Introduction
Yamaha has a long history of crafting high quality and innovative guitars. Founded in 1887, the company began making pianos and reed organs. In the 1940s, Yamaha expanded into making string instruments like violins, guitars and cellos. Over the decades, Yamaha established itself as a respected guitar manufacturer known for advancing guitar design and technology.
The Yamaha CGX122MCC is one of the company’s popular classical guitar models that appeals to a wide range of players. As part of the CGX series, it’s aimed at students, hobbyists and intermediate players looking for an affordable nylon-string guitar with great tone and playability. The CGX122MCC features a solid cedar top, nato back and sides, and a single cutaway for easy upper fret access. It comes equipped with Yamaha’s A.R.T pickup system and preamp for amplified playing. With high quality construction and hardware, the CGX122MCC delivers the value, reliability and innovation Yamaha is known for. This review will take an in-depth look at the specs, sound, playability and real world performance of this classical guitar.
Specifications and Features
The Yamaha CGX122MCC features a concert/auditorium body shape with a single cutaway design that provides excellent upper fret access. The top is solid Canadian cedar, which produces a warm, resonant tone. The back and sides are made from nato wood, also known as eastern mahogany, which provides a balanced and clear response.
The neck is also constructed from nato in a traditional classical guitar profile that is comfortable and familiar. The fingerboard and bridge are rosewood, which is a dense tropical hardwood that helps produce full low end and articulate highs. The nut and saddle are urea, which is an artificial material chosen for its acoustic properties.
The CGX122MCC comes equipped with Yamaha’s A.R.T. pickup system and S.R.T. preamp, allowing for natural amplified tones. The A.R.T. transducer is designed specifically for acoustic instruments to prevent feedback while retaining organic tone. The preamp provides 3-band EQ, volume control, and a built-in tuner for tone shaping and convenience.
Hardware includes die-cast chrome tuners that keep the CGX122MCC in tune through changes in humidity and temperature. Multiple finish options are offered, including natural and ruby red burst.
Sound Quality and Tone
The Yamaha CGX122MCC produces a rich, warm, nuanced classical guitar tone thanks to its solid Canadian cedar top. Cedar is a popular classical guitar top wood prized for its mellow and refined voice. When paired with nato back and sides, the cedar projects beautifully with excellent resonance and sustain.
The nylon strings and traditional fan bracing pattern also contribute to the CGX122MCC’s authentic nylon-string tone. It captures the essence of the Spanish/flamenco sound that classical guitars are known for. Fingerstyle players will enjoy the dynamic range and harmonic complexity from the solid cedar top.
When plugged in, the CGX122MCC retains its natural acoustic tone thanks to the A.R.T. pickup system. The undersaddle piezo pickup blends seamlessly with the guitar’s inherent sound, producing excellent amplified tone without feedback or quackiness. The preamp’s 3-band EQ provides tone shaping options, allowing players to tweak the bass, midrange, and treble response. Overall, the CGX122MCC sounds fantastic both acoustically and plugged in.
Playability and Comfort
The Yamaha CGX122MCC features a classical guitar neck profile that provides a comfortable playing feel. The neck has a rounded "C" shape that accommodates both fingerstyle and classical hand positions.
Out of the box, the action and string height are set up well for beginner to intermediate players. The strings are easy to press down without excessive finger effort. Experienced players may want to get a professional set up to optimize the action to their personal preference.
The cutaway body style allows excellent access to the upper frets, enabling the CGX122MCC to hit those high notes with ease. The fretboard edges are smoothly finished for comfort. The wider nut width (52mm) gives ample room for the nylon strings to spread out, reducing string buzz.
Overall, the CGX122MCC offers a very playable classical guitar neck and action setup suitable for students and hobbyists. The comfortable neck shape and cutaway design provide a positive playing experience.
Build Quality and Durability
The Yamaha CGX122MCC is constructed with quality tonewoods and built to last. The top is solid Canadian cedar, chosen for its resonance and warmth. The back and sides utilize laminated nato wood, providing stability and structural integrity.
Inside, traditional fan bracing supports the cedar top and allows it to vibrate freely. There are no worries about the bracing coming loose over time. The neck utilizes a 5-ply design made from nato as well, providing stability and resisting bowing or warping.
The hardware including the die-cast tuning machines, nut, and saddle are all durable and built to handle years of playing. The chrome tuners in particular are precise and hold tune very well under playing tension. The urea nut and saddle don’t absorb moisture like bone and provide bright, articulate tones.
Overall, the CGX122MCC is crafted with care using quality tonewoods designed to last. The construction and hardware will easily stand up to regular practice and performances. It’s clear Yamaha built this model to withstand years of playing while providing excellent tone.
Value for Money
The Yamaha CGX122MCC offers excellent value for money given its features and price point. It typically sells for around $300-$400, which is very affordable for a classical acoustic-electric guitar with a solid wood top and quality appointments.
At this price range, you would be hard pressed to find another nylon string guitar that offers a solid cedar top, quality tonewoods like nato and rosewood, a built-in ART pickup system, and Yamaha’s excellent build quality and attention to detail. Most comparable models from other brands would cost significantly more.
Considering its specifications and components, the CGX122MCC punches well above its weight class in terms of value. The combination of warm, resonant solid cedar top, easy playability, and amplified tones from the pickup system make this a lot of guitar for the money.
While not the most premium classical guitar available, the Yamaha CGX122MCC is an excellent value proposition for the beginning to intermediate student looking to upgrade from a budget instrument. It provides the construction quality, rich classical tone, and features to carry a player through the early stages of their musical journey at a very appealing price point.
Overall, when weighing the CGX122MCC’s quality materials, workmanship, and features against competitive models in its class, it stands out as a worthwhile investment for classical and fingerstyle guitarists shopping on a budget.
Customer Reviews and Feedback
The Yamaha CGX122MCC has received very positive reviews from owners. This model consistently earns high ratings across retail sites, forums, and YouTube channels.
Many reviewers praise the warm, balanced tone and excellent playability right out of the box. The solid cedar top produces a rich, nuanced sound that works well for classical and fingerstyle playing. Owners also comment on the comfortable neck profile and smooth, low action.
Several users mention the quality of the onboard ART pickup system. The amplified tone captures the natural acoustic voice, with enough controls to shape the EQ. This allows for solid plugged-in performance in various playing scenarios.
Some cons mentioned occasionally include the lack of an onboard tuner on the preamp, as well as limited finish options beyond natural and ruby red sunburst. A few reviewers note the use of laminate back/sides, wishing for an all-solid wood construction at this price point.
However, most agree that the guitar provides fantastic value for the cost. The combination of tonewoods, electronics, playability and Yamaha craftsmanship make this a recommended classical guitar for the price range. Overall, customer satisfaction is very high.
Comparisons
The Yamaha CGX122MCC holds up well when compared to other classical acoustic-electric guitars in its price range. Here’s how it stacks up to some other popular models:
Vs. Other Yamaha Classical Guitars
Compared to the Yamaha CG122MS, the CGX122MCC has a solid cedar top rather than laminate spruce, giving it a warmer, richer tone. The CGX122MCC also has the cutaway design for upper fret access. However, the CG122MS has better finish options.
Against the higher-end Yamaha CG192S, the CGX122MCC has a smaller concert body size and lacks the all-solid wood construction. However, it comes in at less than half the price of the CG192S.
Vs. Competing Brands
The Cordoba C5 is another popular classical acoustic-electric in this price range. It has a solid Canadian cedar top but laminate mahogany back and sides. The CGX122MCC matches it well for tone and playability. The Cordoba has more finish options but does not include a pickup system.
The Kremona Rosa Morena is comparable, with a solid spruce top and nato back/sides. It produces a brighter tone than the mellower CGX122MCC. The Kremona has a wider nut width better suited for advanced classical players. The CGX122MCC offers better upper fret access.
Overall, the Yamaha CGX122MCC competes strongly with other classical guitar models under $500. Its quality solid wood top, comfortable playability, and included electronics make it an excellent value.
Who It’s For
The Yamaha CGX122MCC classical acoustic-electric guitar is best suited for intermediate players looking to upgrade from a beginner instrument. Its quality tonewoods and electronics provide an excellent value at this price point, ideal for dedicated students and hobbyists.
This classical guitar works very well for nylon-string genres like:
- Classical
- Spanish/Flamenco
- Fingerstyle
- Bossa Nova
- Light Pop/Rock
The smooth neck, comfortable body size, quality pickups, and built-in tuner make the CGX122MCC a great choice for daily practice and performance. It has the features to support continued progression on classical guitar for years to come.
The cutaway design also provides nice access to upper frets for more advanced repertoire. Overall, the Yamaha CGX122MCC hits a sweet spot between affordability and quality for intermediate players focused on classical, fingerstyle, or other mellow nylon-string genres.
Conclusion
The Yamaha CGX122MCC is an excellent value as a mid-range classical acoustic-electric guitar. It delivers warm, rich tone from its solid cedar top and quality tonewood construction. The playability is very good right out of the box, with a comfortable neck profile and action height. The single cutaway grants easy access to the upper frets.
While the back and sides are laminate, the overall build quality and attention to detail is impressive for the price. The onboard A.R.T pickup system also performs well for both live playing and recording scenarios. For students looking to upgrade from a beginner instrument, or for hobbyists and fingerstyle players on a budget, the CGX122MCC is easy to recommend.
Overall, the Yamaha CGX122MCC punches above its weight class and provides tremendous value. For its quality craftsmanship, great playability and tone, and versatile plugged-in capabilities, I give this classical acoustic-electric guitar a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars.