato, 3-ply laminate construction for long-term stability
- Fingerboard & Bridge: Rosewood, flat radius
- Finish: Matte (body and neck) — only matte-finish model in the CG series
- Tuners: Chrome
- String Type: Nylon
- Low action setup from the factory
Brand: Yamaha
Model: CG122MCH
SKU: CG122MCH
Condition: New
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