Table of Contents
Did you know the Yamaha CG122MCH receives its unique matte finish from a special coating technique called “Silk Touch”? You probably didn’t. However, if you are a guitarist or enthusiast, you’ll learn about the world-class guitars Yamaha makes.
The Yamaha CG122MCH will exceed your expectations and improve your playing experience, whether you’re strumming in your bedroom or on stage.
The Yamaha CG122MCH is a nylon-string acoustic guitar with a solid cedar top. It is a great choice for both new and experienced players. It is one of the best cheap classical guitars by Yamaha. It produces warm, rich tones and a matte finish that provide a comfortable feel and a sleek appearance.
| Made In | China |
| Model | CG122MCH Yamaha |
| Body | Nato Wood |
| Top | Solid American Redcedar |
| Neck | Nato |
| Scale | 25.6 inches (650 mm) |
| Nut Width | 2.05 inches (52.07 mm) |
| Weight | 4.99 lbs (2.25 kg) |
| Fretboard | Rosewood |
| Frets | 19 |
| Bracing | Fan-Bracing Pattern |
| Electronics | Cutaway Electric |
| Bridge | Rosewood |
| Inlays | Side Dot |
| Truss Rod | Dual Action |
| Case | None |
| Design | Classical Acoustic, Hollow Body |
Let’s dive into the features of the cheap classical guitars so you can better understand why this guitar is such a good deal.
Check out our Budget Classical Guitars list, which includes some great guitars.
Tonewood of Yamaha CG122MCH
Top
The top section of the Yamaha CG122MCH classical guitar is made of solid cedar wood. Solid cedar wood is popular for guitar tops because of its unique tonal characteristics.
Cedar is a softwood that produces a warm, well-balanced, and responsive sound. Its robust midrange and excellent projection make it great for fingerstyle playing and other styles that require a lot of dynamic range.
Yamaha CG122MCH Body
Yamaha used Nato wood for the body of the CG122MCH model. Nato wood is also called Eastern Mahogany or Mindi. Due to its low cost and widespread availability, it is a standard tonewood for the back and sides of acoustic guitars.
One of the finest things about Nato wood is its warm, smooth tone with an intense mid-range tone. It sounds a lot like mahogany, which is a wood that is often used in high-end guitars.
What makes Yamaha CG122MCH Special?
The Yamaha classical guitar’s fingerboard is unique in terms of how it looks and how well it plays. It is made of high-quality rosewood, which delivers a warm and rich tone with excellent sustain and projection. The fretboard is smooth and comfortable to play, allowing for effortless fingering and smooth transitions between notes and chords.
The fretboard has 19 frets, and the odd-numbered frets have dot inlays that guitarists frequently use as reference points. The fretboard’s radius is set to a comfortable 12 inches, making bending and vibrating the strings easy. The scale length of the fingerboard is 650 mm, a standard length for Yamaha classical guitars.
Pickup
The Yamaha CG122MCH acoustic guitar features an under-saddle pickup, a type of piezo-electric pickup. This is optional; however, if you’re a guitarist who frequently performs in open settings, you already know what a steal this pickup is.
To learn more about classical guitar pickups, click here.
The Yamaha CG122MCH features a System 68N preamp with a piezo pickup as the instrument’s pickup system. The preamp also has a 3-band equalizer, so you can tweak your amplified guitar sound’s bass, midrange, and treble. Thanks to the built-in tuner on the preamp, the guitar can be quickly and accurately tuned.
The Yamaha CG122MCH acoustic guitar has a good under-saddle pickup and preamp system that produces decent sound when used with a good amplifier or sound system.
Bridge
People often think the bridge on an acoustic guitar doesn’t change the sound much, but they’re wrong. The bridge is part of the guitar that holds the strings to the body and sends the strings’ vibrations to the soundboard.
The Yamaha CG122MCH classical acoustic guitar has a traditional rosewood bridge that can handle the tension of the guitar strings. Rosewood is relatively dense and stiff, so it lets more of the energy from the strings reach the soundboard, making the sound a little brighter and clearer.
The Yamaha CG122MCH has a bridge with six separate string slots. This helps keep the strings spaced out and ensures they don’t touch each other or the bridge. The bridge is also made to be light and low-profile, which helps keep it from getting in the way of the strings’ vibrations.
Bracing
The Yamaha CG122MCH acoustic guitar has traditional fan-bracing, often on classical and flamenco guitars. Several fan-shaped braces connect the guitar’s soundhole to the lower bout of the body.
Fan bracing helps spread the strings’ vibrations more evenly across the soundboard, resulting in a complete, well-balanced, powerful, and long-lasting sound.
Conclusion
Many beginners pick up a Yamaha guitar over other guitars, and there are several reasons why. The affordability, accessibility, ease of use, and the rich sound they provide all contribute to the popularity of Yamaha guitars. I’ve tried to provide all the essential details about the Yamaha CG122MCH guitar. If you haven’t found the information you were looking for, check the description box above.
If you’re a beginner trying to learn chord shapes, this guitar will give you a good run for your money. If you’re an intermediate guitarist learning the minor pentatonic scale, this guitar will give you a rich sound at a price point that is hard to find elsewhere.
Pros and cons of Yamaha CG122MCH
Pros
Good sound quality: The Yamaha CG122MCH has a solid spruce top and mahogany back and sides, which give it a warm, rich sound.
Easy to play: The CG122MCH’s neck is thin and comfortable, making it easy for beginners and experienced players to use.
Durable: The Yamaha CG122MCH is well-built and durable, making it an excellent choice for guitarists who need a guitar that can withstand a lot of playing.
Cons
Limited Features: One potential downside of CG122MCH is that it’s a relatively basic model. It doesn’t have some of the advanced features and materials in higher-end classical guitars.
FAQs of Yamaha CG122MCH
- Budget Classical Guitars Under $700 - February 15, 2025
- How To Set Up A 12-String Guitar Perfectly - September 8, 2023
- Vibrato Techniques: A Comprehensive Guide - September 6, 2023
